Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by joedec

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Release Date - May 2, 1989

Favorite Tracks
1. The Same Deep Water As You
2. Pictures Of You
3. Fascination Street
4. Disintegration

"Kyle from South Park hit the nail on the head when he said Disintegration is the best album ever. As far as I can, he wasn't lying. The eighth studio album from The Cure, Disintegration felt like a culmination of all the musical styles they had gone through since their debut album. But Disintegration was created from crisis in all honesty. Robert Smith was on the verge of turning 30 and felt like The Cure hadn't made their masterpiece. On top of that, longtime member Lol Tolhurst was suffering from alcoholism (he would be fired from the band 3 months before the album's release). Add to that weddings and fires, and it all adds up to the greatest album ever made, Disintegration. The album opens up with Plainsong, one of the greatest album openers, then goes into Pictures Of You. Other highlights include Fascination Street, Prayers For Rain, Lovesong (a wedding present for Robert's wife), and my favorite song, The Same Deep Water As You. Every member of the band is at the top if their game, from Robert's vocal performance to Simon's signature basslines and Roger O'Donnell essential keyboards. In my opinion, no other album can come close to the epicness that is Disintegration."
[First added to this chart: 07/31/2011]
Year of Release:
1989
Appears in:
Rank Score:
27,785
Rank in 1989:
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Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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Release Date - March 3, 1986

Favorite Tracks
1. Battery
2. Master Of Puppets
3. (Welcome Home) Sanitarium
4. Orion

If you were ask any metalhead what they consider the greatest Heavy Metal of all time, you'll get different answers. Believe me, there's no right or wrong answer. But if you were to ask me that very question, I would say without hesitation Master of Puppets. The third album from Metallica, Master of Puppets took Metallica to the next level in so many ways. It's also the main reason why I consider 1986 the best year for Metal, especially Thrash Metal. With MOP, Metallica took the formula they created on Ride the Lightning and perfected it. This album is perfect from start to finish, no questions asked. Whereas the previous album dealt with concept of death, MOP's concept is manipulation. Whether it's manipulation from substance abuse (title track), mental illness (Sanitarium), political leaders (Disposable Heroes) or fake religious evangelists (Leper Messiah), MOP doesn't shy away from the fact that we are all manipulated in some way or another. But there's a reason why Master of Puppets is seen as one of the greatest albums of all time. One of those reasons is that each member is on point, from James Hetfield's vocals and rhythm guitar to Kirk Hammett's blistering solos (especially the title track) and Lars Ulrich's drumming. But special attention should be paid to the legendary Cliff Burton. He truly shines on this album. And never is that more apparent than on the iconic instrumental Orion. It's one of those songs that has to be listened to with good ear phones because it's one of those songs that gets better with every listen. Unfortunately, it would be the last album to feature Burton. He would tragically die in a bus accident in Sweden six months after the album's release. But he left a legacy that will never be forgotten. And for those reasons (as well having my favorite Metallica song, Battery), Master of Puppets sits on the mountain as the greatest Heavy Metal album ever made as far as I can see. And thanks to Stranger Things, a new generation of fans are starting to figure out why this album is beloved."
[First added to this chart: 01/19/2012]
Year of Release:
1986
Appears in:
Rank Score:
13,259
Rank in 1986:
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Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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Release Date - May 4, 1982

Favorite Tracks
1. The Figurehead
2. One Hundred Years
3. The Hanging Garden
4. Cold

"The opening line to The Cure's 4th album is 'It doesn't matter if we all die.' And that's the scene setter for one of the darkest albums ever made. I'm not going to lie. When I first heard this album, my jaw was on the ground with how dark and cerebral it was. It took a little while, but now it's one of my all time favorite albums. And the album title is not a reference to anything pornographic. Robert Smith simply thought of a word to sum up the mental mind state The Cure were in at the time. With heavy drinking and drug use, the band at each other's throats, it's little wonder the album is intense as it is. The album is not about sunshine and rainbows. That is made abundantly clear on songs such as The Figurehead, Cold, The Hanging Garden among others. The guitars and vocals are scary as hell, with the bass and drum lines beating out the rhythm of doom. When the album came out, it received a mixed reception. One critic even called it Phil Spector from Hell. But despite that, Pornography is seen by many as one of The Cure's best albums and a key album in the Goth Rock genre."
[First added to this chart: 07/31/2011]
Year of Release:
1982
Appears in:
Rank Score:
5,895
Rank in 1982:
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Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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Release Date - March 19, 1990

