Some artists build careers that unfold like stories. Early experiments give way to breakthroughs, stylistic detours, and the occasional surprising comeback. The Artist Rankings series explores those stories by looking closely at an artist’s entire discography.
These essays rank albums from beginning to end, but the goal isn’t just to crown a winner. Ranking a catalog can reveal how an artist evolves, how different records speak to one another, and how reputation sometimes shifts over time. A misunderstood album might sound better decades later. A once-beloved release might feel strangely distant.
From classic rock legends to art-pop innovators and cult favorites, the rankings here are designed for listeners who enjoy revisiting albums and debating the shape of a career.
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Every Marvin Gaye Album Ranked: From Least Essential to Timeless
Every Sade Album Ranked (From Least Essential to Best)
Kate Bush Albums Ranked: From Lionheart to Hounds of Love
Ranking Doja Cat’s Albums: From Internet Irony to Artistic Fire
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Yes Lawd! Every Anderson .Paak Album Ranked
Anderson .Paak almost always sounds like he knows exactly how charming he’s being. He can sing like a soul record with a little dust still on it, rap… Continue Reading
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Tom Waits Albums Ranked: From Barroom Ballads to Junkyard Gospel
Tom Waits has one of the strangest careers in popular music. At first he is the guy at the piano after last call, evoking busted romance, neon in… Continue Reading
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Humiliation, Longing, and Pop Genius: Mitski Albums Ranked
Ranking Mitski albums is tough. Do you want the guitar-burn Mitski, the one who sounds like she is turning humiliation into voltage before your eyes? Do you want… Continue Reading
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Freddie Gibbs Albums Ranked: His Best Projects
Freddie Gibbs is one of those rappers people are weirdly eager to explain through his collaborators. Which is flattering, I guess. Madlib gave him the dusty masterpiece. Alchemist… Continue Reading
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U.S. Girls Albums Ranked: From Tape Hiss to Disco Fire
Meg Remy’s U.S. Girls began in the fog of tape loops, cheap percussion, voices buried under hiss, songs that sounded like they’d been recorded through a wall by… Continue Reading
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Aldous Harding Albums Ranked: The Complete Guide to Pop Theater
Aldous Harding makes catchy songs that don’t initially seem like catchy songs. Her music is not difficult in the sense of being harsh or overloaded. A lot of… Continue Reading