discussion Billboard ranks the 100 best album covers of all time

[kyliefever2002]

1. The Velvet Underground and Nico, ‘The Velvet Underground & Nico’ (1967)

 

2. The Beatles, ‘Abbey Road’ (1969)

 

3. Patti Smith, ‘Horses’ (1975)

 

 

4. The Notorious B.I.G., ‘Ready to Die’ (1994)

 

5. Led Zeppelin, ‘Led Zeppelin’ (1969)

 

 

6. Pink Floyd, ‘The Dark Side of the Moon’ (1973)

 

7. Cyndi Lauper, ‘She’s So Unusual’ (1983)

 

8. Public Enemy, ‘Fear of a Black Planet’ (1990)

 

 

9. Elvis Presley, ‘Elvis Presley’ (1956)

 

 

10. N.W.A, ‘Straight Outta Compton’ (1988)

 

https://www.billboard.com/photos/best-album-covers-of-all-time-6715351/91-nwa-straight-outta-compton-cover-1988-billboard-1240/

 

 

[kyliefever2002]

honorable mentions:

 

15. Kendrick Lamar, ‘To Pimp a Butterfly’ (2015)

 

25. David Bowie, ‘Aladdin Sane’ (1973)

 

27. Grace Jones, ‘Island Life’ (1985)

 

33. Rosalía, ‘El Mal Querer’ (2018)

 

35. SOPHIE, ‘Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides’ (2018)

 

39. Drake, ‘If Youre Reading This Its Too Late’ (2015)

 

40. Bad Bunny, ‘Un Verano Sin Ti’ (2022)

 

41. Kanye West, ‘My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy’ (2010)

 

42. SZA, ‘SOS’ (2022)

 

47. Lana Del Rey, ‘Norman F–king Rockwell’ (2019)

 

48. Joni Mitchell, ‘Hejira’ (1976)

 

49. Madonna, ‘True Blue’ (1986)

 

50. Taylor Swift, ‘1989’ (2014)

 

51. BTS, ‘Map of the Soul: 7 ~ The Journey’ (2020)

 

52. FKA Twigs, ‘LP1’ (2014)

 

55. Japanese Breakfast, ‘Jubilee’ (2021)

 

60. f(x), ‘Pink Tape’ (2013)

 

61. Beyoncé, ‘Beyoncé’ (2013)

 

62. No Doubt, ‘Tragic Kingdom’ (1995)

 

63. Nicki Minaj, ‘The Pinkprint’ (2014)

 

64. Lady Gaga, ‘The Fame Monster’ (2009)

 

67. Janet Jackson, ‘Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1814’ (1989)

 

68. Rihanna, ‘Anti’ (2016)

 

72. Whitney Houston, ‘Whitney Houston’ (1985)

 

74. Elton John, ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’ (1973)

 

78. Cardi B, ‘Invasion of Privacy’ (2018)

 

82. Mary J. Blige, ‘My Life’ (1994)

 

84. Prince, ‘Dirty Mind’ (1980)

 

85. Missy Elliott, ‘Under Construction’ (2002)

 

86. RM, ‘Indigo’ (2022)

 

88. Tyler the Creator, ‘Igor’ (2019)

 

89. Lizzo, ‘Cuz I Love You’ (2019)

 

94. Lil’ Kim, ‘Hard Core’ (1996)

 

96. Kate Bush, ‘The Dreaming’ (1982)

 

98. Ariana Grande, Sweetener (2018)

 

99. Beyoncé, ‘Lemonade’ (2016)

Edited August 8, 2023 by kyliefever2002

[sunbathinganimal]

boring predictable list

[Galaxy]

 

What's so special about this?

[kyliefever2002]

3 minutes ago, Galaxy said:

 

What's so special about this?

"This iconic Andy Warhol banana picture with “peel slowly and see” instructions is a great cover on its own, but the original version actually included a peel-off sticker revealing a flesh-colored banana beneath. A perfect combination of art, music and humor."

[X~MoviePoP]

3 minutes ago, Galaxy said:

 

What's so special about this?

Doesn't even look like a good banana 

[Galaxy]

1 minute ago, kyliefever2002 said:

"This iconic Andy Warhol banana picture with “peel slowly and see” instructions is a great cover on its own, but the original version actually included a peel-off sticker revealing a flesh-colored banana beneath. A perfect combination of art, music and humor."

 

[Maxxie]

Terrible and predictable list

[truthteller]

Not that drake mixtape

[mystery]

What a joke of a list... 

[Body Talk]

Some reaches in here...

 

Body Talk, The Golden Echo and Dirty Computer feel like two big misses imo...

Edited August 8, 2023 by Body Talk

[GraceRandolph]

 

According to this RS article, this cover is superior to any Björk cover. 

[Vixen Eyes]

they couldnt find a digital version for Janet?

[theoghon]

9 minutes ago, sunbathinganimal said:

boring predictable list

Exactly 

 

The music industry/music community at large needs to ditch discussing albums that are already considered canon (Beatles, Pink Floyd e.t.c.) and try focus on newer or overlooked music. We should be in a new era of music discussion but instead we're stuck talking about Abbey Road and DSOTM for the umpteenth time, on some umpteenth iteration of the same list.

[Domination]

Quote

51. BTS, ‘Map of the Soul: 7 ~ The Journey’ (2020)

Billboard dickriding the Army because they’re afraid of retaliation is so embarrassing. Like bffr.

Edited August 8, 2023 by Domination

[Artur]

The Fame Monster  wish it was higher, though

[45seconds]

18 minutes ago, Maxxie said:

Terrible and predictable list

Sometimes what is obvious is true. I mean the top ten is pretty accurate. 

[youreyesgocold]

8 minutes ago, Domination said:

Billboard dickriding the Army because they’re afraid of retaliation is so embarrassing. Like bffr.

I mean I’m no expert on art but scrolling through I found myself saying “that makes sense” or “hmm ok sure I guess” until I got to this one and just said “…but why is this even in the list?” 

[CroNich]

Where tf is the Rainbow and Gag Order covers. They’re better than 90% of this list. 

[Billionaire]

Melodrama N/A makes this list invalid 

[Power love]

Not the Avril Let Go Stub…

[schnetzka]

Yeah I agree, Melodrama not making the list is definitely questionable.

[nostalgic]

The shoehorned RM mention to get clicks from BTS stans 

[Goaty]

Surprised Abbey Road didn’t nab the top spot 

[GentleEarthquake]

Boring