Favorite Tracks
1. Enjoy The Silence
2. Personal Jesus
3. Clean
4. Halo

"My first exposure to Depeche Mode was seeing the video for Personal Jesus on MTV back in late 1989. Right off the bat, I was hooked. Little did I know that it just an appetizer for album known as Violator. The 7th studio album from DM, Violator is seen by many (including the band themselves) as Depeche Mode's masterpiece. Released less than 3 years after 1987's Music for the Masses, Violator is a bit more subdued than its predecessor. But even still, it has songs that can get the crowd going. Especially the hit song Enjoy the Silence. Originally created as a ballad, it would be changed to the iconic dance track that we know today. We can thank Alan Wilder for that. Other highlights include Policy of Truth. World in My Eyes, and Halo. Special recognition should be paid to both Alan Wilder and producer Flood. They both made the album the sonic masterpiece it is. 1990 was the year of Depeche Mode, and Violator is the main reason why."
[First added to this chart: 07/31/2011]
Year of Release:
1990
Appears in:
Rank Score:
12,618
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Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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Release Date - July 25, 1983

Favorite Tracks
1. The Four Horsemen
2. Whiplash
3. Phantom Lord
4. Metal Militia

"July 25, 1983. Metallica put Thrash Metal on the map with their debut album, Kill 'Em All. It was not only Metallica's first album, but was also the first release for the label Megaforce Records. Originally the name of the album was going to be called Metal Up Your Ass, but the record distributors vetoed that name. It would be bassist Cliff Burton who came up with the album title. Kirk Hammett (originally from Exodus) joined the band in April 1983, replacing Dave Mustaine, right before they entered the studio to record the album. Quite simply, KEA is pure, unadulterated Thrash Metal from beginning to end. From the opening track Hit the Lights to the closing track Metal Militia, the album doesn't let up one bit. Even the bass instrumental (Anesthesia) Pulling Teeth is heavy as hell, a perfect introduction to the legendary Cliff Burton. Highlights include The Four Horsemen, Whiplash, and Seek and Destroy, songs that are still part of Metallica's set list to this day. Metallica would get more ambitious with their later albums, but Kill 'Em All is the one that started it all. And it's considered one of the greatest debut albums of all time."
[First added to this chart: 07/03/2018]
Year of Release:
1983
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,329
Rank in 1983:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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Release Date - July 18, 1980

Favorite Tracks
1. The Eternal
2. Colony
3. Twenty Four Hours
4. Atrocity Exhibition

"I'll admit that I was a late bloomer to Joy Division. I was first introduced to them in 2007 or 2008 when I heard the song Colony on First Wave. Needless to say. I eventually bought this classic album. I wasn't prepared for how dark and beautiful it was. The sophomore album from Joy Division, Closer was released 2 months following the suicide of lead singer Ian Curtis. Listening to the album, especially the last two songs (The Eternal and Decades), it's easy to interpret it as a suicide note. But if you bypass that, you'll also see the growth the band made from their debut album to this. The inclusion of synthesizers prove that had the band continued on, they would've still ended up like New Order. All in all, Closer stands as Joy Division's magnum opus and one of the key albums that defines the Post-Punk genre."
[First added to this chart: 07/31/2011]
Year of Release:
1980
Appears in:
Rank Score:
16,768
Rank in 1980:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
7. (=)
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Release Date - October 27, 1982

Favorite Tracks
1. Something in the Water (Does Not Compute)
2. Little Red Corvette
3. D.M.S.R.
4. Automatic

"The 5th studio album from Prince, 1999 is the album that truly put Prince on the map. When you look at 1982, it's easy to see how prolific a year Prince had. Not only was he touring behind his previous album, Controversy, but he was writing a whole lot of songs. Many of which would appear years later on the 1999 deluxe box set. He was also writing and producing for other artists as well, particularly Vanity 6 and The Time (under the alias of Jaime Starr). And it feels like 1999 was the culmination of the year 1982. The album starts off with the title track, a perfect song about the end of the world. It then moves on Little Red Corvette, a perfect merger of Rock and Soul, followed by the 50s bop of Delirious. From there, the rulebook goes straight out the window, especially on the song Let's Pretend We're Married and the funk workout of D.M.S.R. The album is a perfect combination of Synth Wave (Something in the Water), pure funk jams (Lady Cab Driver), and ballads (International Lover). And then you have the Linn LM-1 drum machine, which is heard constantly throughout the album. The influence of 1999 is insurmountable. Don't believe me? Ask Stevie Nicks, whose hit Stand Back was influenced by Little Red Corvette (Prince would even play Synths on the song as well.) The success of 1999 would also allow Prince to be one of the first black artists to be played on MTV. Even though Purple Rain would be the album that many people view as his best, for me that honor goes to 1999."
[First added to this chart: 07/31/2011]
Year of Release:
1982
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,580
Rank in 1982:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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Release Date - March 1982

