Top 22 Greatest Music Albums
by vinnid127 
My favorite albums change a lot but the top 5 usually stay the same. I'm constantly discovering and falling in love with new bands, albums, songs, styles and genres so never expect a cemented list. Also feel free to give me some recommendations, there can never be too much great music at hand.
PLEASE LEAVE ALBUM/BAND SUGGESTIONS. WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT.
- Chart updated: 03/17/2017 02:45
- (Created: 04/10/2013 16:15).
- Chart size: 22 albums.
There are 35 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 22 Greatest Music Albums has an average rating of 87 out of 100 (from 50 votes). Please log in or create an account to leave a comment or assign a rating.
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A masterpiece, a prominent insight into 21st century life, a soulful exploration of human emotion and isolation in a rapidly modernizing society, and a blatant attack on the so-called trust-worthy nature of political parties who claim to "represent the people". Eerily beautiful and arguably produced way ahead of it's time.
[First added to this chart: 04/10/2013]
[First added to this chart: 04/10/2013]
Year of Release:
1997
Appears in:
Rank Score:
59,003
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Available from
Listening to Marquee Moon is like sticking your head in the front door of CBGB's a copping a tidal wave of youth audacity and sidewalk philosophy. It's the soundtrack to that time in your early 20's, when you've just moved to a big city and finally read a Nietzsche book; do your first tab of acid and start your first bedroom project.
I can't for certain, but if the members of Television did do those things, then they perfected them.
Marquee Moon doesn't address a single thematice bulletpoint, but rather a range of things which underpin our proclivity for experience as young adults. It perfectly surmises the carelessness of our creative selves at an age where we have nothing to lose but everything to gain.
For Billy Ficca, Tom Verlaine, Richard Lloyd and Fred Smith the opportunity was there to cement their take on a burgeoning punk and new wave scene. What came of this was merely a collection of inner-monologues played over swirling guitar scales and an insatiable lust to reimagine the scene which fostered them.
I can't for certain, but if the members of Television did do those things, then they perfected them.
Marquee Moon doesn't address a single thematice bulletpoint, but rather a range of things which underpin our proclivity for experience as young adults. It perfectly surmises the carelessness of our creative selves at an age where we have nothing to lose but everything to gain.
For Billy Ficca, Tom Verlaine, Richard Lloyd and Fred Smith the opportunity was there to cement their take on a burgeoning punk and new wave scene. What came of this was merely a collection of inner-monologues played over swirling guitar scales and an insatiable lust to reimagine the scene which fostered them.
Year of Release:
1977
Appears in:
Rank Score:
18,506
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Available from
Unlike any album you're likely to hear (particularly if you were alive in 91' to hear it straight off the bat). The genre-defining record of Shoegaze in which the tenacious Irish group use healthy doses of reverb/delay pedals and barely comprehensible vocals to take you on a psychedelic trip-fest. Beautifully chaotic music.
[First added to this chart: 07/17/2013]
[First added to this chart: 07/17/2013]
Year of Release:
1991
Appears in:
Rank Score:
26,627
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Available from
A dirty, grimy, screechy reflection of New York in the 1980's (please don't compare it to Velvet Underground though). Brilliant instrumentation tied-in with tough vocals from Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon (in happier times for the two of course).
[First added to this chart: 05/18/2014]
Year of Release:
1988
Appears in:
Rank Score:
14,818
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"Whose world is this? It's mine, it's mine, it's mine."
Truly stands up to the never-ending acclaim i have been hearing about it since i joined this site. Nas (at the ripe young age of 20 when this record was released) sounds like a rapper and (more-so) an artist ready to take the world by storm and claim it. His flow is impeccable and his story-telling ability of life on the wrong side of Queen's Bridge NY is nothing short of immaculate.
