Chart of Essentiality

Every album that's appeared on the show, ranked by average listener rating.

Filter by tier

Top Tier ≥ 4.5 Essential ≥ 4.0 Close to Essential ≥ 3.0 Struggling < 3.0

120 albums

#	Album ↕	Episode ↕	Avg ↓
1	Kind Of Blue Miles Davis Ep. 5: Episode 5	Ep. 5: Episode 5	4.30
2	Paranoid Black Sabbath Ep. 6: Episode 6	Ep. 6: Episode 6	4.25
3	Back in Black AC/DC Ep. 26: Episode 26	Ep. 26: Episode 26	4.22
4	Revolver The Beatles Ep. 45: Episode 45	Ep. 45: Episode 45	4.20
5	Purple Rain Prince And The Revolution Ep. 56: Episode 56	Ep. 56: Episode 56	4.20
6	The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars David Bowie Ep. 3: Episode 3	Ep. 3: Episode 3	4.18
7	Born To Run Bruce Springsteen Ep. 5: Episode 5	Ep. 5: Episode 5	4.18
8	Who’s Next The Who Ep. 17: Episode 17	Ep. 17: Episode 17	4.18
9	The Dark Side of the Moon Pink Floyd Ep. 44: Episode 44	Ep. 44: Episode 44	4.18
10	Tapestry Carole King Ep. 15: Episode 15	Ep. 15: Episode 15	4.17
11	At San Quentin Johnny Cash Ep. 37: Episode 37	Ep. 37: Episode 37	4.16
12	The Joshua Tree U2 Ep. 33: Episode 33	Ep. 33: Episode 33	4.15
13	The Cars The Cars Ep. 21: Episode 21	Ep. 21: Episode 21	4.15
14	Rage Against The Machine Rage Against The Machine Episode 59	Episode 59	4.15
15	Exodus Bob Marley & The Wailers Ep. 51: Episode 51	Ep. 51: Episode 51	4.14
16	Appetite for Destruction Guns N’ Roses Ep. 29: Episode 29	Ep. 29: Episode 29	4.14
17	Blood on the Tracks Bob Dylan Ep. 4: Episode 4	Ep. 4: Episode 4	4.14
18	Van Halen Van Halen Ep. 35: Episode 35	Ep. 35: Episode 35	4.12
19	Born in the U.S.A. Bruce Springsteen Ep. 52: Episode 52	Ep. 52: Episode 52	4.11
20	Songs In The Key Of Life Stevie Wonder Ep. 24: Episode 24	Ep. 24: Episode 24	4.09
21	Led Zeppelin II Led Zeppelin Ep. 2: Episode 2	Ep. 2: Episode 2	4.09
22	What’s Going On Marvin Gaye Ep. 48: Episode 48	Ep. 48: Episode 48	4.09
23	John Prine John Prine Ep. 27: Episode 27	Ep. 27: Episode 27	4.08
24	Rumours Fleetwood Mac Ep. 1: Episode 1	Ep. 1: Episode 1	4.07
25	Giant Steps John Coltrane Ep. 53: Episode 53	Ep. 53: Episode 53	4.05
26	Hard Again Muddy Waters Episode 62	Episode 62	4.04
27	Cosmo’s Factory Creedence Clearwater Revival Ep. 42: Episode 42	Ep. 42: Episode 42	4.04
28	American Beauty The Grateful Dead Episode 61	Episode 61	4.01
29	Automatic for the People R.E.M. Ep. 6: Episode 6	Ep. 6: Episode 6	4.01
30	The Low End Theory A Tribe Called Quest Ep. 52: Episode 52	Ep. 52: Episode 52	4.00
31	Jagged Little Pill Alanis Morissette Ep. 25: Episode 25	Ep. 25: Episode 25	3.99
32	Back to Black Amy Winehouse Ep. 7: Episode 7	Ep. 7: Episode 7	3.99
33	The Number Of The Beast Iron Maiden Ep. 41: Episode 41	Ep. 41: Episode 41	3.99
34	Weezer Weezer Ep. 27: Episode 27	Ep. 27: Episode 27	3.98
35	So Peter Gabriel Ep. 8: Episode 8	Ep. 8: Episode 8	3.98
36	Paul’s Boutique Beastie Boys Ep. 18: Episode 18	Ep. 18: Episode 18	3.97
37	Metallica Metallica Ep. 28: Episode 28	Ep. 28: Episode 28	3.96
38	Rio Duran Duran Ep. 49: Episode 49	Ep. 49: Episode 49	3.96
