Top 10 Best Albums of All Time

If you're a music lover, you know that a great album can be more than just a collection of songs - it can be a transformative experience that stays with you long after the final track. Throughout the history of music, there have been countless albums that have pushed boundaries, broken records, and become cultural touchstones. From classic rock to hip-hop to pop, this list features the greatest albums of all time that have not only stood the test of time but also continue to inspire new generations of music fans.
The Top Ten
1 Dark Side of the Moon - Pink Floyd

This deserves to be in the top 3, along with Animals and Wish You Were Here. The concept is so unbelievably simple it's hard to think that something like it hadn't been done before. It focuses on shared difficulties in the lives of humans, such as money, death, time, war, homelessness, racism, and insanity, and does it in a way that feels so fresh and unique. Also, it's one of those albums where each song is better appreciated within the context of the album, instead of as a single.

The instrumental performances are some of the band's best, with each member absolutely killing it. The album is home to some of Gilmour's greatest solos, like the ones on Time and Money.

2 Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - The Beatles

The Beatles started off making simple, short love songs. They did this for about two years, then started making more diverse songs in albums like "Beatles For Sale", "Help!", and "Rubber Soul". In 1966, they released an album still considered great, almost legendary, called "Revolver". Then, in 1967, they released "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band". This was the album that not only defined their work but also the entire hippie culture of the 1960s-70s.

With songs like "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" (the title track), "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" (a song about LSD, hence Lucy, Sky, and Diamonds), "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!" (which is honestly one of the greatest circus songs I have heard), "Within You Without You" (a Classical Indian song), one of my favorite songs ever, "When I'm Sixty-Four" (a very nice song), and last but not least, "A Day in the Life" (one of the greatest songs ever made, and certainly the best Beatles song). Even with only 13 songs, there is a song for everyone. Obviously, they released other great albums like The White Album, Abbey Road, and Let It Be, but Sgt. Pepper's is by far the best Beatles album and the best album of all time.

3 Abbey Road - The Beatles

In my opinion, this is such an amazing album. It is the best thing the Beatles ever made. Like The Dark Side of the Moon, it's one of those albums where each song is better appreciated within the context of the album.

It's inspiring that the Beatles still had so much creative energy at the end of their run. They put it to good use on this album, which only has a couple of weak songs. Even they aren't so bad when surrounded by some of history's greatest songs.

I cannot begin to describe how perfect this album is. The second half is one of the most brilliantly conceived pieces of art ever recorded, ending with Harrison's gorgeous Here Comes the Sun and (ignoring Her Majesty), finishing with one of the greatest album closers ever, The End. It manages to feel like an entire live show compressed into two minutes and even features Ringo's only drum solo.

In the first half, other iconic Beatles tunes like Come Together and Something are featured, along with perhaps the first progressive metal song ever, I Want You (She's So Heavy). Oh, and then there's the only Beatles song Ringo ever fully wrote, the delightfully hummable Octopus's Garden. While The Beatles' touring days were long behind them at this point, this album really has a somewhat live album feel in terms of being a musical journey across the types of genres the band was capable of. It has that excitement you get at the start of a live show and that feeling of closure at the end. This album is almost 50 years old (or already 50 years old depending on when you read this), and yet every time I put it on, it feels new and exciting. Sheer perfection.

4 Led Zeppelin IV (aka ZOSO) - Led Zeppelin

I don't think anyone thought that one of the greatest bands ever assembled would consist of a screaming banshee, an American Revolution pirate war hero, a drummer who plays like how a seizure feels, and a guitar-playing Dr. Frankenstein. Well, that's what we got.

To keep this short, this album simply provides the most energetic of rock and roll, the most intricate and delicate of finger-style guitar and ballad, topped off with the most well-written, emotional track ever mixed. That, to me, should be deemed the theme song of the human race.

5 Revolver - The Beatles

Doctor Robert, She Said She Said, and For No One are all easily some of the most underrated songs ever written. The vocals just flow authentically on every song, whether it's John, Paul, George, or Ringo on the mic. I could listen to every track for hours, and the guitar tones, in my opinion, are simply unmatched.

Definitely better than Sgt. Pepper's, it's three great songs and three good songs against six great songs and eight good songs. Abbey Road, Led Zeppelin IV, and The Dark Side of the Moon are all good, but they are less consistently good. Nevermind and OK Computer are very good, but again, they have some weak songs. Thriller has lots of great pop songs, but it's a bit generic and overrated. Rubber Soul and Rumours should be higher as they are also amazing, just not quite as good. London Calling, Who's Next, Paranoid, The Wall, and Pet Sounds are also very good.

