Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by 
Repo 
- Chart updated: 07/14/2023 11:15
- (Created: 06/17/2014 23:52).
- Chart size: 100 albums.
There are 51 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 100 Greatest Music Albums has an average rating of 95 out of 100 (from 72 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.
Buy album
- #Sponsored
It’s the Riffs, Stupid!
You could point to any number of reasons why this album was such a success. The album that instantly transformed them into legends in the metal underground. The album that is considered the gate post to seemingly every branch of metal. Black Metal. Death Metal. Even Doom! One reason, as Tom G. Warrior (TGW), Celtic Frost's guitarist and vocalist, points out is that they played slowed-down, heavier versions of Venomsongs. Before rehearsals, they would play Venom’s In The League Of Satan at 45 RPM instead of 33RPM just to make it that much heavier. And that became their goal. To sound like that.
Or as another reason, (and I just love this quote from TGW), “We weren’t good enough on our instruments at the time to emulate something more sophisticated, so punk was within the realm of the achievable”. TGW continues “…Discharge, which to me was a revolution, much like Venom. When I first heard the first two Discharge records, I was blown away. I was just starting to play an instrument, and I had no idea that you could go so far. Discharge totally opened my eyes.”
So they were heavy. And they were primitive. But, what throws them over the top, what makes them until this very day gods of extreme metal, were the riffs. The heaviest riffs imaginable completely on par with even the mighty Sabbath!
And of course, TGW’s creative ear. They may have changed their names from Hellhammer to Celtic Frost because they yearned to play better, but cutting to the chase, they still couldn’t really play their instruments. But, it didn’t matter! They had an ear for this shit. Like Venom before them, they were metal visionaries. They saw potential that people even with (or should I say especially with!) classical training just couldn’t see. Instead, TGW used his whammy bar and production overdubs like a weapon. Distorting notes in ways others said couldn’t work. As TGW said… “Most classical musicians would say ‘You cannot do that’ or ‘You cannot overdub that’ – just every possible denial. It was always a huge struggle to get them to do what we wanted to do, but at the end of the day everybody was always fascinated that it actually worked.” Amen to that! [First added to this chart: 05/27/2020]
You could point to any number of reasons why this album was such a success. The album that instantly transformed them into legends in the metal underground. The album that is considered the gate post to seemingly every branch of metal. Black Metal. Death Metal. Even Doom! One reason, as Tom G. Warrior (TGW), Celtic Frost's guitarist and vocalist, points out is that they played slowed-down, heavier versions of Venomsongs. Before rehearsals, they would play Venom’s In The League Of Satan at 45 RPM instead of 33RPM just to make it that much heavier. And that became their goal. To sound like that.
Or as another reason, (and I just love this quote from TGW), “We weren’t good enough on our instruments at the time to emulate something more sophisticated, so punk was within the realm of the achievable”. TGW continues “…Discharge, which to me was a revolution, much like Venom. When I first heard the first two Discharge records, I was blown away. I was just starting to play an instrument, and I had no idea that you could go so far. Discharge totally opened my eyes.”
So they were heavy. And they were primitive. But, what throws them over the top, what makes them until this very day gods of extreme metal, were the riffs. The heaviest riffs imaginable completely on par with even the mighty Sabbath!
