Music

For decades, album cover artwork was one of the most popular visual media that reached millions of people. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.udiscovermusic.com/in-depth-features/history-album-artwork/">The earliest album covers</a> date to the 1930's, when the advent of 33⅓ rpm records required new packaging in the form of folded-over sleeves, which doubled as a space to advertise the contents of the album. One of the first albums with an abstract cover design was 1945's The Nat King Cole Trio, and album cover artwork has become more and more creative since.&nbsp;There's no shortage of bands that push the envelope artistically or politically. Naturally, these same bands use their album cover as yet another opportunity to make a bold statement--and sometimes they push things too far. Every decade has its examples, but here are a few particularly shocking ones from the naughty 90's.&nbsp;

15 Most Controversial Album Covers Of The '90s

Musical Album

Jim Rowley

Celebrity Trivia

It's almost a cliché that every actor with a big enough ego has to release an album to prove how talented they are. Said records <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-absolute-worst-actors-turned-musicians">often do the exact opposite</a>, but every once in a while, an actor/musician drops a doozy. At their most successful, these projects take on a life of their own, like Jared Leto's <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-30-seconds-to-mars-albums-list/reference">Thirty Seconds to Mars</a> or Donald Glover's <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-childish-gambino-albums/ranker-music">Childish Gambino</a>.This list, however, takes a look at actors whose records flew under the radar, despite their talent and ambition.&nbsp;From metal to folk, bar rock to bedroom pop, these actors shocked us with their talents as troubadours. Which records are you most impressed by? Which ones fall flat on their face? Get voting and let us know.

Surprisingly Good Records Released By Actors Who Are Also Musicians

General

Solid Albums Released By Actors Who Are Also Musicians

Chris Cullari

Music of the 2000s

2000s

Nostalgia moves in 20-year cycles, which means it's just about time for the 2000s to come back in style. The era of Napster, MTV's TRL, CD burners, and mp3 players was a turning point for popular music. Grunge was dead, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/current-nu-metal-bands-giving-genre-new-life/brian-hauntly">rap merged with rock</a>, pop was back, and no one knew what was next.&nbsp;Living on the edge of that frontier was exciting. Music still felt like it could change the world. But out of the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/top-25-best-albums-00_s">thousands of albums released</a> in the years right before the music industry started to die, only a select handful truly captured what it was like to grow up in the 2000s. Some may have even been released in the late '90s, but transcending the decade they convey the feeling - either lyrically, sonically, or just through sheer, inextricable impact - of what the era meant.If you grew up in the 2000s or just wish you did, it's time to make your voice heard. Which records bring you back? Which ones don't sound right? Vote like it's 2000 and George W. Bush is about to steal the election.

Albums That Capture What It Was Like Growing Up In The 2000s

Albums that really nail down the essence of what growing up in the 2000s felt like.

2023 Music

<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-albums-2023/akansha-kakkad">2023 has been a banner year for music</a> releases, across all genres. And accompanying the records we've had the pleasure of experiencing thus far has been a visual feast in the form of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-album-cover-artwork-2022/brian-hauntly?ref=profile_own">album cover art</a>, chock full of varying styles and mediums. Covers have featured photography, digital art, paintings, drawings, AI-generated images, and even embroidery. Striking, hypnotizing, absorbing, and sometimes controversial - but always creative in their own right - these album covers make a statement that accompany the audible art they represent.Now it's your job to vote up the album art you find to be the “best” of the year, for whichever subjective requisites you choose to determine such a thing. Conversely, vote down the album art you find to be a bit of a snooze in comparison.&nbsp;Note: This list will be updated throughout the year as more albums are released.

The Best Album Cover Art Of 2023

Brian Hauntly

Rock

Whether you're an electric or acoustic fan, the best rock albums or 2023 will be sure to scratch those itches. This list includes everything from albums with stadium leveling anthems to intimate solo projects done in the comfort of the artist's bedroom.Guided By Voices return with their 37th album (not a typo) and bring a whole lot of energy despite being absolute output machines. The Smashing Pumpkins also release their eagerly anticipated second act of their epic rock opera.What rock albums soundtracked your 2023? Vote up your favorites and be sure to check out our <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-alternative-albums-2023/akansha-kakkad">Best Alternative Albums of 2023</a> list for some other great picks.

