Criteria: For the purposes of this list, 'electronic/dance' is considered to be a genre of popular music, encompassing a broad range of styles including (though not limited to) the following: progressive electronic, ambient, electro-disco, industrial, synth pop, electro, freestyle, house, techno, Miami bass, downtempo, hardcore, drum & bass, trance, big beat, indietronica, UK garage, grime, dubstep -- and their respective stylistic offshoots.
Album rankings are based on influence, acclaim, and popularity (weighted in that order).
Compilations and DJ mixes are not eligible.
Edited By: Zach Dufrene
Last Updated: 2013-09-15
Electronic/Dance Albums
1. Trans-Europe Express (1977) - Kraftwerk 2. Dare! (1981) - The Human League 3. Autobahn (1974) - Kraftwerk 4. Oxygène (1976) - Jean Michel Jarre 5. The Man-Machine (1978) - Kraftwerk 6. Suicide (1977) - Suicide 7. My Life in the Bush of Ghosts (1981) - Brian Eno & David Byrne 8. Phaedra (1974) - Tangerine Dream 9. Selected Ambient Works 85-92 (1992) - Aphex Twin 10. Ray of Light (1998) - Madonna 11. Ambient 1: Music for Airports (1978) - Brian Eno 12. Blue Lines (1991) - Massive Attack 13. Violator (1990) - Depeche Mode 14. Screamadelica (1991) - Primal Scream 15. Play (1999) - Moby 16. Power, Corruption & Lies (1983) - New Order 17. Dummy (1994) - Portishead 18. Computer World (1981) - Kraftwerk 19. The Fat of the Land (1997) - The Prodigy 20. Switched-On Bach (1968) - Wendy Carlos 21. Leftism (1995) - Leftfield 22. Planet Rock: The Album (1986) - Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force 23. Low (1977) - David Bowie 24. Pretty Hate Machine (1989) - Nine Inch Nails 25. Homework (1997) - Daft Punk 26. From Here to Eternity (1977) - Giorgio Moroder 27. Low-Life (1985) - New Order 28. Endtroducing..... (1996) - DJ Shadow 29. The Pleasure Principle (1979) - Gary Numan 30. The Orb's Adventures Beyond the Ultraworld (1991) - The Orb 31. Another Green World (1975) - Brian Eno 32. Dig Your Own Hole (1997) - The Chemical Brothers 33. Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret (1981) - Soft Cell 34. Kid A (2000) - Radiohead 35. The White Room (1991) - The KLF 36. Music for the Masses (1987) - Depeche Mode 37. Debut (1993) - Björk 38. Club Classics Vol. One / Keep On Movin' (1989) - Soul II Soul 39. The Downward Spiral (1994) - Nine Inch Nails 40. Moon Safari (1998) - Air 41. Radio-Activity (1975) - Kraftwerk 42. Exit Planet Dust (1995) - The Chemical Brothers 43. Technique (1989) - New Order 44. Discovery (2001) - Daft Punk 45. Irrlicht (1972) - Klaus Schulze 46. Maxinquaye (1995) - Tricky 47. Actually (1987) - Pet Shop Boys 48. Timeless (1995) - Goldie 49. Discreet Music (1975) - Brian Eno 50. Dubnobasswithmyheadman (1994) - Underworld 51. Madonna (1983) - Madonna 52. You've Come a Long Way, Baby (1998) - Fatboy Slim 53. In den Gärten Pharaos (1971) - Popol Vuh 54. Mezzanine (1998) - Massive Attack 55. Post (1995) - Björk 56. "Heroes" (1977) - David Bowie 57. Sound of Silver (2007) - LCD Soundsystem 58. Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) (1983) - Eurythmics 59. Music for the Jilted Generation (1994) - The Prodigy 60. Solid State Survivor (1979) - Yellow Magic Orchestra 61. Remedy (1999) - Basement Jaxx 62. Black Celebration (1986) - Depeche Mode 63. Orbital 2 (Brown Album) (1993) - Orbital 64. New Forms (1997) - Roni Size / Reprazent 65. E2-E4 (1984) - Manuel Göttsching 66. Chill Out (1990) - The KLF 67. Silver Apples (1968) - Silver Apples 68. Utd. State 90 (1990) - 808 State 69. (Who's Afraid Of?) The Art of Noise! (1984) - The Art of Noise 70. Kala (2007) - M.I.A. 71. Chariots of Fire (1981) - Vangelis 72. Music Has the Right to Children (1998) - Boards of Canada 73. 20 Jazz Funk Greats (1979) - Throbbing Gristle 74. Behaviour (1990) - Pet Shop Boys 75. Paradise / Big Fun (1989) - Inner City 76. Before and After Science (1977) - Brian Eno 77. Original Pirate Material (2002) - The Streets 78. Penthouse and Pavement (1981) - Heaven 17 79. Homogenic (1997) - Björk 80. Replicas (1979) - Gary Numan & Tubeway Army 81. Another Side (1988) - Fingers Inc. 82. Tin Drum (1981) - Japan 83. Untrue (2007) - Burial 84. Very (1993) - Pet Shop Boys 85. Protection (1994) - Massive Attack 86. Yellow Magic Orchestra (1978) - Yellow Magic Orchestra 87. Demon Days (2005) - Gorillaz 88. Frequencies (1991) - LFO 89. The In Sound from Way Out! (1966) - Perrey & Kingsley 90. Black Secret Technology (1995) - A Guy Called Gerald 91. Zuckerzeit (1974) - Cluster 92. Vienna (1980) - Ultravox 93. Boy in da Corner (2003) - Dizzee Rascal 94. Wendy Carlos' Clockwork Orange (1972) - Wendy Carlos 95. Everything is Wrong (1995) - Moby 96. Rubycon (1975) - Tangerine Dream 97. Richard D. James Album (1996) - Aphex Twin 98. Alles ist gut (1981) - D.A.F. 99. Since I Left You (2000) - The Avalanches 100. An Electric Storm (1969) - White Noise
Essential Mixes/Compilations/Series:
Ambient, Vol. 1: A Brief History of Ambient (1993) - Various Artists
Artificial Intelligence (1992) - Various Artists
Decks, EFX & 909 (1999) - Richie Hawtin
Depth Charge, Vol. 1 (1995) - Various Artists
Disco Boogie, Vol. 1 (1996) - Various Artists
Dub House Disco (1993) - Various Artists
Excursions in Ambience: A Collection of Ambient-House Music (1993) - Various Artists
F.A.C.T.: Future Alliance of Communication & Tecknology, Vol. 2 (1997) - Carl Cox
Happy2bHardcore (1997) - Various Artists
History of House Music, Vol. 1: Chicago Classics (1996) - Various Artists
History of House Music, Vol. 2: New York Garage Style (1996) - Various Artists
In Memoriam Gilles Deleuze (1998) - Various Artists
Journeys By DJ: 70 Minutes of Madness (1996) - Coldcut
The K&D Sessions (1998) - Kruder & Dorfmeister
Logical Progression, Level 1 (1996) - LTJ Bukem
Machine Soul: An Odyssey into Electronic Dance Music (2000) - Various Artists
MAW Records: The Compilation, Vol 1. (1998) - Masters at Work
New Electronica, Vol. 1 (1993) - Various Artists
New Electronica, Vol. 3 (1994) - Various Artists
Northern Exposure: Expeditions (1999) - Sasha + John Digweed
Objects d'A.R.T. (1996) - Various Artists
The Politics of Dancing (2001) - Paul van Dyk
Renaissance (1994) - Sasha + John Digweed
Strictly Rhythm: The Early Years (1993) - Various Artists
Trance Europe Express, Vol. 1 (1994) - Various Artists
Tranceport (1998) - Paul Oakenfold
Trax Records: The 20th Anniversary Edition (2004) - Various Artists
The Trip Hop Test, Vol. 1 (1994) - Various Artists
Warp 10+1: The Influences (1999) - Various Artists
Yoshiesque (1999) - Deep Dish
