Chart of Essentiality

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

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

98 albums

#	Album ↕	Episode ↕	Avg ↓
1	Kind Of Blue Miles Davis Ep. 5: Episode 5	Ep. 5: Episode 5	4.48
2	Born To Run Bruce Springsteen Ep. 5: Episode 5	Ep. 5: Episode 5	4.41
3	Who’s Next The Who Ep. 17: Episode 17	Ep. 17: Episode 17	4.33
4	Revolver The Beatles Ep. 45: Episode 45	Ep. 45: Episode 45	4.25
5	Back in Black AC/DC Ep. 26: Episode 26	Ep. 26: Episode 26	4.23
6	The Dark Side of the Moon Pink Floyd Ep. 44: Episode 44	Ep. 44: Episode 44	4.20
7	Paranoid Black Sabbath Ep. 6: Episode 6	Ep. 6: Episode 6	4.20
8	The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars David Bowie Ep. 3: Episode 3	Ep. 3: Episode 3	4.20
9	Exodus Bob Marley & The Wailers Ep. 51: Episode 51	Ep. 51: Episode 51	4.19
10	Tapestry Carole King Ep. 15: Episode 15	Ep. 15: Episode 15	4.18
11	The Joshua Tree U2 Ep. 33: Episode 33	Ep. 33: Episode 33	4.18
12	Blood on the Tracks Bob Dylan Ep. 4: Episode 4	Ep. 4: Episode 4	4.17
13	Born in the U.S.A. Bruce Springsteen Ep. 52: Episode 52	Ep. 52: Episode 52	4.17
14	At San Quentin Johnny Cash Ep. 37: Episode 37	Ep. 37: Episode 37	4.17
15	Songs In The Key Of Life Stevie Wonder Ep. 24: Episode 24	Ep. 24: Episode 24	4.14
16	Cosmo’s Factory Creedence Clearwater Revival Ep. 42: Episode 42	Ep. 42: Episode 42	4.13
17	Appetite for Destruction Guns N’ Roses Ep. 29: Episode 29	Ep. 29: Episode 29	4.12
18	The Low End Theory A Tribe Called Quest Ep. 52: Episode 52	Ep. 52: Episode 52	4.10
19	Pet Sounds The Beach Boys Ep. 12: Episode 12	Ep. 12: Episode 12	4.10
20	Giant Steps John Coltrane Ep. 53: Episode 53	Ep. 53: Episode 53	4.08
21	Automatic for the People R.E.M. Ep. 6: Episode 6	Ep. 6: Episode 6	4.07
22	Rumours Fleetwood Mac Ep. 1: Episode 1	Ep. 1: Episode 1	4.07
23	Van Halen Van Halen Ep. 35: Episode 35	Ep. 35: Episode 35	4.07
24	The Cars The Cars Ep. 21: Episode 21	Ep. 21: Episode 21	4.05
25	John Prine John Prine Ep. 27: Episode 27	Ep. 27: Episode 27	4.04
26	Paul’s Boutique Beastie Boys Ep. 18: Episode 18	Ep. 18: Episode 18	4.04
27	What’s Going On Marvin Gaye Ep. 48: Episode 48	Ep. 48: Episode 48	4.04
28	Rust Never Sleeps Neil Young, Crazy Horse Ep. 14: Episode 14	Ep. 14: Episode 14	4.04
29	The Number Of The Beast Iron Maiden Ep. 41: Episode 41	Ep. 41: Episode 41	4.03
30	Pearl Janis Joplin Ep. 9: Episode 9	Ep. 9: Episode 9	4.02
31	Led Zeppelin II Led Zeppelin Ep. 2: Episode 2	Ep. 2: Episode 2	4.02
32	Bat Out of Hell Meat Loaf Ep. 46: Episode 46	Ep. 46: Episode 46	4.00
33	Ramones Ramones Ep. 53: Episode 53	Ep. 53: Episode 53	4.00
34	Brothers in Arms Dire Straits Ep. 36: Episode 36	Ep. 36: Episode 36	3.99
35	Back to Black Amy Winehouse Ep. 7: Episode 7	Ep. 7: Episode 7	3.99
36	So Peter Gabriel Ep. 8: Episode 8	Ep. 8: Episode 8	3.98
37	Roseland NYC Live Portishead Ep. 18: Episode 18	Ep. 18: Episode 18	3.98
38	Ten Pearl Jam Ep. 22: Episode 22	Ep. 22: Episode 22	3.97
39	Parallel Lines Blondie Ep. 1: Episode 1	Ep. 1: Episode 1	3.97
40	Straight Outta Compton N.W.A Ep. 23: Episode 23	Ep. 23: Episode 23	3.96
41	The Modern Lovers The Modern Lovers Ep. 35: Episode 35	Ep. 35: Episode 35	3.96
42	Violent Femmes Violent Femmes Ep. 26: Episode 26	Ep. 26: Episode 26	3.96
43	Jagged Little Pill Alanis Morissette Ep. 25: Episode 25	Ep. 25: Episode 25	3.95
44	Weezer Weezer Ep. 27: Episode 27	Ep. 27: Episode 27	3.95
45	Golden Hour Kacey Musgraves Ep. 4: Episode 4	Ep. 4: Episode 4	3.95
46	Thriller Michael Jackson Ep. 3: Episode 3	Ep. 3: Episode 3	3.94
47	Pink Moon Nick Drake Ep. 14: Episode 14	Ep. 14: Episode 14	3.93
48	Breakfast in America Supertramp Ep. 49: Episode 49	Ep. 49: Episode 49	3.92
49	Metallica Metallica Ep. 28: Episode 28	Ep. 28: Episode 28	3.91