The Best Rock Albums Of 2023

Akansha Kakkad

Soundtracks

Soundtracks have the ability to elevate a good movie or TV show to a great one. Who can forget what “Eye of the Tiger” did for Rocky? Or “Don't You (Forget About Me)” did for The Breakfast Club? Some of the songs on this list of soundtracks were written specifically for the movie in question while others were just immaculately chosen by the music supervisor.Campy horror M3GAN includes the most ominous rendition of Sia's “Titanium” ever heard. Meanwhile reboot slash remake House Party rustles up a party playlist including Juvenile's “Back That Thang Up” and a brand new 2Chainz track titled “2 Step” that samples the Kool &amp; The Gang classic “Hollywood Swinging.”What are you favorite movie soundtracks of 2023? Vote up your favorites and be sure to check back as the list grows!

The Best Movie Soundtracks Of 2023

The Best of 2023

From sunny pop tunes to thrashing guitars to beats and bars - here are the best albums of 2023. Of course, it might be hard to compare these genres to each other but what albums do you keep going back to? What albums have made the biggest impact on you this year? Important questions to think about.Sam Smith's flavor of eccentric pop balladry faces off against Mac DeMarco's easy breezy road trip instrumentals. Ice Spice's drill-pop versus Margo Price's psychedelic indie rock record. Some of the choices on this list may be more controversial than others so make sure to vote up your favorites and make your voice heard.&nbsp;What are your favorite albums of 2023? Let us know!

The Best Albums Of 2023

Lists of the greatest country bands, artists, and songs, ranked by fans like you. 

Country Music for Country Fans

Ranking the all-time greatest and hottest new Christmas songs and albums for your yuletide singalongs and party playlists.

That's the Jingle Bell Rock

Christmas Music

Have yourself a honky tonk holiday with the best country Christmas albums of all-time, ranked by fans everywhere. Featuring good <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-country-christmas-songs/jovaughnbrown?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">country Christmas songs</a> from popular country singers, like Kacey Musgraves, Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, and Brad Paisley, this list of country holiday albums is the perfect starting point for creating your Christmas music playlist. What are the top Christmas country albums ever?

Vote up the best country Xmas albums below, and happy holidays!

The Best Country Christmas Albums Of All Time

The 50+ Greatest Country Christmas Albums Ever, Ranked

Jovaughn Brown

Graveyard Shift

Nothing goes better with hot chocolate&nbsp;in the wintertime than the best R&amp;B Christmas albums of all-time.&nbsp;Featuring great&nbsp;Christmas songs from popular R&amp;B singers, like John Legend, Whitney Houston, Boyz II Men, and Mary J. Blige, this list of R&amp;B holiday albums is the perfect starting point for creating your Christmas music playlist. What are the top Christmas R&amp;B albums ever?

Vote up the best R&amp;B and soul Xmas albums, and add your favorites if they deserve a spot on this list.

The Best R&B Christmas Albums Of All Time

The 50+ Greatest R&B and Soul Christmas Albums Ever, Ranked By Fans

Mac Miller

Hip-hop heads, we're ranking the best Mac Miller <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-greatest-albums-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">albums of all time</a>. While Mac has a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/mac-miller-entire-discography-ranked/ranker-music">lengthy discography that includes several mixtapes and two EPs</a>, this list is specifically ranking his six full-length studio albums.One of the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/top-new-school-rappers/ranker-music">best new school rappers</a>, Mac Miller's discography kept evolving&nbsp;throughout his career, from&nbsp;his 2007 mixtape, But My Mackin' Ain't Easy,&nbsp;until his untimely death in September 2018. But what is the greatest Mac Miller album ever?From his debut album Blue Slide Park to his 2018 album Swimming, this list of Mac Miller albums includes&nbsp;The Divine Feminine, GO:OD AM, and Watching Movies with the Sound Off.Vote up the best Mac Miller albums, and check out the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-songs-featuring-mac-miller/ranker-music">best songs featuring Mac Miller</a> for more music from the beloved Pittsburg artist.

