The recent unveiling of the definitive list of the 100 Best Bands of All Time has sparked a lot of interest, with over 70 artists contributing to the ranking. Many of the contributors’ testimonies referenced classic albums, such as The Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds, Nirvana’s Nevermind, and U2’s The Joshua Tree. Brandi Carlile hailed U2’s The Joshua Tree as a record that “changed everything about rock ‘n’ roll.” Kenny Loggins listed The Beatles “because of Sgt. Pepper’s [Lonely Hearts Club Band] and because of all the talent in that band.” Mastodon’s Troy Sanders said he started learning guitar by ear by playing to Metallica’s Kill ‘Em All, Ride the Lightning, and Master of Puppets.
In addition to listing out the best bands ever, we’ve rounded up essential albums from each of our top 25 groups. These must-listen, classic records are largely available on the Consequence Store — which also includes vinyl and/or CD listings for nearly all 100 bands on our list — as well as Amazon.
Essential Albums from the 25 Best Bands of All Time
Scroll below to see and shop essential albums by the 25 Best Bands of All Time.
25. Ramones – Rocket to Russia
Rocket to Russia isn’t just an influential ripper — it helped shape decades of punk rock to come. Led by the raucous, nostalgic “Sheena Is a Punk Rocker,” Rocket to Russia brought Ramones’ ’60s pop influences and their electric punk ethos to wider audiences, turning them into cross-genre mainstays in the process. You can find Rocket to Russia on the Consequence Store.
24. Pixies – Doolittle
Doolittle is Pixies at their sharpest, serving as a definitive example of their dynamic songwriting approach and their irresistible allure. It may not have “Where Is My Mind?” (that’s on Surfer Rosa), but Doolittle contains certified Pixies classics like “Debaser,” “Here Comes Your Man,” and “Wave of Mutilation.” Unsurprisingly, this one also landed in the Top 5 of our list of Best Sophomore Albums of All Time. You can find Doolittle on the Consequence Store.
23. U2 – The Joshua Tree
Nearly 40 years later, U2’s The Joshua Tree still sounds massive. This is alternative rock rendered in widescreen format, with Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois’s production elevating the Irish band’s sound to skyscraping heights. As U2 looked to the American myth for inspiration, they created one of the most treasured records in alternative rock history. You can find The Joshua Tree on the Consequence Store.
22. Queen – Greatest Hits
It’s a compilation, but this one is practically its own canonical text. It collects the 1970s and early ’80s run that made Queen untouchable: “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Another One Bites the Dust,” “We Will Rock You,” “Don’t Stop Me Now,” and more. At the risk of sounding too casual about Queen’s remarkable impact on popular music, it’s just banger after banger. What more could you want? You can find Greatest Hits on the Consequence Store.
21. Public Enemy — It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
Inspired by Marvin Gaye’s seminal What’s Going On, Chuck D and Flavor Flav dug their heels in and wound up with an opus of conscious hip-hop — one that shifted the paradigm and demonstrated rap as an optimal vehicle for sociopolitical commentary. Even with heavy ideas, It Takes a Nation… is still a blast, fun and ferocious in equal measure. You can find It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back on the Consequence Store.
20. The Who — Who Are You
The glory of Who Are You is summed up by its title track: harmony-laden vocals, a catchy-as-hell melody, and an outstanding performance from drummer Keith Moon. The album would be Moon’s last, as he passed away three weeks after its release. Still, as an example of The Who’s wholly unique, dynamic rock sound, Who Are You stands as a memorable chapter in their story. You can find Who Are You on the Consequence Store.
19. The Cure — Disintegration
Disintegration is a moody, gothic masterpiece, with some of The Cure’s best-ever tracks. “Lovesong,” “Fascination Street,” “Plainsong,” “Pictures of You,” and “Lullaby” are all hall-of-fame Cure cuts, and the album overall is an affecting, sprawling, loaded work from Robert Smith and co. You can find Disintegration on the Consequence Store.
18. The Band — The Band
The Band’s self-titled 1969 album remains one of the greatest works in roots rock history. With rotating lead vocalists, they made their group moniker feel like an appropriate summation of their collaborative spirit; the harmonies, like on legendary track “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down,” are thick and evocative, and the instrumentation from each member is downright virtuosic. You can find The Band on the Consequence Store.
17. Metallica — Master of Puppets
This is the peak of thrash metal: fast, precise, and ambitious in its songwriting. Master of Puppets was Metallica’s statement piece upon its release in the mid-’80s, and it went on to redefine the metal world altogether. It continues to have lasting influence; in fact, we named it the Second-Best Metal Album of All Time. You can find Master of Puppets on the Consequence Store.
