B-Side Guys

B-Side Breakdowns

From B-Side Guys

B-Side Breakdowns

Where the critics land, and where they fight, on new albums and classics as far back as the 1950s.

  • 4,156 Breakdowns
  • 26,292 critic reviews
  • 68 outlets
  • Albums from 1955–2026
How the Breakdown works →

Top albums this week

Released in the last seven days, ranked by Breakdown.

Album cover for From the Dark by Tony Iommi1Out Oct 23Tony IommiFrom the Dark86 B100% approvalBroad agreementAlbum cover for Gentling the Horse at the Walt Whitman Mall by Caroline Rose2Out Oct 23Caroline RoseGentling the Horse at the Walt Whitman Mall85 B100% approvalSome debateAlbum cover for Wishbone by Clara Mann3Out Oct 23Clara MannWishbone85 B100% approvalUnanimousAlbum cover for Mið by Enslaved4Out Oct 30EnslavedMið84 B100% approvalBroad agreementAlbum cover for FUDGE by Michael Kiwanuka5Out Oct 23Michael KiwanukaFUDGE81 B-100% approvalUnanimousAlbum cover for Edge Conditions by Jeremiah Chiu6Out Oct 27Jeremiah ChiuEdge Conditions79 C+50% approvalBroad agreementAlbum cover for Perfecth by Queens of the Stone Age7Out Oct 30Queens of the Stone AgePerfecth78 C+73% approvalSome debateAlbum cover for ZIRP! by DIIV8Out Oct 30DIIVZIRP!75 C60% approvalBroad agreement
A-Side badge

Latest A-Sides

The critics’ top tier: a Breakdown of 90+, from 5+ reviews, with 75%+ approval. 196 albums so far.

  1. RosalíaLux92
  2. Bad BunnyDebí tirar más fotos90
  3. The CureSongs of a Lost World90
  4. BeyoncéCowboy Carter90
  5. Taylor Swift1989 (Taylor’s Version)91
  6. RosalíaMotomami90
All 196 A-Sides, ranked →

Latest Breakdowns

The newest releases with a Breakdown, by release date.

Album cover for Netherworlds by InsomniumOut Oct 16InsomniumNetherworlds80 B-67% approvalSome debateAlbum cover for do you love the color of the sky? by DummyOut Oct 16Dummydo you love the color of the sky?72 C-33% approvalUnanimousAlbum cover for Hippies, Thugs and Heroes by Richard ThompsonOut Oct 16Richard ThompsonHippies, Thugs and Heroes84 B83% approvalSome debateAlbum cover for No Bad Memories by The AvalanchesOut Oct 16The AvalanchesNo Bad Memories80 B-67% approvalSome debateAlbum cover for I think I spoke too soon by Rachel ChinouririOut Oct 16Rachel ChinouririI think I spoke too soon78 C+67% approvalUnanimousAlbum cover for Dopamine Chamber by Fontaines D.C.Out Oct 15Fontaines D.C.Dopamine Chamber83 B80% approvalSome debateAlbum cover for A Mile South of Heaven by Jess WilliamsonOut Oct 9Jess WilliamsonA Mile South of Heaven83 B100% approvalBroad agreementAlbum cover for All Inside Aquarium by BODEGAOut Oct 9BODEGAAll Inside Aquarium67 D+33% approvalSome debate

Coming up

Out this week. Their Breakdowns start arriving a day or two after release.

  • Tue Nov 3Lali Espósito, Dance or Die
  • Fri Nov 6Dove Cameron, Final Girl
  • Fri Nov 6Steven Wilson, Requiem for a Village
  • Fri Nov 6Merzbow, Fuego Eterno
  • Fri Nov 6Prong, Prong

Top albums of 2026

Released this year, with at least five reviews.

  1. 1Greg FreemanAll Set the Bone87 B+
  2. 2Olivia RodrigoYou Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love87 B+
  3. 3Tony IommiFrom the Dark86 B
  4. 4RayeThis Music May Contain Hope.85 B
  5. 5Richard ThompsonHippies, Thugs and Heroes84 B
  6. 6GorillazThe Mountain83 B
  7. 7Brock DavisNothing Lasts Forever83 B
  8. 8Fontaines D.C.Dopamine Chamber83 B
  9. 9Charli XCXMusic, Fashion, Film82 B-
  10. 10Cameron WinterLive at Carnegie Hall82 B-

Most divisive of the 2020s

Where critics split hardest since 2020. Divided or Contentious, at least five reviews.