Every Mac Miller Studio Album, Ranked

Ranking All Mac Miller Albums, Best To Worst

Ranker Music

Hip-Hop / Rap

Presenting every Russ album, ranked from best to worst.&nbsp;Many rap fans may not have heard of the hip hop artist, real name Russell James Vitale, until the release of 2017 release of his platinum-selling album,&nbsp;There&#39;s Really a Wolf&nbsp;on Columbia. However, while this was indeed his&nbsp;first major label album, it is actually the 12th&nbsp;LP in the Russ discography.

In total&nbsp;the Jersey-born, Atlanta-based&nbsp;rapper has a staggering 14 studio albums to his name; Vitale released his first 11 albums solely via his own Diemon record label, before teaming up with Columbia for his 2017-2020 LPs. From his debut album,&nbsp;Velvet&nbsp;(released in 2011, when the rapper&nbsp;was only 19),&nbsp;2020&#39;s&nbsp;Shake the Snow Globe, there is hardly a dull moment in this list of Russ albums. But, it&#39;s up to you to decide which are the best, and which are the worst.&nbsp;

Which LPs have the best Russ songs of all time? Do you prefer the new Russ albums, or his older independent joints?

Vote up the best Russ albums below, and vote down the ones that you could live without.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The Best Russ Albums, Ranked

All Russ Albums, Ranked By Hip Hop Heads

Albums

We&#39;re ranking the best Kodak Black albums and mixtapes of all time. One of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-current-rappers-under-25/ranker-music" target="_blank">best rappers under 25</a>, Kodak Black&#39;s discography&nbsp;features several popular songs, like &quot;Tunnel Vision&quot; and &quot;Zeze.&quot; What is the greatest <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-kodak-black-dying-to-live-songs/ranker-music?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Kodak Black album</a> ever?

From his debut album Painting Pictures to his 2018 album Dying to Live, this list of Kodak Black albums also includes his mixtapes Project Baby 2, Heart Break Kodak, and Lil B.I.G. Pac.

Vote up the best Kodak Black albums, and vote down the ones that were disappointing.

The Best Kodak Black Albums, Ranked

The Best Kodak Black Albums & Mixtapes, Ranked By Hip Hop Heads

Folk Music

We&#39;re ranking the best First Aid Kit albums of all time. One of the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-folk-music-duos/ranker-music" target="_blank">best folk duos</a>, First Aid Kit&#39;s discography&nbsp;features several popular songs, like &quot;My Silver Lining&quot; and &quot;Fireworks.&quot; What is the greatest First Aid Kit album ever?

From their debut album The Big Black and the Blue to their 2018 album Ruins, this list of First Aid Kit albums also includes Stay Gold and The Lions&#39; Roar.

Vote up the best First Aid Kit albums, and vote down the ones that were disappointing.

The Best First Aid Kit Albums, Ranked

The Best First Aid Kit Albums, Ranked By Fans

Hip-Hop Albums

We&#39;re ranking the best Vince Staples <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-greatest-albums-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">albums of all time</a>. One of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-los-angeles-rappers/ranker-hip-hop" target="_blank">best rappers from Los Angeles</a>, Vince Staples&#39;s discography&nbsp;features several popular songs, like &quot;Norf Norf&quot; and &quot;Fun!&quot; What is the greatest Vince Staples album ever?

From his debut album Summertime &#39;06 to his 2021&nbsp;eponymous LP&nbsp;Vince Staples, this list of Vince Staples albums also includes Big Fish Theory and his mixtapes.

Vote up the best Vince Staples albums, and vote down the ones that were disappointing.

The Best Vince Staples Albums, Ranked

The Best Vince Staples Albums, Ranked By Hip Hop Heads

We&#39;re ranking the best The Head and the Heart albums of all time. One of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/indie-folk-bands-and-musicians/reference" target="_blank">best indie folk bands</a>, The Head and the Heart&#39;s discography&nbsp;features several popular songs, like &quot;All We Ever Knew&quot; and &quot;Lost in My Mind.&quot; What is the greatest The Head and the Heart album ever?

From their self-titled debut album&nbsp;to their 2016&nbsp;album Signs of Light, this list of The Head and the Heart albums also includes their 2013 album Let&#39;s Be Still, which features singles &quot;Shake&quot; and &quot;Another Story.&quot;

Vote up the best The Head and the Heart albums, and vote down the ones that were disappointing.

