The Rolling Stones
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Thriller
Elvis Presley [1956]

Pop/Rock

Rock & Roll is often used as a generic term, but its sound is rarely predictable. From the outset, when the early rockers merged country and blues, rock has been defined by its energy, rebellion and catchy hooks, but as the genre aged, it began to shed those very characteristics, placing equal emphasis on craftmanship and pushing the boundaries of the music. As a result, everything from Chuck Berry's pounding, three-chord rockers and the sweet harmonies of the Beatles to the jarring, atonal white noise of Sonic Youth has been categorized as "rock." That's accurate -- rock & roll had a specific sound and image for only a handful of years. For most of its life, rock has been fragmented, spinning off new styles and variations every few years, from Brill Building Pop and heavy metal to dance-pop and grunge. And that's only natural for a genre that began its life as a fusion of styles.

Pop/Rock Album Highlights grid list

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
1967
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
The Beatles
The Beatles
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely ...
10
Thriller
1982
Thriller
Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Thriller
10
Elvis Presley [1956]
1956
Elvis Presley [1956]
Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley [1956]
10
Rumours
1977
Rumours
Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac
Rumours
10
Like a Prayer
1989
Like a Prayer
Madonna
Madonna
Like a Prayer
10
Exile on Main St.
1972
Exile on Main St.
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
Exile on Main St.
10
Who's Next
1971
Who's Next
The Who
The Who
Who's Next
10
The Cars
1978
The Cars
The Cars
The Cars
The Cars
10
Pet Sounds
1966
Pet Sounds
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys
Pet Sounds
10
Chuck Berry Is on Top
1959
Chuck Berry Is on Top
Chuck Berry
Chuck Berry
Chuck Berry Is on Top
10
Born in the U.S.A.
1984
Born in the U.S.A.
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen
Born in the U.S.A.
10
Appetite for Destruction
1987
Appetite for Destruction
Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses
Appetite for Destruction
10
The Joshua Tree
1987
The Joshua Tree
U2
U2
The Joshua Tree
10
Beyoncé
2013
Beyoncé
Beyoncé
Beyoncé
Beyoncé
10
Tapestry
1971
Tapestry
Carole King
Carole King
Tapestry
10
After the Gold Rush
1970
After the Gold Rush
Neil Young
Neil Young
After the Gold Rush
10
Fleetwood Mac
1975
Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac
10
Van Halen
1978
Van Halen
Van Halen
Van Halen
Van Halen
10
The Fame
2008
The Fame
Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga
The Fame
10
All Things Must Pass
1970
All Things Must Pass
George Harrison
George Harrison
All Things Must Pass
10
A Rush of Blood to the Head
2002
A Rush of Blood to the Head
Coldplay
Coldplay
A Rush of Blood to the Head
9
Metallica
1991
Metallica
Metallica
Metallica
Metallica
9
The Truth About Love
2012
The Truth About Love
P!nk
P!nk
The Truth About Love
9
Rocket to Russia
1977
Rocket to Russia
Ramones
Ramones
Rocket to Russia
10
Parallel Lines
1978
Parallel Lines
Blondie
Blondie
Parallel Lines
10
Abbey Road
1969
Abbey Road
The Beatles
The Beatles
Abbey Road
10
Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.
1973
Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen
Greetings from Asbury ...
10
The Doors
1967
The Doors
The Doors
The Doors
The Doors
10
Some Girls
1978
Some Girls
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
Some Girls
10
Plastic Ono Band
1970
Plastic Ono Band
John Lennon / Plastic Ono Band
John Lennon / Plastic Ono ...
Plastic Ono Band
10
Born to Run
1975
Born to Run
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen
Born to Run
10
...Baby One More Time
1999
...Baby One More Time
Britney Spears
Britney Spears
...Baby One More Time
8
A Nod Is as Good as a Wink... To a Blind Horse
1971
A Nod Is as Good as a Wink... To a Blind Horse
Faces
Faces
A Nod Is as Good as a ...
10
Honky Château
1972
Honky Château
Elton John
Elton John
Honky Château
10
Back in Black
1980
Back in Black
AC/DC
AC/DC
Back in Black
10
The B-52's
1979
The B-52's
The B-52s
The B-52s
The B-52's
10
Toys in the Attic
1975
Toys in the Attic
Aerosmith
Aerosmith
Toys in the Attic
10
#1 Record/Radio City
1992
#1 Record/Radio City
Big Star
Big Star
#1 Record/Radio City
10
Trust
1981
Trust
Elvis Costello & the Attractions / Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello & the ...
Trust
10
Millennium
1999
Millennium
Backstreet Boys
Backstreet Boys
Millennium
8
Master of Reality
1971
Master of Reality
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Master of Reality
10
Late for the Sky
1974
Late for the Sky
Jackson Browne
Jackson Browne
Late for the Sky
10
The Slider
1972
The Slider
T. Rex
T. Rex
The Slider
10
London Calling
1979
London Calling