In my opinion, Doolittle, Ziggy Stardust, In Rainbows, Plastic Ono Band, and Bringing It All Back Home should be in the top 20, all far better than Sgt. Pepper's and Thriller. However, Revolver and Rubber Soul should be the top two definitely.

6 The Wall - Pink Floyd

What can I say? While it may not be the greatest album ever (belonging to Dark Side) and may not be the best Floyd album (that would be Dark Side), it is still a masterfully crafted album that resonates even today. From some of Floyd's biggest hits like "Another Brick in the Wall" to Gilmour's greatest solos like "Comfortably Numb" to beautiful compositions like "Mother," this album hits hard.

While these songs can be listened to time and time again, the best way to experience them is with a full-album playthrough. The songs blend seamlessly into each other, and you can hardly tell when one turns to another. Perhaps the most underrated song on The Wall would be "Is There Anybody Out There?" That song never fails to give me a chill down my spine.

7 American Idiot - Green Day

American Idiot came out at a time when people were afraid to speak out due to 9/11. Green Day didn't care about what people were and weren't supposed to say. They released the album filled with rage and disappointment about America and its politics anyway.

The storyline throughout the whole album is appealing to the youth, as everybody can find something to identify with. And with a mix of angry rock songs like "American Idiot" and emotional ballads like "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" and "Wake Me Up When September Ends," I don't see how this can't be considered the greatest album of all time.

Even though it's almost six years since it first came out, it is still current with an ongoing Broadway play. That, for me, makes American Idiot the obvious choice on this list.

8 A Night at the Opera - Queen

The greatest of all time in my opinion. Every song is, at the very least, great. They all have a unique feel to them, conveying emotions like I have never heard in any album ever. Of course, this album concludes with Bohemian Rhapsody, a song that conveys every feeling in just under 6 minutes.

While, of course, I love Thriller, Purple Rain, Sheer Heart Attack, and The Wall, I believe this is by far the best one and has yet to be topped.

Queen's best album by far, and my favorite album of all time, is Sheer Heart Attack. It's another great album that deserves a spot in the top 15. It marked the beginning of the classic Queen sound. But then came this creatively kick-ass album that blew everything out of the water.

Bohemian Rhapsody, '39, Prophet's Song, I'm in Love With My Car, Death on Two Legs, and who could forget Love of My Life? Another hit, You're My Best Friend, was actually written by John Deacon, the bassist, and in my opinion, it's one of the best love songs ever. This album should be in the top 5.

9 Thriller - Michael Jackson

I've been searching for best songs ever made lately, and I was terribly disappointed to see that on so many lists there is no Michael Jackson! This is outrageous! One of the best pop singers in the world deserves more than that. This is the man that made a dancing and singing revolution, a man who was years ahead of his time, a man who amazed the world with his voice, performance, songs... This man was and always will be a GENIUS! He deserves to be number 1.

This is maybe better than the album Bad. Thriller is unreal, something that no one can reach except Michael Jackson, simply the God of Music. In the top 10 list of the best albums of all time, I honestly put my classification in this way: 1. Bad, 2. Thriller, 3. Dangerous, 4. History, 5. Invincible, 6. Off the Wall, 7. Blood on the Dance Floor, and finally 8. Michael, which is also a great album. Believe me, I didn't include Number Ones, The Essential Michael Jackson, King of Pop, which are also amazing!

10 Nevermind - Nirvana

"Nevermind" should be number one. All of "Nevermind's" songs are really good, besides "Endless, Nameless." Nirvana's my second favorite band (Queen's my favorite).

My favorite album by Queen is "A Night at the Opera" - a great album! It's one of my favorite albums, but there are two songs on there that I really love: "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "You're My Best Friend." There are like three other songs that are really good, and the rest of the songs are good. However, most of my favorite songs by Queen are from different albums. And most of my favorite songs by Nirvana are from "Nevermind," so I think it should be number one.

The Newcomers

? Zettai Zetsumei - Radwimps
? Love: Part Two - Angels & Airwaves
The Contenders
11 Ok Computer - Radiohead

That part in "Let Down" where Thom sings "you know where you are, you know where you are" is something you'll never hear ever again. It's the most aesthetically pleasing piece of music of all time. Combined with some of the most phenomenal tracks ever, like "Paranoid Android" and "Karma Police," this album is orgasmic.

How can something so depressing be so beautiful? It's like the band is planting pretty flowers on the graves of my happiness and idealism, embracing my depression, misery, and mental illnesses. This album is God's gift to us poor souls. It actually helped me through my hardest times and prevented me from ending it all.

