The best alternative albums

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. 1Fleet FoxesFleet Foxes · 4.5 from 3 scores
  2. 2The Moon & AntarcticaModest Mouse · 4.8 from 2 scores
  3. 3Turn On the Bright LightsInterpol · 4.8 from 2 scores
  1. 4Dawn FMThe Weeknd4.3 from 3 scores
  2. 5You Forgot It in PeopleBroken Social Scene4.5 from 2 scores
  3. 6CurrentsTame Impala4.2 from 3 scores
  4. 7Tenacious DTenacious D4.5 from 1 score
  5. 8Mellon Collie and the Infinite SadnessThe Smashing Pumpkins4.5 from 1 score
  6. 9Talkie WalkieAir4 from 3 scores
  7. 10Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m NotArctic Monkeys4 from 3 scores
  8. 11Favourite Worst NightmareArctic Monkeys4 from 3 scores
  9. 12Depression CherryBeach House4 from 3 scores
  10. 13LungsFlorence + the Machine4 from 2 scores
  11. 14For Emma, Forever AgoBon Iver4 from 2 scores
  12. 15The ReminderFeist4 from 2 scores
  13. 16Eyes OpenSnow Patrol3.8 from 3 scores
  14. 17James BlakeJames Blake3.8 from 3 scores
  15. 18GueroBeck3.8 from 3 scores
  16. 19RenegadesRage Against the Machine4 from 1 score
  17. 20American Beauty/American PsychoFall Out Boy3.8 from 2 scores
  18. 21Sam’s TownThe Killers3.7 from 3 scores
  19. 22FantasiesMetric3.7 from 3 scores
  20. 23HumbugArctic Monkeys3.7 from 3 scores
  21. 24American IdiotGreen Day3.7 from 3 scores
  22. 25ZABAGlass Animals3.5 from 1 score
  23. 26Viva la Vida or Death and All His FriendsColdplay3.5 from 1 score
  24. 27HozierHozier3.5 from 1 score
  25. 28In Between DreamsJack Johnson3.5 from 1 score
  26. 29Hail to the ThiefRadiohead3.5 from 2 scores
  27. 30Elect the DeadSerj Tankian3.5 from 2 scores
  28. 31PlansDeath Cab for Cutie3.5 from 3 scores
  29. 32Black Holes and RevelationsMuse3.5 from 3 scores
  30. 33Wincing the Night AwayThe Shins3.5 from 3 scores
  31. 34For Those That Wish to ExistArchitects3 from 1 score
  32. 35The Open DoorEvanescence3 from 1 score
  33. 36Let GoAvril Lavigne3 from 1 score
  34. 37MeteoraLinkin Park3 from 1 score
  35. 38Costello MusicThe Fratellis3 from 1 score
  36. 39ParachutesColdplay3.3 from 2 scores
  37. 40This Is All Yoursalt‐J3.3 from 3 scores
  38. 41Death of a BachelorPanic! at the Disco3 from 2 scores
  39. 42An Awesome Wavealt‐J3 from 2 scores
  40. 43BADLANDSHalsey2.5 from 1 score
  41. 44Our Love to AdmireInterpol3 from 3 scores
  42. 45Only by the NightKings of Leon2.8 from 3 scores
  43. 46TorchesFoster the People2.7 from 3 scores