And of course, TGW’s creative ear. They may have changed their names from Hellhammer to Celtic Frost because they yearned to play better, but cutting to the chase, they still couldn’t really play their instruments. But, it didn’t matter! They had an ear for this shit. Like Venom before them, they were metal visionaries. They saw potential that people even with (or should I say especially with!) classical training just couldn’t see. Instead, TGW used his whammy bar and production overdubs like a weapon. Distorting notes in ways others said couldn’t work. As TGW said… “Most classical musicians would say ‘You cannot do that’ or ‘You cannot overdub that’ – just every possible denial. It was always a huge struggle to get them to do what we wanted to do, but at the end of the day everybody was always fascinated that it actually worked.” Amen to that! [First added to this chart: 05/27/2020]
0
Buy album
- #Sponsored
CRIPPLED KIDS OF THE WORLD UNITE
It sucks being sick. People treat you different. Even doctors. Even your family. Brandon Cox aka Deerhunter knows this frustration. He knows the despair. Of being alienated, ostracized. But he’s done something extraordinary with this anger and frustration. He’s channeled it into a rallying cry. He’s taken his weakness and turned it into strength. Took fear and turned it into faith. In himself. In his abilities. Fading Frontier is nothing short of rallying cry for the sick & disabled. Anthems to get you fired up that you are important. That you matter. That no one is defined by anything or limited by anything. That one can surpass labels and diagnoses. And do something amazing.
Pretty impressive for a pop album. And this is a pop album at its heart. And it works. Anthems were made to be heard on FM radio after all. And in a different universe, those first three songs would be staples on the radio. Not all the songs work. Snakeskin’s 70s T-Rex stomp has never quite won me over. But, the rest is near perfect indie pop.
Grade: B+. This is essential indie pop. These are songs for when the world wrongs you. For when you’re not understood. For when people don’t recognize the strength it takes to just keep on fighting and instead only sees weakness. Illness. This album picks you up, pats you on the back and inspires you to fight back. [First added to this chart: 03/16/2016]
It sucks being sick. People treat you different. Even doctors. Even your family. Brandon Cox aka Deerhunter knows this frustration. He knows the despair. Of being alienated, ostracized. But he’s done something extraordinary with this anger and frustration. He’s channeled it into a rallying cry. He’s taken his weakness and turned it into strength. Took fear and turned it into faith. In himself. In his abilities. Fading Frontier is nothing short of rallying cry for the sick & disabled. Anthems to get you fired up that you are important. That you matter. That no one is defined by anything or limited by anything. That one can surpass labels and diagnoses. And do something amazing.
Pretty impressive for a pop album. And this is a pop album at its heart. And it works. Anthems were made to be heard on FM radio after all. And in a different universe, those first three songs would be staples on the radio. Not all the songs work. Snakeskin’s 70s T-Rex stomp has never quite won me over. But, the rest is near perfect indie pop.
Grade: B+. This is essential indie pop. These are songs for when the world wrongs you. For when you’re not understood. For when people don’t recognize the strength it takes to just keep on fighting and instead only sees weakness. Illness. This album picks you up, pats you on the back and inspires you to fight back. [First added to this chart: 03/16/2016]
Year of Release:
2015
Appears in:
Rank Score:
570
Rank in 2015:
Rank in 2010s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
THE CONVERSATION (1963)
It’s not sex. It’s just a conversation. Three people. Telling stories on the spot. Ellington, the gregarious one. Mingus ever the contrarian. And the ever flowing host of the party, Roach. Pouring drinks for everyone. “Can’t we all just get along, fellas!" Smooth. Mellow. There with that gentle, affirming laugh or "Oh yeah!" just when the conversation needed it. Keeping the glasses filled. But not TOO fill.
The Verdict: I can already tell this might be my gold standard. Three legends at the top of their respective games. Ellington pushing everyone just enough [First added to this chart: 08/23/2022]
It’s not sex. It’s just a conversation. Three people. Telling stories on the spot. Ellington, the gregarious one. Mingus ever the contrarian. And the ever flowing host of the party, Roach. Pouring drinks for everyone. “Can’t we all just get along, fellas!" Smooth. Mellow. There with that gentle, affirming laugh or "Oh yeah!" just when the conversation needed it. Keeping the glasses filled. But not TOO fill.
The Verdict: I can already tell this might be my gold standard. Three legends at the top of their respective games. Ellington pushing everyone just enough [First added to this chart: 08/23/2022]
Year of Release:
1963
Appears in:
Rank Score:
625
Rank in 1963:
Rank in 1960s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
My Record Collection is Better Than Yours
Aka The Rise of Blues Punk in the Queensland
But they crawl to the moon and the sun, he won't crawl to anyone – All Times Through Paradise
Or...
