This is (*will be*) a constantly-updated list of the 25 best albums per year dating back to when albums were relevant.
Jump to a Specific Year
2020s: 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
2010s: 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 |
2000s: 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 |
1990s: 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 | 1995 | 1994 | 1993 | 1992 | 1991 | 1990 |
1980s: 1989 | 1988 | 1987 | 1986 | 1985 | 1984 | 1983 | 1982 | 1981 | 1980 |
1970s: 1979 | 1978 | 1977 | 1976 | 1975 | 1974 | 1973 | 1972 | 1971 | 1970 |
2024
- Charli xcx – BRAT
- Cameron Winter – Heavy Metal
- Cindy Lee – Diamond Jubilee
- Waxahatchee – Tigers Blood
- Jessica Pratt – Here in the Pitch
- MJ Lenderman – Manning Fireworks
- Kim Gordon – The Collective
- Mount Eerie – Night Palace
- Magdalena Bay – Imaginal Disk
- Nala Sinephro – Endlessness
- Mannequin Pussy – I Got Heaven
- Mk.gee – Two Star & the Dream Police
- Mabe Fratti – Sentir Que No Sabes
- Bladee – Cold Visions
- Tyla – TYLA
- Cassandra Jenkins – My Light, My Destroyer
- Astrid Sonne – Great Doubt
- Rafael Toral – Spectral Evolution
- Nilüfer Yanya – My Method Actor
- Sabrina Carpenter – Short n’ Sweet
- Adrianne Lenker – Bright Future
- Julia Holter – Something in the Room She Moves
- Arooj Aftab – Night Reign
- KA – The Thief Next to Jesus
- Loidis – One Day
2023
- billy woods & Kenny Segal – Maps
- Caroline Polachek – Desire, I Want to Turn Into You
- Wednesday – Rat Saw God
- Nourished by Time – Erotic Probiotic 2
- ML Buch – Suntub
- Amaarae – Fountain Baby
- Lana Del Rey – Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd
- Sufjan Stevens – Javelin
- Sofia Kourtesis – Madres
- yeule – Softscars
- Mandy, Indiana – I’ve Seen a Way
- Jaimie Branch – Fly or Die Fly or Die Fly or Die ((world war))
- Kelela – Raven
- ANOHNI and the Johnsons – My Back Was a Bridge for You to Cross
- Fever Ray – Radical Romantics
- Sexyy Red – Hood Hottest Princess
- Chuquimamani-Condori – DJ E
- 100 gecs – 10,000 gecs
- Earl Sweatshirt & The Alchemist – VOIR DIRE
- Liv.e – Girl in the Half Pearl
- Tirzah – trip9love…???
- Laurel Halo – Atlas
- Water From Your Eyes – Everyone’s Crushed
- MIKE – Burning Desire
- HiTech – DÉTWAT
2022
- Beyoncé – RENAISSANCE
- Big Thief – Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You
- SZA – SOS
- Alvvays – Blue Rev
- Bad Bunny – Un Verano Sin Ti
- Special Interest – Endure
- Sudan Archives – Natural Brown Prom Queen
- Jockstrap – I Love You Jennifer B
- Nilüfer Yanya – PAINLESS
- ROSALÍA – MOTOMAMI
- Asake – Mr. Money With the Vibe
- Yaya Bey – Remember Your North Star
- Alex G – Save the Animals
- Björk – Fossora
- Grace Ives – Janky Star
- Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Pupul – Topical Dancer
- Daphni – Cherry
- Rachika Nayar – Heaven Come Crashing
- Makaya McCraven – In These Times
- Chat Pile – God’s Country
- Huerco S. – Plonk
- Hikaru Utada – BAD MODE
- Florist – Florist
- Destroyer – LABYRINTHITIS
- Soul Glo – Diaspora Problems
2021
- Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders & the London Symphony Orchestra – Promises
- Low – HEY WHAT
- Turnstile – GLOW ON
- Jazmine Sullivan – Heaux Tales
- Faye Webster – I Know I’m Funny Haha
- Dry Cleaning – New Long Leg
- Mach-Hommy – Pray for Haiti
- Mdou Moctar – Afrique Victime
- Dean Blunt – Black Metal 2
- L’Rain – Fatigue
- Jane Remover – Frailty
- Nala Sinephro – Space 1.8
- Arooj Aftab – Vulture Prince
- Wednesday – Twin Plagues
- Tirzah – Colourgrade
- Chris Corsano & Bill Orcutt – Made Out of Sound
- Rx Papi & Gud – Foreign Exchange
- SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE – ENTERTAINMENT, DEATH
- Magdalena Bay – Mercurial World
- MIKE – Disco!
- Dijon – Absolutely
- Grouper – Shade
- Tyler, the Creator – CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST
- Japanese Breakfast – Jubilee
- The Weather Station – Ignorance
2020
- Waxahatchee – Saint Cloud
- Fiona Apple – Fetch the Bolt Cutters
- Bad Bunny – YHLQMDLG
- Phoebe Bridgers – Punisher
- Playboi Carti – Whole Lotta Red
- Jessie Ware – What’s Your Pleasure?
- The Microphones – Microphones in 2020
- Yves Tumor – Heaven to a Tortured Mind
- The Soft Pink Truth – Shall We Go On Sinning So That Grace May Increase?
- Taylor Swift – folklore
- Perfume Genius – Set My Heart on Fire Immediately
- Adrianne Lenker – songs
- Dua Lipa – Future Nostalgia
- Amaarae – THE ANGEL YOU DON’T KNOW
- HAIM – Women in Music, Pt. III
- The 1975 – Notes on a Conditional Form
- Lil Uzi Vert – Eternal Atake
- Fleet Foxes – Shore
- Soccer Mommy – color theory
- KMRU – Peel
- KeiyaA – Forever, Ya Girl
- Nubya Garcia – Source
- Ulla – Tumbling Towards a Wall
- DJ Python – Mas Amable
- BbyMutha – Muthaland
2019
- Lana Del Rey – Norman Fucking Rockwell!
