Rock Albums of the Year

Rock/Alternative: Albums of the Year, 1990-2023

This page lists those albums which have won: Billboard Music Award for Top Rock Album (2006, 2011-2021) Grammys for Rock Album of the Year (1995-2022) Alternative Rock Album of the Year (1991-2022) The years for the Grammys below indicate the year of eligibility rather than the year awarded. Check out other album of the year awards here.

2023: Billboard: Zach Bryan American Heartbreak Grammy – Rock: Paramore This Is Why Grammy – Alternative: Boygenius The Record 2022: Billboard: Twenty One Pilots Scaled and Icy Grammy – Rock: Ozzy Osbourne Patient Number Nine Grammy – Alternative: Wet Leg Wet Leg 2021: Billboard: Machine Gun Kelly Tickets to My Downfall Grammy – Rock: Foo Fighters Medicine at Midnight Grammy – Alternative: St. Vincent Daddy’s Home 2020: Billboard: Tool Fear Inoculum Grammy – Rock: The Strokes The New Abnormal Grammy – Alternative: Fiona Apple Fetch the Bolt Cutters 2019: Billboard: Panic! At the Disco Pray for the Wicked Grammy – Rock: Cage the Elephant Social Cues Grammy – Alternative: Vampire Weekend Father of the Bride 2018: Billboard: Imagine Dragons Evolve Grammy – Rock: Greta Van Fleet From the Fires Grammy – Alternative: Beck Colors 2017: Billboard: Metallica Hardwired…to Self Destruct Grammy – Rock: The War on Drugs A Deeper Understanding Grammy – Alternative: The National Sleep Well Beast 2016: Billboard: Twenty One Pilots Blurryface Grammy – Rock: Cage the Elephant Tell Me I’m Pretty Grammy – Alternative: David Bowie Blackstar 2015: Billboard: Coldplay Ghost Stories Grammy – Rock: Muse Drones Grammy – Alternative: Alabama Shakes Sound & Color 2014: Billboard: Imagine Dragons Night Visions Grammy – Rock: Beck Morning Phase Grammy – Alternative: St. Vincent St. Vincent 2013: Billboard: Mumford & Sons Babel Grammy – Rock: Led Zeppelin Celebration Day Grammy – Alternative: Vampire Weekend Modern Vampires of the City 2012: Billboard: Coldplay Mylo Xyloto Grammy – Rock: The Black Keys El Camino Grammy – Alternative: Gotye Making Mirrors 2011: Billboard: Mumford & Sons Sigh No More Grammy – Rock: Foo Fighters Wasting Light Grammy – Alternative: Bon Iver Bon Iver 2010: Grammy – Rock: Muse The Resistance Grammy – Alternative: The Black Keys Brothers 2009: Grammy – Rock: Green Day 21st Century Breakdown Grammy – Alternative: Phoenix Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix 2008: Grammy – Rock: Coldplay Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends Grammy – Alternative: Radiohead In Rainbows 2007: Grammy – Rock: Foo Fighters Echoes, Silence, Patience, & Grace Grammy – Alternative: The White Stripes Icky Thump 2006: Billboard: Nickelback All the Right Reasons Grammy – Rock: Red Hot Chili Peppers Stadium Arcadium Grammy – Alternative: Gnarls Barkley St. Elsewhere 2005: Grammy – Rock: U2 How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb Grammy – Alternative: The White Stripes Get Behind Me Satan 2004: Grammy – Rock: Green Day American Idiot Grammy – Alternative: Wilco A Ghost Is Born 2003: Grammy – Rock: Foo Fighters One by One Grammy – Alternative: The White Stripes Elephant 2002: Grammy – Rock: Bruce Springsteen The Rising Grammy – Alternative: Coldplay A Rush of Blood to the Head 2001: Grammy – Rock: U2 All That You Can’t Leave Behind Grammy – Alternative: Coldplay Parachutes 2000: Grammy – Rock: Foo Fighters There Is Nothing Left to Lose Grammy – Alternative: Radiohead Kid A 1999: Grammy – Rock: Santana Supernatural Grammy – Alternative: Beck Mutations 1998: Grammy – Rock: Sheryl Crow The Globe Sessions Grammy – Alternative: Beastie Boys Hello Nasty 1997: Grammy – Rock: John Fogerty Blue Moon Swamp Grammy – Alternative: Radiohead OK Computer 1996: Grammy – Rock: Sheryl Crow Sheryl Crow Grammy – Alternative: Beck Odelay 1995: Grammy – Rock: Alanis Morissette Jagged Little Pill Grammy – Alternative: Nirvana MTV Unplugged in New York 1994: Grammy – Rock: The Rolling Stones Voodoo Lounge Grammy – Alternative: Green Day Dookie 1993: Grammy – Alternative: U2 Zooropa 1992: Grammy – Alternative: Tom Waits Bone Machine 1991: Grammy – Alternative: R.E.M. Out of Time 1990: Grammy – Alternative: Sinéad O’Connor I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got Resources and Related Links: Dave’s Music Database: “Other Year-End Album Awards” Dave’s Music Database: “Adult Alternative Albums: The Top 100” Dave’s Music Database: “Alternative Rock Albums: The Top 100” Dave’s Music Database: “Classic Rock Albums: The Top 100” Dave’s Music Database: “Heavy Metal/Hard Rock Albums: The Top 50” Dave’s Music Database: “Progressive Rock Albums: The Top 50” Dave’s Music Database: “Psychedelic Rock Albums: The Top 50” Dave’s Music Database: “Punk Rock Albums: The Top 50” Billboard Music Award for Top Rock Album Grammys (official site) Grammy: Best Rock Album Grammy: Alternative Rock Album First posted 5/1/2022; last updated 2/4/2024.