Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by sszwalbenest

The top 15 albums are my essential, "God tier" albums, my only ones with 100 ratings.

There are 41 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 100 Greatest Music Albums has an average rating of 88 out of 100 (from 77 votes). Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.

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Buy album United States
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There are two kinds of great albums: well-shaped 'concept albums' and albums that are just great collections of songs. This album is the latter. It will make you fall in love, it will make you cry, it will make you aspire to revolution. It is the most evocative record I have ever heard, and that is why it number 1. Not to mention that it is performed by one of the greatest vocalists in all of rock and roll.

Producer: Andy Wallace

"There's no time for hatred/only questions/what is love?/what is happiness?/what is life?/what is peace?"
[First added to this chart: 07/28/2013]
Year of Release:
1994
Appears in:
Rank Score:
19,329
Rank in 1994:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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If you read my note for entry 1, this is my favorite album of the well-shaped variety. This will take you on a journey, both with its tender and bolder moments, and lyrics that are absolutely crazy in their intricacy. Nice to hear harp as a lead instrument.

Producer: Joanna Newsom, Van Dyke Parks

"So: enough of this terror
We deserve to know light
And grow evermore lighter and lighter
You would have seen me through
But I could not undo that desire. "
[First added to this chart: 01/05/2014]
Year of Release:
2006
Appears in:
Rank Score:
9,266
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Buy album United States
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Some of the best popular songwriting coupled with Roy Halee's amazing production (who would have thought of echoed drums on a folk album!). You can tell that Paul Simon knows the band is on its way out (only look to "So Long, Frank Lloyd Wright"!) which makes this my favorite breakup album as well.

Producers: S & G, Roy Halee

"Sail on, silver girl
Sail on by.
Your time has come to shine.
All your dreams are on their way.
See how they shine.
Ohhh
And if you need a friend,
I'm sailing right behind.
Like a bridge over troubled water,
I will ease your mind.
Like a bridge over troubled water,
I will ease your mind.
[First added to this chart: 07/10/2013]
Year of Release:
1970
Appears in:
Rank Score:
13,293
Rank in 1970:
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Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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Impeccable lyrics, vocals, and guitar work coupled with at times delicate, at times forceful string arrangements. The best arranged album on this chart. A harrowing record as well in the wake of Nick Drake's untimely death from depression and a drug overdose.

Producer: Joy Boyd

"Fame is but a fruit tree
So very unsound.
It can never flourish
'Till its stock is in the ground.
So men of fame
Can never find a way
'Till time has flown
Far from their dying day."
[First added to this chart: 02/06/2014]
Year of Release:
1969
Appears in:
Rank Score:
9,391
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Average Rating:
Comments:
5. (=)
Buy album United States
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After shaking the foundations of rock with OK Computer, what was Radiohead to do? Thank God, they chose not to repeat themselves. Radiohead's turn to electronic influences in Kid A is probably the best pivot in the history of rock, as well as the pinnacle of 2000's alternative. Chilling, touching, a jam, all in one record.

Producer: Nigel Godrich and Radiohead

"Ice Age coming, ice age coming
Let me hear both sides"
[First added to this chart: 07/10/2013]
Year of Release:
2000
Appears in:
Rank Score:
51,673
Rank in 2000:
Rank in 2000s:
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Average Rating:
Comments:
6. (=)
Aja 
Buy album United States
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[First added to this chart: 07/10/2013]
Year of Release:
1977
Appears in:
Rank Score:
9,507
Rank in 1977:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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[First added to this chart: 07/10/2013]
Year of Release:
1970
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,477
Rank in 1970:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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[First added to this chart: 07/10/2013]
Year of Release:
1968
Appears in:
Rank Score:
5,933
Rank in 1968:
Rank in 1960s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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  • Spotify
  • #Sponsored
[First added to this chart: 07/16/2015]
Year of Release:
1967
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,052
Rank in 1967:
Rank in 1960s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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To my knowledge, most of these songs are covers. Regardless, they are arranged and performed beautifully. Blake had a truly amazing vocal style going, much mellower than many in folk at the time. It is a shame that her talents were not discovered by the broader musical community. A whirlwind tour of the joys and sorrows of the folk song.