- Big Thief – U.F.O.F.
- FKA Twigs – MAGDALENE
- Angel Olsen – All Mirrors
- Solange – When I Get Home
- Jai Paul – Leak 04-13 (Bait Ones)
- Purple Mountains – Purple Mountains
- Big Thief – Two Hands
- Helado Negro – This Is How You Smile
- Weyes Blood – Titanic Rising
- Jamila Woods – LEGACY! LEGACY!
- Tyler, the Creator – IGOR
- Alex G – House of Sugar
- 100 gecs – 1000 gecs
- Kim Gordon – No Home Record
- Jenny Hval – The Practice of Love
- billy woods & Kenny Segal – Hiding Places
- Brittany Howard – Jaime
- Erika de Casier – Essentials
- Burna Boy – African Giant
- Faye Webster – Atlanta Millionaires Club
- Fennesz – Agora
- Thom Yorke – ANIMA
- Denzel Curry – ZUU
- Jessica Pratt – Quiet Signs
2018
- Kacey Musgraves – Golden Hour
- Earl Sweatshirt – Some Rap Songs
- Robyn – Honey
- Rosalía – El Mal Querer
- Mitski – Be the Cowboy
- Tierra Whack – Whack World
- SOPHIE – OIL OF EVERY PEARL’S UN-INSIDES
- Cardi B – Invasion of Privacy
- DJ Koze – Knock Knock
- Snail Mail – Lush
- Bad Bunny – X 100PRE
- Ariana Grande – Sweetener
- U.S. Girls – In a Poem Unlimited
- Low – Double Negative
- Yves Tumor – Safe in the Hands of Love
- Pusha T – DAYTONA
- Noname – Room 25
- Amen Dunes – Freedom
- Jon Hopkins – Singularity
- The 1975 – A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships
- Tirzah – Devotion
- Arctic Monkeys – Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino
- Julia Holter – Aviary
- JPEGMAFIA – Veteran
- Soccer Mommy – Clean
2017
- Lorde – Melodrama
- SZA – Ctrl
- Kendrick Lamar – DAMN.
- Charli XCX – Pop 2
- King Krule – The OOZ
- Jlin – Black Origami
- Fever Ray – Plunge
- Moses Sumney – Aromanticism
- Perfume Genius – No Shape
- Kelela – Take Me Apart
- Mount Eerie – A Crow Looked at Me
- Tyler, the Creator – Flower Boy
- Big Thief – Capacity
- Playboi Carti – Playboi Carti
- The War on Drugs – A Deeper Understanding
- Arca – Arca
- Sheer Mag – Compilation
- Vince Staples – Big Fish Theory
- LCD Soundsystem – American Dream
- Julien Baker – Turn Out the Lights
- Jay Som – Everybody Works
- Sampha – Process
- Charlotte Gainsbourg – Rest
- Kelly Lee Owens – Kelly Lee Owens
- Chuck Johnson – Balsams
2016
- Frank Ocean – Blonde
- Solange – A Seat at the Table
- Rihanna – ANTI
- Mitski – Puberty 2
- David Bowie – Blackstar
- Beyoncé – Lemonade
- A Tribe Called Quest – We Got It From Here…Thank You 4 Your Service
- ANOHNI – Hopelessness
- Angel Olsen – My Woman
- Blood Orange – Freetown Sound
- Car Seat Headrest – Teens of Denial
- Chance the Rapper – Coloring Book
- Leonard Cohen – You Want It Darker
- Bon Iver – 22, A Million
- Kanye West – The Life of Pablo
- Danny Brown – Atrocity Exhibition
- Radiohead – A Moon Shaped Pool
- Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith – EARS
- Parquet Courts – Human Performance
- Lil Peep – Hellboy
- Jenny Hval – Blood Bitch
- 21 Savage/Metro Boomin – Savage Mode
- Kaytranada – 99.9%
- Anderson .Paak – Malibu
- Cobalt – Slow Forever
2015
- Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp a Butterfly
- Jamie xx – In Colour
- Sufjan Stevens – Carrie & Lowell
- Grimes – Art Angels
- Vince Staples – Summertime ’06
- Tame Impala – Currents
- Carly Rae Jepsen – E•MO•TION
- Kamasi Washington – The Epic
- Courtney Barnett – Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit
- Father John Misty – I Love You, Honeybear
- Björk – Vulnicura
- Young Thug – Barter 6
- Future – DS2
- Rae Sremmurd – SremmLife
- Drake – If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late
- Oneohtrix Point Never – Garden of Delete
- Jenny Hval – Apocalypse, girl
- Joanna Newsom – Divers
- Jessica Pratt – On Your Own Love Again
- Girlpool – Before the World Was Big
- Julia Holter – Have You in My Wilderness
- Archy Marshall – A New Place 2 Drown
- Floating Points – Elaenia
- Deerhunter – Fading Frontier
- Miguel – Wildheart
2014
- D’Angelo – Black Messiah
- FKA Twigs – LP1
- Grouper – Ruins
- The War on Drugs – Lost in the Dream
- Caribou – Our Love
- Todd Terje – It’s Album Time
- Aphex Twin – Syro
- Angel Olsen – Burn Your Fire for No Witness
- Run the Jewels – Run the Jewels 2
- The Hotelier – Home, Like NoPlace Is There
- Mac DeMarco – Salad Days
- Sun Kil Moon – Benji
- Spoon – They Want My Soul
- Perfume Genius – Too Bright
- Swans – To Be Kind
- Taylor Swift – 1989
- St. Vincent – St. Vincent
- Rich Gang – Tha Tour Part 1
- Joyce Manor – Never Hungover Again
- Arca – Xen
- Ariel Pink – Pom Pom
- YG – My Krazy Life
- Sharon Van Etten – Are We There
- Future Islands – Singles
- Frankie Cosmos – Zentropy
2013
- Beyoncé – Beyoncé
- Vampire Weekend – Modern Vampires of the City
- Kanye West – Yeezus
- DJ Rashad – Double Cup
- Sky Ferreira – Night Time, My Time
- Blood Orange – Cupid Deluxe
- Haim – Days Are Gone
- Disclosure – Settle
- Chance the Rapper – Acid Rap
- Daft Punk – Random Access Memories
- Drake – Nothing Was the Same
- The Knife – Shaking the Habitual
- Waxahatchee – Cerulean Salt
- Kurt Vile – Wakin’ on a Pretty Daze
- Deafheaven – Sunbather