Though the theme may trick one into perceiving this debut as yet another one-off gangsta-rap money-grabbing scheme, the music speaks for itself as a guidance (and a reminder) for individuals to never take advantage of what life-situations they may find themselves in and to keep working and striving for a purpose, because as Mr AZ puts it, "Life's a bitch and then you die, that's why..." well, you know the rest. [First added to this chart: 10/28/2013]
Truly stands up to the never-ending acclaim i have been hearing about it since i joined this site. Nas (at the ripe young age of 20 when this record was released) sounds like a rapper and (more-so) an artist ready to take the world by storm and claim it. His flow is impeccable and his story-telling ability of life on the wrong side of Queen's Bridge NY is nothing short of immaculate.
Though the theme may trick one into perceiving this debut as yet another one-off gangsta-rap money-grabbing scheme, the music speaks for itself as a guidance (and a reminder) for individuals to never take advantage of what life-situations they may find themselves in and to keep working and striving for a purpose, because as Mr AZ puts it, "Life's a bitch and then you die, that's why..." well, you know the rest. [First added to this chart: 10/28/2013]
Year of Release:
1994
Appears in:
Rank Score:
15,124
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Average Rating:
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Available from
There's something so beguiling about an underdog story. I mean, who would have thought four low-lives and a washed-up drummer would coalesce to create what was arguably the most revolutionary rock record of that decade. Pavement themselves certainly couldn't have forseen it.
But this is precisely the fun of the situation. The success was unmitigated, and even without the extensive legacy of Slanted & Enchanted, a perfect selection of noisey indie rock numbers and languod ballads would still remain.
Even when we think there is nothing "new" in rock music to experience, inspiration always strikes from the most unlikely of places. Namely, an unnamed room in Stockton CA, where five stoners (who society and their own local scene had already thrown in the dustbin) realised they actually DID have an idea. [First added to this chart: 07/17/2013]
But this is precisely the fun of the situation. The success was unmitigated, and even without the extensive legacy of Slanted & Enchanted, a perfect selection of noisey indie rock numbers and languod ballads would still remain.
Even when we think there is nothing "new" in rock music to experience, inspiration always strikes from the most unlikely of places. Namely, an unnamed room in Stockton CA, where five stoners (who society and their own local scene had already thrown in the dustbin) realised they actually DID have an idea. [First added to this chart: 07/17/2013]
Year of Release:
1992
Appears in:
Rank Score:
6,788
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Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Available from
What really attracts me to an album in the first place is my ability to connect and relate with what it is trying to tell me or what lessons it is trying to teach, Halcyon Digest is certainly one of those albums.
As the title would suggest Deerhunter's fifth full-length LP deals with the woes of anybody trying to adapt to the responsibilities and reality of aging and watching your halcyon days slowly drift past you as you feel you must now settle for a life of day-time television and early nights, but more importantly with your own mortality.
With tunes such as Sailing and Helicopter the album becomes a despairing fable of the lonliness that one may feel when adapting to the harsh aging process, yet riveting tunes such as the closer "He would've laughed" encourage us (the listener) to not fear mortality but to peacefully accept it and enjoy the remaining years of your life.
As melodramatic as it sounds Deerhunter hit the nail on the head with this one. [First added to this chart: 09/29/2013]
As the title would suggest Deerhunter's fifth full-length LP deals with the woes of anybody trying to adapt to the responsibilities and reality of aging and watching your halcyon days slowly drift past you as you feel you must now settle for a life of day-time television and early nights, but more importantly with your own mortality.
With tunes such as Sailing and Helicopter the album becomes a despairing fable of the lonliness that one may feel when adapting to the harsh aging process, yet riveting tunes such as the closer "He would've laughed" encourage us (the listener) to not fear mortality but to peacefully accept it and enjoy the remaining years of your life.
As melodramatic as it sounds Deerhunter hit the nail on the head with this one. [First added to this chart: 09/29/2013]
Year of Release:
2010
Appears in:
Rank Score:
5,637
Rank in 2010:
Rank in 2010s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Available from
If the pixies doesn't do it for you then you've lost me. To be honest I never understood the hype around this band or this album when i first heard it, yet for me I always keep having to come back to things, thankfully I did so with this little gem. Even though the 80's may only well be remembered for dancing zombies, flocks of seagulls and hair metal "Doolittle" is one little positive we can take from that confusing era.
