Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by panman36 
This is a completely subjective list. In it, I try to balance the impact each album had on my life, its longevity, and how I feel about it at this moment.
I've received a lot of comments about my list. Many have been surprisingly kind. Others have pointed out obvious flaws. I guess I'll offer sort of an apology. I'm old, I'm white, I'm male and my list very much reflects that. I barely listen to music anymore, so it hasn't changed much since I initially made it
With that said, it's an honest list and I try to offer some sort of explanation for my selections, especially those that may be considered unconventional, i.e. terrible
- Chart updated: 06/25/2024 18:15
- (Created: 01/26/2014 22:48).
- Chart size: 100 albums.
There are 36 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 100 Greatest Music Albums has an average rating of 83 out of 100 (from 66 votes). Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.
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I'm not that crazy about this as my number 1 choice. But Unfortunately, one of the downsides of making a greatest albums chart is having to pick a greatest album. While I don't strongly or proudly identify with this as #1, It kind of snuck up and grabbed the number 1 spot. It wanted it more than the other albums on my chart.
I'm not really clamoring to write a review here. Let's see... We all know what happened. Paul Simon, the whitest guy in music history found his career was 'Slip Slidin' Away". He discovers a vital but commercially untapped music industry in Africa that he can exploit. For the honor of working with such a white legend, or perhaps the offer of free cheeseburgers, these musicians line up to be fetishized. History is born.
who else has cited this as their favorite album of all time..... only Oprah Winfrey... one of the greatest entrepreneurs in history.... Take that music snobs! [First added to this chart: 01/26/2014]
I'm not really clamoring to write a review here. Let's see... We all know what happened. Paul Simon, the whitest guy in music history found his career was 'Slip Slidin' Away". He discovers a vital but commercially untapped music industry in Africa that he can exploit. For the honor of working with such a white legend, or perhaps the offer of free cheeseburgers, these musicians line up to be fetishized. History is born.
who else has cited this as their favorite album of all time..... only Oprah Winfrey... one of the greatest entrepreneurs in history.... Take that music snobs! [First added to this chart: 01/26/2014]
Year of Release:
1986
Appears in:
Rank Score:
11,168
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Average Rating:
Comments:
80
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Ever like a band so much that it makes you weird? For example... you hear their name come up in conversation and you don't even have anything to say, cuz your afraid it will sound weird to others? Or perhaps you finally meet some other super fans (supposedly) and feel no connection. They just don't appreciate the music like you do. An example of normal is hearing some band's rare or unreleased stuff and understanding why it was never put on an album. Weird is getting a giant boner when you hear some rare or unreleased stuff and having no idea why it never made it onto an album and why everyone doesn't get that.
Maybe I'm not as weird about Dave Matthews Band anymore, but still I have a hard time writing a review for this album. At some point getting into it I got weird and lost my better judgment and objectivity. Is the music even good? I'm not sure. I think so... I can't believe 18 years later I'm looking at this album at 700 or 800-something (I can't even count that high) on the overall album chart. I thought for sure it would be number 1 by now, or that it would be on a chart by its own. I don't know why I think that. my review is just to scoff at the people who don't get this album;-) You're not on my plain ;-) [First added to this chart: 01/26/2014]
Maybe I'm not as weird about Dave Matthews Band anymore, but still I have a hard time writing a review for this album. At some point getting into it I got weird and lost my better judgment and objectivity. Is the music even good? I'm not sure. I think so... I can't believe 18 years later I'm looking at this album at 700 or 800-something (I can't even count that high) on the overall album chart. I thought for sure it would be number 1 by now, or that it would be on a chart by its own. I don't know why I think that. my review is just to scoff at the people who don't get this album;-) You're not on my plain ;-) [First added to this chart: 01/26/2014]
Year of Release:
1994
Appears in:
Rank Score:
601
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As you will see, a lot of older music education I got from my dad. But for some reason he wasn't a big Dylan fan. He had "Blood on the Tracks" in his cd collection, which I did like, but that was it. Something prompted me in college to go to the library and check out Dylan's classic albums and I became a super fan. This wasn't love at first listen. In fact, the first time I listened to it, the only song I remember liking at all was "I Want You" because of that quirky infectious riff. Luckily, I gave it more listens, and suffice to say it grew on me and became my favorite Dylan album. This beats out Highway 61 Revisited simply because it's longer. Pound for pound they're about the same, but this has twice as much music, so it's better. Every other list has Highway 61 as his best, but they're all wrong.
