What is the best pop album by a male solo artist of all time?

From Michael Jackson's record-breaking Thriller to Harry Styles's acclaimed Harry's House, male solo artists have shaped the sound of pop across the decades — vote for the album that stands above all others.

1

Thriller

Michael Jackson's 1982 cultural monolith — the best-selling album of all time fusing pop, rock, and funk.

2

Off the Wall

Michael Jackson's 1979 disco-pop breakthrough that proved he could shine as a fully realized adult solo artist.

3

Bad

Michael Jackson's 1987 follow-up that produced a record five number-one singles with polished pop-funk production.

4

Purple Rain

Prince's 1984 soundtrack album fusing rock, pop, funk, and R&B into a cinematic pop masterwork.

5

Sign o' the Times

Prince's ambitious 1987 double album exploring social themes across a genre-defying mix of pop, funk, and rock.

6

Songs in the Key of Life

Stevie Wonder's 1976 double-LP — a sprawling celebration of life, love, and social consciousness from a pop genius at his peak.

7

FutureSex/LoveSounds

Justin Timberlake's 2006 genre-blurring album combining electro-funk, new wave, and polished R&B-pop.

8

Faith

George Michael's 1987 debut solo album blending blue-eyed soul with effortlessly catchy pop songwriting.

9

÷ (Divide)

Ed Sheeran's 2017 chart-dominant album spanning acoustic ballads to stadium-filling dance anthems.

10

24K Magic

Bruno Mars's 2016 funk and R&B-pop throwback that swept the Grammy Awards.

11

After Hours

The Weeknd's 2020 synth-pop opus about excess and heartbreak set against neon-drenched noir.

12

Purpose

Justin Bieber's 2015 comeback album infusing electronic dance music with confessional pop maturity.

13

Fine Line

Harry Styles's 2019 rock-inflected pop album hailed as one of the decade's most critically acclaimed solo records.

14

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

Elton John's 1973 double album blending glam rock, pop, country, and theatrical balladry in a defining career statement.

15

Can't Slow Down

Lionel Richie's 1983 mainstream pop powerhouse featuring multiple chart-topping singles.

16

Get Lifted

John Legend's 2004 debut merging gospel, soul, and lush pop songwriting into a critically acclaimed introduction.

17

× (Multiply)

Ed Sheeran's 2014 breakthrough album blending acoustic folk-pop with hip-hop influences and earworm hooks.

18

Harry's House

Harry Styles's 2022 kaleidoscopic pop album infused with 70s warmth, funk-pop energy, and introspective lyricism.

19

Justified

Justin Timberlake's 2002 debut album merging neo-soul, R&B, and bubblegum pop in Timbaland-produced style.

20

Dawn FM

The Weeknd's 2022 synth-pop concept album styled as a late-night radio broadcast from purgatory.

21

Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1

George Michael's 1990 deeply personal album deliberately moving away from commercial pop toward artistic exploration.

22

Innervisions

Stevie Wonder's 1973 socially charged album blending funk, soul, and jazz-pop arrangements into a timeless pop statement.