Top 100 Greatest Music Albums
by 
sszwalbenest 
The top 15 albums are my essential, "God tier" albums, my only ones with 100 ratings.
- Chart updated: 05/30/2025 22:45
- (Created: 07/10/2013 05:14).
- Chart size: 100 albums.
There are 42 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 100 Greatest Music Albums has an average rating of 88 out of 100 (from 80 votes). Please log in or create an account to leave a comment or assign a rating.
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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]
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:
17,472
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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]
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:
8,192
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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]
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:
11,670
Rank in 1970:
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Available from
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]
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:
8,552
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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]
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:
38,500
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Available from
[First added to this chart: 07/10/2013]
Year of Release:
1977
Appears in:
Rank Score:
8,983
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Available from
[First added to this chart: 07/10/2013]
Year of Release:
1970
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,026
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Average Rating:
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Available from
[First added to this chart: 07/10/2013]
Year of Release:
1968
Appears in:
Rank Score:
5,786
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Comments:
Available from
[First added to this chart: 06/24/2021]
Year of Release:
1967
Appears in:
Rank Score:
886
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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]
"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]
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 | 24 | 24% | |
| 1980s | 7 | 7% | |
| 1990s | 13 | 13% | |
| 2000s | 12 | 12% | |
| 2010s | 12 | 12% | |
| 2020s | 7 | 7% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| Bob Dylan | 4 | 4% | |
| The Beatles | 3 | 3% | |
| Simon & Garfunkel | 3 | 3% | |
| Lana Del Rey | 3 | 3% | |
| Neil Young | 3 | 3% | |
| Fleet Foxes | 2 | 2% | |
| Joanna Newsom | 2 | 2% | |
| Show all | |||
| Country | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| |
64 | 64% | |
 |
17 | 17% | |
 |
8 | 8% | |
 |
7 | 7% | |
 |
1 | 1% | |
 |
1 | 1% | |
 |
1 | 1% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums chart changes
| Biggest climbers |
|---|
Up 1 from 85th to 84th |
| Biggest fallers |
|---|
Down 2 from 84th to 86th |
Down 1 from 86th to 87th |
Down 1 from 87th to 88th |
| New entries |
|---|
| Leavers |
|---|
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums similar charts
| Title | Source | Type | Published | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albums of the Year | sszwalbenest | Custom chart | 2024 | |
| Folk/Acoustic | sszwalbenest | Custom chart | 2021 | |
| Rock | sszwalbenest | Custom chart | 2021 | |
| Best Albums Outside the BEA Top 1,000 | sszwalbenest | Custom chart | 2021 | |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s | sszwalbenest | 1970s decade chart | 2025 | |
| Top 100 Greatest Music Albums | ConnorSziklasi | Overall chart | 2018 | |
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| RYM Average Rating | Imaybeparanoid | Custom chart | 2016 | |
| Top 100 Greatest Music Albums |  1234567890 | Overall chart | 2011 | |
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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 3 ratings for this chart. | Show all 80 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ! | 03/06/2025 13:31 | DrewHamster | 314 | 79/100 |
| ! | 02/25/2025 17:17 | BorderFreeAndrew | 118 | 82/100 |
| ! | 01/29/2025 12:43 |  SomethingSpecial | 1,089 | 86/100 |
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 86.6/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 88.4/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 14.5.
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums favourites
Showing all 9 members who have added this chart as a favourite
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums forum mentions
This chart has been referenced 14 times on the forums, Explore the wider forum discussion to see what members have said about it.
From 
BestEverAlbums 11/06/2025 09:00 in Chart of the day (#5124): By sszwalbenest
BestEverAlbums 11/06/2025 09:00 in Chart of the day (#5124): By sszwalbenest“Today's chart of the day Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by ) 1. Grace by Jeff Buckley (1994) 2. Ys by Joanna Newsom (2006) 3. Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon & Garfunkel (1970) 4. Five Leaves Left by Nick Drake (1969) 5. Kid A by Radiohead (2000) 6. Aja by Steely Dan (1977) 7. Tea For The…”
View forum post →From BestEverAlbums 02/25/2025 09:00 in Chart of the day (#4871): By sszwalbenest
BestEverAlbums 02/25/2025 09:00 in Chart of the day (#4871): By sszwalbenest“Today's chart of the day Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by sszwalbenest () 1. Grace by Jeff Buckley (1994) 2. Ys by Joanna Newsom (2006) 3. Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon & Garfunkel (1970) 4. Five Leaves Left by Nick Drake (1969) 5. Kid A by Radiohead (2000) 6. Aja by Steely Dan (1977) 7. Tea…”
View forum post →From BestEverAlbums 07/12/2024 08:00 in Chart of the day (#4643): By sszwalbenest
BestEverAlbums 07/12/2024 08:00 in Chart of the day (#4643): By sszwalbenest“Today's chart of the day Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by sszwalbenest () 1. Grace by Jeff Buckley (1994) 2. Ys by Joanna Newsom (2006) 3. Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon & Garfunkel (1970) 4. Five Leaves Left by Nick Drake (1969) 5. Kid A by Radiohead (2000) 6. Aja by Steely Dan (1977) 7. Tea…”
View forum post →Top 100 Greatest Music Albums comments
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From
Kalos 12/24/2015 19:58 | #155083
Kalos 12/24/2015 19:58 | #155083
Your chart has a good style (: I see it as a sort of "various ways of folk-songwriting" journey, from Dylan to Joanna Newsom, great personality (:
Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 2
From
PeterSmith 07/17/2021 12:42 | #271682
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
From
AwaitingAndrew 11/20/2016 06:59 | #178761
AwaitingAndrew 11/20/2016 06:59 | #178761
You get a 100/100 from me because your #1 is also in my opinion the greatest album of all-time. Grace is just incredible. That and the best Radiohead albums, Abbey Road, The Stranger, and Fleet Foxes are on here, all phenomenal.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 1
From
Moondance 11/15/2022 20:30 | #291302
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
From
Tamthebam TOP 100 COMMENTER 01/03/2024 16:07 | #300875
Tamthebam TOP 100 COMMENTER 01/03/2024 16:07 | #300875
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 (Edited)
Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 1
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