[First added to this chart: 01/26/2014]
Year of Release:
1966
Appears in:
Rank Score:
26,184
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This is another album that transcends reviews. I don't even listen to this album but once every 10 years because it is so sacred. Sure it fizzles out after song 3, but who cares?! Wherever you live in the world, if you like this album, make the pilgrimage to the U.S. southwest. Give yourself a cool one word name for the trip and blast this album rolling into Joshua Tree National Park. You will like it more.
In the same vein, I recommend listening to Arcade Fire at a grandparents funeral and the rolling stones after eating something sticky.
Fun fact: The Joshua Tree is actually named after a guy named Joshua. [First added to this chart: 01/26/2014]
In the same vein, I recommend listening to Arcade Fire at a grandparents funeral and the rolling stones after eating something sticky.
Fun fact: The Joshua Tree is actually named after a guy named Joshua. [First added to this chart: 01/26/2014]
Year of Release:
1987
Appears in:
Rank Score:
19,110
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A lot of hate is directed at this band and I'll never understand why either. Dave is a great songwriter and i just have an affinity for the style of guitar he plays and riffs that drive a lot of the songs. "So much to say" and "lie in our Graves" are good examples of that.
I would point to say goodbye or possibly cry freedom as the best tracks of this album. Say Goodbye is awesome from beginning to end, and certainly peaks with the big crescendo at the end. Must be one of the exceptions to Dave's bad lyrics that trendall was talking about. An interesting topic for a love song. Often for me, even when Dave's lyrics aren't great, his passion can still be strongly felt. So in that way, I don't even think that he's a bad lyricist, although not much of a poet.
Cry freedom has amazing crescendos leading into the chorus, and a beautiful part I like toward the end where it seems like there should be a solo, but instead pretty much empty space with some accents from sax and violin. Great production there.
Without technical knowledge of the violin, I don't think the violinist is bad. In fact it's hard to imagine these early dmb albums without him. The solo in lie in our graves, is a good example of his work. Beautiful.
Other songs like "drive in drive out" and "tripping billies" just jam, and jam good
Again Dave's sort of perverse passion can be felt on "crash into me"... with some lovely guitar work as well. "Let you down" is shmaltzy but endearing.
And if you have the patience, proudest monkey is actually kind of pretty song. If not, you can just turn the album off after track 11, or fall asleep to that song. Something funky about it too as I've realized that I can't play this song in my head. Strange time signature
That about wraps it up I think...oh #41...a very pretty song. Again, lyrically "What is it?" But Dave's passion is somehow conveyed in this song. Great crescendos, and great instrumentals at the end, if you have the patience for a jam [First added to this chart: 01/26/2014]
I would point to say goodbye or possibly cry freedom as the best tracks of this album. Say Goodbye is awesome from beginning to end, and certainly peaks with the big crescendo at the end. Must be one of the exceptions to Dave's bad lyrics that trendall was talking about. An interesting topic for a love song. Often for me, even when Dave's lyrics aren't great, his passion can still be strongly felt. So in that way, I don't even think that he's a bad lyricist, although not much of a poet.
Cry freedom has amazing crescendos leading into the chorus, and a beautiful part I like toward the end where it seems like there should be a solo, but instead pretty much empty space with some accents from sax and violin. Great production there.
Without technical knowledge of the violin, I don't think the violinist is bad. In fact it's hard to imagine these early dmb albums without him. The solo in lie in our graves, is a good example of his work. Beautiful.
Other songs like "drive in drive out" and "tripping billies" just jam, and jam good
Again Dave's sort of perverse passion can be felt on "crash into me"... with some lovely guitar work as well. "Let you down" is shmaltzy but endearing.
