Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by 
AAL2014 
Thanks for checking out my chart! BEA is a godsend of a website for me and has been for close to a decade now. I’ve spent countless hours of my free time here organizing my thoughts and checking out music that’s new to me. Very much in the same way listening to albums is respite for me, ranking them and arranging my thoughts is just the same.
Here you'll find some of that taking shape. My Top 100 will always be a work in progress, as I imagine anyone's would. But here's a couple things you'll find with my chart in particular:
---- My favorite (or thereabouts) lyric from each non-instrumental album.
----Being a drummer for going on 15 years, here you'll find the drummer(s) who played on each of my top 100 records to give a some due credit or to shoutout a hero.
—— As of 7/9/22, I am no longer enforcing 1 entry per artist in the top 25. I want the albums I love the most to be represented the way that accurately depicts what they’ve meant in my life.
Hope you enjoy. Let me know of any thoughts or if you have any recommendations for me in the comments. I’d love to hear them!
CHART OF THE DAY- 8/9/18, 5/10/21, 3/1/22, 10/13/22, 5/1/23
- Chart updated: 03/18/2024 05:15
- (Created: 03/18/2014 17:15).
- Chart size: 100 albums.
There are 49 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 100 Greatest Music Albums has an average rating of 90 out of 100 (from 83 votes). Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.
View the complete list of 53,000 charts on BestEverAlbums.com from The Charts page.
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So incredibly close to being the greatest Hendrix record. The first half starts off on an unreal stretch of songs and ends the same way. I think the jam-ey part goes on a bit too long, but it makes for a great listening experience. Certainly Jimi's heaviest shit ever. And I would vote this for best record of 1968 without a moment's hesitation. It's well worth mentioning that Jimi wasn't the only one who mattered on these albums, Mitch Mitchell was a jazzy powerhouse.
Favorite tracks: Voodoo Child, Voodoo Chile, All Along the Watchtower
Drummer: Mitch Mitchell [First added to this chart: 10/04/2015]
Favorite tracks: Voodoo Child, Voodoo Chile, All Along the Watchtower
Drummer: Mitch Mitchell [First added to this chart: 10/04/2015]
Year of Release:
1968
Appears in:
Rank Score:
18,720
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Comments:
108
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Year of Release:
2014
Appears in:
Rank Score:
7,129
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Ah Um is jazz near its most enthusiastic and spirited while not compromising one iota musically. Per usual, Mingus’s composition and arranging here is stellar. You can probably say this about a lot of his work, but especially given when this album was released, Ah Um sounds and feels well ahead of its time even if it’s not Chuck’s most outlandish project.
Favorite Tracks: Better Git It In Your Soul, Boogie Stop Shuffle, Self-Portrait in Three Colors [First added to this chart: 06/16/2016]
Favorite Tracks: Better Git It In Your Soul, Boogie Stop Shuffle, Self-Portrait in Three Colors [First added to this chart: 06/16/2016]
Year of Release:
1959
Appears in:
Rank Score:
7,417
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Ah yes, Slim's crowning achievement. As offensive, off-putting, and down right vile at times as it may be. As with any Eminem album, his flow is unreal 90% of the time. His word play is ridiculous to paraphrase Kendrick Lamar. This record was in the middle of a stretch of rap classics and I believe it is the best.
Stan is a supreme narrative, Remember Me is a fucking juggernaut of aggression from Em, RBX, and Sticky Fingaz, and I'm Back has lyrics that can make me question if he actually said what I thought he did, even on repeat listens.
The MMLP has its faults for sure, he's a 26 year old talking about school and his mom a little too much. Through that, there's too much greatness here to be scoffed at.
Favorite Tracks: Kill You, Remember Me?, I'm Back [First added to this chart: 06/05/2017]
Stan is a supreme narrative, Remember Me is a fucking juggernaut of aggression from Em, RBX, and Sticky Fingaz, and I'm Back has lyrics that can make me question if he actually said what I thought he did, even on repeat listens.
The MMLP has its faults for sure, he's a 26 year old talking about school and his mom a little too much. Through that, there's too much greatness here to be scoffed at.
Favorite Tracks: Kill You, Remember Me?, I'm Back [First added to this chart: 06/05/2017]
Year of Release:
2000
Appears in:
Rank Score:
6,190
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[First added to this chart: 07/09/2022]
Year of Release:
1996
Appears in:
Rank Score:
5,352
Rank in 1996:
Rank in 1990s:
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Average Rating:
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“Buying lies and stealing jokes and laughing every time I choke, biding all the time you took. Now I know why you’ve been taken.”
Power. Fucking power man. This album gave me chills when I first discovered it and much of it still does, the rest still doesn't fail to put a smile on my face. A very popular record among my friends, we would take part in certain unspeakable extracurricular activities and sit in awe of Chris Cornell's howl. Slaves and Bulldozers is one of the best songs ever, and one of the best vocal performances ever. The first four songs on this album are as strong as any. As serious as this record is, there isn't any doubt the charm and humor of Soundgarden is still there.