39	Pet Sounds The Beach Boys Ep. 12: Episode 12	Ep. 12: Episode 12	3.96
40	Ten Pearl Jam Ep. 22: Episode 22	Ep. 22: Episode 22	3.95
41	Bat Out of Hell Meat Loaf Ep. 46: Episode 46	Ep. 46: Episode 46	3.95
42	Thriller Michael Jackson Ep. 3: Episode 3	Ep. 3: Episode 3	3.95
43	Ramones Ramones Ep. 53: Episode 53	Ep. 53: Episode 53	3.95
44	Songs From the Big Chair Tears for Fears Ep. 16: Episode 16	Ep. 16: Episode 16	3.94
45	London Calling The Clash Ep. 47: Episode 47	Ep. 47: Episode 47	3.94
46	Brothers in Arms Dire Straits Ep. 36: Episode 36	Ep. 36: Episode 36	3.94
47	Parallel Lines Blondie Ep. 1: Episode 1	Ep. 1: Episode 1	3.93
48	...And Out Come The Wolves Rancid Episode 63	Episode 63	3.92
49	Sports Huey Lewis and the News Ep. 11: Episode 11	Ep. 11: Episode 11	3.91
50	Exile On Main St The Rolling Stones Ep. 7: Episode 7	Ep. 7: Episode 7	3.91
51	Violent Femmes Violent Femmes Ep. 26: Episode 26	Ep. 26: Episode 26	3.90
52	Roseland NYC Live Portishead Ep. 18: Episode 18	Ep. 18: Episode 18	3.90
53	The Stranger Billy Joel Ep. 34: Episode 34	Ep. 34: Episode 34	3.90
54	Abbey Road The Beatles Ep. 58: Episode 58	Ep. 58: Episode 58	3.90
55	Golden Hour Kacey Musgraves Ep. 4: Episode 4	Ep. 4: Episode 4	3.89
56	The Stone Roses The Stone Roses Ep. 31: Episode 31	Ep. 31: Episode 31	3.88
57	Rust Never Sleeps Neil Young, Crazy Horse Ep. 14: Episode 14	Ep. 14: Episode 14	3.87
58	Aja Steely Dan Episode 62	Episode 62	3.87
59	Wildflowers Tom Petty Episode 61	Episode 61	3.87
60	Is This It The Strokes Episode 64	Episode 64	3.86
61	Straight Outta Compton N.W.A Ep. 23: Episode 23	Ep. 23: Episode 23	3.86
62	Pearl Janis Joplin Ep. 9: Episode 9	Ep. 9: Episode 9	3.84
63	Breakfast in America Supertramp Ep. 49: Episode 49	Ep. 49: Episode 49	3.84
64	Achtung Baby U2 Ep. 29: Episode 29	Ep. 29: Episode 29	3.84
65	Bridge Over Troubled Water Simon & Garfunkel Ep. 55: Episode 55	Ep. 55: Episode 55	3.84
66	Blonde on Blonde Bob Dylan Ep. 43: Episode 43	Ep. 43: Episode 43	3.83
67	Synchronicity The Police Ep. 19: Episode 19	Ep. 19: Episode 19	3.81
68	Leftism Leftfield Ep. 38: Episode 38	Ep. 38: Episode 38	3.81
69	Pink Moon Nick Drake Ep. 14: Episode 14	Ep. 14: Episode 14	3.79
70	The Modern Lovers The Modern Lovers Ep. 35: Episode 35	Ep. 35: Episode 35	3.79
71	Siamese Dream The Smashing Pumpkins Episode 64	Episode 64	3.78
72	The Velvet Underground & Nico The Velvet Underground, Nico Ep. 11: Episode 11	Ep. 11: Episode 11	3.77
73	Sign "O" The Times Prince Ep. 13: Episode 13	Ep. 13: Episode 13	3.77
74	Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables Dead Kennedys Episode 63	Episode 63	3.75
75	Bleed American Jimmy Eat World Episode 65	Episode 65	3.75
76	#1 Record Big Star Ep. 48: Episode 48	Ep. 48: Episode 48	3.73
77	The Band The Band Ep. 39: Episode 39	Ep. 39: Episode 39	3.73
78	The White Room The KLF Ep. 16: Episode 16	Ep. 16: Episode 16	3.72
79	The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess Chappell Roan Ep. 17: Episode 17	Ep. 17: Episode 17	3.72
80	Dookie Green Day Ep. 39: Episode 39	Ep. 39: Episode 39	3.72
