Top 10 Albums That Popularized a Genre

whether you’re into smooth-talking soul

whether you’re into smooth-talking soul or soul-shattering electro there’s a

or soul-shattering electro there’s a

or soul-shattering electro there’s a genre for every taste and mood welcome

genre for every taste and mood welcome

genre for every taste and mood welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re

to watchmojo.com and today we’re

to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10

counting down our picks for the top 10

counting down our picks for the top 10 albums that popularized as onra that’s a

albums that popularized as onra that’s a

albums that popularized as onra that’s a good song for this list we’re choosing

good song for this list we’re choosing

good song for this list we’re choosing musical albums that brought a specific

musical albums that brought a specific

musical albums that brought a specific genre from the underground to the masses

genre from the underground to the masses

genre from the underground to the masses they don’t necessarily have to be the

they don’t necessarily have to be the

they don’t necessarily have to be the biggest selling or most influential

biggest selling or most influential

biggest selling or most influential records of their time nor do they have

records of their time nor do they have

records of their time nor do they have to be an artist debut record but they do

to be an artist debut record but they do

to be an artist debut record but they do have to have been released within the

have to have been released within the

have to have been released within the latter half of the 20th century to today

number 10 Unknown Pleasures

number 10 Unknown Pleasures Joy Division atmospheric and brooding

Joy Division atmospheric and brooding

Joy Division atmospheric and brooding Joy Division’s debut album Unknown

Joy Division’s debut album Unknown

Joy Division’s debut album Unknown Pleasures quickly became the keystone of

Pleasures quickly became the keystone of

Pleasures quickly became the keystone of the post-punk movement thanks to its

the post-punk movement thanks to its

the post-punk movement thanks to its heavy stripped-down sound

taking 1970s Punk ideals and channeling

taking 1970s Punk ideals and channeling them through dark haunting lyrics

them through dark haunting lyrics

them through dark haunting lyrics Unknown Pleasures turned lead singer Ian

Unknown Pleasures turned lead singer Ian

Unknown Pleasures turned lead singer Ian Curtis and company into anti-heroes up

Curtis and company into anti-heroes up

Curtis and company into anti-heroes up their generation while Curtis is

their generation while Curtis is

their generation while Curtis is untimely death at the height of Joy

untimely death at the height of Joy

untimely death at the height of Joy Division’s fame broke up the band

Division’s fame broke up the band

Division’s fame broke up the band indefinitely his passing at the age of

indefinitely his passing at the age of

indefinitely his passing at the age of 23 only added to their cult stardom

23 only added to their cult stardom

23 only added to their cult stardom sparking an intense following countless

sparking an intense following countless

sparking an intense following countless cover bands big pieces and movies

the album’s legacy lives on

the album’s legacy lives on the cover art almost being as iconic as

the cover art almost being as iconic as

the cover art almost being as iconic as the music itself

fast aggressive and completely

fast aggressive and completely mesmerizing Metallica’s debut album

mesmerizing Metallica’s debut album

mesmerizing Metallica’s debut album kilomole thrust the sub-genre of thrash

kilomole thrust the sub-genre of thrash

kilomole thrust the sub-genre of thrash metal into the limelight one of the

metal into the limelight one of the

metal into the limelight one of the biggest-selling bands in the world

biggest-selling bands in the world

biggest-selling bands in the world Metallica helped to introduce fast paced

Metallica helped to introduce fast paced

Metallica helped to introduce fast paced percussion low register chords and

percussion low register chords and

percussion low register chords and intense shredding to the genre of heavy

intense shredding to the genre of heavy

intense shredding to the genre of heavy metal fans with this record with

metal fans with this record with

metal fans with this record with influences from the new wave of British

influences from the new wave of British

influences from the new wave of British heavy metal

heavy metal

heavy metal Metallica infused a punk sensibility

Metallica infused a punk sensibility

Metallica infused a punk sensibility into their music that counteracted the

into their music that counteracted the

into their music that counteracted the popular and more digestible glam metal

popular and more digestible glam metal

popular and more digestible glam metal sounds of the time while the album

sounds of the time while the album

sounds of the time while the album didn’t chart as well as their later

didn’t chart as well as their later

didn’t chart as well as their later studio albums kill them all nonetheless

studio albums kill them all nonetheless

studio albums kill them all nonetheless transform the lives of metalheads

transform the lives of metalheads

transform the lives of metalheads everywhere