Favorite tracks: Slaves and Bulldozers, Holy Water, Rusty Cage
Drummer: Matt Cameron [First added to this chart: 10/23/2015]
Power. Fucking power man. This album gave me chills when I first discovered it and much of it still does, the rest still doesn't fail to put a smile on my face. A very popular record among my friends, we would take part in certain unspeakable extracurricular activities and sit in awe of Chris Cornell's howl. Slaves and Bulldozers is one of the best songs ever, and one of the best vocal performances ever. The first four songs on this album are as strong as any. As serious as this record is, there isn't any doubt the charm and humor of Soundgarden is still there.
Favorite tracks: Slaves and Bulldozers, Holy Water, Rusty Cage
Drummer: Matt Cameron [First added to this chart: 10/23/2015]
Year of Release:
1991
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,839
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Rank in 1990s:
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Average Rating:
Comments:
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The most complete Incubus listen yet for me. My bandmate and very good friend turned me on to this album with me not knowing it existed, only hearing Incubus' hits through the 2000's. SCIENCE is a record that grooves, has soul, can be heavy as fuck one minute and then beautifully melodic the next, but maintains an impeccable erratic balance throughout. I think Summer Romance is pretty flawless.
This has been a mainstay in my listening the past couple of years, the dynamics are off the charts and it's been an influence on my drumming. Jose is a bad mofo.
Favorite Tracks: Summer Romance (Anti-Gravity Love Song), Redefine, Nebula
Drummer: Jose Pasillas [First added to this chart: 06/05/2017]
This has been a mainstay in my listening the past couple of years, the dynamics are off the charts and it's been an influence on my drumming. Jose is a bad mofo.
Favorite Tracks: Summer Romance (Anti-Gravity Love Song), Redefine, Nebula
Drummer: Jose Pasillas [First added to this chart: 06/05/2017]
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[First added to this chart: 07/09/2022]
Year of Release:
1971
Appears in:
Rank Score:
10,204
Rank in 1971:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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“I’ve got one chance left in a nine live cat, I’ve got dog eat dog sly smile. I’ve got a Molotov cocktail with a match to go, I smoke my cigarette with style.”
As a young lad (just about a decade ago) this was a go-to album for me, no doubt. I haven't played it as much in the past few years, but whenever I do, I feel the magic (that angst) that I felt in my early to mid teens when I first heard it.
Appetite for Destruction has to be here if I’m trying to paint a picture of the albums that have had the greatest impact on me. And for an album that rarely gets any real praise past the 3 massive singles, some of the deep cuts here are absolutely sensational examples of hard rock that can capitalize on the sound of either vengeful spite or hook-laden melodism.
Favorite tracks: Mr. Brownstone, My Michelle, Sweet Child O' Mine
Drummer: Steven Adler [First added to this chart: 12/04/2014]
As a young lad (just about a decade ago) this was a go-to album for me, no doubt. I haven't played it as much in the past few years, but whenever I do, I feel the magic (that angst) that I felt in my early to mid teens when I first heard it.
Appetite for Destruction has to be here if I’m trying to paint a picture of the albums that have had the greatest impact on me. And for an album that rarely gets any real praise past the 3 massive singles, some of the deep cuts here are absolutely sensational examples of hard rock that can capitalize on the sound of either vengeful spite or hook-laden melodism.
Favorite tracks: Mr. Brownstone, My Michelle, Sweet Child O' Mine
Drummer: Steven Adler [First added to this chart: 12/04/2014]
Year of Release:
1987
Appears in:
Rank Score:
12,226
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Rank in 1980s:
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"Love myself better than you. I know it's wrong, so what should I do?"
Maybe the most controversial album of the day in BEA's history, but it is still a favorite of mine. It is just so god damn good. No matter if it just a punk rock record or not, it's just note-worthily good. Barring all historical impact, song for song it is pretty close to a masterpiece. Everyone talks about Kurt's great songwriting and so on, but the instant chemistry between Dave Grohl and Krist Novaselic is worth mentioning to put it lightly. Some really great drum and bass parts here.
Favorite tracks: In Bloom, Come As You Are, Lounge Act
Drummer: Dave Grohl [First added to this chart: 10/04/2015]
Maybe the most controversial album of the day in BEA's history, but it is still a favorite of mine. It is just so god damn good. No matter if it just a punk rock record or not, it's just note-worthily good. Barring all historical impact, song for song it is pretty close to a masterpiece. Everyone talks about Kurt's great songwriting and so on, but the instant chemistry between Dave Grohl and Krist Novaselic is worth mentioning to put it lightly. Some really great drum and bass parts here.
