Best Feel-Good Albums
Records that reliably lift the room.
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1Songs in the Key of LifeStevie Wonder
Songs in the Key of Life
A double album of staggering range and generosity, the centrepiece of Wonder's golden run. Funk, jazz, ballads and social commentary all sit comfortably together. Exhaustive, joyous and essential.
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2DiscoveryDaft Punk
Discovery
A euphoric, nostalgic blend of house, disco and filtered French touch, home to 'One More Time' and 'Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger'. Glossy, joyful and impeccably sequenced. The duo's most beloved record.
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3ArrivalABBA
Arrival
A peak of immaculate Swedish pop craft, home to 'Dancing Queen'. Glossy and joyful. One of their finest.
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4ThrillerMichael Jackson
Thriller
The best-selling album of all time and a flawless run of pop, funk, rock and balladry produced with Quincy Jones. Every single became a standard, and the craft holds up decades on. The benchmark for mainstream pop ambition.
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5Future NostalgiaDua Lipa
Future Nostalgia
A sleek disco-pop revival packed with hits, glossy and joyful, that defined lockdown-era pop. Polished and fun. A modern dance-pop landmark.
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6Vampire WeekendVampire Weekend
Vampire Weekend
A bright, preppy debut blending Afropop guitars with witty literate pop. Fresh and instantly likeable. The start of a great run.
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7StankoniaOutKast
Stankonia
A wildly inventive blend of funk, electro, gospel and rap that pushed Southern hip-hop into the future. 'B.O.B.' and 'Ms. Jackson' anchor it. Restless, joyful and ahead of its time.
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8Remain in LightTalking Heads
Remain in Light
Afrobeat polyrhythms meet art-rock and Eno's production on a dense, ecstatic landmark led by 'Once in a Lifetime'. Layered and danceable, it expanded what a rock band could be. A high point of the era.