12 Ride the Lightning - Metallica

Nirvana has the most inauthentic fans ever. "Nevermind" has one song that most people know, and you're probably already familiar with it: "Smells Like Teen Spirit." However, this album contains numerous classics and excellent music. Many songs from this album are well-known, such as "For Whom The Bell Tolls," "Ride The Lightning," and "Fade To Black" - all of which are masterpieces.

I'm not saying Nirvana and "Smells Like Teen Spirit" are bad. They're simply overrated and primarily recognized for one song. Metallica, on the other hand, is also overrated, I must admit. However, they are renowned for their numerous songs and albums. Just like with Nirvana, there are also fake Metallica fans. But if you're a genuine fan, you'd recognize that Metallica has written an abundance of great pieces.

13 Pet Sounds - The Beach Boys

An escalation of the studio wars. A flag planted in the sand, the crest of a wave. Tender, thoughtful, and brilliantly composed. Massive, and impossibly delicate.

This album is timeless. Even while a bunch of music from the era becomes incredibly dated with all the flower power and peace, love, and acid nonsense, this album is so pure, honest, and beautiful. The lyrics are so relatable. You'd have to be a damn robot not to understand where Brian and Tony Asher were coming from. The harmonies are almost too perfect.

I can, and have, listened to this recording acapella so many times because it literally feels as if this was recorded in heaven by angels. Every time I listen to it, it's as if I'm getting a little sneak peek of heaven. Otherworldly. And I haven't even mentioned the brilliant arrangements by Brian and the Wrecking Crew. Honestly, if you can make it past track 2 with your head intact, mouth closed, and eyes dry, then you simply haven't been listening.

14 Master of Puppets - Metallica

Overall, how can you go wrong with this? It touches on many areas such as speedy thrash on Battery, ballads on Welcome Home (Sanitarium), and technical instrumentals with Orion. It rocks so hard.

Battery - Old school thrash at its finest.
Master Of Puppets - Best title track of an album ever.
The Thing That Should Not Be - Well worked.
Welcome Home (Sanitarium) - Sanitarium has become one of my favorite words!
Disposable Heroes - Amazing intro, sticks in your head.
Leper Messiah - Only song I actually haven't listened to off Master.
Orion - Two words: Cliff Burton.
Damage Inc. - Nice closing track.

Overall - Great album. Definitely the best metal album.

15 Kid A - Radiohead

While OK Computer could only speculate, Kid A immediately identified the other side of the new millennium as cold and isolated, terrifying a year before the war on terror even started. Kid A is a ball of anxiety, but it finds a groove as it puts down its guitars and embraces the age of information.

I grew up with the Beatles as a kid, and now I measure every band's work to see if it's up to the standards set by the greatest band ever. This band, Radiohead, has so far come very close to the superior talent level that it takes to be one of the best ever.

It took me some time to truly understand how complex and special "Kid A" is, and now it is one of my favorite albums in my entire music collection. I have all the albums in your top ten, except for "Thriller."

By the way, their new album, "A Moon Shaped Pool," is amazing. This band seems to be getting better as they age.

16 Wish You Were Here - Pink Floyd

This deserves a place in the top 3, along with Animals and The Dark Side of the Moon. It's so atmospheric, and every song on it is unique and great, even the songs most cite as being their least favorites on the album, like Have a Cigar and Welcome to the Machine. The concept is great and shows how the music industry is a machine and how it defeated former band member Syd Barrett.

Also, Shine On You Crazy Diamond is one of the greatest songs Floyd ever put together, spanning 26 minutes without any weak moments.

17 Appetite for Destruction - Guns N' Roses

Now I am not the most experienced musician. I'm only 13 years old. But one thing I have no doubt about is that this album is the greatest album of all time. In my opinion, the best music is raw and unchained. If you look up 'unchained' in the dictionary, you will be met with Appetite's cover art. Each track makes it clear that Axl shows no restraint in his apathy for society or his sincere love for other topics. And no, Slash is not overrated. He's a guitar god. End of story.

The best album of all time with no bad or even mediocre songs. Brilliant singing and music throughout, the debut album that sold the most copies in history! Had Guns N' Roses stayed together in the original lineup, they would undoubtedly be the greatest band of all time.

Still, they are to me. Nirvana in No. 10? Don't make me laugh!

18 Meteora - Linkin Park

Meteora is legendary. I'm not a fan of Linkin Park, but some people say old music is better and the classics are the best. They're wrong. In my personal opinion, Meteora is a lot better than a lot of the stuff in front of it.