50	Sports Huey Lewis and the News Ep. 11: Episode 11	Ep. 11: Episode 11	3.91
51	Leftism Leftfield Ep. 38: Episode 38	Ep. 38: Episode 38	3.90
52	The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess Chappell Roan Ep. 17: Episode 17	Ep. 17: Episode 17	3.89
53	Songs From the Big Chair Tears for Fears Ep. 16: Episode 16	Ep. 16: Episode 16	3.89
54	Blonde on Blonde Bob Dylan Ep. 43: Episode 43	Ep. 43: Episode 43	3.89
55	London Calling The Clash Ep. 47: Episode 47	Ep. 47: Episode 47	3.88
56	The Band The Band Ep. 39: Episode 39	Ep. 39: Episode 39	3.87
57	The Stone Roses The Stone Roses Ep. 31: Episode 31	Ep. 31: Episode 31	3.86
58	Dookie Green Day Ep. 39: Episode 39	Ep. 39: Episode 39	3.86
59	Rio Duran Duran Ep. 49: Episode 49	Ep. 49: Episode 49	3.86
60	Sign "O" The Times Prince Ep. 13: Episode 13	Ep. 13: Episode 13	3.85
61	Achtung Baby U2 Ep. 29: Episode 29	Ep. 29: Episode 29	3.84
62	The Stranger Billy Joel Ep. 34: Episode 34	Ep. 34: Episode 34	3.84
63	The Velvet Underground & Nico The Velvet Underground, Nico Ep. 11: Episode 11	Ep. 11: Episode 11	3.84
64	#1 Record Big Star Ep. 48: Episode 48	Ep. 48: Episode 48	3.83
65	The Trinity Session Cowboy Junkies Ep. 54: Episode 54	Ep. 54: Episode 54	3.82
66	Energy Operation Ivy Ep. 28: Episode 28	Ep. 28: Episode 28	3.82
67	Aqualung Jethro Tull Ep. 38: Episode 38	Ep. 38: Episode 38	3.82
68	Exile On Main St The Rolling Stones Ep. 7: Episode 7	Ep. 7: Episode 7	3.80
69	Synchronicity The Police Ep. 19: Episode 19	Ep. 19: Episode 19	3.77
70	AM Arctic Monkeys Ep. 22: Episode 22	Ep. 22: Episode 22	3.76
71	The White Room The KLF Ep. 16: Episode 16	Ep. 16: Episode 16	3.73
72	The Black Parade My Chemical Romance Ep. 43: Episode 43	Ep. 43: Episode 43	3.72
73	I Just Can’t Stop It The English Beat Ep. 34: Episode 34	Ep. 34: Episode 34	3.70
74	No Depression Uncle Tupelo Ep. 44: Episode 44	Ep. 44: Episode 44	3.68
75	Brothers The Black Keys Ep. 36: Episode 36	Ep. 36: Episode 36	3.66
76	Father of the Bride Vampire Weekend Ep. 9: Episode 9	Ep. 9: Episode 9	3.64
77	The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion The Black Crowes Ep. 51: Episode 51	Ep. 51: Episode 51	3.63
78	OK Computer Radiohead Ep. 8: Episode 8	Ep. 8: Episode 8	3.61
79	A Flock Of Seagulls A Flock Of Seagulls Ep. 21: Episode 21	Ep. 21: Episode 21	3.61
80	A Rush Of Blood To The Head Coldplay Ep. 12: Episode 12	Ep. 12: Episode 12	3.60
81	The Muse The Wood Brothers Ep. 24: Episode 24	Ep. 24: Episode 24	3.57
82	Hounds Of Love Kate Bush Ep. 41: Episode 41	Ep. 41: Episode 41	3.55
83	(I'm) Stranded The Saints Ep. 54: Episode 54	Ep. 54: Episode 54	3.54
84	Hot Rats Frank Zappa Ep. 2: Episode 2	Ep. 2: Episode 2	3.53
85	Alive! Kiss Ep. 19: Episode 19	Ep. 19: Episode 19	3.52
86	Bellybutton Jellyfish Ep. 31: Episode 31	Ep. 31: Episode 31	3.48
87	Naveed Our Lady Peace Ep. 37: Episode 37	Ep. 37: Episode 37	3.47
88	Apple Mother Love Bone Ep. 46: Episode 46	Ep. 46: Episode 46	3.44
89	G. Love And Special Sauce G. Love & Special Sauce Ep. 13: Episode 13	Ep. 13: Episode 13	3.35
90	Bon Iver, Bon Iver Bon Iver Ep. 23: Episode 23	Ep. 23: Episode 23	3.33
91	Cleopatra The Lumineers Ep. 47: Episode 47	Ep. 47: Episode 47	3.31
92	Kings of the Wild Frontier Adam and the Ants Ep. 25: Episode 25	Ep. 25: Episode 25	3.28
93	Lone Rhino Adrian Belew Ep. 42: Episode 42	Ep. 42: Episode 42	3.28
94	Deja Entendu Brand New Ep. 32: Episode 32	Ep. 32: Episode 32	3.20
95	Lateralus Tool Ep. 15: Episode 15	Ep. 15: Episode 15	3.01
96	Once Nightwish Ep. 45: Episode 45	Ep. 45: Episode 45	2.93
97	Hangin’ Tough New Kids on the Block Ep. 33: Episode 33	Ep. 33: Episode 33	2.55
98	Trout Mask Replica Captain Beefheart & The Magic Band Ep. 32: Episode 32	Ep. 32: Episode 32	2.45