Top 10 Artists Who Pass the 5-Album Test

Around half a year ago, I watched a YouTube video by Alfo Media about a concept introduced by a member of the "AV Club" named Steven Hyden. He called it the "5-Album Test." This test determines if a music artist is "amazing" based not just on popularity and critical acclaim, but also on their ability to release five great albums in a row.

Ever since I saw that video, I've occasionally tried to see if an artist would pass the test whenever I looked at their profile on albumoftheyear.org. So, I think it's time for not just me, but also for all of you to round up artists who pass the test here.

Be sure to count only LPs. Don't include live albums, mixtapes, EPs, or singles. Also, make sure each of the albums you include has received positive reception. I definitely recommend using albumoftheyear.org to verify this.

1. The Beatles

   

   The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. The group comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the most influential band of all time and were integral to the development of the 1960s counterculture and the recognition of popular... read more

   Pretty obvious choice. For the 5-album run, I'd probably go with 'Rubber Soul' to 'Self-Titled'.

   They have been brilliant since the beginning.

2. Pink Floyd

   

   Pink Floyd are an English progressive rock band formed in 1965 in London, England. They gained international acclaim with their innovative, conceptual music blending progressive rock and psychedelia. The classic lineup included Syd Barrett (vocals and guitar), David Gilmour (vocals and guitar), Nick... read more

   Easy choice. They definitely make the cut from 'Meddle' to 'The Wall', which is definitely their peak.

3. Talking Heads

   

   Talking Heads were an American rock band formed in 1975 in New York City and active until 1991. The band comprised David Byrne, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth, and Jerry Harrison. They helped pioneer new wave music and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002.

   What a fascinating band. They also have six great albums in a row. I think their best is 'Talking Heads: 77' to 'Speaking in Tongues'.

4. Miles Davis

   

   Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26, 1926 to September 28, 1991) was an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. He is regarded as one of the most influential and innovative musicians in the history of jazz and 20th-century music. Davis was instrumental in the development of several jazz styles,... read more

   Easy choice. You also have lots of options to choose from for the 5-album test for him. My favorite would probably be from 'In a Silent Way' to 'On the Corner'.

5. Black Sabbath

   

   Black Sabbath were a heavy metal band formed in Birmingham, England, in 1968 by guitarist and songwriter Tony Iommi, singer John "Ozzy" Osbourne, bassist and main lyricist Geezer Butler, and drummer Bill Ward. Their self-titled debut album received mixed reviews, but they quickly gained a strong following... read more

   Just like Led Zeppelin, their first six albums were great. You can go with 'Self-Titled' to 'Sabbath Bloody Sabbath' or 'Paranoid' to 'Sabotage'.

6. David Bowie

   

   David Robert Jones, known professionally as David Bowie (January 8, 1947 - January 10, 2016), was an English singer born in London, the son of a sales promotion officer and a housewife.

   He earned praise for his experimental and creative music, won numerous awards, and gained admiration from critics... read more

   Sadly, you can't do a run that includes 'The Man Who Sold the World' to 'Aladdin Sane', even though that's probably where Bowie's peak was. You could still go with 'Station to Station' to 'Scary Monsters'.

7. Radiohead

   

   Radiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood, Colin Greenwood, Philip Selway, and Ed O'Brien.

   Known for their experimentation and sonic evolution, they rose to international prominence with OK Computer and continued... read more

   Sorry, but I just HAD to do it. Anyway, they also have six great albums in a row, so you could choose 'The Bends' to 'Hail to the Thief' or 'OK Computer' to 'In Rainbows'. I'll definitely choose 'OK Computer' to 'In Rainbows'.

8. Korn

   

   Korn is an American nu-metal band from Bakersfield, California, formed in 1993. The band's current lineup includes founding members Jonathan Davis, James "Munky" Shaffer, Brian "Head" Welch, and Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu, along with Ray Luzier, who replaced original drummer David Silveria in 2007. Korn... read more

9. Queen

   

   Queen is an English rock band formed in London in 1970. The original lineup was Freddie Mercury (lead vocals, piano), Brian May (guitar, vocals), Roger Taylor (drums, vocals), and John Deacon (bass guitar). Before Queen, May and Taylor had played together in a band named Smile. Freddie Mercury, a fan... read more

10. The Cars

    

    The Cars were an American rock band that emerged from the new wave scene in the late 1970s. Formed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1976, the lineup included singer and rhythm guitarist Ric Ocasek, singer and bassist Benjamin Orr, lead guitarist Elliot Easton, keyboardist Greg Hawkes, and drummer David Robinson... read more

The Newcomers
11. ?

    Iron Maiden

    

    Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band formed in Leyton, East London, in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Their most critically acclaimed period is widely considered to be from 1983 to 1989, during which they released landmark albums such as Piece of Mind, Powerslave, Somewhere... read more

12. ?

