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.
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This chart is currently filtered to only show albums from the 1980s. (Remove this filter)
I don't remember the first time I listened to many of the albums I like, but I remember, IN VIVID DETAIL, putting my burned copy of Master of Puppets from a good friend in my CD player for the first time and being blown away by the lightning quick guitar, pounding drums, and huge and terrifying vocals. It scared me to death... and I couldn't stop listening to it. A Masterpiece. Pun intended this time.
This album changed my life. I would not have continued to be as passionate about playing drums without this record. Master of Puppets opened so many doors for me musically, and changed my perception of what "heavy" music was and what it could be. I finally realized heavy metal could be as beautiful, constructed, and genuine, if not more, than any other genre.
Is there a better album opener than Battery? The acoustic intro tricked me into thinking this was not what I was expecting and was an astounding intro to the blazingly fast and viscous guitar bass and drums that were to follow for the next 54 or so minutes. Lars Ulrich's drumming was as ferocious and pummeling as Hetfield's guitar and vocals were, fuck what you think.
This is Metallica at their otherworldly apex. This is heavy music at its pinnacle. This is the record I hold all other metal records up to in standard to this day some 10 (wow) years later.
Master of Puppets is a classic. Metallica were firing on cylinders, a lot of them, all of them and they were a band set on world domination and they fucking got it. For better or for worse. A genius album and such a deserving choice for our Top 100 albums on this beautiful site.
Favorite tracks: Battery, Master of Puppets, Disposable Heroes
Drummer: Lars Ulrich [First added to this chart: 03/21/2014]
"Wave after wave, will flow with the tide, and bury the world as it does. Tide after tide, will flow and recede leaving life to go on as it was."
"A simple kind mirror to reflect upon our own. All the busy little creatures chasing out their destinies. Living in their pools, they soon forget about the sea."
My favorite band and the most influential in terms of the progress of my musicianship. One of their most consistent works and I always just cycle the three Rush albums on this list as being my favorite by them.
On this one, as always the musicianship and chemistry between what are really prog rock's Three Amigos is top notch. Neil Peart’s drumming on this album is as smart, creative, dissonant, and mind-bendingly impactful as ever, and his lyricism is absolutely top notch on this album aside from the Geddy-penned Different Strings, a solid set of lyrics itself. The Spirit of Radio is one of the band’s finest moments, giving the listener a broad-scope borage of flipping through the radio stations while simultaneously maintaining a perfect line-through of a singular statement. Natural Science is a powerhouse and a high point in their career, as well as Freewill with one of the most consistently amazing and off-kilter solo sections in a rock song ever. After my third time seeing on (this time on the R40 tour) they broke out Jacob's Ladder and I loved every second. Speaking of which, if you didn't see the R40 tour and like Rush, you fucking missed out. Plain and simple.
Favorite tracks: Freewill, Jacob's Ladder, Natural Science.
Drummer: Neil Peart, one of the true heroes I’ve ever had in this life. Most certainly not a long-awaited friend, but absolutely a life-long inspiration. [First added to this chart: 10/03/2015]
A powerhouse. A staple in heavy music. An essential. A nearly flawless masterpiece. The first two and last two tracks alone make this a candidate for greatest metal album ever. If Bruce Dickinson's vocals were ever stronger and basically more perfect than on this one, I must not have the album.
Like so much of the first batch of Iron Maiden records, the playing and the music is phenomenal, but the vocals and lyrics are what make this a truly immersive album to delve in to, and one I never tire of returning to. Listen to the story telling on a song like Rime of the Ancient Mariner or the album's title track. Putting on this album is like opening a great book, and the book of Powerslave is one not just of song and scripture, but one of personal power. Magical memories surround this album so strongly for me that it's as if I'm a character in its story.
Favorite tracks: Aces High, Powerslave, Rime of the Ancient Mariner
Drummer: Nicko McBrain [First added to this chart: 10/03/2015]
Many argue what Prince's finest work is. There are a number of worthy choices, but mine has always been Purple Rain. It's a story, and I love stories.. as you can see by a number of choices on this chart. From beginning to end, this album almost has a Sgt Pepper type flow to it. Also, Prince really shows how great of a guitar player and composer he really is with this album. Take it in, everyone, take it in.
Updating this section a couple weeks after his death, I've realized just how great this record is. This album is truly a landmark in production, concept, and musicality. I've come to appreciate almost every moment of it including moments I wasn't so crazy about before such as Take Me With You and Baby I'm a Star. God damn it the man could write and play and sing and dance and be a fucking icon. Rest in Purple, Prince.
Favorite tracks: When Doves Cry, Darling Nikki, Purple Rain
Drummer: Bobby Z. [First added to this chart: 12/02/2014]
Peter Gabriel was a genius long before this album. Probably around the time that he dressed up in a red dress and fox head in Dublin, 1972 while fronting the legendary prog outfit, Genesis. 14 years and a band split later, this album merely cements his status as one of the most brilliant and interesting artists, composers, and multi-instrumentalists if the last 50 years.
'So' is such a tasteful blend of pop, rock, new wave, and world music, which is one of the album’s many strengths as far as it’s replay-ability and vitality as a classic album.
Even as drenched in 80’s culture and clamor as the album is, I only feel more connected to So as time goes on. There’s still so much fun to be had with these songs and so many generally marvelous moments across its runtime that I can’t help but officially call So an album that is aging well, not just a nostalgic 80’s favorite.