The Clash
The Clash
London Calling
10
1984
1984
1984
Van Halen
Van Halen
1984
10
Celebrity
2001
Celebrity
*NSYNC
*NSYNC
Celebrity
9
My Aim Is True
1977
My Aim Is True
Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello
My Aim Is True
10
Machine Head
1972
Machine Head
Deep Purple
Deep Purple
Machine Head
10
This Year's Model
1978
This Year's Model
Elvis Costello / Elvis Costello & the Attractions
Elvis Costello / Elvis ...
This Year's Model
10
The Beatles [White Album]
1968
The Beatles [White Album]
The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles [White Album]
10
Pyromania
1983
Pyromania
Def Leppard
Def Leppard
Pyromania
10
Blood on the Tracks
1975
Blood on the Tracks
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Blood on the Tracks
10
Tusk
1979
Tusk
Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac
Tusk
10
Fever
2002
Fever
Kylie Minogue
Kylie Minogue
Fever
9
Abandoned Luncheonette
1973
Abandoned Luncheonette
Daryl Hall & John Oates
Daryl Hall & John Oates
Abandoned Luncheonette
10
Look Sharp!
1979
Look Sharp!
Joe Jackson
Joe Jackson
Look Sharp!
10
Snap!
1983
Snap!
The Jam
The Jam
Snap!
10
British Steel
1980
British Steel
Judas Priest
Judas Priest
British Steel
10
Labour of Lust
1979
Labour of Lust
Nick Lowe
Nick Lowe
Labour of Lust
10
Ride the Lightning
1984
Ride the Lightning
Metallica
Metallica
Ride the Lightning
10
Moondance
1970
Moondance
Van Morrison
Van Morrison
Moondance
10
Squeezing Out Sparks
1979
Squeezing Out Sparks
Graham Parker & the Rumour / Graham Parker
Graham Parker & the Rumour ...
Squeezing Out Sparks
10
Damn the Torpedoes
1979
Damn the Torpedoes
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers / Tom Petty
Tom Petty & the ...
Damn the Torpedoes
10
Learning to Crawl
1984
Learning to Crawl
Pretenders
Pretenders
Learning to Crawl
10
Night Moves
1976
Night Moves
Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band / Bob Seger
Bob Seger & the Silver ...
Night Moves
10
Runt: The Ballad of Todd Rundgren
1971
Runt: The Ballad of Todd Rundgren
Todd Rundgren
Todd Rundgren
Runt: The Ballad of Todd ...
10
Singles 45's and Under
1982
Singles 45's and Under
Squeeze
Squeeze
Singles 45's and Under
10
Countdown to Ecstasy
1973
Countdown to Ecstasy
Steely Dan
Steely Dan
Countdown to Ecstasy
10
Every Picture Tells a Story
1971
Every Picture Tells a Story
Rod Stewart
Rod Stewart
Every Picture Tells a Story
10
The River
1980
The River
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen
The River
10
Pretzel Logic
1974
Pretzel Logic
Steely Dan
Steely Dan
Pretzel Logic
10
Teaser and the Firecat
1971
Teaser and the Firecat
Cat Stevens
Cat Stevens
Teaser and the Firecat
10
Odessey and Oracle
1968
Odessey and Oracle
The Zombies
The Zombies
Odessey and Oracle
10
Best of Bee Gees
1969
Best of Bee Gees
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
Best of Bee Gees
10
Jackson Browne
1972
Jackson Browne
Jackson Browne
Jackson Browne
Jackson Browne
10
At Budokan
1978
At Budokan
Cheap Trick
Cheap Trick
At Budokan
10
A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector
1963
A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector
Phil Spector
Phil Spector
A Christmas Gift for You ...
10
Faith
1987
Faith
George Michael
George Michael
Faith
10
Marquee Moon
1977
Marquee Moon
Television
Television
Marquee Moon
10
Blue
1971
Blue
Joni Mitchell
Joni Mitchell
Blue
10
Too-Rye-Ay
1982
Too-Rye-Ay
Kevin Rowland / Dexys Midnight Runners / Kevin Rowland & Dexys Midnight Runners
Kevin Rowland / Dexys ...
Too-Rye-Ay
10
Sail Away
1972
Sail Away
Randy Newman
Randy Newman
Sail Away
10
Damned Damned Damned
1977
Damned Damned Damned
The Damned
The Damned
Damned Damned Damned
10
Dare!
1981
Dare!
The Human League
The Human League
Dare!
10
All Mod Cons
1978
All Mod Cons
The Jam
The Jam
All Mod Cons
10
Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy
1975
Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy
Elton John
Elton John
Captain Fantastic and the ...
10
Greatest Hits, Vol. 2
1986
Greatest Hits, Vol. 2
Elton John
Elton John
Greatest Hits, Vol. 2
10
16 All Time Lowes
1984
16 All Time Lowes
Nick Lowe
Nick Lowe
16 All Time Lowes
10
Court and Spark
1974
Court and Spark
Joni Mitchell
Joni Mitchell
Court and Spark
10
The Wild, the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle
1973
The Wild, the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen
The Wild, the Innocent and ...
10
Never a Dull Moment
1972
Never a Dull Moment
Rod Stewart
Rod Stewart
Never a Dull Moment
10
Sweet Baby James
1970
Sweet Baby James
James Taylor
James Taylor
Sweet Baby James
10
Loaded
1970
Loaded
The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground
Loaded
10
Good Old Boys
1974
Good Old Boys
Randy Newman
Randy Newman
Good Old Boys
10
Electric Warrior
1971
Electric Warrior
T. Rex
T. Rex
Electric Warrior
10
New York Dolls
1973
New York Dolls
New York Dolls
New York Dolls
New York Dolls
10

Pop/Rock subgenres and styles [+]