  1. 1Roger WatersThe Dark Side of the Moon ReduxContentious
  2. 2The 1975Notes on a Conditional FormContentious
  3. 3ColdplayMoon MusicContentious
  4. 4Pop SmokeFaithDivided
  5. 5Lil Uzi VertEternal AtakeDivided
  6. 6Playboi CartiWhole Lotta RedDivided
  7. 7Post MaloneTwelve Carat ToothacheDivided
  8. 8EminemThe Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce)Divided
  9. 9MuseThe Wow! SignalDivided
  10. 10Taylor SwiftThe Life of a ShowgirlDivided

Top albums of all time

All genres

Best rated, any year, at least five reviews.

  1. 1The Velvet UndergroundThe Velvet Underground & NicoA-Side100 A+
  2. 2Bob DylanBlonde on BlondeA-Side100 A+
  3. 3Tom WaitsRain DogsA-Side100 A+
  4. 4The ClashThe ClashA-Side100 A+
  5. 5Public EnemyIt Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us BackA-Side100 A+
  6. 6Brian EnoAnother Green WorldA-Side100 A+
  7. 7Miles DavisKind of BlueA-Side100 A+
  8. 8Bob DylanHighway 61 RevisitedA-Side100 A+
  9. 9The Beach BoysPet SoundsA-Side100 A+
  10. 10Sonic YouthDaydream NationA-Side100 A+

Pop

Best rated, any year, at least five reviews.

  1. 1The ClashThe ClashA-Side100 A+
  2. 2The Beach BoysPet SoundsA-Side100 A+
  3. 3R.E.M.MurmurA-Side96 A
  4. 4Serge GainsbourgHistoire de Melody NelsonA-Side94 A
  5. 5Kate BushHounds of LoveA-Side93 A
  6. 6RosalíaLuxA-Side92 A-
  7. 7The JamAll Mod ConsA-Side91 A-
  8. 8Taylor Swift1989 (Taylor’s Version)A-Side91 A-
  9. 9RosalíaEl Mal QuererA-Side90 A-
  10. 10The Human LeagueDareA-Side90 A-

Rock

Best rated, any year, at least five reviews.

  1. 1The Velvet UndergroundThe Velvet Underground & NicoA-Side100 A+
  2. 2Bob DylanBlonde on BlondeA-Side100 A+
  3. 3Tom WaitsRain DogsA-Side100 A+
  4. 4Bob DylanHighway 61 RevisitedA-Side100 A+
  5. 5Richard ThompsonShoot Out the LightsA-Side99 A+
  6. 6The BandThe BandA-Side99 A+
  7. 7The Rolling StonesExile on Main St.A-Side99 A+
  8. 8Led ZeppelinLed Zeppelin IVA-Side99 A+
  9. 9Fleetwood MacRumoursA-Side99 A+
  10. 10Joy DivisionCloserA-Side99 A+

Indie & Alternative

Best rated, any year, at least five reviews.

  1. 1Brian EnoAnother Green WorldA-Side100 A+
  2. 2Sonic YouthDaydream NationA-Side100 A+
  3. 3The SmithsThe Queen Is DeadA-Side99 A+
  4. 4PixiesSurfer RosaA-Side98 A+
  5. 5R.E.M.Automatic for the PeopleA-Side96 A
  6. 6Dinosaur Jr.You’re Living All Over MeA-Side96 A
  7. 7The Stone RosesThe Stone RosesA-Side96 A
  8. 8RadioheadThe BendsA-Side95 A
  9. 9Nick Cave and the Bad SeedsSkeleton TreeA-Side94 A
  10. 10Fiona AppleFetch the Bolt CuttersA-Side94 A

Hip-Hop & Rap

Best rated, any year, at least five reviews.

  1. 1Public EnemyIt Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us BackA-Side100 A+
  2. 2Beastie BoysPaul’s BoutiqueA-Side98 A+
  3. 3Beastie BoysLicensed to IllA-Side95 A
  4. 4De La Soul3 Feet High and RisingA-Side92 A-
  5. 5OutKastAqueminiA-Side92 A-
  6. 6Jay-ZReasonable DoubtA-Side92 A-
  7. 7Kendrick LamarTo Pimp a ButterflyA-Side92 A-
  8. 8Dizzee RascalBoy in da CornerA-Side91 A-
  9. 9OutKastStankoniaA-Side91 A-
  10. 10Kanye WestMy Beautiful Dark Twisted FantasyA-Side91 A-

R&B & Soul

Best rated, any year, at least five reviews.

