Top 100 Greatest Music Albums
by henrygreen0203 
100 artists, 100 albums released between the 1950s-2020s. I unashamedly love the music of American "hillbillies" playing rock music (the literal meaning of "rockabilly") but I also like singer-songwriter country-folk, power-pop, alternative rock and alternative R&B.
I include my ratings and my recommendations.
I hope you discover something here that you never dreamed you would enjoy!
- Chart updated: 11/08/2025 00:15
- (Created: 04/26/2013 16:15).
- Chart size: 100 albums.
There are 43 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 100 Greatest Music Albums has an average rating of 87 out of 100 (from 69 votes). Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.
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This chart is currently filtered to only show albums from the 1990s. (Remove this filter)
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A really special album from the turn of the century. This record hits deeply with several hard hitting thoughtful songs with a few decent ballads that aren't drawn out too long.
ESSENTIAL
3 ALBUM RUN:
Something to Write Home About
On a Wire
Guilt Show [First added to this chart: 08/06/2021]
ESSENTIAL
3 ALBUM RUN:
Something to Write Home About
On a Wire
Guilt Show [First added to this chart: 08/06/2021]
Buy album
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Alan Jackson was a staple of turn of the century commercial country music. Great retro vibe and rarely overproduced.
RECOMMENDED [First added to this chart: 05/07/2024]
RECOMMENDED [First added to this chart: 05/07/2024]
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GENRE: Heartland Rock / Contemporary Country
Carpenter was the most commercially successful "great credibility scare" artist. She took her coffehouse-meets-dance hall sound to the top with this hit album, with enough hit singles to rival Garth Brooks' massive No Fences album. And after the hits, there are several mud-tempo tracks and ballads that are just stellar.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Condensed to a 7" Single:
A-Side: I Take My Chances
B-Side: Only a Dream
FURTHER LISTENING: Stones in the Road, Time Sex Love [First added to this chart: 04/14/2021]
Carpenter was the most commercially successful "great credibility scare" artist. She took her coffehouse-meets-dance hall sound to the top with this hit album, with enough hit singles to rival Garth Brooks' massive No Fences album. And after the hits, there are several mud-tempo tracks and ballads that are just stellar.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Condensed to a 7" Single:
A-Side: I Take My Chances
B-Side: Only a Dream
FURTHER LISTENING: Stones in the Road, Time Sex Love [First added to this chart: 04/14/2021]
Buy album
- #Sponsored
[First added to this chart: 12/28/2015]
Year of Release:
1995
Appears in:
Rank Score:
17,568
Rank in 1995:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
[First added to this chart: 02/26/2017]
Year of Release:
1993
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,610
Rank in 1993:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
[First added to this chart: 09/13/2013]
Year of Release:
1994
Appears in:
Rank Score:
16,417
Rank in 1994:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
GENRE: Country Rock / Folk Rock
Before parting ways to form Son Volt and Wilco, Uncle Tupelo put out their major label debut, which would also be their swan song. The music is mostly live and plays on various folk influences, but there is an especially nice blend of Texas country-folk, with standby Lloyd Maines on pedal steel, and as post-hardcore influences that slide more into Neil Young & Crazy Horse territory. The songwriting is top notch.
ESSENTIAL
JEFF TWEEDY: New Madrid
JAY FARRAR: Anodyne
FURTHER LISTENING: Still Feel Gone [First added to this chart: 10/14/2013]
Before parting ways to form Son Volt and Wilco, Uncle Tupelo put out their major label debut, which would also be their swan song. The music is mostly live and plays on various folk influences, but there is an especially nice blend of Texas country-folk, with standby Lloyd Maines on pedal steel, and as post-hardcore influences that slide more into Neil Young & Crazy Horse territory. The songwriting is top notch.
ESSENTIAL
JEFF TWEEDY: New Madrid
JAY FARRAR: Anodyne
FURTHER LISTENING: Still Feel Gone [First added to this chart: 10/14/2013]
Year of Release:
1993
Appears in:
Rank Score:
791
Rank in 1993:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
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A fantastic international album, with at least three languages spoken.