81	AM Arctic Monkeys Ep. 22: Episode 22	Ep. 22: Episode 22	3.69
82	The Trinity Session Cowboy Junkies Ep. 54: Episode 54	Ep. 54: Episode 54	3.68
83	Energy Operation Ivy Ep. 28: Episode 28	Ep. 28: Episode 28	3.68
84	I Just Can’t Stop It The English Beat Ep. 34: Episode 34	Ep. 34: Episode 34	3.68
85	Enema Of The State Blink-182 Episode 59	Episode 59	3.67
86	Random Access Memories Daft Punk Episode 66	Episode 66	3.67
87	The Black Parade My Chemical Romance Ep. 43: Episode 43	Ep. 43: Episode 43	3.67
88	A Flock Of Seagulls A Flock Of Seagulls Ep. 21: Episode 21	Ep. 21: Episode 21	3.66
89	Aqualung Jethro Tull Ep. 38: Episode 38	Ep. 38: Episode 38	3.65
90	Rust in Peace Megadeth Ep. 57: Episode 57	Ep. 57: Episode 57	3.65
91	No Depression Uncle Tupelo Ep. 44: Episode 44	Ep. 44: Episode 44	3.64
92	The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion The Black Crowes Ep. 51: Episode 51	Ep. 51: Episode 51	3.61
93	Workbook Bob Mould Ep. 57: Episode 57	Ep. 57: Episode 57	3.59
94	OK Computer Radiohead Ep. 8: Episode 8	Ep. 8: Episode 8	3.58
95	Hounds Of Love Kate Bush Ep. 41: Episode 41	Ep. 41: Episode 41	3.54
96	A Rush Of Blood To The Head Coldplay Ep. 12: Episode 12	Ep. 12: Episode 12	3.53
97	Brothers The Black Keys Ep. 36: Episode 36	Ep. 36: Episode 36	3.53
98	Alive! Kiss Ep. 19: Episode 19	Ep. 19: Episode 19	3.52
99	Crying Laughing Loving Lying Labi Siffre Episode 65	Episode 65	3.52
100	The Muse The Wood Brothers Ep. 24: Episode 24	Ep. 24: Episode 24	3.46
101	It's a Shame About Ray The Lemonheads Ep. 56: Episode 56	Ep. 56: Episode 56	3.46
102	(I'm) Stranded The Saints Ep. 54: Episode 54	Ep. 54: Episode 54	3.44
103	Apple Mother Love Bone Ep. 46: Episode 46	Ep. 46: Episode 46	3.43
104	Naveed Our Lady Peace Ep. 37: Episode 37	Ep. 37: Episode 37	3.42
105	Bellybutton Jellyfish Ep. 31: Episode 31	Ep. 31: Episode 31	3.41
106	Hot Rats Frank Zappa Ep. 2: Episode 2	Ep. 2: Episode 2	3.40
107	G. Love And Special Sauce G. Love & Special Sauce Ep. 13: Episode 13	Ep. 13: Episode 13	3.34
108	Welcome Interstate Managers Fountains Of Wayne Ep. 55: Episode 55	Ep. 55: Episode 55	3.34
109	No Fences Garth Brooks Ep. 58: Episode 58	Ep. 58: Episode 58	3.33
110	Father of the Bride Vampire Weekend Ep. 9: Episode 9	Ep. 9: Episode 9	3.32
111	I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning Bright Eyes Episode 66	Episode 66	3.31
112	Kings of the Wild Frontier Adam and the Ants Ep. 25: Episode 25	Ep. 25: Episode 25	3.29
113	Cleopatra The Lumineers Ep. 47: Episode 47	Ep. 47: Episode 47	3.22
114	Lone Rhino Adrian Belew Ep. 42: Episode 42	Ep. 42: Episode 42	3.20
115	Bon Iver, Bon Iver Bon Iver Ep. 23: Episode 23	Ep. 23: Episode 23	3.18
116	Deja Entendu Brand New Ep. 32: Episode 32	Ep. 32: Episode 32	3.06
117	Lateralus Tool Ep. 15: Episode 15	Ep. 15: Episode 15	2.99
118	Once Nightwish Ep. 45: Episode 45	Ep. 45: Episode 45	2.94
119	Hangin’ Tough New Kids on the Block Ep. 33: Episode 33	Ep. 33: Episode 33	2.41
120	Trout Mask Replica Captain Beefheart & The Magic Band Ep. 32: Episode 32	Ep. 32: Episode 32	2.36