The best albums of 2005

Ranked by every score on sleeves, critics' and listeners'. An album with few scores is pulled toward the average until more come in, so one perfect score cannot top the list.

  1. 1IllinoisSufjan Stevens · 4.2 from 3 scores
  2. 2Lullabies to ParalyzeQueens of the Stone Age · 4.2 from 3 scores
  3. 3HypnotizeSystem of a Down · 4.3 from 2 scores
  1. 4Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m NotArctic Monkeys4 from 3 scores
  2. 5Demon DaysGorillaz4 from 3 scores
  3. 6You Could Have It So Much BetterFranz Ferdinand4 from 2 scores
  4. 7MezmerizeSystem of a Down4 from 2 scores
  5. 8LCD SoundsystemLCD Soundsystem3.8 from 3 scores
  6. 9GueroBeck3.8 from 3 scores
  7. 10Ten Thousand FistsDisturbed4 from 1 score
  8. 11See You on the Other SideKorn4 from 1 score
  9. 12The Mouse and the MaskDANGERDOOM3.8 from 2 scores
  10. 13Out of ExileAudioslave3.8 from 2 scores
  11. 14Get Behind Me SatanThe White Stripes3.7 from 3 scores
  12. 15In Between DreamsJack Johnson3.5 from 1 score
  13. 16WolfmotherWolfmother3.5 from 2 scores
  14. 17Confessions on a Dance FloorMadonna3.5 from 3 scores
  15. 18PlansDeath Cab for Cutie3.5 from 3 scores
  16. 19In Your HonorFoo Fighters3.5 from 3 scores
  17. 20The Campfire HeadphaseBoards of Canada3.5 from 3 scores
  18. 21With TeethNine Inch Nails3.3 from 2 scores
  19. 22Speak for YourselfImogen Heap3 from 1 score
  20. 23X&YColdplay3.2 from 3 scores
  21. 24I’m Wide Awake, It’s MorningBright Eyes3 from 2 scores
  22. 25First Impressions of EarthThe Strokes3 from 3 scores
  23. 26All the Right ReasonsNickelback2 from 1 score
  24. 27A Fever You Can’t Sweat OutPanic! at the Disco1 from 1 score
  25. 28Human After AllDaft Punk2.3 from 3 scores