And if you have the patience, proudest monkey is actually kind of pretty song. If not, you can just turn the album off after track 11, or fall asleep to that song. Something funky about it too as I've realized that I can't play this song in my head. Strange time signature
That about wraps it up I think...oh #41...a very pretty song. Again, lyrically "What is it?" But Dave's passion is somehow conveyed in this song. Great crescendos, and great instrumentals at the end, if you have the patience for a jam [First added to this chart: 01/26/2014]
Year of Release:
1996
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,008
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I sort of remember my dad telling me one day that this was a really good album and I should listen to it. I actually took his suggestion, which was somewhat of a surprise. But the real surprise was how much I liked it. I listened to it every day and became my favorite album (This was before I got into any current music like DMB). It prompted me to delve deeper into my dad's cd collection. I would find other albums I loved (See "Nothing Like The Sun") but nothing would top this
[First added to this chart: 01/26/2014]
Year of Release:
1975
Appears in:
Rank Score:
16,280
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I'm not sure if people are neglecting this album for technical reasons (it includes both live and previously released material). But this album opened up a whole new world of Bob Dylan for me. I would recommend it both to the uninitiated and to the seasoned Bob Dylan fan. It contains a perfect mix of old and new (as of 1986), live and recorded, released and unreleased, acoustic and full band, and has the ebb and flow of a truly great album.
*The Dylan classics that I already loved don't factor into the ranking here. It certainly wouldn't be fair for "Just Like a Woman" to boost both Blonde On Blonde and Biograph. However previously released songs such as "If Not For You" -- which I didn't already know, and appear on albums I don't appreciate that much -- do contribute to this albums ranking. That's how I handle it. [First added to this chart: 01/26/2014]
*The Dylan classics that I already loved don't factor into the ranking here. It certainly wouldn't be fair for "Just Like a Woman" to boost both Blonde On Blonde and Biograph. However previously released songs such as "If Not For You" -- which I didn't already know, and appear on albums I don't appreciate that much -- do contribute to this albums ranking. That's how I handle it. [First added to this chart: 01/26/2014]
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I finally decided that this should be my favorite Beatles. If I had the unfortunate predicament of having to chose only one Beatles album to listen to the rest of my life, I would chose this due to the quantity of music in this DOUBLE album. Don't make me chose a disc. They're both great!
[First added to this chart: 01/26/2014]
Year of Release:
1968
Appears in:
Rank Score:
39,673
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This is one of three Beatles albums that stand out a bit from the rest.
Lennon and McCartney are clearly not working much together. And though still flowing with song ideas, for the first time in their careers seem to be having trouble writing complete songs. Lyrically the album is a wreck.
I would credit George Martin for making the best-produced album of all time. The many fragments of songs in the second half are somehow put together to create a sonic masterpiece.
Big credit to George H. as well for delivering two of his greatest songs, and two of the best songs on the album. [First added to this chart: 01/26/2014]
Lennon and McCartney are clearly not working much together. And though still flowing with song ideas, for the first time in their careers seem to be having trouble writing complete songs. Lyrically the album is a wreck.
I would credit George Martin for making the best-produced album of all time. The many fragments of songs in the second half are somehow put together to create a sonic masterpiece.
Big credit to George H. as well for delivering two of his greatest songs, and two of the best songs on the album. [First added to this chart: 01/26/2014]
Year of Release:
1969
Appears in:
Rank Score:
60,834
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You might me wondering how old I actually am from all of my retro and old-timey picks. Maybe not as old as you think. I discovered this album going through my dad's cd collection when I was a kid (maybe 13-14). I wouldn't say it was love at first listen. But something made me come back to it. And it soon became a favorite. Why did I like it so much?? The harder question to answer is why doesn't everyone else like it so much?
What's funny is how hold this album seemed to me at the time. In 1995, obviously no kids I knew were listening to Sting. It might has well have been something from the Baroque period.
In fact, the album was 8 years old. Now if I'm listening to something that's 8 years old, that's like a hot new artist. Funny how your perspective changes with time. [First added to this chart: 01/26/2014]
What's funny is how hold this album seemed to me at the time. In 1995, obviously no kids I knew were listening to Sting. It might has well have been something from the Baroque period.