Favorite Tracks
1. Vampira
2. All Hell Breaks Loose
3. 20 Eyes
4. Mommy, Can I Go Out and Kill Tonight?

"The Misfits are the godfathers of Horror Punk. That's not up for debate. And that fact is established thanks to their iconic debut album, Walk Among Us. Anyone who knows their history should know that originally, Static Age was suppose to be their debut, but would be shelved until the 1990s. So that honor goes to Walk Among Us. Everything about this album screams Horror Punk, from the cover art (which has been paid homage to many times) to the songs contained on this album. Glenn Danzig's vocals are on point, but then that's par for the course when it comes to GD. He's proof that you can be a Punk vocalist and have a great voice at the same time. Jerry Only's basslines are almost criminally underrated. Doyle's guitar riffs kicks ass all the way through. And then there's drummer Arthur Googy, who I also feel is underrated. The album clocks in at around 26 minutes, but that's more than enough time for The Misfits to get their point across in songs such as 20 Eyes, All Hell Breaks Loose, Vampira, Astro Zombies among others. When people ask me what's the definitive Punk album, I will say without hesitation, that it's Walk Among Us."
[First added to this chart: 04/05/2020]
Year of Release:
1982
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,051
Rank in 1982:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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Release Date - July 27, 1993

Favorite Tracks
1. Cherub Rock
2. Geek U.S.A.
3. Hummer
4. Today

"The sophomore album from the Smashing Pumpkins, Siamese Dream is the album that put them on the map. And it was an album that was born from crisis. After the underground success of their debut album Gish, the Pumpkins knew their follow up had to deliver. But soon after, SP head Billy Corgan hit a severe case of writer's block. But from that writer's block came some of the best songs the Pumpkins had ever created, including two standout songs: Today and Disarm. Siamese Dream is a perfect merger of Alternative, Grunge, Metal and Goth all wrapped in one awesome package. Besides the aforementioned songs, other highlights include Cherub Rock (a straight up diss aimed at the elitist underground scene), Hummer, and especially Geek USA. The latter is a perfect example of how talented a drummer Jimmy Chamberlain really is. Although the Pumpkins would hit it big with Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, Siamese Dream is the album that really got the ball rolling."
[First added to this chart: 07/31/2011]
Year of Release:
1993
Appears in:
Rank Score:
19,463
Rank in 1993:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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Release Date - August 26, 1985

Favorite Tracks
1. A Night Like This
2. In Between Days
3. Push
4. Sinking

"The 6th album from The Cure, The Head on the Door felt like a truly vitalized Cure in so many ways. It marked the return of bassist Simon Gallup to the fold, as well the first to feature Boris Williams behind the drum kit. The album starts off with In Between Days, one of The Cure's most recognizable songs. It's a perfect merger of happy songs with sad lyrics, dealing with growing old and being along. What makes The Head on the Door such a classic album is how diverse it is. That diversity is felt in songs such as The Blood, Kyoto Song, and Close to Me. The Cure also show that they can rock the house with songs such as Push and A Night Like This. But they also show that they haven't abandoned their dark side, which is heard on the closing track, Sinking. The Head on the Door marked the point where The Cure went from a cult band to a popular rock band, especially here in the US."
[First added to this chart: 07/31/2011]
Year of Release:
1985
Appears in:
Rank Score:
4,668
Rank in 1985:
Rank in 1980s:
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 0 0%
1960s 7 7%
1970s 18 18%
1980s 47 47%
1990s 23 23%
2000s 2 2%
2010s 3 3%
2020s 0 0%
Artist Albums %


The Cure 6 6%
Metallica 5 5%
David Bowie 4 4%
Depeche Mode 4 4%
Megadeth 4 4%
The Smiths 3 3%
Misfits 3 3%
Show all
Country Albums %


