# The best French chanson and rock albums

The records that come up most in Rolling Stone France's 100 best French albums and in SensCritique readers' rankings, from Gainsbourg and Brel to Daft Punk and Stromae.

- 7 votes · 22 items
- Dec 14, 2024 · rockeur_breton
- https://even.best/en/l/428/the-best-french-chanson-and-rock-albums

## Top 22

1. **Osez Joséphine — Alain Bashung** (2 · ▲2 ▼0) — 1991. Ranked first among the 100 best French rock albums by Rolling Stone France.
2. **Les Marquises — Jacques Brel** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — 1977. Brel's last album, recorded while gravely ill, with 'Orly' and 'Les Marquises'.
3. **Homework — Daft Punk** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — 1997. 'Around the World' and 'Da Funk': the French touch conquers the world.
4. **Discovery — Daft Punk** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — 2001. 'One More Time' and 'Digital Love', with animated videos by Leiji Matsumoto.
5. **Histoire de Melody Nelson — Serge Gainsbourg** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — 1971. A 28-minute concept album with Jane Birkin and Jean-Claude Vannier's strings.
6. **Fantaisie militaire — Alain Bashung** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — 1998. 'La nuit je mens'; often called Bashung's masterpiece.
7. **666.667 Club — Noir Désir** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — 1996. 'Un jour en France' and 'L'Homme pressé'; 12th in Rolling Stone France's ranking.
8. **Moon Safari — Air** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — 1998. Nicolas Godin and JB Dunckel, 'Sexy Boy' and 'La Femme d'argent'.
9. **Les Mots bleus — Christophe** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — 1974. The title song and dreamy orchestral pop; 45th for Rolling Stone France.
10. **L'Homme à tête de chou — Serge Gainsbourg** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — 1976. A concept album about a journalist driven mad by love for a shampoo girl.
11. **Puta's Fever — Mano Negra** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — 1989. Rock, punk, raï and salsa sung in several languages by Manu Chao and his band.
12. **L'École du micro d'argent — IAM** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — 1997. The classic of Marseille rap, with 'Petit frère' and 'Demain, c'est loin'.
13. **Racine carrée — Stromae** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — 2013. 'Papaoutai' and 'Formidable'; a triumph across the French-speaking world and beyond.
14. **Tous les garçons et les filles — Françoise Hardy** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — 1962. The debut album by the yé-yé icon.
15. **Clandestino — Manu Chao** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — 1998. A nomadic album recorded on the road, with 'Clandestino' and 'Bongo Bong'.
16. **Tostaky — Noir Désir** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — 1992. Bertrand Cantat's tense rock, recorded with Ted Niceley.
17. **L'Imprudence — Alain Bashung** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — 2002. Bashung's darkest and most daring record.
18. **Polnareff's — Michel Polnareff** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — 1971. Virtuoso baroque pop from the singer in the white glasses.
19. **Chaleur humaine — Christine and the Queens** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — 2014. Héloïse Letissier, 'Christine' and 'Saint Claude'; a hit in France and then in the UK.
20. **Jane Birkin / Serge Gainsbourg — Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — 1969. The album of 'Je t'aime… moi non plus', banned in several countries.
21. **Prose Combat — MC Solaar** (-1 · ▲0 ▼1) — 1994. Wordplay and jazz-rap, with 'Nouveau Western'.
22. **3 — Indochine** (-1 · ▲0 ▼1) — 1985. '3e sexe' and 'Canary Bay', the peak of French new wave.

How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.