B-Side Guys

The Best Rock Albums

The best Rock 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 Velvet Underground & Nico by The Velvet Underground1The Velvet UndergroundThe Velvet Underground & Nico100 A+ · 1967Album cover for Blonde on Blonde by Bob Dylan2Bob DylanBlonde on Blonde100 A+ · 1966Album cover for Rain Dogs by Tom Waits3Tom WaitsRain Dogs100 A+ · 1985
Average Breakdown75Number 4 of the 9 genres.
Liked53%of Rock albums scored 75 or higher. Across every genre it's 49%.
Most divisiveContentiousAlice in Chains, Dirt split the critics more than any other album in the genre.A-Sides12%of Rock albums earned an A-Side. Across every genre it's 6.4%.

This year

The best Rock albums of 2026 so far

  1. Album cover for You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love by Olivia Rodrigo1Olivia RodrigoYou Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love87 B+
  2. Album cover for Hippies, Thugs and Heroes by Richard Thompson2Richard ThompsonHippies, Thugs and Heroes84 B
  3. Album cover for Dopamine Chamber by Fontaines D.C.3Fontaines D.C.Dopamine Chamber82 B-
  4. Album cover for The Boys of Dungeon Lane by Paul McCartney4Paul McCartneyThe Boys of Dungeon Lane81 B-
  5. Album cover for Frozen Charlotte by Jack White5Jack WhiteFrozen Charlotte78 C+

The best Rock albums of all time

  1. 1Album cover for The Velvet Underground & Nico by The Velvet Underground
    The Velvet UndergroundThe Velvet Underground & NicoMarch 1967 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    100A+
  2. 2Album cover for Blonde on Blonde by Bob Dylan
    Bob DylanBlonde on BlondeMay 16, 1966 · 5 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    100A+
  3. 3Album cover for Rain Dogs by Tom Waits
    Tom WaitsRain Dogs1985 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    100A+
  4. 4Album cover for Highway 61 Revisited by Bob Dylan
    Bob DylanHighway 61 RevisitedAugust 30, 1965 · 5 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    100A+
  5. 5Album cover for Shoot Out the Lights by Richard Thompson
    Richard ThompsonShoot Out the Lights1982 · 5 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    99A+
  6. 6Album cover for The Band by The Band
    The BandThe BandSeptember 22, 1969 · 9 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    99A+
  7. 7Album cover for Exile on Main St. by The Rolling Stones
    The Rolling StonesExile on Main St.May 12, 1972 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    99A+
  8. 8Album cover for Led Zeppelin IV by Led Zeppelin
    Led ZeppelinLed Zeppelin IVNovember 8, 1971 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    99A+
  9. 9Album cover for Rumours by Fleetwood Mac
    Fleetwood MacRumoursFebruary 4, 1977 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    99A+
  10. 10Album cover for Closer by Joy Division
    Joy DivisionCloserJuly 18, 1980 · 10 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    99A+

Rock, decade by decade

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

1960s90
1970s83
1980s78
1990s74
2000s69
2010s70
2020s77
  1. 11Album cover for Remain in Light by Talking Heads
    Talking HeadsRemain in LightOctober 1, 1980 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    99A+
  2. 12Album cover for Forever Changes by Love
    LoveForever ChangesNovember 1, 1967 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    99A+
  3. 13Album cover for Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd
    Pink FloydWish You Were HereSeptember 12, 1975 · 9 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    99A+
  4. 14Album cover for Abbey Road by The Beatles
    The BeatlesAbbey RoadSeptember 26, 1969 · 9 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    99A+
  5. 15Album cover for Metal Box by Public Image Ltd.
    Public Image Ltd.Metal BoxNovember 1979 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    98A+
  6. 16Album cover for Entertainment! by Gang of Four
    Gang of FourEntertainment!September 25, 1979 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    98A+
  7. 17Album cover for Revolver by The Beatles
    The BeatlesRevolverAugust 5, 1966 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    98A+
  8. 18Album cover for Let It Bleed by The Rolling Stones
    The Rolling StonesLet It BleedNovember 28, 1969 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    98A+
  9. 19Album cover for Pretzel Logic by Steely Dan
    Steely DanPretzel LogicMarch 2, 1974 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    98A+
  10. 20Album cover for Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen
    Bruce SpringsteenBorn to RunAugust 25, 1975 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    98A+
  11. 21Album cover for Pretenders by The Pretenders
    The PretendersPretendersJanuary 4, 1980 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    97A+
  12. 22Album cover for Rubber Soul by The Beatles
    The BeatlesRubber SoulDecember 3, 1965 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    97A+
  13. 23Album cover for Psychocandy by The Jesus and Mary Chain
    The Jesus and Mary ChainPsychocandyFebruary 1985 · 9 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    97A+
  14. 24Album cover for Pink Flag by Wire
    WirePink FlagNovember 1977 · 9 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    97A+
  15. 25Album cover for Trout Mask Replica by Captain Beefheart
    Captain BeefheartTrout Mask ReplicaNovember 1969 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    97A+