"When I was a single girl
Used to go to the store and buy.
Now that I'm a married girl
Just rock that cradle and cry."
[First added to this chart: 03/24/2021]
Year of Release:
1971
Appears in:
Rank Score:
179
Rank in 1971:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 100. Page 1 of 10

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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums composition

Decade Albums %


1930s 0 0%
1940s 0 0%
1950s 3 3%
1960s 22 22%
1970s 25 25%
1980s 7 7%
1990s 13 13%
2000s 12 12%
2010s 11 11%
2020s 7 7%
Artist Albums %


Bob Dylan 4 4%
Lana Del Rey 3 3%
Neil Young 3 3%
The Beatles 3 3%
Simon & Garfunkel 3 3%
Nick Drake 2 2%
Radiohead 2 2%
Show all
Country Albums %


United States 63 63%
United Kingdom 17 17%
Canada 8 8%
Mixed Nationality 8 8%
Greece 1 1%
France 1 1%
Ireland 1 1%
Show all
Compilation? Albums %
No 98 98%
Yes 2 2%
Live? Albums %
No 98 98%
Yes 2 2%

Top 100 Greatest Music Albums chart changes

Biggest climbers
Climber Up 4 from 67th to 63rd
Home
by Dixie Chicks
Climber Up 3 from 62nd to 59th
Time Out
by The Dave Brubeck Quartet
Climber Up 1 from 84th to 83rd
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
by The Beatles
Biggest fallers
Faller Down 3 from 61st to 64th
In The Aeroplane Over The Sea
by Neutral Milk Hotel
Faller Down 1 from 59th to 60th
Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!
by Devo
Faller Down 1 from 60th to 61st
Ladies Of The Canyon
by Joni Mitchell

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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums ratings

Average Rating: 
88/100 (from 77 votes)
  Ratings distributionRatings distribution Average Rating = (n ÷ (n + m)) × av + (m ÷ (n + m)) × AV
where:
av = trimmed mean average rating an item has currently received.
n = number of ratings an item has currently received.
m = minimum number of ratings required for an item to appear in a 'top-rated' chart (currently 10).
AV = the site mean average rating.

Showing latest 5 ratings for this chart. | Show all 77 ratings for this chart.

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RatingDate updatedMemberChart ratingsAvg. chart rating
 
100/100
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03/23/2024 00:14 Rm12398  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 9989/100
  
90/100
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01/03/2024 16:02 Tamthebam  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 54985/100
  
90/100
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01/03/2024 10:50 Johnnyo  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 2,00579/100
  
75/100
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10/22/2023 21:39 DaaN  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 1086/100
  
5/100
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08/18/2023 19:22 ShenBapiro  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 15/100

Rating metrics: Outliers can be removed when calculating a mean average to dampen the effects of ratings outside the normal distribution. This figure is provided as the trimmed mean. A high standard deviation can be legitimate, but can sometimes indicate 'gaming' is occurring. Consider a simplified example* of an item receiving ratings of 100, 50, & 0. The mean average rating would be 50. However, ratings of 55, 50 & 45 could also result in the same average. The second average might be more trusted because there is more consensus around a particular rating (a lower deviation).
(*In practice, some charts can have several thousand ratings)

This chart is rated in the top 9% of all charts on BestEverAlbums.com. This chart has a Bayesian average rating of 88.2/100, a mean average of 87.5/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 88.5/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 12.7.

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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums favourites

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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums comments

Showing latest 10 comments | Show all 41 comments |
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Rating:  
90/100
From 01/03/2024 16:07
A great chart with some new stuff for me to have a listen to and with 13 artists in common and 7 albums I can see our tastes are not that different
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
90/100
From 01/03/2024 10:50
Loads of great picks and some really interesting choices. Like it a lot
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
90/100
From 02/28/2023 09:14
very subtle chart with a lot interesting picks.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
90/100
From 11/16/2022 05:35
Wow I’m so glad this eclectic chart is the chart of the day. Your chart looks like lots of thought went into it. I’ll add this to my favorites
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
80/100
From 11/15/2022 20:30
An interesting chart with the Buckley's (son & father) in the top 10. Liked seeing Rodriguez in there as well. Would have liked to have seen a more diverse spread of artists/albums beyond North America.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
100/100
From 10/28/2021 02:48
one of my favorite charts
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 07/17/2021 12:42
I was drawn to your chart after you slated Modest Mouse's Lonesome Crowded West which i personally really like.
I know most of the albums in your chart and also really enjoy them.
I kinda agree with Kalos noting a strong focus on various forms of folk which makes your chart quite a soft and mellow focus which i enjoy. But its always good to mix it up with some different styles for me
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
95/100
From 10/31/2019 21:15
Really nice chart, lots of interesting albums!
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
85/100
From 04/23/2017 11:20
It's a splendid chart with much new albums to listen to!
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
80/100
From 02/01/2017 00:02
Never seen 5 Beck albums in one chart haha but each to their own.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

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Best Ever Artists
1. The Beatles
2. Radiohead
3. Pink Floyd
4. David Bowie
5. Bob Dylan
6. Led Zeppelin
7. The Rolling Stones
8. Arcade Fire
9. The Velvet Underground
10. Kendrick Lamar
11. Nirvana
12. Neil Young
13. The Smiths
14. Miles Davis
15. The Beach Boys
16. Kanye West
17. Pixies
18. R.E.M.
19. Jimi Hendrix
20. Bruce Springsteen
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