As soon as the opening riff to Debaser plays you can feel that Black and Kim waste no time in introducing you to their world of dirty guitars, bleeding fingers, screeching (yet soft) vocals and the longing to just plain and simply rock the fuck out. Given Doolittle's utter simplicity in it's music and lyrics it is a wonder why it is so universally hailed, yet that is exactly what it tries to prove. Simple music= catchy music, catchy music= good music, good music= good times.
There's no need to be pretentious with this, as soon as the surfy riff of "Here comes your man" enters your ear canals stop being a douche and enjoy the bumpy ride known as Alternative Rock, driven humbly by Pixies. [First added to this chart: 10/28/2013]
As soon as the opening riff to Debaser plays you can feel that Black and Kim waste no time in introducing you to their world of dirty guitars, bleeding fingers, screeching (yet soft) vocals and the longing to just plain and simply rock the fuck out. Given Doolittle's utter simplicity in it's music and lyrics it is a wonder why it is so universally hailed, yet that is exactly what it tries to prove. Simple music= catchy music, catchy music= good music, good music= good times.
There's no need to be pretentious with this, as soon as the surfy riff of "Here comes your man" enters your ear canals stop being a douche and enjoy the bumpy ride known as Alternative Rock, driven humbly by Pixies. [First added to this chart: 10/28/2013]
Year of Release:
1989
Appears in:
Rank Score:
29,722
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Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Available from
Every song is incredibly beautiful and catchy and yet the music is so simple that even an amateur could play them. Not taking anything away, the record emphasizes free-spirits and curiosity and an all-together love for life which can only make you smile whilst losing yourself in the beautiful acoustic and wind instrumentation.
[First added to this chart: 05/17/2013]
[First added to this chart: 05/17/2013]
Year of Release:
1998
Appears in:
Rank Score:
29,619
Rank in 1998:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Available from
A gripping hip-hop record that can be just as fun as it can be disturbingly-personal. In his latest effort, Lamar showcases life caught between unruly behavior and antics influenced by the "MAAd City" of Compton" as well as gang culture, and dreams of making the most of one's own potential. Whilst tracks such as "Compton" and "Poetic Justice" place emphasis on g-funk and classic west-coast rap, the more intimate showcases of "Swimming Pools" and "Sing about me I'm dying of thirst" lean more towards more contemporary forms of meshing hip-hop with droning experimentation. No doubt the listen is dynamic and the flow is tight.
[First added to this chart: 10/14/2013]
Year of Release:
2012
Appears in:
Rank Score:
20,441
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Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 22. Page 1 of 3
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Top 22 Greatest Music Albums composition
| Decade | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1940s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1950s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1960s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1970s | 2 | 9% | |
| 1980s | 4 | 18% | |
| 1990s | 8 | 36% | |
| 2000s | 4 | 18% | |
| 2010s | 4 | 18% | |
| 2020s | 0 | 0% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| Pixies | 2 | 9% | |
| Radiohead | 2 | 9% | |
| Pavement | 1 | 5% | |
| Arcade Fire | 1 | 5% | |
| Deerhunter | 1 | 5% | |
| Pink Floyd | 1 | 5% | |
| The Notorious B.I.G. | 1 | 5% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 22 Greatest Music Albums chart changes
| Biggest climbers |
|---|
Up 4 from 9th to 5th |
Up 2 from 8th to 6th |
Up 1 from 23rd to 22nd |
| Biggest fallers |
|---|
Down 7 from 5th to 12th |
Down 5 from 2nd to 7th |
Down 3 from 6th to 9th |
| New entries |
|---|
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Top 22 Greatest Music Albums ratings
Average Rating = (n ÷ (n + m)) × av + (m ÷ (n + m)) × AVwhere:
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 3 ratings for this chart. | Show all 50 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ! | 03/25/2025 20:13 | DrewHamster | 314 | 79/100 |
| ! | 04/14/2023 20:27 | Johnnyo | 2,688 | 80/100 |
| ! | 02/17/2020 07:18 |  DommeDamian | 1,003 | 89/100 |
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 86.9/100, a mean average of 85.8/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 87.1/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 9.6.
