Cigarettes After Sex Albums Ranked: Fan Favorites (2025)
Few bands establish a signature sound as completely as Cigarettes After Sex. Their discography is a masterclass in mood, a consistent world of hazy, romantic, and noir-tinged dream pop.
This consistency can make it difficult to rank their work. Each album feels like a continuation, a new chapter in the same beautiful, melancholic story.
Here, we're taking on the challenge of ordering the Cigarettes After Sex albums, ranked primarily by fan sentiment.
We'll explore which records resonate most deeply with the community to get a sense of what might be the best Cigarettes After Sex album.
Ranking Cigarettes After Sex's albums: The fan favorites
Here's how the albums stack up based on fan sentiment, community discussions, and overall buzz.
We're starting with the most beloved.
1. Cigarettes After Sex (2017)
The band's self-titled debut arrived in 2017, cementing the ethereal and dream-like musical style they had become known for.
It followed their 2012 EP, I., which contained the song "Nothing's Gonna Hurt You Baby." That track would eventually become a sleeper hit through commercial licensing, building anticipation for this full-length release.
Led by Greg Gonzalez, the album's sound is often described as ambient pop, shoegaze, and slowcore, with lyrics focused on themes of romance and love.
Key tracks:
- Apocalypse
- Sunsetz
Taking the top spot, Cigarettes After Sex is the definitive article for most listeners. It's the album that introduced their fully-formed sound to a global audience.
Its status as a fan favorite is undeniable. This record perfectly captured a specific mood that has since become the band's calling card, making it a landmark release in modern dream pop.
2. Cry (2019)
The band's second studio album, Cry, was released in the fall of 2019. It was preceded by the lead single "Heavenly."
Greg Gonzalez described the album's creation as an effort to capture a "snapshot of a moment." He embraced its imperfections, calling them an honest portrayal of a feeling.
He viewed the record as a "film" shot in the stunning location of Mallorca, weaving together different characters and scenes through a lens of romance and beauty.
Key tracks:
- Cry
- Heavenly
Holding the number two position, Cry is seen by many as a worthy and beautiful continuation of the band's established sound.
While it didn't quite unseat the iconic debut for most fans, the album is cherished for its vulnerability and cinematic quality. It proved the band's formula was not a one-off success but a deep well of inspiration.
3. X's (2024)
The band announced their third studio album, X's, in early 2024 for a summer release.
Its release was supported by a major world tour and heralded by the lead single "Tejano Blue," which Gonzalez stated was inspired by his formative years in El Paso.
The album continued the band's exploration of dreamy, limerent soundscapes and was met with favorable reception upon its release.
Key tracks:
- Tejano Blue
- Dark Vacay
As the most recent entry in the band's discography, X's lands at the third spot in our fan ranking.
Its position may reflect the simple fact that fans have had less time to live with these songs compared to the established classics. Over time, its standing could certainly shift as its tracks become part of the long-term fan canon.
Picked your top Cigarettes After Sex classic? Check out Cigarettes After Sex's discography on their Roll The Record Artist hub.
Cigarettes After Sex albums: A look at popularity data
While fan sentiment paints a rich picture, current popularity data can offer another interesting angle.
This looks at an artist's discography through a different lens.
Below is a ranking of Cigarettes After Sex's albums based on their popularity scores from available data. This reflects which releases are currently seeing significant engagement.
| Popularity Rank | Album Title | Release Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cigarettes After Sex | 2017 |
| 2 | Cry | 2019 |
| 3 | X's | 2024 |
Quick FAQs about Cigarettes After Sex's albums
Q: Where did the name Cigarettes After Sex come from?
A: According to Greg Gonzalez, the name came to him after an experience with a friend. He felt the name was catchy and memorable.
Q: What is the band's musical style?
A: Their sound is most often described as dream pop or ambient pop. It also incorporates elements of shoegaze, slowcore, and indie rock.
So there you have it, a tour through the Cigarettes After Sex albums ranked by the fans who love them.
The consensus points to their debut as the essential record, but every album offers that signature, immersive experience.
Ultimately, the "best" Cigarettes After Sex album is the one that you connect with the most. What does your ranking look like?