16. Prince and the Revolution — Purple Rain
Prince’s masterpiece (and our Best Album of All Time) masters the art of genre fusion, combining rock, pop, soul, and R&B in a way that few had ever done. As the soundtrack to the titular film, Purple Rain accompanied the visual with music that was both approachable and futuristic. But on its own, Purple Rain is the sound of sheer charisma, artistic ambition, and incredible musicianship meeting in perfect harmony. You can find Purple Rain on the Consequence Store.
15. The Beach Boys — Pet Sounds
The Beach Boys and Brian Wilson’s opus contains some of the most innovative production techniques of the era, with the experience of listening to Pet Sounds becoming inseparable from the product itself. But man, those songs… “Wouldn’t It Be Nice?,” “Sloop John B,” “I Just Wasn’t Made for These Times,” and Wilson’s profoundly good “God Only Knows” are some of the finest tracks of the decade. Pet Sounds remains a masterpiece that becomes richer in detail each time you listen. You can find Pet Sounds on the Consequence Store.
14. Pink Floyd — The Dark Side of the Moon
Pink Floyd’s concept album about pressure, time, money, and madness is one of the best-selling records ever made, and it earns the reputation. Beyond boasting one of the most iconic album covers in history, The Dark Side of the Moon made the studio itself an instrument and turned prog rock into a mainstream phenomenon. Over 50 years later, it’s still a profound, mind-boggling listen. You can find The Dark Side of the Moon on the Consequence Store.
13. The Jimi Hendrix Experience — Axis: Bold as Love
Hendrix’s second album is looser, stranger, and more tender than its psychedelic reputation suggests. With all-timer performances from bassist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell, Axis: Bold as Love deepened Hendrix’s songwriting approach and resulted in one of the compelling most efforts in his short-but-influential career. You can find Axis: Bold as Love on the Consequence Store.
12. The Stooges — Fun House
The Stooges’ Fun House — one of the Best Sophomore Albums of All Time — is a model second album. It stayed true to the band’s signature sound while pushing their creative boundaries even further. It may not have been a commercial smash right away, but it has since built a massive legacy, widely seen as both a Stooges masterpiece and the ultimate blueprint for punk rock. You can find Fun House on the Consequence Store.
11. OutKast — Stankonia
Around the turn of the millennium, OutKast kept outdoing themselves — and 2000’s Stankonia represents the pinnacle of André 3000 and Big Boi’s creativity and collaborative nature. The hits (like “Mrs. Jackson,” “B.O.B.,” and “So Fresh, So Clean”) are one thing; the way the album combines rap, rock, electronic, and soul is another. You can find Stankonia on the Consequence Store.
10. Led Zeppelin — Led Zeppelin III
All you need is one listen to album opener “Immigrant Song” and you’ll be hooked. Led Zeppelin’s third album is a testament to Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, and John Bonham’s incredible chemistry with one another; it may not be hailed as the definitive classic from the band (though multiple of their LPs could be), but Led Zeppelin III is a transcendent collection from a rock band in its imperial phase. You can find Led Zeppelin III on the Consequence Store.
09. Nirvana — Nevermind
Nirvana’s Nevermind isn’t just the Best Sophomore Album of All Time; it was a catalyst for one of the most significant shifts in pop music history. Nevermind masterfully balances visceral punk aggression with pop sensibility, using these contrasting forces to create a potent sophomore album that fully validated Nirvana’s artistry. Though Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic, and Dave Grohl may have intended only to prove their songwriting prowess to themselves, their daring creation accidentally transformed them into a global phenomenon. You can find Nevermind on the Consequence Store.
08. Fleetwood Mac — Rumours
By now, many are familiar with the intra-band turmoil that fueled Rumours, Fleetwood Mac’s beloved 1977 album. But even without the story, the songs all have legs to stand on, and they belong just as much to us now as they did back then to Buckingham, Nicks, Fleetwood, and the McVies. “Dreams” will be an eternal hit, as will “Go Your Own Way.” “Gold Dust Woman” is underrated and “You Make Loving Fun” is Christine McVie at her sentimental best. No matter the emotional state, Rumours just hits. You can find Rumours on the Consequence Store.
07. The Clash — Combat Rock
The Clash’s final album with Mick Jones was their biggest commercial success, thanks to “Rock the Casbah” and “Should I Stay or Should I Go.” It’s a bit more polished and radio-friendly than Sandinista!, while still folding funk, dub, and hip-hop into the band’s punk foundation. It remains a fascinating swan song for the classic lineup, and though it was less punk-forward than their earlier work, it still shows how ahead of the curve The Clash were. You can find Combat Rock on the Consequence Store.
06. The Rolling Stones — Exile on Main Street
Exile on Main Street, The Stones’ sprawling 1972 double album, was largely recorded in the basement of Keith Richards’ rented villa in the south of France, and it sounds like it: loose, murky, and gloriously lived-in. “Tumbling Dice,” “Happy,” and “Sweet Virginia” blend blues, country, gospel, and rock into something messy and magnificent. As one of the premier live bands
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