- Burial – Rival Dealer EP
- My Bloody Valentine – m b v
- Majical Cloudz – Impersonator
- Lorde – Pure Heroine
- Arcade Fire – Reflektor
- Danny Brown – Old
- Bill Callahan – Dream River
- Earl Sweatshirt – Doris
- DJ Koze – Amygdala
- Kelela – CUT 4 ME
2012
- Fiona Apple – The Idler Wheel…
- Frank Ocean – channel ORANGE
- Kendrick Lamar – good kid, m.A.A.d. city
- Grimes – Visions
- Tame Impala – Lonerism
- Taylor Swift – Red
- Japandroids – Celebration Rock
- Chromatics – Kill for Love
- Dirty Projectors – Swing Lo Magellan
- Death Grips – The Money Store
- Swans – The Seer
- Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – Mature Themes
- Andy Stott – Luxury Problems
- Beach House – Bloom
- Future – Pluto
- Killer Mike – R.A.P. Music
- Mac DeMarco – 2
- Jessie Ware – Devotion
- Chief Keef – Finally Rich
- Godspeed You! Black Emperor – Allelujah! Don’t Bend! Ascend!
- Hot Chip – In Our Heads
- Cloud Nothings – Attack on Memory
- Grizzly Bear – Shields
- Disasterpeace – FEZ
- Miguel – Kaleidoscope Dream
2011
- Destroyer – Kaputt
- Drake – Take Care
- Bon Iver – Bon Iver, Bon Iver
- Bill Callahan – Apocalypse
- Oneohtrix Point Never – Replica
- Beyoncé – 4
- St. Vincent – Strange Mercy
- Danny Brown – XXX
- Kurt Vile – Smoke Ring for My Halo
- Jay-Z/Kanye West – Watch the Throne
- M83 – Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming
- Real Estate – Days
- EMA – Past Life Martyred Saints
- The Weeknd – House of Balloons
- Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues
- A$AP Rocky – Live.Love.A$AP
- James Blake – James Blake
- Frank Ocean – nostalgia, ULTRA
- The Caretaker – An Empty Bliss Beyond This World
- Girls – Father, Son, Holy Ghost
- Nicolas Jaar – Space Is Only Noise
- Tim Hecker – Ravedeath, 1972
- Macintosh Plus – Floral Shoppe
- Grouper – A I A: Alien Observer
- Tune-Yards – W H O K I L L
2010
- Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
- Beach House – Teen Dream
- Deerhunter – Halcyon Digest
- Joanna Newsom – Have One on Me
- Robyn – Body Talk
- LCD Soundsystem – This Is Happening
- Erykah Badu – New Amerykah Pt. 2 (Return of the Ankh)
- Flying Lotus – Cosmogramma
- Arcade Fire – The Suburbs
- Waka Flocka Flame – Flockaveli
- Vampire Weekend – Contra
- Four Tet – There Is Love in You
- Emeralds – Does It Look Like I’m Here?
- Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – Before Today
- Various Artists – Bangs & Works, Vol. 1: A Chicago Footwork Compilation
- Titus Andronicus – The Monitor
- Janelle Monáe – The ArchAndroid
- The National – High Violet
- The-Dream – Love King
- Crystal Castles – (II)
- Big Boi – Sir Luscious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty
- Caribou – Swim
- Sleigh Bells – Treats
- Actress – Splazsh
- Earl Sweatshirt – Earl
2009
- Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion
- The xx – xx
- Fever Ray – Fever Ray
- Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
- Bill Callahan – Sometimes I Wish We Were an Eagle
- Micachu and the Shapes – Jewellery
- Paramore – Brand New Eyes
- Dirty Projectors – Bitte Orca
- St. Vincent – Actor
- Miranda Lambert – Revolution
- Girls – Album
- Yeah Yeah Yeahs – It’s Blitz
- Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest
- Bat for Lashes – Two Suns
- Atlas Sound – Logos
- Nicki Minaj – Beam Me Up Scotty
- Fuck Buttons – Tarot Sport
- Oneohtrix Point Never – Rifts
- Neon Indian – Psychic Chasms
- Raekwon – Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, Pt. 2
- DJ Quik & Kurupt – BlaQKout
- The Flaming Lips – Embryonic
- The-Dream – Love vs. Money
- Neko Case – Middle Cyclone
- Antony and the Johnsons – The Crying Light
2008
- Kanye West – 808s & Heartbreak
- Erykah Badu – New Amerykah Part One (4th World War)
- Grouper – Dragging a Dead Deer Up a Hill
- Portishead – Third
- Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes
- Deerhunter – Microcastle
- Los Campesinos – Hold on Now, Youngster…
- Vampire Weekend – Vampire Weekend
- Flying Lotus – Los Angeles
- DJ Sprinkles – Midtown 120 Blues
- Vivian Girls – Vivian Girls
- Gang Gang Dance – Saint Dymphna
- Rihanna – Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded
- Jean Grae – Jeanius
- Air France – No Way Down EP
- No Age – Nouns
- Ponytail – Ice Cream Spiritual
- Frightened Rabbit – The Midnight Organ Flight
- Cut Copy – In Ghost Colours
- Fucked Up – The Chemistry of Common Life
- M83 – Saturdays = Youth
- TV on the Radio – Dear Science
- Lindstrom – Where You Go I Go Too
- The Hold Steady – Stay Positive
- Fennesz – Black Sea
2007
- Burial – Untrue
- Radiohead – In Rainbows
- M.I.A. – Kala
- LCD Soundsystem – Sound of Silver
- Panda Bear – Person Pitch
- Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago
- Lil Wayne – Da Drought 3
- Kanye West – Graduation
- Robyn – Robyn (International Edition)
- The Field – From Here We Go Sublime
- Battles – Mirrored
- Daft Punk – Alive 2007
- Spoon – Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
- Jens Lekman – Night Falls Over Kortedala
- Paramore – Riot!
