100 Greatest Electronic/Dance Albums

Trans-Europe Express, Dare! album covers
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.


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




Kraftwerk - Trans Europe Express album cover
Human League - Dare: Deluxe Edition album cover
Autobahn by Kraftwerk album cover
Jean Michel Jarre - Oxygene album cover
Kraftwerk - Man Machine album cover
Suicide album cover




DigitalDreamDoor playlists on Spotify link button
Spotify Dance Songs 2010's link image
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

Ambient, Vol. 1: A Brief History of Ambient CD
Ambient, Vol. 1:
A Brief History of Ambient




Artificial Intelligence CD
Artificial Intelligence


Kraftwerk - Trans Europe Express









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