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Top 22 Greatest Music Albums forum mentions
This chart has been referenced 1 time on the forums, Explore the wider forum discussion to see what members have said about it.
From 
BestEverAlbums 03/19/2015 08:00 in Chart of the day (#1248): By vinnid127
BestEverAlbums 03/19/2015 08:00 in Chart of the day (#1248): By vinnid127“Today's chart of the day Top 50 Greatest Music Albums by vinnid127 () 1. OK Computer by Radiohead (1997) 2. Halcyon Digest by Deerhunter (2010) 3. Loveless by My Bloody Valentine (1991) 4. In The Aeroplane Over The Sea by Neutral Milk Hotel (1998) 5. Daydream Nation by Sonic Youth (1988) 6.…”
(1 mentions across Chart of the Day topics)View latest topic →
Top 22 Greatest Music Albums comments
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From
C_Krug2009 04/03/2014 00:18 | #108347
C_Krug2009 04/03/2014 00:18 | #108347
Definitely respect your opinion on my chart. Completely fair. However, you apparently didn't read my disclaimer at the beginning of my chart: "This is a chart of my favorite albums, not what I think are the 'Greatest albums of all time' are. Music is an opinion, never forget that. Remember this is MY opinion, not yours :P
P.S.- NOT IN ORDER YET so that means rate based on the albums I included please NOT the rank, thank you :)
P.S.S. There is so much good music that it is literally almost impossible to rate them all because they all come so close when I do decide. Music is so beautiful…"
However in the top 3 or so, those are ranked as I intended. I truly love Showbiz and if I must defend it, Showbiz to me is important because Sunburn, Muscle Museum, Cave, Showbiz, Unintended, Uno, and Hate This and I'll Love You are some of the best songs I have ever heard and truly captivates me in love with the music. The rest of the album is still good though.
As for your chart, there are some decent picks
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From
JeffN999 03/15/2014 01:15 | #106300
Nice chart. Appreciate the comments about each album. Perhaps one day I will provide that level of commentary on my own charts. Be good to see you get clearance to expand this one when you get clearance for bigger charts and decade charts. Being an older guy who likes music from the 60s through to the 2010s, I'm very aware of the glaring ommissions pre-1990. Lot's of great selections here and a nice balance of genres in your chart (although I have not, and don't expect that I will ever, warm up to Panda Bear and Animal Collective and the rap and hip hop choices are never going to work for me). I can't argue with Radiohead, the Pixies, Nirvana, Arctic Monkeys and Pink Floyd. Nice chart.
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From
Antonio-Pedro TOP 100 COMMENTER 04/06/2014 13:18 | #108658
Antonio-Pedro TOP 100 COMMENTER 04/06/2014 13:18 | #108658
Really thanks for the kind words in my chart. I liked this so much, and also appreciate the comments. Great Chart
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From
JulianR TOP 100 COMMENTER 03/29/2018 23:52 | #211956
JulianR TOP 100 COMMENTER 03/29/2018 23:52 | #211956
One of the best charts with less than 25 entries I have seen so far. Keep up the good work! Here are a few albums I would recommend:
The Microphones - The Glow pt 2. Easily the best lo-fi band out there. Phil Elverum (the guy behind The Microphones, as well as his more recent and equally excellent band Mount Eerie) makes really unique and interesting music, that I think you could love.
Slint - Spiderland. Its a math rock album that makes the Pixies' version of the good old loud-quiet-loud formula seem quaint. It is definitely very challenging, but very rewarding as well.
Alison's Halo - Eyedazzler. A wondewrful shoegaze album from an almost unheardof band. It definiteyl isn't quite as noisy as Loveless, but its one of the few shoegaze albums I've found that feels really unique and interesting. On a side note, if you haven't listened to m b v, definitely give that one a listen or two or four.
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From
GandalfORiley345 03/25/2014 14:46 | #107465
GandalfORiley345 03/25/2014 14:46 | #107465
It isn´t the best chart but iti sn´t bad
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