- Jonny Greenwood – There Will Be Blood
- RP Boo – Dude Off 59th Street
- Feist – The Reminder
- Theo Parrish – Sound Sculptures Vol. 1
- The-Dream – Love/Hate
- UGK – UGK (Underground Kingz)
- Of Montreal – Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?
- Blonde Redhead – 23
- Stars of the Lid – And Their Refinement of the Decline
- Arctic Monkeys – Favourite Worst Nightmare
2006
- J Dilla – Donuts
- The Knife – Silent Shout
- Joanna Newsom – Ys
- Amy Winehouse – Back to Black
- Destroyer – Destroyer’s Rubies
- Clipse – Hell Hath No Fury
- Arctic Monkeys – Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not
- Justin Timberlake – FutureSex/LoveSounds
- Beyoncé – B’Day
- Jay Reatard – Blood Visions
- Ghostface Killah – Fishscale
- TV on the Radio – Return to Cookie Mountain
- Liars – Drum’s Not Dead
- Phoenix – It’s Never Been Like That
- Tim Hecker – Harmony in Ultraviolet
- Scott Walker – The Drift
- Hot Chip – The Warning
- The Thermals – The Body, the Blood, the Machine
- Love Is All – Nine Times That Same Song
- My Chemical Romance – The Black Parade
- Camera Obscura – Let’s Get Out of this Country
- Clark – Body Riddle
- The Roots – Game Theory
- Lily Allen – Alright, Still
- Band of Horses – Everything All the Time
2005
- Sufjan Stevens – Illinois
- Kanye West – Late Registration
- Fiona Apple – Extraordinary Machine
- Antony and the Johnsons – I Am a Bird Now
- Sleater-Kinney – The Woods
- M.I.A. – Arular
- The National – Alligator
- Broadcast – Tender Buttons
- Mariah Carey – The Emancipation of Mimi
- Lil Wayne – Tha Carter II
- Smog – A River Ain’t Too Much to Love
- Jeezy – Let’s Get It: Thug Motivation 101
- Clipse – We Got It 4 Cheap, Vol. 2
- The Hold Steady – Separation Sunday
- Wolf Parade – Apologies to the Queen Mary
- The Decemberists – Picaresque
- Animal Collective – Feels
- Kate Bush – Aerial
- Bright Eyes – I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning
- Sigur Ros – Takk…
- Bloc Party – Silent Alarm
- My Morning Jacket – Z
- LCD Soundsystem – LCD Soundsystem
- The Mountain Goats – The Sunset Tree
- Okkervil River – Black Sheep Boy
2004
- Madvillain – Madvillainy
- Joanna Newsom – The Milk-Eyed Mender
- Arcade Fire – Funeral
- Kanye West – The College Dropout
- Usher – Confessions
- Cam’ron – Purple Haze
- MF DOOM – MM..Food
- Wilco – A Ghost Is Born
- Animal Collective – Sung Tongs
- Arthur Russell – Calling Out of Context
- Junior Boys – Last Exit
- Loretta Lynn – Van Lear Rose
- Air – Talkie Walkie
- Blonde Redhead – Misery Is a Butterfly
- Annie – Anniemal
- Franz Ferdinand – Franz Ferdinand
- The Go! Team – Thunder, Lightning, Strike
- Mastodon – Leviathan
- The Walkmen – Bows + Arrows
- Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus
- Mannie Fresh – The Mind of Mannie Fresh
- M.I.A./Diplo – Piracy Funds Terrorism Vol. 1
- Björk – Medulla
- Jesu – Jesu
- The Fiery Furnaces – Blueberry Boat
2003
- Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Fever to Tell
- Broadcast – Haha Sound
- Cat Power – You Are Free
- Alicia Keys – The Diary of Alicia Keys
- Death Cab for Cutie – Transatlanticism
- The White Stripes – Elephant
- Jay-Z – The Black Album
- The Postal Service – Give Up
- The Exploding Hearts – Guitar Romantic
- Lightning Bolt – Wonderful Rainbow
- Sufjan Stevens – Michigan
- Viktor Vaughn – Vaudeville Villain
- Four Tet – Rounds
- Caribou – Up in Flames
- T.I. – Trap Muzik
- Dizzee Rascal – Boy in Da Corner
- The Wrens – The Meadowlands
- Deerhoof – Apple O’
- Sleep – Dopesmoker
- The Shins – Chutes Too Narrow
- Ricardo Villalobos – Alcachofa
- Boris – Akuma No Uta
- Songs: Ohia – Magnolia Electric Co.
