B-Side Guys

The Best Pop Albums

The best Pop albums, ranked by B-Side Breakdown: every critic's score on one 0 to 100 scale. An album needs at least 5 reviews to make the list.

The top three

Album cover for The Clash by The Clash1The ClashThe Clash100 A+ · 1977Album cover for Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys2The Beach BoysPet Sounds100 A+ · 1966Album cover for Good Old Boys by Randy Newman3Randy NewmanGood Old Boys98 A+ · 1974
Average Breakdown70The lowest of the 9 genres.
Liked33%of Pop albums scored 75 or higher. Across every genre it's 50%.
Most divisiveContentious3OH!3, Streets of Gold split the critics more than any other album in the genre.A-Sides2.1%of Pop albums earned an A-Side. Across every genre it's 5.9%.

This year

The best Pop albums of 2026 so far

  1. Album cover for This Music May Contain Hope. by Raye1RayeThis Music May Contain Hope.85 B
  2. Album cover for The Mountain by Gorillaz2GorillazThe Mountain83 B
  3. Album cover for Wuthering Heights by Charli XCX3Charli XCXWuthering Heights79 C+
  4. Album cover for Worst Girl in America by Slayyyter4SlayyyterWorst Girl in America77 C+
  5. Album cover for Arirang by BTS5BTSArirang76 C

The best Pop albums of all time

  1. 1Album cover for The Clash by The Clash
    The ClashThe ClashApril 8, 1977 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    100A+
  2. 2Album cover for Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys
    The Beach BoysPet SoundsMay 16, 1966 · 9 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    100A+
  3. 3Album cover for Good Old Boys by Randy Newman
    Randy NewmanGood Old BoysSeptember 1974 · 5 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    98A+
  4. 4Album cover for The Specials by The Specials
    The SpecialsThe SpecialsOctober 19, 1979 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    96A
  5. 5Album cover for Murmur by R.E.M.
    R.E.M.MurmurApril 11, 1983 · 9 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    96A
  6. 6Album cover for Histoire de Melody Nelson by Serge Gainsbourg
    Serge GainsbourgHistoire de Melody NelsonMarch 24, 1971 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    94A
  7. 7Album cover for Hounds of Love by Kate Bush
    Kate BushHounds of LoveJuly 30, 1985 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    93A
  8. 8Album cover for Lux by Rosalía
    RosalíaLuxNovember 7, 2025 · 12 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    92A-
  9. 9Album cover for Chris by Rahim Redcar
    Rahim RedcarChrisSeptember 21, 2018 · 9 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    91A-
  10. 10Album cover for All Mod Cons by The Jam
    The JamAll Mod ConsNovember 3, 1978 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    91A-

Pop, decade by decade

Average Breakdown of the genre's albums in each decade.

1970s84
1980s78
1990s71
2000s66
2010s68
2020s73
  1. 11Album cover for 1989 (Taylor’s Version) by Taylor Swift
    Taylor Swift1989 (Taylor’s Version)October 27, 2023 · 11 reviews · 91% approval · Some debate
    91A-
  2. 12Album cover for El Mal Querer by Rosalía
    RosalíaEl Mal QuererNovember 2, 2018 · 5 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    90A-
  3. 13Album cover for Dare by The Human League
    The Human LeagueDareOctober 16, 1981 · 8 reviews · 88% approval · Some debate
    90A-
  4. 14Album cover for Motomami by Rosalía
    RosalíaMotomamiMarch 18, 2022 · 11 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    90A-
  5. 15Album cover for Arc of a Diver by Steve Winwood
    Steve WinwoodArc of a DiverDecember 31, 1980 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    89B+
  6. 16Album cover for Dusty in Memphis by Dusty Springfield
    Dusty SpringfieldDusty in MemphisMarch 31, 1969 · 8 reviews · 88% approval · Some debate
    89B+
  7. 17Album cover for Renaissance by Beyoncé
    BeyoncéRenaissanceJuly 29, 2022 · 14 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    89B+
  8. 18Album cover for Steve McQueen by Prefab Sprout
    Prefab SproutSteve McQueenJune 1985 · 7 reviews · 86% approval · Some debate
    88B+
  9. 19Album cover for Paul Simon by Paul Simon
    Paul SimonPaul SimonMarch 1972 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Some debate
    88B+
  10. 20Album cover for The Lexicon of Love by ABC
    ABCThe Lexicon of LoveJune 21, 1982 · 10 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    88B+
  11. 21Album cover for The Score by Fugees
    FugeesThe ScoreFebruary 12, 1996 · 8 reviews · 88% approval · Some debate
    88B+
  12. 22Album cover for Control by Janet Jackson
    Janet JacksonControlJanuary 25, 1986 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    88B+
  13. 23Album cover for Very by Pet Shop Boys
    Pet Shop BoysVerySeptember 27, 1993 · 10 reviews · 90% approval · Some debate
    88B+
  14. 24Album cover for Love and Theft by Bob Dylan
    Bob DylanLove and TheftSeptember 10, 2001 · 8 reviews · 88% approval · Some debate
    88B+
  15. 25Album cover for Norman Fucking Rockwell! by Lana Del Rey
    Lana Del ReyNorman Fucking Rockwell!August 30, 2019 · 12 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    88B+

Which outlets like Pop most

Share of each outlet's Pop reviews that score 75 or higher, for outlets with 30 or more.