    Avril Lavigne

    

    Avril Ramona Lavigne (born September 27, 1984) is a Canadian singer-songwriter and actress. At age 14, she won a radio contest singing with Shania Twain, performing before a large arena crowd. By age 16, she had signed a two-album recording contract with Arista Records, reportedly worth over $2 million.... read more

The Contenders

13. Rammstein

    

    Rammstein is a German Neue Deutsche Härte and industrial metal band formed in 1994 in Berlin. The band consists of Till Lindemann (vocals), Richard Kruspe (guitar), Paul Landers (guitar), Oliver Riedel (bass), Christoph Schneider (drums), and Christian Lorenz (keyboard).... read more

14. Stevie Wonder

    

    Stevland Hardaway Morris, known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, and multi-instrumentalist. He was a child prodigy and signed with Motown's Tamla label at age 11. Wonder has won 25 Grammy Awards and is known for hits like Superstition and... read more

15. Björk

    

    Björk Guðmundsdóttir (born November 21, 1965) is an Icelandic singer, songwriter, composer, record producer, and actress. Over her four-decade career, she has developed a unique and eclectic musical style that incorporates elements from electronic, pop, jazz, experimental, trip hop, alternative, classical... read more

16. Social Distortion

    

    Social Distortion is an American punk rock band formed in 1978 in Fullerton, California. The current lineup includes Mike Ness, Jonny Wickersham, Brent Harding, David Hidalgo, Jr., and David Kalish. The band is known for blending punk rock with country and blues influences, and for albums such as Mommy's... read more

17. Metallica

    

    Metallica is an American heavy and thrash metal band formed in 1981. The original lineup included James Hetfield (vocals and rhythm guitar), Dave Mustaine (lead guitar), Lars Ulrich (drums), and Ron McGovney (bass). They first gained mainstream fame with their 1991 self-titled album (The Black Album... read more

    'Kill 'Em All' to 'The Black Album', even though 'The Black Album' is where they abandoned their thrashy roots.

18. Weezer

    

    Weezer is an American alternative rock and power pop band formed in Los Angeles in 1992. The band currently consists of Rivers Cuomo (lead vocals, lead and rhythm guitar), Patrick Wilson (drums), Brian Bell (rhythm guitar, backing vocals, keyboards), and Scott Shriner (bass, backing vocals).... read more

19. The Cure

    

    The Cure are an English post-punk and gothic rock band formed in Crawley, West Sussex, in 1976. The band has undergone numerous lineup changes, with vocalist, guitarist, and principal songwriter Robert Smith remaining the only consistent member. They are known for hits such as Just Like Heaven and Lovesong... read more

20. System of a Down

    

    System of a Down, formed in 1994, is an Armenian-American alternative metal band from Glendale, California. The band name is sometimes shortened to System or SOAD. They're known for their politically charged lyrics, often addressing topics such as genocide and war, in songs like Holy Mountains, Prison... read more

21. Alice Cooper

    

    Alice Cooper is an American rock band formed in Phoenix, Arizona in 1964. The band consisted of lead singer Vince Furnier, Glen Buxton, Michael Bruce, Dennis Dunaway, and Neal Smith. They pioneered a theatrical brand of hard rock designed to shock audiences, and their influential stage shows famously... read more

22. The Doors

    

    The Doors were an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1965, comprising vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, guitarist Robby Krieger, and drummer John Densmore. They were among the most influential and occasionally controversial rock acts of the 1960s, largely due to Morrison's poetic... read more

23. Stryper

    

    Stryper is an American Christian metal band from California. The group's lineup consists of Michael Sweet, Oz Fox, Perry Richardson, and Robert Sweet. They gained popularity during the 1980s with albums such as To Hell with the Devil and are known for their faith-based lyrics and theatrical performances... read more

24. The Smashing Pumpkins

    

    The Smashing Pumpkins are an American alternative rock band from Chicago, Illinois. The group was formed in 1988 by frontman Billy Corgan and guitarist James Iha, with bassist D'arcy Wretzky and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin joining to complete the original lineup.... read more

25. The White Stripes

    

    The White Stripes were an American rock duo formed in 1997 in Detroit, Michigan. The duo consisted of Jack White (born Jack Gillis), who handled songwriting, vocals, guitar, bass, and keyboards, and Meg White, who played drums and provided backing vocals. Jack adopted Meg's surname after their marriage.... read more

26. Joni Mitchell

    

    Roberta Joan Mitchell, professionally known as Joni Mitchell, is a Canadian singer-songwriter. Drawing from folk, pop, rock, and jazz, Mitchell's songs often reflect social and environmental ideals as well as her feelings about romance, confusion, disillusionment, and joy. Her 1971 album Blue is frequently... read more

    Easily up there. She has at least seven great albums in a row. My favorite run is from 'Ladies of the Canyon' to 'The Hissing of Summer Lawns'.

27. Queens of the Stone Age

    

    Queens of the Stone Age is an American rock band formed in Seattle in 1996 before founder Josh Homme returned to his native Palm Desert, California. The band has featured a rotating lineup of musicians over the years. The current lineup includes Homme, Troy Van Leeuwen, Michael Shuman, Dean Fertita,... read more