- Prefuse 73 – One Word Extinguisher
- My Morning Jacket – It Still Moves
2002
- Wilco – Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
- William Basinski – The Disintegration Loops
- Spoon – Kill the Moonlight
- Boards of Canada – Geogaddi
- Neko Case – Blacklisted
- Broken Social Scene – You Forgot It in People
- The Streets – Original Pirate Material
- Rilo Kiley – The Execution of All Things
- Interpol – Turn on the Bright Lights
- The Mountain Goats – Tallahassee
- Missy Elliott – Under Construction
- Michael Mayer – Immer
- Tego Calderón – El Abayarde
- The Notwist – Neon Golden
- Sonic Youth – Murray Street
- Clipse – Lord Willin’
- Beck – Sea Change
- Queens of the Stone Age – Songs for the Deaf
- The Books – Thought for Food
- Drexciya – Harnessed the Storm
- Hikaru Utada – Deep River
- Brandy – Full Moon
- Iron & Wine – The Creek Drank the Cradle
- The Flaming Lips – Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots
- Black Dice – Beaches & Canyons
2001
- Daft Punk – Discovery
- Jay-Z – The Blueprint
- The Strokes – Is This It
- Björk – Vespertine
- Aaliyah – Aaliyah
- The Microphones – The Glow, Pt. 2
- Fugazi – The Argument
- Fennesz – Endless Summer
- The White Stripes – White Blood Cells
- Missy Elliott – Miss E…So Addictive
- Life Without Buildings – Any Other City
- Gillian Welch – Time (The Revelator)
- Basement Jaxx – Rooty
- The Shins – Oh, Inverted World
- Ted Leo and the Pharmacists – The Tyranny of Distance
- Low – Things We Lost in the Fire
- Kylie Minogue – Fever
- Destroyer – Streethawk: A Seduction
- Radiohead – Amnesiac
- Cannibal Ox – The Cold Vein
- Stars of the Lid – The Tired Sounds of Stars of the Lid
- Silver Jews – Bright Flight
- Andrew W.K. – I Get Wet
- Jan Jelinek – Loop-Finding-Jazz-Records
- Sparklehorse – It’s a Wonderful Life
2000
- Radiohead – Kid A
- D’Angelo – Voodoo
- Ghostface Killah – Supreme Clientele
- Erykah Badu – Mama’s Gun
- The Avalanches – Since I Left You
- OutKast – Stankonia
- Yo La Tengo – And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out
- Luomo – Vocalcity
- Godspeed You! Black Emperor – Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven
- Modest Mouse – The Moon & Antarctica
- Elliott Smith – Figure 8
- PJ Harvey – Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea
- The New Pornographers – Mass Romantic
- Aimee Mann – Bachelor No. 2 or, the Last Remains of the Dodo
- Bright Eyes – Fevers and Mirrors
- Moodymann – Forevernevermore
- GAS – Pop
- Eminem – The Marshall Mathers LP
- Broadcast – The Noise Made By People
- Three 6 Mafia – When the Smoke Clears: Sixty 6 Sixty 1
- Common – Like Water for Chocolate
- Slum Village – Fan-Tas-Tic, Vol. 2
- Clinic – Internal Wrangler
- Sade – Lovers Rock
- Jill Scott – Who Is Jill Scott? Words and Sounds Vol. 1
1999
- Fiona Apple – When the Pawn…
- Built to Spill – Keep It Like a Secret
- Destiny’s Child – The Writing’s on the Wall
- The Flaming Lips – The Soft Bulletin
- The Magnetic Fields – 69 Love Songs
- Mos Def – Black on Both Sides
- Le Tigre – Le Tigre
- Wilco – Summerteeth
- Smog – Knock Knock
- The Roots – Things Fall Apart
- Boredoms – Vision Creation Newsun
- MF Doom – Operation: Doomsday
- Sigur Rós – Ágætis byrjun
- The Dismemberment Plan – Emergency & I
- Jim O’Rourke – Eureka
- American Football – American Football
- Drexciya – Neptune’s Lair
- Bonnie “Prince” Billy – I See a Darkness
- Dr. Dre – 2001
- Blur – 13
- Sleater-Kinney – The Hot Rock
- Prince Paul – A Prince Among Thieves
- The Dixie Chicks – Fly
- Kelis – Kaleidoscope
- The Olivia Tremor Control – Black Foliage: Animation Music Volume One
1998
- Lauryn Hill – The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
- OutKast – Aquemini
- Neutral Milk Hotel – In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
- Boards of Canada – Music Has the Right to Children
- Silver Jews – American Water
- Elliott Smith – XO
- Cat Power – Moon Pix
- Massive Attack – Mezzanine
- Lucinda Williams – Car Wheels on a Gravel Road
- Juvenile – 400 Degreez
- Madonna – Ray of Light
- Air – Moon Safari
- Tortoise – TNT
- Boredoms – Super Æ
- PJ Harvey – Is This Desire?