Most generous

Entertainment Weekly92%
Robert Christgau91%
The A.V. Club87%
Consequence87%
DIY78%

Hardest to win over

Slant15%
Spin22%
Rolling Stone25%
Encyclopedia of Popular Music30%
Sputnikmusic31%
  1. 26Album cover for Fever Ray by Fever Ray
    Fever RayFever RayJanuary 12, 2009 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    87B+
  2. 27Album cover for Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides by Sophie
    SophieOil of Every Pearl’s Un-InsidesJune 15, 2018 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    87B+
  3. 28Album cover for Sawayama by Rina Sawayama
    Rina SawayamaSawayamaApril 17, 2020 · 10 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    87B+
  4. 29Album cover for I’m Your Man by Leonard Cohen
    Leonard CohenI’m Your ManFebruary 21, 1988 · 10 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    87B+
  5. 30Album cover for Red (Taylor’s Version) by Taylor Swift
    Taylor SwiftRed (Taylor’s Version)November 11, 2021 · 9 reviews · 89% approval · Broad agreement
    87B+
  6. 31Album cover for The Dictators Go Girl Crazy! by The Dictators
    The DictatorsThe Dictators Go Girl Crazy!1975 · 5 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    87B+
  7. 32Album cover for What’s Your Pleasure? by Jessie Ware
    Jessie WareWhat’s Your Pleasure?June 26, 2020 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    86B
  8. 33Album cover for Broken English by Marianne Faithfull
    Marianne FaithfullBroken English1979 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    86B
  9. 34Album cover for More Specials by The Specials
    The SpecialsMore SpecialsOctober 4, 1980 · 5 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    86B
  10. 35Album cover for Magdalene by FKA twigs
    FKA twigsMagdaleneNovember 8, 2019 · 8 reviews · 88% approval · Some debate
    86B
  11. 36Album cover for I Am a Bird Now by ANOHNI and the Johnsons
    ANOHNI and the JohnsonsI Am a Bird NowFebruary 1, 2005 · 9 reviews · 89% approval · Broad agreement
    86B
  12. 37Album cover for Tension II by Kylie Minogue
    Kylie MinogueTension IIOctober 18, 2024 · 5 reviews · 60% approval · Some debate
    86B
  13. 38Album cover for Franz Ferdinand by Franz Ferdinand
    Franz FerdinandFranz FerdinandFebruary 9, 2004 · 11 reviews · 82% approval · Some debate
    86B
  14. 39Album cover for The Nightfly by Donald Fagen
    Donald FagenThe NightflyOctober 1982 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    86B
  15. 40Album cover for Private Dancer by Tina Turner
    Tina TurnerPrivate DancerMay 29, 1984 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    86B
  16. 41Album cover for Future Nostalgia by Dua Lipa
    Dua LipaFuture NostalgiaMarch 21, 2020 · 14 reviews · 86% approval · Some debate
    86B
  17. 42Album cover for Brat by Charli XCX
    Charli XCXBratJune 7, 2024 · 12 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    86B
  18. 43Album cover for That! Feels Good! by Jessie Ware
    Jessie WareThat! Feels Good!April 28, 2023 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    85B
  19. 44Album cover for To Hell with It by PinkPantheress
    PinkPantheressTo Hell with ItOctober 15, 2021 · 8 reviews · 88% approval · Broad agreement
    85B
  20. 45Album cover for Fur and Gold by Bat for Lashes
    Bat for LashesFur and GoldSeptember 11, 2006 · 9 reviews · 78% approval · Some debate
    85B
  21. 46Album cover for Daydream by Mariah Carey
    Mariah CareyDaydreamSeptember 28, 1995 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    85B
  22. 47Album cover for The Sensual World by Kate Bush
    Kate BushThe Sensual WorldOctober 17, 1989 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    85B
  23. 48Album cover for Technique by New Order
    New OrderTechniqueJanuary 24, 1989 · 10 reviews · 90% approval · Some debate
    85B
  24. 49Album cover for 50 Words for Snow by Kate Bush
    Kate Bush50 Words for SnowNovember 21, 2011 · 15 reviews · 73% approval · Some debate
    85B
  25. 50Album cover for This Music May Contain Hope. by Raye
    RayeThis Music May Contain Hope.March 27, 2026 · 11 reviews · 73% approval · Some debate
    85B

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