  1. 1Stevie WonderInnervisionsA-Side99 A+
  2. 2PrinceDirty MindA-Side98 A+
  3. 3Sly and the Family StoneThere’s a Riot Goin’ OnA-Side97 A+
  4. 4Stevie WonderSongs in the Key of LifeA-Side96 A
  5. 5Marvin GayeLet’s Get It OnA-Side95 A
  6. 6Prince and the RevolutionPurple RainA-Side94 A
  7. 7BeyoncéLemonadeA-Side94 A
  8. 8Marvin GayeWhat’s Going OnA-Side93 A
  9. 9Stevie WonderFulfillingness’ First FinaleA-Side90 A-
  10. 10Prince199989 B+

Electronic

Best rated, any year, at least five reviews.

  1. 1KraftwerkTrans-Europe ExpressA-Side99 A+
  2. 2Massive AttackBlue LinesA-Side96 A
  3. 3DJ ShadowEndtroducing…..A-Side94 A
  4. 4The ProdigyMusic for the Jilted GenerationA-Side92 A-
  5. 5PortisheadDummyA-Side92 A-
  6. 6KraftwerkDie Mensch-MaschineA-Side91 A-
  7. 7Aphex TwinSelected Ambient Works 85–92A-Side90 A-
  8. 8Bad BunnyDebí tirar más fotosA-Side90 A-
  9. 9MobyEverything Is Wrong89 B+
  10. 10Massive AttackMezzanine89 B+

Folk, Country & Americana

Best rated, any year, at least five reviews.

  1. 1Bob DylanBlood on the TracksA-Side99 A+
  2. 2Joni MitchellCourt and SparkA-Side98 A+
  3. 3Paul SimonGracelandA-Side98 A+
  4. 4Carole KingTapestryA-Side96 A
  5. 5Nick DrakePink MoonA-Side95 A
  6. 6The ByrdsSweetheart of the RodeoA-Side94 A
  7. 7Bob Marley & The WailersCatch a FireA-Side93 A
  8. 8Jamey JohnsonThe Guitar SongA-Side93 A
  9. 9Nick DrakeFive Leaves LeftA-Side92 A-
  10. 10Leonard CohenSongs of Leonard CohenA-Side91 A-

Metal & Punk

Best rated, any year, at least five reviews.

  1. 1Patti SmithHorsesA-Side99 A+
  2. 2Sex PistolsNever Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex PistolsA-Side99 A+
  3. 3SlayerReign in BloodA-Side98 A+
  4. 4The StoogesFun HouseA-Side97 A+
  5. 5The ClashLondon CallingA-Side97 A+
  6. 6XWild GiftA-Side97 A+
  7. 7Hüsker DüZen ArcadeA-Side95 A
  8. 8MetallicaMaster of PuppetsA-Side92 A-
  9. 9OpethGhost ReveriesA-Side90 A-
  10. 10Napalm DeathApex Predator – Easy MeatA-Side90 A-

Jazz

Best rated, any year, at least five reviews.

  1. 1Miles DavisKind of BlueA-Side100 A+
  2. 2Miles DavisBitches BrewA-Side97 A+
  3. 3Miles DavisSketches of SpainA-Side97 A+
  4. 4Miles DavisIn a Silent WayA-Side95 A
  5. 5Buena Vista Social ClubBuena Vista Social ClubA-Side91 A-
  6. 6Norah JonesFeels Like Home84 B
  7. 7Tony BennettDuets II73 C
  8. 8Lady GagaHarlequin71 C-
  9. 9Lady GagaLove for Sale70 C-
  10. 10Katie MeluaPiece by Piece66 D

The best albums of 2026, ranked · Browse every artist, A to Z

Breakdown Every critic’s score on a 0–100 scale, averaged. Green is 75 or higher.

Approval The share of critics who scored it 75 or higher.

Divisiveness How far apart the critics’ scores sit, from Unanimous to Contentious.

A-Side The critics’ top tier: 90+, from 5+ reviews, 75%+ approval.

How the Breakdown works →