- Autechre – LP5
- Black Star – Mos Def and Talib Kweli Are Black Star
- Pulp – This is Hardcore
- Mark Hollis – Mark Hollis
- Gang Starr – Moment of Truth
- Sparklehorse – Good Morning Spider
- Belle & Sebastian – The Boy With the Arab Strap
- Beastie Boys – Hello Nasty
- Big Pun – Capital Punishment
- The Beta Band – The Three EPs
1997
- Radiohead – OK Computer
- Björk – Homogenic
- Elliott Smith – Either/Or
- Erykah Badu – Baduizm
- Janet Jackson – The Velvet Rope
- Sleater-Kinney – Dig Me Out
- Daft Punk – Homework
- Yo La Tengo – I Can Hear the Heart Beating As One
- Missy Elliott – Supa Dupa Fly
- Spiritualized – Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space
- Bob Dylan – Time Out of Mind
- Modest Mouse – The Lonesome Crowded West
- The Notorious B.I.G. – Life After Death
- Godspeed You! Black Emperor – F# A# ∞
- Built to Spill – Perfect from Now On
- Stereolab – Dots and Loops
- Mariah Carey – Butterfly
- Roni Size & Reprazent – New Forms
- Mogwai – Young Team
- Wu-Tang Clan – Wu-Tang Forever
- Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – The Boatman’s Call
- Squarepusher – Big Loada
- Jim O’Rourke – Bad Timing
- Pavement – Brighten the Corners
- Carl Craig – More Songs About Food and Revolutionary Art
1996
- Belle and Sebastian – If You’re Feeling Sinister
- DJ Shadow – Endtroducing…
- Aaliyah – One in a Million
- Stereolab – Emperor Tomato Ketchup
- Aphex Twin – Richard D. James Album
- 2Pac – All Eyez on Me
- Fugees – The Score
- OutKast – ATLiens
- Fiona Apple – Tidal
- UGK – Ridin’ Dirty
- Jay-Z – Reasonable Doubt
- Ghostface Killah – Ironman
- Beck – Odelay
- Lil Kim – Hard Core
- Maxwell – Maxwell’s Urban Hang Suite
- Weezer – Pinkerton
- Mobb Deep – Hell on Earth
- Gillian Welch – Revival
- Tortoise – Millions Now Living Will Never Die
- De La Soul – Stakes Is High
- Wilco – Being There
- Silver Jews – The Natural Bridge
- Team Dresch – Captain My Captain
- Orbital – In Sides
- Everything But the Girl – Walking Wounded
1995
- Björk – Post
- D’Angelo – Brown Sugar
- Raekwon – Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…
- Elliott Smith – Elliott Smith
- Mobb Deep – The Infamous…
- Pulp – Different Class
- Radiohead – The Bends
- Genius/GZA – Liquid Swords
- Scott Walker – Tilt
- Tricky – Maxinquaye
- Autechre – Tri Repetae
- Pavement – Wowee Zowee
- Oval – 94diskont
- Ol’ Dirty Bastard – Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version
- Bone Thugs-n-Harmony – E. 1999 Eternal
- DJ Screw – 3 ‘n the Mornin’ (Part Two)
- Three 6 Mafia – Mystic Stylez
- Garbage – Garbage
- Elastica – Elastica
- Fugazi – Red Medicine
- The Smashing Pumpkins – Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
- Sparklehorse – Vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot
- Oasis – (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?
- Sonic Youth – Washing Machine
- Alanis Morissette – Jagged Little Pill
1994
- The Notorious B.I.G. – Ready to Die
- Portishead – Dummy
- Hole – Live Through This
- Nas – Illmatic
- Pavement – Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
- TLC – CrazySexyCool
- Aphex Twin – Selected Ambient Works Volume II
- Nine Inch Nails – The Downward Spiral
- Scarface – The Diary
- Weezer – Weezer (Blue Album)
- Autechre – Amber
- Digable Planets – Blowout Comb
- Nirvana – MTV Unplugged in New York
- Bikini Kill – The C.D. Version of the First Two Records
- Arthur Russell – Another Thought
- Guided By Voices – Bee Thousand
- Built to Spill – There’s Nothing Wrong With Love
- Jeff Buckley – Grace
- Blur – Parklife
- Soundgarden – Superunknown
- Tom Petty – Wildflowers
- Gang Starr – Hard to Earn
- OutKast – Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik
- Sunny Day Real Estate – Diary
- Mary J. Blige – My Life
1993
- Wu-Tang Clan – Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
- Liz Phair – Exile in Guyville
- PJ Harvey – Rid of Me
- Nirvana – In Utero
- Janet Jackson – Janet
- The Breeders – Last Splash
- Slowdive – Souvlaki
- A Tribe Called Quest – Midnight Marauders
- The Smashing Pumpkins – Siamese Dream
- Mazzy Star – So Tonight That I Might See
- Bikini Kill – Pussy Whipped
- Yo La Tengo – Painful
- Björk – Debut
- De La Soul – Buhloone Mindstate
- The Cranberries – Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We?
- Snoop Doggy Dogg – Doggystyle
- Aimee Mann – Whatever
- Digable Planets – Reachin’ (A New Refutation of Time and Space)
- Sarah MacLachlan – Fumbling Towards Ecstasy
- Bratmobile – Pottymouth
- Stereolab – Transient Random-Noise Bursts With Announcements
- Souls of Mischief – 93 ’til Infinity
- Cocteau Twins – Four-Calendar Cafe
- Archers of Loaf – Icky Mettle
- Unrest – Perfect Teeth
1992
- Dr. Dre – The Chronic
- Sade – Love Deluxe
- Aphex Twin – Selected Ambient Works 85-92
- R.E.M. – Automatic for the People
- Pavement – Slanted and Enchanted
- The Pharcyde – Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde
- Mary J. Blige – What’s the 411?