Now that My baby left me, I’ve been sleeping with my dog – Crazy Googenheimer Blues
(Seriously, brothers. What's the better approach post-breakup?!?!)
The Setting: Looking back, they were already showing their hand as early as their classic debut (I’m) Stranded - one of the defining Punk albums of the Class of ’77. Essential even. Just check out the bluesy, Stonesy swagger of “Messin’ With The Kid.”
The jangly-crunch of the guitars combined with Ed Keuper’s lamenting acid washed extro make it my favorite song on the entire debut. And then The Saints upped the ante on Eternally Yours. For my money, an EVEN better album than their debut. And I'm NOT alone in that their opinion!
The Listen: Prehistoric Sounds is not a punk record. It’s just not. It’s Rock ‘n Roll infused with the Blues, R&B, Psychedelia & Garage Rock. Not that dissimilar to what the Stones were doing in the late 60s, but FAR more rough & raw. And that’s what makes Prehistoric Sounds such a pivotal release in the Punk/Indie Rock cCanon. It sounds like what the Stones would want to sound like after drinking a case of The Class of ’77 Brewskis. Something that other bands wouldn't really even begin concocting for a few more years.
Regardless, Prehistoric Sounds is their Blues Punk MASTERPIECE! A Van Morrisonfronted Them come to life ten years later. THIS is where it all started. So happy I took a step backwards on this Blues Punk jaunt!
The Verdict: A crucial link between ‘60s Country Rock/Garage Rock and The '80s American Underground. The Saints effortlessly and organically fused fuzzed-out R&B and the Blues into Punk Rock. This was music of the past , redirected and repurposed for the future. With future destinations in such sleazy stops as Los Angelas where our little bloggy blog just a happens to be headed next.
The Rating: Twisted Evil Twisted Evil Twisted Evil Twisted Evil Twisted Evil [First added to this chart: 09/13/2022]
Aka The Rise of Blues Punk in the Queensland
But they crawl to the moon and the sun, he won't crawl to anyone – All Times Through Paradise
Or...
Now that My baby left me, I’ve been sleeping with my dog – Crazy Googenheimer Blues
(Seriously, brothers. What's the better approach post-breakup?!?!)
The Setting: Looking back, they were already showing their hand as early as their classic debut (I’m) Stranded - one of the defining Punk albums of the Class of ’77. Essential even. Just check out the bluesy, Stonesy swagger of “Messin’ With The Kid.”
The jangly-crunch of the guitars combined with Ed Keuper’s lamenting acid washed extro make it my favorite song on the entire debut. And then The Saints upped the ante on Eternally Yours. For my money, an EVEN better album than their debut. And I'm NOT alone in that their opinion!
The Listen: Prehistoric Sounds is not a punk record. It’s just not. It’s Rock ‘n Roll infused with the Blues, R&B, Psychedelia & Garage Rock. Not that dissimilar to what the Stones were doing in the late 60s, but FAR more rough & raw. And that’s what makes Prehistoric Sounds such a pivotal release in the Punk/Indie Rock cCanon. It sounds like what the Stones would want to sound like after drinking a case of The Class of ’77 Brewskis. Something that other bands wouldn't really even begin concocting for a few more years.
Regardless, Prehistoric Sounds is their Blues Punk MASTERPIECE! A Van Morrisonfronted Them come to life ten years later. THIS is where it all started. So happy I took a step backwards on this Blues Punk jaunt!
The Verdict: A crucial link between ‘60s Country Rock/Garage Rock and The '80s American Underground. The Saints effortlessly and organically fused fuzzed-out R&B and the Blues into Punk Rock. This was music of the past , redirected and repurposed for the future. With future destinations in such sleazy stops as Los Angelas where our little bloggy blog just a happens to be headed next.