United States 56 56%
United Kingdom 41 41%
Ireland 1 1%
Canada 1 1%
Mixed Nationality 1 1%
Compilation? Albums %
No 99 99%
Yes 1 1%
Live? Albums %
No 99 99%
Yes 1 1%
Soundtrack? Albums %
No 99 99%
Yes 1 1%

Top 100 Greatest Music Albums chart changes

Biggest climbers
Climber Up 13 from 38th to 25th
Achtung Baby
by U2
Climber Up 4 from 45th to 41st
The Chronic
by Dr. Dre
Climber Up 2 from 40th to 38th
Floodland
by The Sisters Of Mercy
Biggest fallers
Faller Down 8 from 62nd to 70th
The Suburbs
by Arcade Fire
Faller Down 3 from 23rd to 26th
Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols
by Sex Pistols
Faller Down 3 from 32nd to 35th
Sticky Fingers
by The Rolling Stones

Top 100 Greatest Music Albums similarity to your chart(s)


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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums ratings

Average Rating: 
86/100 (from 96 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.

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08/03/2023 10:12 Fade2Black  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 1085/100
  
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04/07/2023 13:48 melisandre  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 5988/100
  
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04/07/2023 11:32 Tamthebam  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 55285/100
  
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04/07/2023 11:20 Johnnyo  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 2,01480/100
  
80/100
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04/07/2023 09:00 Moondance  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 45584/100

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 has a Bayesian average rating of 85.7/100, a mean average of 84.6/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 85.7/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 11.4.

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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums comments

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Rating:  
90/100
From 08/03/2023 10:13
Nice list. Love your attention to detail. Well done.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
85/100
From 04/07/2023 11:20
Ace chart.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
80/100
From 04/07/2023 09:09
It is clear where your tastes lie. For me, I didn't find this chart all that exciting or adventurous - nothing at all from outside the USA/Canada/UK/Ireland bubble or hidden album gems from your preferred musical genre. Appreciated the 'love' for The Cure ~ if a bit over the top with 6 entries (and not a 'Bloodflowers' in sight).
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
95/100
From 08/11/2022 16:53
good work on here
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
95/100
From 11/21/2020 21:15
Fantastic chart. Love how you've labelled your favorite 4 songs off each. Original concept
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Rating:  
45/100
From 03/14/2020 05:11
“Foreground Noise” has it quite right that there is very little unpredictable about this chart: it entirely lacks artists unfamiliar to readers of the most standard rock criticism.

It is true that vis-à-vis such charts as those of ‘Rolling Stone’ and ‘New Musical Express’ there is a greater emphasis upon heavy metal – refreshing and a positive given the important impact heavy metal has undoubtedly had on Western culture since the late 1970s. However, even this positive is diluted by being confined to metal from before the middle 1990s, a period when the genre diverged and developed numerous new forms equally or more underground than beforehand.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | -2 votes (1 helpful | 3 unhelpful)
Rating:  
90/100
From 09/02/2018 08:24
Sweet Chart
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | -1 votes (0 helpful | 1 unhelpful)
Rating:  
90/100
From 07/02/2018 21:05
excellent chart, friend
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
90/100
From 07/02/2018 20:47
Fantastic chart, I love it!
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (1 helpful | 1 unhelpful)
Rating:  
80/100
From 07/02/2018 08:42
There are many great albums here but I feel little of your own personality or love of music comes through (something that the few well placed notes or a chart bio might help remedy). Only four of your 100 albums sit outside the overall BEA top 1000 and all but one are only ranked low because they are picks from artists who already have a number of entries in your chart. I don't mean to be rude when I say this but I feel like you are yet to carve out your own taste yet, try avoiding the classics and look off the beaten path - who knows you might find something you love that's a little different!!
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Best Artists of 1977
1. Fleetwood Mac
2. David Bowie
3. Pink Floyd
4. Television
5. Sex Pistols
6. Steely Dan
7. Billy Joel
8. Bob Marley & The Wailers
9. Bob Marley
10. The Clash
11. Iggy Pop
12. Kraftwerk
13. Wire
14. Ramones
15. Elvis Costello
16. Electric Light Orchestra
17. Talking Heads
18. Meat Loaf
19. Suicide
20. Fela Kuti
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