- Rage Against the Machine – Rage Against the Machine
- Tori Amos – Little Earthquakes
- PJ Harvey – Dry
- Beastie Boys – Check Your Head
- Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth – Mecca and the Soul Brother
- Jonathan Richman – I, Jonathan
- Various Artists – Artificial Intelligence
- Iris DeMent – Infamous Angel
- Beat Happening – You Turn Me On
- Madonna – Erotica
- K.d. Lang – Ingenue
- Babes in Toyland – Fontanelle
- Heavenly – Le Jardin de Heavenly
- Sonic Youth – Dirty
- Tom Waits – Bone Machine
- Lucinda Williams – Sweet Old World
- Alice in Chains – Dirt
- The Cure – Wish
1991
- My Bloody Valentine – Loveless
- Nirvana – Nevermind
- A Tribe Called Quest – The Low End Theory
- Talk Talk – Laughing Stock
- Slint – Spiderland
- De La Soul – De La Soul is Dead
- Primal Scream – Screamadelica
- Massive Attack – Blue Lines
- Sonny Sharrock – Ask the Ages
- Ice Cube – Death Certificate
- U2 – Achtung Baby
- The Orb – The Orb’s Adventures Beyond the Ultraworld
- Geto Boys – We Can’t Be Stopped
- Ice-T – O.G. Original Gangster
- Pearl Jam – Ten
- Hole – Pretty on the Inside
- Teenage Fanclub – Bandwagonesque
- Scarface – Mr. Scarface Is Back
- Gang Starr – Step in the Arena
- Guns N’ Roses – Use Your Illusions I & II
- Sebadoh – III
- Public Enemy – Apocalypse 91…The Enemy Strikes Back
- The Jesus Lizard – Goat
- Organized Konfusion – Organized Konfusion
- Fugazi – Steady Diet of Nothing
1990
- Public Enemy – Fear of a Black Planet
- Cocteau Twins – Heaven or Las Vegas
- Sonic Youth – Goo
- The KLF – Chill Out
- A Tribe Called Quest – People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm
- Ice Cube – AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted
- Ride – Nowhere
- Fugazi – Repeater
- Depeche Mode – Violator
- Angelo Badalamenti – Soundtrack from Twin Peaks
- Sinead O’Connor – I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got
- Pet Shop Boys – Behaviour
- Prefab Sprout – Jordan: The Comeback
- John Zorn – The Naked City
- The Breeders – Pod
- Daniel Johnston – 1990
- The Sundays – Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic
- Mazzy Star – She Hangs Brightly
- Galaxie 500 – This Is Our Music
- Kool G Rap & DJ Polo – Wanted: Dead or Alive
- Pixies – Bossanova
- Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – The Good Son
- The Geto Boys – The Geto Boys
- Jane’s Addiction – Ritual De Lo Habitual
- Codeine – Frigid Stars
1979
- The Clash – London Calling
- Michael Jackson – Off the Wall
- Joy Division – Unknown Pleasures
- Talking Heads – Fear of Music
- The Raincoats – The Raincoats
- Fleetwood Mac – Tusk
- Neil Young & Crazy Horse – Rust Never Sleeps
- Throbbing Gristle – 20 Jazz Funk Greats
- Donna Summer – Bad Girls
- The Slits – Cut
- Chic – Risqué
- Buzzcocks – Singles Going Steady
- Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers – Damn the Torpedoes
- The B-52’s – The B-52’s
- Gang of Four – Entertainment!
- The Pop Group – Y
- The Roches – The Roches
- This Heat – This Heat
- Supertramp – Breakfast in America
- Public Image Ltd. – Metal Box
- Sparks – No. 1 in Heaven
- Sun Ra and His Arkestra – Sleeping Beauty
- Germs – (GI)
- Motörhead – Overkill
- Earth, Wind & Fire – I Am
1978
- Brian Eno – Ambient 1: Music for Airports
- X-Ray Spex – Germfree Adolescents
- Steve Reich – Music for 18 Musicians
- Kraftwerk – The Man-Machine
- Bruce Springsteen – Darkness on the Edge of Town
- Blondie – Parallel Lines
- Talking Heads – More Songs About Buildings and Food
- Big Star – Third
- Siouxsie and the Banshees – The Scream
- Kate Bush – The Kick Inside
- Funkadelic – One Nation Under a Groove
- Devo – Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo
- The Cars – The Cars
- Wire – Chairs Missing
- Elvis Costello & the Attractions – This Year’s Model
- Various Artists – No New York
- The Walker Brothers – Nite Flights
- David Behrman – On the Other Ocean
- Robert Ashley – Private Parts
- Warren Zevon – Excitable Boy
- Bernard Parmegiani – De natura sonorum
- Van Halen – Van Halen
- Robbie Basho – Visions of the Country
- Marvin Gaye – Here, My Dear
- The Patti Smith Group – Easter
1977
- David Bowie – Low
- Kraftwerk – Trans-Europe Express
- Television – Marquee Moon
- Fleetwood Mac – Rumours
- Brian Eno – Before and After Science
- Suicide – Suicide
- Steely Dan – Aja
- Bob Marley & the Wailers – Exodus
- Augustus Pablo – King Tubbys Meet Rockers Uptown
- The Congos – Heart of the Congos
- Wire – Pink Flag
- David Bowie – Heroes
- Fela Kuti & Afrika 70 – Zombie
- Iggy Pop – Lust for Life
- Don Cherry – Don Cherry
- Giorgio Moroder – From Here to Eternity
- The Clash – The Clash
- Billy Joel – The Stranger
- Parliament – Funkentelechy vs. the Placebo Syndrome
- Iggy Pop – The Idiot
- Ashra – New Age of Earth
- Sex Pistols – Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols
- Cerrone – Supernature
- Ramones – Rocket to Russia
- Miles Davis – Dark Magus
1976
- Stevie Wonder – Songs in the Key of Life
- Joni Mitchell – Hejira
- David Bowie – Station to Station
- The Modern Lovers – The Modern Lovers
- Ramones – Ramones
- Jorge Ben – África Brasil
- Marvin Gaye – I Want You
- Tom Zé – Estudando o samba
- Thin Lizzy – Jailbreak
- The Upsetters – Super Ape
- Tom Waits – Small Change
- ABBA – Arrival
- Leon Ware – Musical Massage
- Bob Dylan – Desire
- Steve Reid feat. The Legendary Master Brotherhood – Nova
- The Abyssinians – Satta Massagana
- Charlemagne Palestine – Strumming Music
- Roy Ayers Ubiquity – Everybody Loves the Sunshine
- Boz Scaggs – Silk Degrees
- Patti Smith Group – Radio Ethiopia