The Rating: Twisted Evil Twisted Evil Twisted Evil Twisted Evil Twisted Evil [First added to this chart: 09/13/2022]
Buy album
- #Sponsored
ZEN MASTER CALLAHAN
I started out in search of ordinary things
Like how much a tree bends in the wind… (Jim Cain)
Love is the king of the beasts
And when it gets hungry it must kill to eat (Eid Mad Clack Shaw)
Bill callahan is a naturalist. An observer of life. Like some modern day equivalent of Thoreau hanging out at Walden’s. His observations are both objective and reflective. He’s the observer from without looking within. Not passing judgement. Just observing. Detached. Allowing the world to come to him at its own pace. In its own time. Just simply observing how life is instead of how he wants it to be. Callahan’s easily one of the finest lyricists of the last twenty-some years. Each time I listen to a line from one of his songs it has the ability to take on new meaning. Like the poetry of a zen master, his poetry is endless. Expansive. Taking you deeper & deeper with each reading. Each spin.
And Callahan has also mastered a genre I never would have thought I of all people would even tolerate never mind LOVE - Adult Contemporary! Mind you, this is adult contemporary for FREAKS. And somehow, someway he even one ups the mighty Nick Cave as the best adult contemporary artist of the indie kingdom. Which is saying a shitload because, let’s be honest, Nick Cave invented this genre for pete’s sakes.
And each song offers up many a hidden treasure. Chocked filled with little touches. Little embellishments. For instance, in “Eid Ma Clack Shaw” he occasionally shouts out a “Pow! POW!” as if he’s karate chopping some old Ikea furniture. to bits. (Please do NOT inform me that he’s really just saying “How”. Jeez don’t ruin it for me. That’s not nearly as cool. xp) Or take the drums on “All Thoughts Are Prey.” They start as gently echoes as some hallucinating guitar winds through the song, but then all of sudden at about the one minute mark the drums become maniacal, a beast coming to life, frothing and whipping itself into a fury as the song progresses. Becoming more & more chaotic. Free. And all the songs are tricked out like this. Subtle intricate beauty that slowly reveals and unfolds upon the listener. Seemingly changing with each spin. Yes, these songs are alive. And Callahan’s simply channeling what he feels into these songs. Normally I HATE when an album is embellished with strings and horns and the like. I mean they can sound so fake. So Phony. But not here. Oh No! They’re inventive. Constantly changing as the songs need them to. Unlike so many string arrangement that sound just thrown in as an afterthought by some producer who doesn’t even understand the song nor the artist. No. These arrangements are clearly part of the song themselves. Living, breathing entities that shift and change as the song does. As the song breathes. And just perhaps these are the most tasteful strings ever done for a rock record EVER.
Grade: A+. The finest adult contemporary recording ever recorded. It stands as the gold standard for the entire genre. A touchstone with which to compare similar entities such as Lambchop or Tindersticks and yes even the master himself, Nick Cave. And I seriously thought about vaulting this fully realized album all the way to number ONE. But… Not yet. And so it perches itself like a bird in a tree at number three. [First added to this chart: 03/22/2016]
I started out in search of ordinary things
Like how much a tree bends in the wind… (Jim Cain)
Love is the king of the beasts
And when it gets hungry it must kill to eat (Eid Mad Clack Shaw)
Bill callahan is a naturalist. An observer of life. Like some modern day equivalent of Thoreau hanging out at Walden’s. His observations are both objective and reflective. He’s the observer from without looking within. Not passing judgement. Just observing. Detached. Allowing the world to come to him at its own pace. In its own time. Just simply observing how life is instead of how he wants it to be. Callahan’s easily one of the finest lyricists of the last twenty-some years. Each time I listen to a line from one of his songs it has the ability to take on new meaning. Like the poetry of a zen master, his poetry is endless. Expansive. Taking you deeper & deeper with each reading. Each spin.