panic attacks boredom and masturbation

panic attacks boredom and masturbation were the main focus of Green Day’s

were the main focus of Green Day’s

were the main focus of Green Day’s critically-acclaimed third album

critically-acclaimed third album

critically-acclaimed third album producing singles like Longview

producing singles like Longview

producing singles like Longview basket-case

basket-case

basket-case and when I come around Dookie saw Billy

and when I come around Dookie saw Billy

and when I come around Dookie saw Billy Joe Armstrong Mike turns and tré cool

Joe Armstrong Mike turns and tré cool

Joe Armstrong Mike turns and tré cool become the poster children for 90s punk

become the poster children for 90s punk

become the poster children for 90s punk rock their hard-hitting tracks bringing

rock their hard-hitting tracks bringing

rock their hard-hitting tracks bringing out the angst in virtually every

out the angst in virtually every

out the angst in virtually every teenager the world over

while other punk bands were making

while other punk bands were making headway at the time of Duty’s release

headway at the time of Duty’s release

headway at the time of Duty’s release the album’s pop infused melodies sent

the album’s pop infused melodies sent

the album’s pop infused melodies sent the trio to the top of the Modern Rock

the trio to the top of the Modern Rock

the trio to the top of the Modern Rock charts surpassing the competitors and

charts surpassing the competitors and

charts surpassing the competitors and gathering a multitude of devoted fans

gathering a multitude of devoted fans

gathering a multitude of devoted fans along the way

number seven the rise and fall of Ziggy

number seven the rise and fall of Ziggy Stardust and the spiders from Mars David

Stardust and the spiders from Mars David

Stardust and the spiders from Mars David Bowie

just anything

just anything chronicling the trials and tribulations

chronicling the trials and tribulations

chronicling the trials and tribulations of david bowie’s alter-ego Ziggy

of david bowie’s alter-ego Ziggy

of david bowie’s alter-ego Ziggy Stardust are the people reread him and

Stardust are the people reread him and

Stardust are the people reread him and contributed more information about Ziggy

contributed more information about Ziggy

contributed more information about Ziggy than I’ve put into him the rise and fall

than I’ve put into him the rise and fall

than I’ve put into him the rise and fall of Ziggy Stardust was an album that

of Ziggy Stardust was an album that

of Ziggy Stardust was an album that checked off every box conceptual record

checked off every box conceptual record

checked off every box conceptual record about an androgynous alien rock star

about an androgynous alien rock star

about an androgynous alien rock star check flamboyant costumes heavy makeup

check flamboyant costumes heavy makeup

check flamboyant costumes heavy makeup and miming check

throw that into the mix with David Boies

throw that into the mix with David Boies sheer talents and you get the album that

sheer talents and you get the album that

sheer talents and you get the album that sent glam-rock into the stratosphere and

sent glam-rock into the stratosphere and

sent glam-rock into the stratosphere and which inspired every makeup wearing rock

which inspired every makeup wearing rock

which inspired every makeup wearing rock star since hey that’s far out number six

star since hey that’s far out number six

star since hey that’s far out number six the Dark Side of the Moon Pink Floyd

filled with sprawling and complex

filled with sprawling and complex psychedelic tracks Pink Floyd’s 1973

psychedelic tracks Pink Floyd’s 1973

psychedelic tracks Pink Floyd’s 1973 masterpiece became the keystone of the

masterpiece became the keystone of the

masterpiece became the keystone of the prog rock movement catapulting the genre

prog rock movement catapulting the genre

prog rock movement catapulting the genre and the band into the mainstream

and the band into the mainstream

and the band into the mainstream spotlight one of the best-selling albums

spotlight one of the best-selling albums

spotlight one of the best-selling albums in music history the Dark Side of the

in music history the Dark Side of the

in music history the Dark Side of the Moon included groundbreaking tracks like

Moon included groundbreaking tracks like

Moon included groundbreaking tracks like time money and us and them

which took themes like conflict greed

which took themes like conflict greed and the passage of time and sent them

and the passage of time and sent them

and the passage of time and sent them through that iconic mind-melding prism

through that iconic mind-melding prism

through that iconic mind-melding prism taking each listener on a trip through

taking each listener on a trip through

taking each listener on a trip through his or her multifaceted world

the Dark Side of the Moon was more

the Dark Side of the Moon was more enlightening than anyone could have

enlightening than anyone could have

enlightening than anyone could have imagined

while the class were slowly getting

while the class were slowly getting things started on the other side of the

things started on the other side of the

things started on the other side of the pond

it was the Ramones who really introduced

it was the Ramones who really introduced the mainstream kids to the transgressive

