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

Male pop solo artists have shaped decades of pop history — from smooth R&B crooners to rock-influenced iconoclasts and arena-filling stadium artists. Vote for the greatest pop album ever made by a man.

1

Thriller

Michael Jackson's 1982 magnum opus is the best-selling album in history and defines what pop can achieve at the very highest level.

2

Purple Rain

Prince's 1984 soundtrack album merged funk, rock, and pop into a singular artistic vision that is widely considered his masterpiece.

3

FutureSex/LoveSounds

Justin Timberlake's 2006 genre-blending second album produced multiple smash hits and is regarded as a contemporary pop classic.

4

Faith

George Michael's 1987 debut solo album explored rock, soul, and pop with a level of craft rarely heard in mainstream pop.

5

Divide

Ed Sheeran's 2017 record-breaking album topped charts in 32 countries and produced his defining hits '÷ Shape of You' and 'Castle on the Hill'.

6

Harry's House

Harry Styles' 2022 Grammy Album of the Year winner is a warm, inventive pop record that celebrated life and colour.

7

Unorthodox Jukebox

Bruno Mars' 2012 second album explored funk, reggae, and pop with a retro sophistication that made him a global star.

8

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

Elton John's 1973 sprawling double album contains some of his finest songs and is regarded as his definitive statement.

9

Confessions

Usher's 2004 album blended R&B-pop confessional songwriting with polished production and sold over 20 million copies.

10

Off the Wall

Michael Jackson's 1979 Quincy Jones-produced debut set the template for adult pop and is a landmark in the genre's history.

11

In the Lonely Hour

Sam Smith's soulful 2014 debut produced one of the great debut albums of the decade, winning four Grammy Awards.

12

After Hours

The Weeknd's 2020 dark 80s-influenced pop record produced the all-time most-streamed song in Spotify history.

13

I've Been Expecting You

Robbie Williams' 1998 breakthrough established him as the UK's pre-eminent male pop artist and produced 'Angels'.

14

Fine Line

Harry Styles' 2019 second album introduced Harry the Artist — a bold, stylistic evolution from his boy-band origins.