- Serge Gainsbourg – L’homme à tête de chou
- The Isley Brothers – Harvest for the World
- Steely Dan – The Royal Scam
- Bernard Herrmann – Taxi Driver OST
- Cluster – Sowiesoso
1975
- Bruce Springsteen – Born to Run
- Patti Smith – Horses
- Bob Dylan – Blood on the Tracks
- Brian Eno – Another Green World
- Led Zeppelin – Physical Graffiti
- Joni Mitchell – The Hissing of Summer Lawns
- Parliament – Mothership Connection
- Fela Kuti & Afrika ’70 – Expensive Shit
- Neil Young – Tonight’s the Night
- Willie Nelson – Red Headed Stranger
- Keith Jarrett – The Köln Concert
- Miles Davis – Agharta
- Neu! – Neu! 75
- Queen – A Night at the Opera
- Fripp & Eno – Evening Star
- Manuel Göttsching – Inventions for Electric Guitar
- Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here
- Tim Maia – Racional Vol 1
- Donald Byrd – Places and Spaces
- Lou Reed – Metal Machine Music
- Iasos – Inter-Dimensional Music
- Fleetwood Mac – Fleetwood Mac
- Neil Young & Crazy Horse – Zuma
- Harmonia – Deluxe
- Earth, Wind & Fire – That’s the Way of the World
1974
- Neil Young – On the Beach
- Joni Mitchell – Court and Spark
- Brian Eno – Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy)
- Millie Jackson – Caught Up
- Kraftwerk – Autobahn
- Dolly Parton – Jolene
- Brian Eno – Here Come the Warm Jets
- Stevie Wonder – Fulfillingness’ First Finale
- Sparks – Kimono My House
- Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson – Winter in America
- King Crimson – Red
- Idris Muhammad – Power of Soul
- Miles Davis – Get Up With It
- Randy Newman – Good Old Boys
- Kool & the Gang – Light of Worlds
- Roxy Music – Country Life
- Willie Nelson – Phases and Stages
- Gene Clark – No Other
- Tangerine Dream – Phaedra
- Bennie Maupin – The Jewel in the Lotus
- Cluster – Zuckerzeit
- Pharoah Sanders – Love in Us All
- Ann Peebles – I Can’t Stand the Rain
- Genesis – The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
- Shuggie Otis – Inspiration Information
1973
- Stevie Wonder – Innervisions
- Herbie Hancock – Headhunters
- Can – Future Days
- Pink Floyd – The Dark Side of the Moon
- Marvin Gaye – Let’s Get It On
- Elton John – Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
- Al Green – Call Me
- Roxy Music – For Your Pleasure
- Bob Marley and the Wailers – Catch a Fire
- Toots & the Maytals – Funky Kingston
- James Brown – The Payback
- Judee Sill – Heart Food
- Faust – Faust IV
- Led Zeppelin – Houses of the Holy
- Iggy and the Stooges – Raw Power
- John Fahey – Fare Forward Voyagers (Soldier’s Choice)
- The Isley Brothers – 3 + 3
- Lou Reed – Berlin
- Betty Davis – Betty Davis
- Paul McCartney & Wings – Band on the Run
- Willie Hutch – The Mack
- Tom Zé – Todos os Olhos
- David Bowie – Aladdin Sane
- Gal Costa – índia
- Bruce Springsteen – The Wild, the Innocent, and the E Street Shuffle
1972
- The Rolling Stones – Exile on Main St.
- Can – Ege Bamyasi
- Miles Davis – On the Corner
- David Bowie – The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
- Nick Drake – Pink Moon
- Lou Reed – Transformer
- Curtis Mayfield – Superfly
- Aretha Franklin – Amazing Grace
- Big Star – #1 Record
- Caetano Veloso – Transa
- Pharoah Sanders – Black Unity
- Milton Nascimento & Lô Borges – Clube da Esquina
- Jimmy Cliff & Various Artists – The Harder They Come
- Al Green – I’m Still in Love With You
- Stevie Wonder – Talking Book
- Aretha Franklin – Young, Gifted and Black
- Bill Withers – Still Bill
- Randy Newman – Sail Away
- Charles Mingus – Let My Children Hear Music
- Neu! – Neu!
- Neil Young – Harvest
- Terry Riley – Persian Surgery Dervishes
- Ornette Coleman – Science Fiction
- The O’Jays – Back Stabbers
- Grateful Dead – Europe ’72
1971
- Joni Mitchell – Blue
- Marvin Gaye – What’s Going On
- Funkadelic – Maggot Brain
- Alice Coltrane – Journey in Satchidananda
- Sly & the Family Stone – There’s a Riot Goin’ On
- Can – Tago Mago
- David Bowie – Hunky Dory
- Serge Gainsbourg – Histoire de Melody Nelson
- Leonard Cohen – Songs of Love and Hate
- Bill Withers – Just As I Am
- Carole King – Tapestry
- The Rolling Stones – Sticky Fingers
- Gil Scott-Heron – Pieces of a Man
- Miles Davis – A Tribute to Jack Johnson
- T. Rex – Electric Warrior
- Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin IV
- Paul & Linda McCartney – Ram
- Karen Dalton – In My Own Time
- Janis Joplin – Pearl
- Baby Huey – The Baby Huey Story: The Living Legend
- The Who – Who’s Next
- John Prine – John Prine
- Isaac Hayes – Black Moses
- Judee Sill – Judee Sill
- Black Sabbath – Master of Reality
1970
- Miles Davis – Bitches Brew
- The Stooges – Fun House
- Neil Young – After the Gold Rush
- Black Sabbath – Paranoid
- The Velvet Underground – Loaded
- Curtis Mayfield – Curtis
- George Harrison – All Things Must Pass
- Jimi Hendrix – Band of Gypsys
- Minnie Riperton – Come to My Garden
- James Brown – Sex Machine
- Creedence Clearwater Revival – Cosmo’s Factory
- Simon & Garfunkel – Bridge Over Troubled Water
- Van Morrison – Moondance
- Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young – Deja Vu
- Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin III
- Yoko Ono – Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band
- Alice Coltrane – Ptah, the El Daoud
- Laura Nyro – Christmas and the Beads of Sweat
- Aretha Franklin – Spirit in the Dark
- Kris Kristofferson – Kristofferson
- The Delfonics – The Delfonics
- Loretta Lynn – Coal Miner’s Daughter
- The Kinks – Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround (Part One)
- Art Ensemble of Chicago – Les Stances a Sophie
- Mutantes – A divina comédia ou ando meio desligado