Favorite tracks: In Bloom, Come As You Are, Lounge Act
Drummer: Dave Grohl [First added to this chart: 10/04/2015]
Year of Release:
1991
Appears in:
Rank Score:
41,998
Rank in 1991:
Rank in 1990s:
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Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 100. Page 9 of 10
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums composition
| Decade | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|
|
| 1930s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1940s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1950s | 1 | 1% | |
| 1960s | 10 | 10% | |
| 1970s | 34 | 34% | |
| 1980s | 13 | 13% | |
| 1990s | 21 | 21% | |
| 2000s | 13 | 13% | |
| 2010s | 6 | 6% | |
| 2020s | 2 | 2% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
 |
|
|
| Rush | 4 | 4% | |
| Tool | 3 | 3% | |
| Genesis | 3 | 3% | |
| Stevie Wonder | 3 | 3% | |
| David Bowie | 3 | 3% | |
| The Beatles | 3 | 3% | |
| Metallica | 3 | 3% | |
| Show all | |||
| Country | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
58 | 58% | |
 |
28 | 28% | |
 |
6 | 6% | |
 |
3 | 3% | |
 |
2 | 2% | |
 |
1 | 1% | |
 |
1 | 1% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums chart changes
| Biggest climbers |
|---|
| Up 7 from 97th to 90th Nevermind by Nirvana |
| Up 7 from 88th to 81st Electric Ladyland by The Jimi Hendrix Experience |
| Up 3 from 83rd to 80th Hounds Of Love by Kate Bush |
| Biggest fallers |
|---|
| Down 5 from 86th to 91st White Pony by Deftones |
| Down 3 from 80th to 83rd Mingus Ah Um by Charles Mingus |
| Down 3 from 81st to 84th The Marshall Mathers LP by Eminem |
| New entries |
|---|
 To Be Kindby Swans |
| Leavers |
|---|
 Temple Of The Dogby Temple Of The Dog |
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums ratings
90/100 (from 83 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 83 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 90/100  | 03/06/2024 20:43 | Moondance | | 84/100 |
| 90/100 | 05/02/2023 03:05 |  ffudnebbuh | | 91/100 |
| 100/100 | 03/04/2023 19:28 | bobnickmad | | 88/100 |
| 90/100 | 01/30/2023 16:43 |  Goliath | | 86/100 |
| 100/100 | 10/13/2022 20:00 | BLO | | 91/100 |
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 2% of all charts on BestEverAlbums.com. This chart has a Bayesian average rating of 90.3/100, a mean average of 90.8/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 90.8/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 7.4.
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums comments
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90/100
From ffudnebbuh 05/02/2023 03:05
ffudnebbuh 05/02/2023 03:05
nice variety
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
95/100
From BraddlesHendo 05/01/2023 12:32
5 stars just for time and effort given to your chart. Some absolute beautiful albums in your Top 100.?
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
100/100
From bobnickmad 03/04/2023 19:28
Great chart both on diversity and quality.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
90/100
From Johnnyo 10/13/2022 16:55
Great chart and really diggin the notes accompanying the albums. Trying to do more of this myself but failing miserably
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
90/100
From Moondance 10/13/2022 09:12
Fascinating chart. Enjoyed the intro & album commentary ~ and appreciate the effort required to put the chart together. The chart is far too US-centric for my tastes - but I respect your choices, however they fall. Interestingly, you have Born To Run at #2 & I have it at #3; and the line you quote from the album is also my favourite line ~ so we have that and another 9 albums in common.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
100/100
From leniad 07/10/2022 01:29
i have to give your chart a 100, excellent albums you choose, steview wonder along with prince and bowie are for me top 3 solo artists ever, if you count jazz then is bowie, miles davis, stevie and prince
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
100/100
From KineticEchoes02 07/06/2022 07:43
Hey man, I've come back to your chart - somehow on a first glance I gave it a 95, but it easily deserves a 100. This is the best chart I have read. Love your work - many similar tastes to mine, and the descriptions and stories within are awesome. From a bass player to a drummer - rock on dude!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
100/100
From leniad 03/01/2022 12:05
Love it!
Great taste and like your writing , keep going
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
100/100
From 
Larcx13 11/22/2020 01:30
Larcx13 11/22/2020 01:30
You put a lot of effort on this chart and you have a lot of really good picks. Really good chart!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From AAL2014 11/02/2020 13:10
AAL2014 11/02/2020 13:10
11/2/2020
The chart is yet again in transition mode (as always, but now moreso than in a while). Been taking in a lot of music new to me, a lot of music that I'm loving and resonating with. The chart will slowly but surely show that and the specific examples of what I'm talking about.
Just wanted to reach out to everybody who has given me high scores recently, it's always cool to see that every once in a while. However, there's more additions to include, more rearranging to be done, and much better descriptions. I've been feeling very motivated recently.
And look at that.. only 435 chart versions in....
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
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A lot of hard work happens in the background to keep BEA running, and it's especially difficult to do this when we can't pay our hosting fees :(
We work very hard to ensure our site is as fast (and FREE!) as possible, and we respect your privacy.