With lush arrangements ranging from glittery and billowy to murky and brooding, So is absolutely, and without a shadow of a doubt, one of the very best albums of the 1980’s.
Favorite tracks: Red Rain, Mercy Street, Sledgehammer
Drummer(s): Manu Katche', Jerry Moratta, Stewart Copeland, [First added to this chart: 12/02/2014]
This was the album that made me fall in love with Rush, and it was the first full Rush album I had ever heard. That alone is reason enough for me to feel Signals could be 20 spots higher on the list, but I digress.
It’s not just Subdivisions for me, although that track is phenomenal. The Analog Kid, with one of Alex Lifeson’s greatest solos, and the Digital Man, a career highlight as far as Geddy Lee’s bass tracks go, strike me each listen with their thought provoking lyrics and chemistry-soaked instrumentation. The Weapon features some of Neil Peart's most well composed and challenging drumming on record. Losing It offers some of his most moving and engaging lyrics to date.
Signals is, in a way, the Rush fan’s Rush album. While it isn’t a concept record in the way of a Tommy or The Wall, there is the theme of a life cycle running through the course of the album. The analog kid grows up to be a digital man and is eventually confronted with the worst clause in our binding contracts with the human condition, old age. With age comes perspective, both of bitterness and understanding.
It’s also pretty poignant commentary on where the band acknowledged themselves to be at the time of this record. Technology was taking over music, slowly but surely theirs as well. Rush went from a blues rock band playing their high school dances to arena packing synth/laser/pyro spectacle now with keyboards, electronic drums, and MTV at their disposal.
I think this album is entirely underrated, on this site or otherwise.... So much so that at one point it took me nearly 3 years to realize it wasn't on my fucking chart...
Favorite Tracks: The Analog Kid, The Weapon, Losing It
Drummer: Neil Peart [First added to this chart: 11/15/2016]
Chalk another one up for albums I've seen played live in it's entirety. And what a performance it was. First time seeing Rush and they play this record? Blame it on one of two things: plain ol' luck, or only being 16 at the time of them celebrating the album’s 30th anniversary.
For the album itself, I think most Rush fans can agree that it’s a masterpiece and along with Permanent Waves a phenomenal bridge from crazy prog and technical shit to the more synth oriented arrangements of the mid to late 80's.
Of course this is not just a great album, but a must have for any drummer. Some of the Professor's finest work on this one (who hasn't fucking air drummed to the Tom Sawyer solo?). As well as some of the group's finest writing and crafting. It's hard to beat the production on this one too as it is so sharp and gives all the sounds their own meticulous space. Moving Pictures is a MUST on headphones.
Favorite tracks: The Camera Eye, Limelight, YYZ
Drummer: Neil Peart [First added to this chart: 10/03/2015]
The first 5 Metallica albums changed my life, but as a musician no album more so than this one. I was into playing challenging shit, and at the time this album was a mountain of a challenge for me, a lot of which still is as I revisit it on drums from time to time. This is Metallica's proggiest effort and I love that. Despite that fact, it does not lose much aggression even though there is literally no low end in the mix. For some reason though, that gives this record a lot of character.. sorry bass players.
But yeah, you could certainly say Lars has been a huge influence on me.
Favorite tracks: Blackened, One, Dyers Eve
Drummer: Lars Ulrich [First added to this chart: 10/03/2015]
Easily Metallica's second best record. Certainly a huge step up in songwriting, production, and performance from the debut but in my opinion not as complete as the crown jewel, Master of Puppets. My history with this album goes back to the same time as when I got Master. A friend burned me both albums (still have them) on a couple blank discs and my music world changed forever. Every note of this album is burned into my memory. Heavy and intense but very fucking beautiful.
Favorite tracks: Ride the Lightning, Creeping Death, For Whom the Bell Tolls.
Drummer: Lars Ulrich [First added to this chart: 10/03/2015]
This record boasts elements and aesthetics that no other records do or ever will. There’s this tremendous balance of mantra and pop song, convention and experiment, darkness and more darkness.
Plainsong, the album’s opener, is unbelievably moving. Sometimes I’m literally overwhelmed by it to the point where I must take the headphones off. There’s something in Plainsong’s mix that is deep and gutteral in tone that underlies the song’s main features like a wave that comes to wash over everything. It stones me. And Robert Smith hasn’t even begun to sing.
Favorite tracks: Pictures Of You, Fascination Street, Disintegration [First added to this chart: 04/23/2020]
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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 Kind by Swans |
Leavers |
---|
Temple Of The Dog by Temple Of The Dog |
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums ratings
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
03/06/2024 20:43 | Moondance | 455 | 84/100 | |
05/02/2023 03:05 | ffudnebbuh | 653 | 91/100 | |
03/04/2023 19:28 | bobnickmad | 23 | 88/100 | |
01/30/2023 16:43 | Goliath | 348 | 86/100 | |
10/13/2022 20:00 | BLO | 27 | 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).
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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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nice variety
5 stars just for time and effort given to your chart. Some absolute beautiful albums in your Top 100.?
Great chart both on diversity and quality.
Great chart and really diggin the notes accompanying the albums. Trying to do more of this myself but failing miserably
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.
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
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!
Love it!
Great taste and like your writing , keep going
You put a lot of effort on this chart and you have a lot of really good picks. Really good chart!
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....
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