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No. 1: Lauryn Hill’s The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill

No. 1: Lauryn Hill’s The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill

Born out of fire, this classic became her peace.
No. 2: Michael Jackson’s Thriller

No. 2: Michael Jackson’s Thriller

The King of Pop takes his crown.
No. 3: The Beatles’ Abbey Road

No. 3: The Beatles’ Abbey Road

The perfect send-off for the band that changed the world.
No. 4: Prince & The Revolution’s Purple Rain

No. 4: Prince & The Revolution’s Purple Rain

So far ahead of its time, it still sounds futuristic.
No. 5 Frank Ocean’s Blonde

No. 5 Frank Ocean’s Blonde

The musical diary that makes the most of creative freedom.
No. 6: Stevie Wonder’s Songs in the Key of Life

No. 6: Stevie Wonder’s Songs in the Key of Life

When a musical god created a universe unto itself.
No. 7: Kendrick Lamar’s good kid, m.A.A.d city

No. 7: Kendrick Lamar’s good kid, m.A.A.d city

A Compton prodigy realigns rap by going personal.
No. 8: Amy Winehouse’s Back to Black

No. 8: Amy Winehouse’s Back to Black

A singular talent lets her deepest pain pour out.
No. 9: Nirvana’s Nevermind

No. 9: Nirvana’s Nevermind

Alternative culture became pop culture.
No. 10: Beyoncé’s Lemonade

No. 10: Beyoncé’s Lemonade

This isn’t a victim story. It’s a victor story.
No. 11: Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours

No. 11: Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours

An irresistible mix of real-life drama and flawless writing.
No. 12: Radiohead’s OK Computer

No. 12: Radiohead’s OK Computer

Reordering rock with a dozen unsettling songs.
No. 13: JAŸ-Z’s The Blueprint

No. 13: JAŸ-Z’s The Blueprint

Hov goes from hitmaker to Hall of Famer.
No. 14: Bob Dylan’s Highway 61 Revisited

No. 14: Bob Dylan’s Highway 61 Revisited

The album that transformed rock and folk forever.
No. 15: Adele’s 21

No. 15: Adele’s 21

When words fail, music speaks—and this says it all.
No. 16: Joni Mitchell’s Blue

No. 16: Joni Mitchell’s Blue

The best breakup album of all time.
No. 17: Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On

No. 17: Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On

The greatest evolutionary leap in the history of soul.
No. 18: Taylor Swift’s 1989 (Taylor’s Version)

No. 18: Taylor Swift’s 1989 (Taylor’s Version)

A pop plot twist that unleashed her genius.
No. 19: Dr. Dre’s The Chronic

No. 19: Dr. Dre’s The Chronic

Smoke from the riots clears, revealing the future of rap.
No. 20: The Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds

No. 20: The Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds

A hypnotic trip through the ups and downs of love.
No. 21: The Beatles’ Revolver

No. 21: The Beatles’ Revolver

The Fab Four changes the course of pop music—again.
No. 22: Bruce Springsteen’s Born to Run

No. 22: Bruce Springsteen’s Born to Run

With his back to the wall, The Boss earns his stripes.
No. 23: Daft Punk’s Discovery

No. 23: Daft Punk’s Discovery

The robot duo added soul to their synths—and blew up.
No. 24: David Bowie’s The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars

No. 24: David Bowie’s The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars

Rock’s greatest alter ego drops epic glam anthems.
No. 25: Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue

No. 25: Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue

A legendary lineup of jazz giants charts a new course.
No. 26: Kanye West’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

No. 26: Kanye West’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

A maximalist love letter to the antihero.
No. 27: Led Zeppelin’s Led Zeppelin II

No. 27: Led Zeppelin’s Led Zeppelin II

The landmark that influenced generations of guitar gods.
No. 28: Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon

No. 28: Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon

An immersive trip through the human experience.
No. 29: A Tribe Called Quest’s The Low End Theory

No. 29: A Tribe Called Quest’s The Low End Theory

Is this the bassiest album ever?
No. 30: Billie Eilish’s WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?

No. 30: Billie Eilish’s WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?

The album that redefined teen-pop superstardom.
No. 31: Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill

No. 31: Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill

The LP that broke down the walls between alt and pop.
No. 32: The Notorious B.I.G.’s Ready To Die

No. 32: The Notorious B.I.G.’s Ready To Die

Hardcore raps get a pop sheen on this instant classic.
No. 33: Radiohead’s Kid A

No. 33: Radiohead’s Kid A

One of the biggest about-faces in rock history.
No. 34: Public Enemy’s It Takes A Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back

No. 34: Public Enemy’s It Takes A Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back

A full-on state of the union for Black youth in America.
No. 35: The Clash’s London Calling

No. 35: The Clash’s London Calling

When The Clash became bigger than punk.
No. 36: Beyoncé’s BEYONCÉ

No. 36: Beyoncé’s BEYONCÉ

A “Flawless” surprise drop creates a new pop playbook.
No. 37: Wu-Tang Clan’s Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)

No. 37: Wu-Tang Clan’s Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)

Kung fu kicks it in Timbs—and changes rap forever.
No. 38: Carole King’s Tapestry

No. 38: Carole King’s Tapestry

Weaving new standards into the fabric of pop music.
No. 39: Nas’ Illmatic

No. 39: Nas’ Illmatic

They called him the Second Coming for a reason.
No. 40: Aretha Franklin’s I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You

No. 40: Aretha Franklin’s I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You

The moment the Queen of Soul rose to her throne.
No. 41: OutKast’s Aquemini

No. 41: OutKast’s Aquemini

A mind-altering hit of psychedelic proto-trap.
No. 42: Janet Jackson’s Control

No. 42: Janet Jackson’s Control

When she stepped out of the shadows and into stardom.
No. 43: Talking Heads’ Remain In Light

No. 43: Talking Heads’ Remain In Light

Art-rock that brings together Fela Kuti and Brian Eno.
No. 44: Stevie Wonder’s Innervisions

No. 44: Stevie Wonder’s Innervisions

The album that helped resurrect Stevie—literally.
No. 45: Björk’s Homogenic

No. 45: Björk’s Homogenic

Webs of orchestral beauty and electronic innovation.
No. 46: Bob Marley & The Wailers’ Exodus

No. 46: Bob Marley & The Wailers’ Exodus

The global music saint crafts his most important relic.
No. 47: Drake’s Take Care

No. 47: Drake’s Take Care

A decade-plus of rap and pop dominance takes off.
No. 48: Beastie Boys Paul’s Boutique

No. 48: Beastie Boys Paul’s Boutique

A groundbreaking hip-hop collage.
No. 49: U2’s The Joshua Tree

No. 49: U2’s The Joshua Tree

Irishmen go on a spiritual quest to find America.
No. 50: Kate Bush’s Hounds of Love

No. 50: Kate Bush’s Hounds of Love

Just how far ahead of its time was this album?