Track: Desaparecido [First added to this chart: 06/21/2023]
Track: Desaparecido [First added to this chart: 06/21/2023]
Year of Release:
1998
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,014
Rank in 1998:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
GENRE: Alternative Rock
Buffalo NY's Goo Goo Dolls were a rough alternative group before they hit it big on this Rob Cavallo-produced record. It has its moments, and I like the balance between ragged rock and adult contemporary.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
JOHN RZEZNIK: Iris
ROBBY TAKAC: Amigone
3 ALBUM RUN:
Superstar Car Wash
A Boy Named Goo
Dizzy Up the Girl [First added to this chart: 05/09/2022]
Buffalo NY's Goo Goo Dolls were a rough alternative group before they hit it big on this Rob Cavallo-produced record. It has its moments, and I like the balance between ragged rock and adult contemporary.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
JOHN RZEZNIK: Iris
ROBBY TAKAC: Amigone
3 ALBUM RUN:
Superstar Car Wash
A Boy Named Goo
Dizzy Up the Girl [First added to this chart: 05/09/2022]
Year of Release:
1998
Appears in:
Rank Score:
749
Rank in 1998:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
[First added to this chart: 08/30/2016]
Year of Release:
1995
Appears in:
Rank Score:
5,190
Rank in 1995:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 14. Page 1 of 2
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums composition
| Decade | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1940s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1950s | 5 | 5% | |
| 1960s | 14 | 14% | |
| 1970s | 14 | 14% | |
| 1980s | 14 | 14% | |
| 1990s | 14 | 14% | |
| 2000s | 13 | 13% | |
| 2010s | 13 | 13% | |
| 2020s | 13 | 13% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| The Smiths | 1 | 1% | |
| Lucinda Williams | 1 | 1% | |
| Gal Costa | 1 | 1% | |
| The Beach Boys | 1 | 1% | |
| Manu Chao | 1 | 1% | |
| Hüsker Dü | 1 | 1% | |
| Ray Price | 1 | 1% | |
| Show all | |||
| Country | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| |
65 | 65% | |
 |
18 | 18% | |
 |
4 | 4% | |
 |
4 | 4% | |
 |
2 | 2% | |
 |
1 | 1% | |
 |
1 | 1% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums chart changes
| New entries |
|---|
| The Sound A Body Makes When It’s Still by Hot Mulligan |
| Leavers |
|---|
| Why Would I Watch by Hot Mulligan |
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Top 100 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 5 ratings for this chart. | Show all 69 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ! | 03/31/2025 12:55 |  SomethingSpecial | 1,105 | 85/100 |
| ! | 12/24/2024 21:47 | Exist-en-ciel | 125 | 99/100 |
| ! | 06/09/2023 15:56 |  Applerill | 974 | 75/100 |
| ! | 11/16/2022 00:40 |  Arthurknight | 382 | 89/100 |
| ! | 11/15/2022 04:32 | Mmorrison22 | 3 | 77/100 |
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 18% of all charts on BestEverAlbums.com. This chart has a Bayesian average rating of 87.2/100, a mean average of 86.2/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 87.4/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 14.2.
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums favourites
Showing all 2 members who have added this chart as a favourite
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums comments
Showing latest 10 comments | Show all 43 comments |
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From Johnnyo 12/24/2023 14:42 | #300641
Like the chart a lot. Just out of interest, was the 12 or 13 per decade deliberate or a happy coincidence?
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From Arthurknight 11/16/2022 00:40 | #291310
Arthurknight 11/16/2022 00:40 | #291310
really nice unapologetic taste; nice to be reminded about nanci griffith too
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From Mmorrison22 11/15/2022 04:32 | #291286
lot's of stuff I haven't heard of - love the inclusion of Meat Puppets & Rina Sawayama!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From leniad 07/18/2022 04:41 | #287562
changing my opinion, interesting chart !!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
Goliath 07/04/2021 14:52 | #271321
Goliath 07/04/2021 14:52 | #271321
There are non-US artists as well, just saying.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +3 votes (3 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
Jbalbinolr 05/02/2021 23:11 | #269253
Jbalbinolr 05/02/2021 23:11 | #269253
Don't know many of the albums in here, this'be a tough one to visit, pretty eclectic indeed.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From Johnnyo 03/28/2020 09:52 | #249187
Excellent chart
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
salahshoori 01/24/2020 10:47 | #247132
salahshoori 01/24/2020 10:47 | #247132
Great chart! There's lots of albums that I have to check from your chart, and isn't that the goal of sharing our taste?
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From pctrooper 09/24/2019 00:52 | #242987
Certainly quite an original chart. Nice stuff.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
Paule 05/03/2019 20:54 | #235816
Paule 05/03/2019 20:54 | #235816
Good chart idea! Even though I am personally not that into americana, some solid albums can be found here.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
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