Ethel Cain Albums Ranked: Fan Favorites (2025)

Ranking the discography of an artist as layered as Ethel Cain is a fascinating task. Her body of work is dense, conceptual, and deeply personal.

Each album invites listeners into a hauntingly specific world. This makes deciding on the "best" Ethel Cain album a highly subjective experience.

We are exploring the Ethel Cain albums ranked, using fan sentiment as our primary guide.

We'll also look at a secondary ranking based on current popularity data to see another side of the story.

Ranking Ethel Cain's albums: The fan favorites

This is how the albums stack up based on fan sentiment, community discussions, and overall buzz.

We're starting with the most beloved.

1. Willoughby Tucker, I'll Always Love You (2025)

Willoughby Tucker, I'll Always Love You is the second studio album from Ethel Cain. It serves as a narrative prequel to her celebrated debut, Preacher's Daughter.

Released through her own Daughters of Cain label, the album explores the main character's teenage years and a pivotal romance.

The record continues her exploration of Americana while weaving in elements of slowcore, indie pop, and shoegaze.

Upon its release, the album was met with critical acclaim and achieved notable chart success in several countries.

Key tracks:

• Nettles
• Fuck Me Eyes

Taking the top spot in our fan ranking, Willoughby Tucker, I'll Always Love You clearly resonated deeply and immediately with Cain's audience.

Its role as a prequel adds immense depth to the lore of her universe, something dedicated fans value tremendously.

2. Perverts (2025)

Perverts is a self-released studio recording that stands apart from Cain's main album trilogy. She wrote, recorded, and produced it entirely on her own.

This project is a deep dive into drone, slowcore, and dark ambient sounds. The lyrical themes center on different forms of perversion.

Many critics noted it was a challenging listen but praised its artistic shift and experimental nature.

Key tracks:

• Punish
• Vacillator

Placing second shows the fanbase's appreciation for Cain's most experimental and uncompromising work.

While not as accessible as her other albums, its raw and challenging soundscape has earned it a powerful cult status among listeners who embrace her darkest artistic corners.

3. Preacher’s Daughter (2022)

Preacher's Daughter is the stunning debut studio album from Ethel Cain. This concept album tells a harrowing story of family trauma and escape.

The album draws inspiration from Cain's own life as a deacon's daughter, blending Americana, roots rock, and dark ambient textures.

It was met with widespread critical acclaim, with many publications naming it one of the best albums of the year. The record was instrumental in building her dedicated cult following.

Key tracks:

• American Teenager
• Strangers

For many, Preacher’s Daughter is the quintessential Ethel Cain experience. It’s the record that introduced her grand, cinematic vision to the world.

Its narrative power and ambitious soundscapes make it a foundational text in her discography, even if newer work has slightly surpassed it in fan polls.

4. Inbred (2021)

The 2021 EP Inbred was a major step forward in establishing the Ethel Cain sound. It includes the popular single "Crush."

This release served as a bridge between her earlier EPs and the fully-realized world of her debut album.

It showcased her maturing songwriting and her unique blend of ambient, folk, and slowcore influences.

Key tracks:

• Crush
• Inbred

Inbred holds a special place for many longtime followers. It was a crucial part of her artistic evolution, hinting at the greatness to come.

Its ranking reflects its status as an important, beloved project, though perhaps overshadowed by the larger scale of her full-length albums.

5. Golden Age (2019)

Released in 2019, the Golden Age EP was one of the earliest projects under the Ethel Cain moniker.

It captures the initial development of her sound, blending dreamy textures with the raw, melodic instincts that would define her later work.

This EP helped her gain initial recognition, earning praise from fellow artists and setting the stage for her future releases.

Key tracks:

• Knuckle Velvet
• Head in the Wall

As an earlier work, Golden Age offers a fascinating glimpse into Cain's artistic origins.

While fans clearly appreciate the more developed concepts of her later albums, this EP remains a vital part of her story and a treasured release for those who have followed her from the beginning.

Picked your top Ethel Cain classic? Check out Ethel Cain's discography on their Roll The Record Artist hub.

Ethel Cain 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 Ethel Cain's albums based on their popularity scores from available data. This reflects which releases are currently seeing significant engagement.

Quick FAQs about Ethel Cain's albums

Q: Is Willoughby Tucker, I'll Always Love You a sequel to Preacher's Daughter?

A: No, it's actually the opposite. The album serves as a prequel to the story told in Preacher's Daughter, exploring events from five years earlier.

Q: What kind of music is on Willoughby Tucker, I'll Always Love You?

A: The album is primarily an Americana record. However, it also incorporates sounds from slowcore, contemporary folk, indie pop, and shoegaze.

So there you have it – a look at Ethel Cain's albums ranked.

We've explored her work through the passionate lens of fan sentiment and the straightforward view of popularity data.

Ultimately, the best Ethel Cain album is the one that connects with you the most. Each record is a unique and powerful chapter in a larger story.

What does your personal ranking of Ethel Cain's discography look like? Let us know which album holds the top spot for you.