the mainstream kids to the transgressive

the mainstream kids to the transgressive world of punk rock flat and leather

world of punk rock flat and leather

world of punk rock flat and leather jackets sunglasses and matching last

jackets sunglasses and matching last

jackets sunglasses and matching last names The Ramones took the world by

names The Ramones took the world by

names The Ramones took the world by storm with their badass self-titled

storm with their badass self-titled

storm with their badass self-titled debut their single blitzkrieg bop

debut their single blitzkrieg bop

debut their single blitzkrieg bop serving as the anthem of every punk and

serving as the anthem of every punk and

serving as the anthem of every punk and skater kid the world over

fast loud and unforgiving to Ramones

fast loud and unforgiving to Ramones well-constructed catchy tracks booze the

well-constructed catchy tracks booze the

well-constructed catchy tracks booze the self-confidence that trumped all the

self-confidence that trumped all the

self-confidence that trumped all the other punk acts of the era

armed with Street knowledge big

armed with Street knowledge big attitudes and raw unapologetic energy

attitudes and raw unapologetic energy

attitudes and raw unapologetic energy NWA quickly took over the hip-hop scene

NWA quickly took over the hip-hop scene

NWA quickly took over the hip-hop scene essentially forming the genre of gangsta

essentially forming the genre of gangsta

essentially forming the genre of gangsta rap as we know it today while many

rap as we know it today while many

rap as we know it today while many albums of the time were veering towards

albums of the time were veering towards

albums of the time were veering towards a much harder hitting sound Ice Cube

a much harder hitting sound Ice Cube

a much harder hitting sound Ice Cube eazy-e dr. Dre and the rest of the posse

eazy-e dr. Dre and the rest of the posse

eazy-e dr. Dre and the rest of the posse beats everyone to the punch with anthems