In fact, the album was 8 years old. Now if I'm listening to something that's 8 years old, that's like a hot new artist. Funny how your perspective changes with time. [First added to this chart: 01/26/2014]
Year of Release:
1987
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,412
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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 | 16 | 16% | |
| 1970s | 13 | 13% | |
| 1980s | 18 | 18% | |
| 1990s | 26 | 26% | |
| 2000s | 21 | 21% | |
| 2010s | 5 | 5% | |
| 2020s | 1 | 1% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
 |
|
|
| The Beatles | 13 | 13% | |
| Bob Dylan | 12 | 12% | |
| Dave Matthews Band | 9 | 9% | |
| Bruce Springsteen | 6 | 6% | |
| Vampire Weekend | 5 | 5% | |
| Paul Simon | 5 | 5% | |
| Arcade Fire | 4 | 4% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums chart changes
| Biggest climbers |
|---|
| Up 4 from 31st to 27th The Dream Of The Blue Turtles by Sting |
| Up 4 from 13th to 9th Abbey Road by The Beatles |
| Up 3 from 58th to 55th Let It Be by The Beatles |
| Biggest fallers |
|---|
| Down 3 from 27th to 30th Acadie by Daniel Lanois |
| Down 2 from 26th to 28th The Bends by Radiohead |
| Down 2 from 32nd to 34th Some Devil by Dave Matthews |
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums ratings
83/100 (from 66 votes)
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 66 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
85/100  | 03/30/2025 20:16 | Moondance | | 85/100 |
90/100 | 03/30/2025 18:39 | BorderFreeAndrew | | 80/100 |
90/100 | 03/30/2025 09:50 | SomethingSpecial | | 85/100 |
 80/100 | 09/05/2024 09:59 |  Tamthebam | | 85/100 |
| 85/100 | 05/17/2023 18:54 | chavaloricardin | | 83/100 |
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 82.5/100, a mean average of 80.7/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 82.0/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 15.2.
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85/100
From chavaloricardin 05/17/2023 18:54
Good chart, your appreciation for Dylan is very noticeable, don't get me wrong, everything is fine with that... I don't know the albums in the first two positions but I will listen to them. i love your notes.
Buen chart, se nota mucho tu aprecio por Dylan, no me malinterpretes, todo está bien con eso... No conozco los discos de las dos primeras posiciones pero los escucharé. Me encantaron tus notas.
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85/100
From Johnnyo 05/26/2021 08:31
Very personal chart and i love the time and effort that has gone into the commentary. OK, so it's not the most adventurous chart but it's personal, it's yours and you're not trying to impress anyone by picking obscure albums just for the sake of it. Respect this chart a lot
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +3 votes (3 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
60/100
From 
Oselju 03/09/2020 10:57
Oselju 03/09/2020 10:57
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Helpful? (Log in to vote) | -3 votes (1 helpful | 4 unhelpful)
80/100
From PeterSmith 07/21/2018 15:28
Man you made me laugh. Love the comments and what's going on with you. Never heard of Dave Matthews Band but giving them a listen and digging their stuff - remind me a bit of John Martyn if you know him, but defo more upbeat.
Have to listened to Neutral Milk Hotel? Recommend Aeroplane Over The Sea - it has such tortured delivery I think you might appreciate
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From xXhermitXx 02/28/2018 03:30
Although i don't agree with a lot of the album choices, the reviews put into each album were worth the read and made an interesting chart overall
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
95/100
From 
CharlieBarley 02/28/2018 01:16
CharlieBarley 02/28/2018 01:16
Beatles. Dylan. Sting. Radiohead. U2. Paul Simon. Arcade Fire.
All artists I like a great deal. Good number one and some honest and witty notes. I was brought up Christian too and heavy metal and the film Life of Brian were frowned upon. I then grew to love Black Sabbath and some hard rock bands like Led Zep. I am a big fan of the Beatles and Dylan too but I don't have as many albums by them in my chart. I created further charts to put them all in. But sometimes I think I should make a more honest from-the-gut chart. There would be loads more Beatles Dylan and Pink Floyd in there.
Anyway a great chart and good notes.
BTW I don't know Dave Matthews Band. Will have to check them out.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
85/100
From 
Boltzmann 02/27/2018 22:46
Boltzmann 02/27/2018 22:46
I love the commentary, and what you have with Dave Matthews Band sounds really relatable. I'm listening to some of their songs now, I have to say: although their sound is not really my cup of tea, I can feel the genuine creativity that beams from it; often when bands mix genres, it sounds like a mess. Thanks for that, it's not often people recommend me something I actually end up liking.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
100/100
From Ulf 02/27/2018 19:47
Very nice and i like the honesty of picking the nostalgic stuff.
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80/100
From Thad 02/27/2018 16:01
I mean you make it clear from the beginning that this chart wasn't supposed to consist of a huge variety so I'm not gonna rag on you for that. Graceland is an amazing album, and for a chart that doesn't share a lot of similarities with mine its cool we both love that album.
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65/100
From SamNassiri98 02/27/2018 11:47
I mean I love Paul Simon a lot too but this is too much of a clichéd and close minded chart... Try some new artist or genres!
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