Which outlets like Rock most

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

Most generous

Robert Christgau96%
Entertainment Weekly92%
The A.V. Club91%
Spill Magazine79%
The Telegraph78%

Hardest to win over

Spin30%
Slant31%
PopMatters32%
Exclaim!38%
Rolling Stone41%
  1. 26Album cover for Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles
    The BeatlesSgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club BandMay 26, 1967 · 9 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    97A+
  2. 27Album cover for Workingman’s Dead by Grateful Dead
    Grateful DeadWorkingman’s DeadJune 14, 1970 · 5 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    97A+
  3. 28Album cover for The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars by David Bowie
    David BowieThe Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from MarsJune 6, 1972 · 11 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    97A+
  4. 29Album cover for Fear of Music by Talking Heads
    Talking HeadsFear of MusicAugust 3, 1979 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    96A
  5. 30Album cover for All Things Must Pass by George Harrison
    George HarrisonAll Things Must PassNovember 27, 1970 · 9 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    96A
  6. 31Album cover for We’re Only in It for the Money by The Mothers of Invention
    The Mothers of InventionWe’re Only in It for the MoneyJanuary 1968 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    96A
  7. 32Album cover for Ege Bamyasi by Can
    CanEge BamyasiNovember 1972 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    96A
  8. 33Album cover for Swordfishtrombones by Tom Waits
    Tom WaitsSwordfishtrombonesSeptember 1, 1983 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    96A
  9. 34Album cover for Moondance by Van Morrison
    Van MorrisonMoondanceMarch 1970 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    96A
  10. 35Album cover for Van Halen by Van Halen
    Van HalenVan HalenFebruary 10, 1978 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    96A
  11. 36Album cover for Let It Be by The Replacements
    The ReplacementsLet It BeOctober 2, 1984 · 9 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    95A
  12. 37Album cover for Tago Mago by Can
    CanTago Mago1971 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    95A
  13. 38Album cover for Odessey and Oracle by The Zombies
    The ZombiesOdessey and OracleApril 19, 1968 · 5 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    95A
  14. 39Album cover for Countdown to Ecstasy by Steely Dan
    Steely DanCountdown to EcstasyJuly 1973 · 5 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    95A
  15. 40Album cover for Station to Station by David Bowie
    David BowieStation to StationJanuary 23, 1976 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    94A
  16. 41Album cover for Electric Warrior by T. Rex
    T. RexElectric WarriorSeptember 24, 1971 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    94A
  17. 42Album cover for The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society by The Kinks
    The KinksThe Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation SocietyNovember 22, 1968 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    94A
  18. 43Album cover for Sticky Fingers by The Rolling Stones
    The Rolling StonesSticky FingersApril 23, 1971 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    94A
  19. 44Album cover for A Hard Day’s Night by The Beatles
    The BeatlesA Hard Day’s NightJune 26, 1964 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    94A
  20. 45Album cover for Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs by Derek and the Dominos
    Derek and the DominosLayla and Other Assorted Love SongsNovember 1970 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    94A
  21. 46Album cover for Low by David Bowie
    David BowieLowJanuary 14, 1977 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    94A
  22. 47Album cover for The Basement Tapes by Bob Dylan
    Bob DylanThe Basement TapesJune 26, 1975 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    94A
  23. 48Album cover for Killing Joke by Killing Joke
    Killing JokeKilling JokeOctober 5, 1980 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    93A
  24. 49Album cover for Double Nickels on the Dime by Minutemen
    MinutemenDouble Nickels on the DimeJuly 1984 · 5 reviews · 80% approval · Some debate
    93A
  25. 50Album cover for Astral Weeks by Van Morrison
    Van MorrisonAstral WeeksNovember 1968 · 6 reviews · 83% approval · Divided
    93A

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