The Best The Head and the Heart Albums, Ranked

The Best The Head and the Heart Albums, Ranked By Fans

Beloved by many, Yes are considered to be one of the greatest <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/best-progressive-rock-bands-and-artists/reference?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">progressive rock bands</a> of all time.&nbsp;This Yes discography is ranked from best to worst, so the top Yes albums can be found at the top of the list. To make it easy for you, we haven&#39;t included Yes singles, EPs, or compilations, so everything you see here should only be studio albums.

Since its formation in 1968, English rock band Yes started off with rearranged covers of rock, pop, blues, and jazz songs before transitioning into progressive rock and later, into a more pop style. In 1985, Yes won the Grammy for <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/grammy-award-for-best-rock-instrumental-performance-winners/reference?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Best Rock Instrumental Performance</a> wth &quot;Cinema.&quot; Yes have been nominated for inclusion&nbsp;into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014, 2015, and 2016. With singles like &quot;Roundabout&quot; and &quot;Owner of a Lonely Heart,&quot; Yes may get inducted in the future.&nbsp;

If you think the greatest Yes album isn&#39;t high enough on the list, then be sure to vote for it so it receives the credit it deserves. Make sure you don&#39;t just vote for critically acclaimed albums; if you have a favorite Yes album, then vote it up, even if it&#39;s not necessarily the most popular. If you want to know, &quot;What is the Best Yes album of all time?&quot; or &quot;What are the top Yes albums?&quot; then this list will answer your questions.&nbsp;

The list you&#39;re viewing has a variety of albums, like Close to the Edge and 90125. This list of popular Yes albums has been voted on by music fans around the world, so the order of this list isn&#39;t just one person&#39;s opinion.&nbsp;

Fragile

The Best Yes Albums of All Time

The Best Yes Albums of All Time, Ranked

Coley Reed

100's of album lists: Top albums, worst 10 records, etc.

Musical Album lists on Ranker

Top Albums Lists: Top 10/Top 100 Album Rankings and Articles

Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin IV

The Dark Side of the Moon

Are You Experienced

The Doors

Powerslave

The Number of the Beast

The X Factor

Abbey Road

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

Lists that rank the best musical records to ever hit our ears.

The Greatest Albums

It&rsquo;s no coincidence that great bands and artists have some of the best debut <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-greatest-albums-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">albums of all time</a>. You can tell a lot about a music artist from their first album, for better or worse. A debut album sets the stage for what audiences can expect, including genre, style, inventiveness, and many more details. For some talented artists, a debut album can be genre changing and influence pop culture. But what are the greatest debut albums of all time? See what music lovers have to say in the ranking below.

For some bands, a debut album may be their best work or even their only work. More than a few break up after their first effort. For many others, it may be their best work and they may end up being <a href="/list/greatest-songs-by-one-hit-wonders/ranker-music">one-hit wonders</a>. Not many artists continue to find more success after initial efforts.

For the purpose of this list however, we only care about that first seminal album. So vote for the artists that you think have the very best debut albums of all time. No sophomore albums allowed.

Elvis Presley (Legacy Edition)

The Best Debut Albums of All Time, Ranked

The 100+ Greatest Debut Albums Of All Time, Ranked by Music Fans

Ranker Community

Fascinating things you didn't know about your favorite entertainers, and lists that rank the greatest rock singers and musicians ever to grace the spotlights.

True Rock Stars

Greatest Albums

Update:&nbsp;<a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/693nUJzIqPADySoYwTFCGu?si=HVODKpb_QZaRJeSbp67Tfg" target="_blank">Follow Ranker&#39;s official New Rock 2020 playlist&nbsp;on Spotify</a>!

Remember when sex was safe and motorcycles were dangerous, and every rock song had at least a half assed decent guitar solo, and people were doing real drugs and not bath salts? Well, this is a tribute to the music in a time when America was simply about life, liberty, and the pursuit of SEX, DRUGS, AND ROCK-N-ROLL! That said, guitar rock may not be as popular as it was in the past, but that doesn&#39;t mean that in the genre&#39;s heyday, there weren&#39;t albums that transcended genres, music types and connected with fans from all over the globe. For starters, who can forget the entire Led Zeppelin catalog? Jimmy Page&#39;s bonecrunching riffs and Robert Plant&#39;s howls brought heavy blues chords to the mainstream while establishing the band as one of guitar rock&#39;s greatest bands.

