I highly recommend Michael Artin's _Algebra_ along with these course materials. You can also find supplementary materials (exercises, solutions, & notes) here.
The other canonical choice is usually Herstein's _Topics in Algebra._
A book similar to Artin, but more leisurely, is Vinberg's _A Course in Algebra._
For group theory, I have really been enjoying the first 100 pages of Rotman's _An Introduction to the Theory of Groups._ It is quite readable!
And if you know a bit of algebra already, you might try Aluffi's _Algebra Chapter 0._ It is nonstandard (some use of categories from the start), but a pleasure to read. Plus, it's free!
If you're only looking for a reference, then I would have to say Dummit & Foote, as well. But as a main text... _meh._ But there are solutions for many exercises here.