beats everyone to the punch with anthems

beats everyone to the punch with anthems like the police and Straight Outta

like the police and Straight Outta

like the police and Straight Outta Compton tracks that push just the right

Compton tracks that push just the right

Compton tracks that push just the right amount of buttons and that catapulted

amount of buttons and that catapulted

amount of buttons and that catapulted them into the mainstream with honest

them into the mainstream with honest

them into the mainstream with honest brutal lyrics and high-energy live

brutal lyrics and high-energy live

brutal lyrics and high-energy live performances that both excited and

performances that both excited and

performances that both excited and infuriated the police coming straight

infuriated the police coming straight

infuriated the police coming straight from the underground a young got it bad

from the underground a young got it bad

from the underground a young got it bad cuz I’m brown and not the other color so

cuz I’m brown and not the other color so

cuz I’m brown and not the other color so police think they have the authority to

police think they have the authority to

police think they have the authority to kill a minority

influenced heavily by the blues and

influenced heavily by the blues and roots rocks of the late 60s Black

roots rocks of the late 60s Black

roots rocks of the late 60s Black Sabbath’s debut album launched the genre

Sabbath’s debut album launched the genre

Sabbath’s debut album launched the genre of heavy metal as we know it infused

of heavy metal as we know it infused

of heavy metal as we know it infused with dark macabre images and heavy chord

with dark macabre images and heavy chord

with dark macabre images and heavy chord progressions Ozzy Osbourne led Black

progressions Ozzy Osbourne led Black

progressions Ozzy Osbourne led Black Sabbath with the first band to really

Sabbath with the first band to really

Sabbath with the first band to really differentiate rock from metal morphing

differentiate rock from metal morphing

differentiate rock from metal morphing blues rock into something uglier and

blues rock into something uglier and

blues rock into something uglier and more sinister

while their sophomore album paranoid was

while their sophomore album paranoid was released the same year it was their

released the same year it was their

released the same year it was their eponymous debut that launched the band’s

eponymous debut that launched the band’s

eponymous debut that launched the band’s dark look and deliberately sacrilegious

dark look and deliberately sacrilegious

dark look and deliberately sacrilegious performances into the limelight

number two never mind Nirvana assuring

number two never mind Nirvana assuring in the alt-rock movement of the early

in the alt-rock movement of the early

in the alt-rock movement of the early 90s with reckless abandon this rock band

90s with reckless abandon this rock band

90s with reckless abandon this rock band led by the late Kurt Cobain brought the

led by the late Kurt Cobain brought the

led by the late Kurt Cobain brought the Seattle grunge movement to the forefront

Seattle grunge movement to the forefront

Seattle grunge movement to the forefront of the mainstream an aggressive response

of the mainstream an aggressive response

of the mainstream an aggressive response to the age of excess that was the mid to

to the age of excess that was the mid to

to the age of excess that was the mid to late 80s anthems like in bloom come as

late 80s anthems like in bloom come as

late 80s anthems like in bloom come as you are and of course smells like teen

you are and of course smells like teen

you are and of course smells like teen spirit ignited a movement and a very

spirit ignited a movement and a very

spirit ignited a movement and a very serious fan following not only of kids

serious fan following not only of kids

serious fan following not only of kids in tattered sweaters but fed up adults

in tattered sweaters but fed up adults

in tattered sweaters but fed up adults all over the world

and while the baby on the album’s cover

and while the baby on the album’s cover is not nearly as ubiquitous as Cobain’s

is not nearly as ubiquitous as Cobain’s

is not nearly as ubiquitous as Cobain’s own face it still stands as a symbol of

own face it still stands as a symbol of

own face it still stands as a symbol of just how transformative one record can

just how transformative one record can

just how transformative one record can be

before we reveal our top pick here are a

before we reveal our top pick here are a few honorable mentions

legend the world

legend the world yes

good real

good real well except for my leg self in a boat on

well except for my leg self in a boat on

well except for my leg self in a boat on a river with tangerine trees and skies

a river with tangerine trees and skies

a river with tangerine trees and skies number one sergeant pepper’s Lonely

number one sergeant pepper’s Lonely

number one sergeant pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band The Beatles

one of the biggest concept albums in pop

one of the biggest concept albums in pop music history Sergeant Pepper fused

music history Sergeant Pepper fused

music history Sergeant Pepper fused elements of bowed Ville and Indian

elements of bowed Ville and Indian

elements of bowed Ville and Indian classical music with traditional guitar

classical music with traditional guitar

classical music with traditional guitar rock resulting in the most sprawling and

rock resulting in the most sprawling and

rock resulting in the most sprawling and most popular psychedelic rock album ever

most popular psychedelic rock album ever

most popular psychedelic rock album ever recorded

while are you experienced from the Jimi

while are you experienced from the Jimi Hendrix Experience is a psychedelic rock

Hendrix Experience is a psychedelic rock

Hendrix Experience is a psychedelic rock staple it’s this eight effort by the Fab

staple it’s this eight effort by the Fab

staple it’s this eight effort by the Fab Four that really brought those psyche

Four that really brought those psyche

Four that really brought those psyche rock sounds to living rooms around the

rock sounds to living rooms around the

rock sounds to living rooms around the globe while some songs on the album are

globe while some songs on the album are

globe while some songs on the album are more psychedelic than others Sergeant

more psychedelic than others Sergeant

more psychedelic than others Sergeant Pepper as a whole transformed what the

Pepper as a whole transformed what the

Pepper as a whole transformed what the public considered is pop and introduced

public considered is pop and introduced

public considered is pop and introduced the world to a different side of the

the world to a different side of the

the world to a different side of the Beatles as well so do you agree with our

Beatles as well so do you agree with our

Beatles as well so do you agree with our list

list

list Jamie essentially the John is done down

Jamie essentially the John is done down

Jamie essentially the John is done down one second what is your favorite genre

one second what is your favorite genre

one second what is your favorite genre defining album easy as its name and the

defining album easy as its name and the

defining album easy as its name and the boys coming for more memorable top 10s

boys coming for more memorable top 10s

boys coming for more memorable top 10s published daily be sure to subscribe to

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