There are so many influential albums and top guitar albums here that it&#39;s impossible to list them all right here. But so many of the biggest bands in the world populate this list and all of the biggest guitar players in the world are rightfully present on here. Their mere presence alone means that their particular album is going to rock. You have dudes like Jimi Hendrix, Eddie Van Halen, Angus Young, Tony Iommi and Stevie Ray Vaughn amongst others whose guitar prowess is showcased on so many of these albums.&nbsp;

So what are the best guitar rock <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-greatest-albums-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">albums of all time</a>? You&#39;ll notice Led Zeppelin II, Are You Experienced and Couldn&#39;t Stand the Weather, but there are so many more. If you think something including amazing guitars is missing, feel free add that album to this list. Vote and re-rank to how you deem it to be fit.

The Greatest Guitar Rock Albums of All Time

Best Guitar Rock Albums Ever | List of Greatest Guitar Rock Records of All Time

poll

Besides the music, some of the most iconic bands are known for their creative artwork. Often times this extends to their album covers. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/memorable-oscar-moments/ranker-film?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">The most memorable</a> and famous album covers add an element of coolness to the music that can turn a great album into a transcendent one. Some of the greatest album covers are the most basic. When Andy Warhol designed the Velvet Underground &amp; Nico, no one outside of the artist himself would have associated a banana with that band. Now they do. Here's your chance to vote for the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/red-carpet-looks-2019/samantha-dillinger?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best album covers of all time</a>.Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon, is another album that achieved greater fame thanks to it's cover. It turned the prism into an iconic image and is one of the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-greatest-albums-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best rock album</a> covers. The same goes for Nirvana's Nevermind album cover. The kid whose photo was used is never going to live down being the focal point of the most important album of the '90s. These are some of the most recognizable albums in music history and the creativity that went into writing and recording the album went into making the album cover as great as the music, and one of the top album covers in music. Looking at the records on this list, that was no easy task.So now we give you the chance to judge a record by its cover. Vote for the album you think has the greatest album artwork and qualifies as one of the coolest album covers of all time. There are plenty of good options here, so it's impossible to go wrong.

The Velvet Underground & Nico

The Greatest Album Covers Of All Time

Greatest Album Covers | Best Album Artwork in Music

Iron Maiden

Iron Maiden is considered one of the most important bands in the history of heavy metal music. The British rockers unleashed a brand of music that set them apart from their contemporaries, releasing many studio albums over the course of their incredible career.&nbsp;

Formed in 1975, Iron Maiden shot to fame to in the early &#39;80s after the release of 1982&#39;s The Number of the Beast, 1983&#39;s Piece of Mind, 1984&#39;s Powerslave, 1985&#39;s live release Live After Death, 1986&#39;s Somewhere in Time and 1988&#39;s Seventh Son of a Seventh Son. What makes Iron Maiden albums different from any other band is that their music has received little-to-any support from mainstream rock radio. Yet the albums have continued to sell well over the years, with many achieving platinum and multi-platinum status worldwide.

Since the return of lead vocalist Bruce Dickinson and guitarist Adrian Smith in 1999, the band have undergone a resurgence in popularity, reaffirming their standing as one of rock music&#39;s biggest bands. Already known as one of the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-greatest-_live_-bands-and-artists-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best live bands</a> ever, Iron Maiden still attracts tens of thousands of fans to their concerts. Their staying power and rabid fans helped them score their first number one album with The Final Frontier in 2010.

With a discography as lengthy as Iron Maiden&#39;s, it&#39;s&nbsp;up to you to vote on the albums in the Iron Maiden catalog that can truly be considered the best. It&#39;s&nbsp;not an easy decision with so many legendary albums to choose from, but ultimately, ranking Iron Maiden albums falls into the hands of their true fans: you. So, make sure that this ultimate list reflects your view by voting for all of your favorite (and of course the&nbsp;best) Iron Maiden studio albums below.