Linkin Park itself needs as much attention as Nirvana (who were completely garbage). Every song in this album is great, but in Nevermind, the only reason they could sell out of it was Smells Like Teen Spirit.

This album is the best achievement in psychology, in my opinion. It helped me to get rid of depression originating from the very beginning of my life. I also love the set of songs from it that became popular.

19 Rubber Soul - The Beatles

Honestly, I think Revolver is overrated. This album is more consistent. All the way through, it's brilliant. Drive My Car is a great opening song with a groovy bassline. Norwegian Wood has some great fingerpicking from John Lennon.

Nowhere Man is my favorite song in the whole album. The harmonies are great, and so are the lyrics. In My Life is an absolute classic. It's so beautiful. I particularly love the piano solo in the middle. I'm Looking Through You is another great song. There's even more to this album, but you get the point.

20 Paranoid - Black Sabbath

Black Sabbath will always be my number one. From their first album throughout their performances in concerts until their first breakup, their stack of records was always playing on the turntable at home after school. There is no other sound like Tony Iommi's that will ever be reproduced.

I still, from time to time, go back through each song in order on each album. This album was special with the songs Iron Man, Paranoid, and War Pigs. It's funny how certain songs find their way into movies and other soundtracks. Even though they have more or less retired from working or producing, their work will live in infamy forever.

21 Animals - Pink Floyd

This really deserves to be in the top 3, along with Dark Side of the Moon and Wish You Were Here. I don't understand why this album isn't more popular. Everything about it is perfect, from Gilmour's guitar and fretless bass, and Wright's unmatched synth and keyboard, to Waters' bass and timeless lyrics, and Mason's drumming.

Also, the concept of this album is unique, in that it is based loosely on Animal Farm and divides people into three categories: the pigs, sheep, and dogs. I love that Roger isn't afraid to criticize people.

22 The Black Parade - My Chemical Romance

This album brings back such bittersweet memories. While I can't say I'm too proud of some of its fans, My Chemical Romance is my favorite band. I'm typing this in 2015, two years after their breakup.

This album is a masterpiece. The lyrics, the instrumentation, just the feeling you get from listening to it - it's beautiful. There's one song in the whole album that I'm not crazy about (House of Wolves). Pretty much all the songs are packed with raw, real emotion, and that's not something that can be said of the vast majority of albums out there.

I am Yucca Sherbert (sorry if that doesn't make sense), and this is my favorite album of all time.

23 Back in Black - AC/DC

"Hell's Bells" gets the album off to a flying start with a slow, ominous build-up before descending into a true rock classic. It is followed by the swashbuckling tracks "Shoot to Thrill" and the highly underrated "What Do You Do for Money, Honey?" "Givin' the Dog a Bone" and "Let Me Put My Love Into You" don't stand out as much but are still fun and fast rock songs, while "Back in Black" is rightfully one of AC/DC's most famous songs.

"You Shook Me All Night Long" has become a rock anthem, and the last three songs are all killer, especially "Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution" which captures your interest with a great riff and catchy chorus.

24 To Pimp a Butterfly - Kendrick Lamar

This feels like the last good album. With TPaB, Kendrick drew a line in the creative sand that no rapper, including himself, has crossed since. The album genre-hops around a recurring poetic motif while still remaining firmly in rap territory, with complex tracks taking a meticulously orchestrated shape.

Kendrick's versatile rapping voice and mind-racing lyrics make it an all-timer.

Kendrick Lamar is one of the best lyricists of our time, and this album proves it. He brings up a lot of interesting perspectives in this album in a non-preachy way that's enjoyable from start to finish. I'm talking about themes such as racism from outside of and within the black community, depression, society's glorification of fame, celebrities, money, and sex, and much more.

Not to mention the nearly perfect production of this entire album. The many talented producers for this album, some that are famous and some that are hidden gems, really went all out with making this album sound unbelievably original, creative, complex, and enjoyable to listen to. It's easily one of the best hip-hop albums of all time.

25 Hybrid Theory - Linkin Park

I grew up listening to this album. I know Linkin Park gets associated with the angsty teenager phase all the time, but that joke is getting old. Listen to the songs again, and you'll realize almost every song has incredible depth. They play their music with heart and soul.

Hybrid Theory may not be The Dark Side of the Moon, sure. But it is one of the last albums to have had that much soul put into it before this new era of generally terrible music.

20 is a little low for the best album by the most popular band on the planet. It has sold 29 million copies since 2000. Big deal. The songs are awesome. The style is awesome. Mike Shinoda is awesome. Chester Bennington is awesome. And in the end, it doesn't even matter.

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