And Callahan has also mastered a genre I never would have thought I of all people would even tolerate never mind LOVE - Adult Contemporary! Mind you, this is adult contemporary for FREAKS. And somehow, someway he even one ups the mighty Nick Cave as the best adult contemporary artist of the indie kingdom. Which is saying a shitload because, let’s be honest, Nick Cave invented this genre for pete’s sakes.
And each song offers up many a hidden treasure. Chocked filled with little touches. Little embellishments. For instance, in “Eid Ma Clack Shaw” he occasionally shouts out a “Pow! POW!” as if he’s karate chopping some old Ikea furniture. to bits. (Please do NOT inform me that he’s really just saying “How”. Jeez don’t ruin it for me. That’s not nearly as cool. xp) Or take the drums on “All Thoughts Are Prey.” They start as gently echoes as some hallucinating guitar winds through the song, but then all of sudden at about the one minute mark the drums become maniacal, a beast coming to life, frothing and whipping itself into a fury as the song progresses. Becoming more & more chaotic. Free. And all the songs are tricked out like this. Subtle intricate beauty that slowly reveals and unfolds upon the listener. Seemingly changing with each spin. Yes, these songs are alive. And Callahan’s simply channeling what he feels into these songs. Normally I HATE when an album is embellished with strings and horns and the like. I mean they can sound so fake. So Phony. But not here. Oh No! They’re inventive. Constantly changing as the songs need them to. Unlike so many string arrangement that sound just thrown in as an afterthought by some producer who doesn’t even understand the song nor the artist. No. These arrangements are clearly part of the song themselves. Living, breathing entities that shift and change as the song does. As the song breathes. And just perhaps these are the most tasteful strings ever done for a rock record EVER.
Grade: A+. The finest adult contemporary recording ever recorded. It stands as the gold standard for the entire genre. A touchstone with which to compare similar entities such as Lambchop or Tindersticks and yes even the master himself, Nick Cave. And I seriously thought about vaulting this fully realized album all the way to number ONE. But… Not yet. And so it perches itself like a bird in a tree at number three. [First added to this chart: 03/22/2016]
Year of Release:
2009
Appears in:
Rank Score:
817
Rank in 2009:
Rank in 2000s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
THROUGH THE EYES OF A CHILD
“Shhhh….“ She whispered. “You need to keep it secret”, she said wide-eyed and with total sincerity. “The unikitty came last night. I saw him!” No album captures the world through my children’s eyes quite like this. A world where bunnies hop around the world hiding dayglo painted eggs under furniture and place neatly laid-out chocolate kisses & gumdrops in little baskets. This is an album only could have sprung from Iceland. If Bjork and Sugur Ros had a magical elven daughter, this is the album she would make. Where the sunlight sparkles off of melting glaciers as they gather into bubbling brooks. The whole album bubbles and percolates with the magical sounds of the forest. Where wood sprites still live and can and do protect us from all sorts of dangers. And if you listen closely, you can hear the laughter and giggles of children.
But most importantly it captures how children see the world. It captures their faith. Their trust. There’s an undying hope that springs from these songs. It fills the air. That everything is going to work out and that the world is a magical place. A world where unikitties and rainbow unicorns exist and have the power to make Daddy all better. I believe in this world. I believe in this magic. Because I have seen it. Seen it in the eyes of my child.
Grade: A+. This is a magical album that really is the love child of Bjork and Sugur Ros. Check it out if you don’t believe me. Because it’s the truth. It’s an album that could only have sprung from the heart of a child. It’s ethereal and beautiful. It doesn’t quite fit into any neat categories straddling the lines of post-rock and indie electronica. It doesn’t need to. And it vaults all the way to number one. [First added to this chart: 04/17/2017]
“Shhhh….“ She whispered. “You need to keep it secret”, she said wide-eyed and with total sincerity. “The unikitty came last night. I saw him!” No album captures the world through my children’s eyes quite like this. A world where bunnies hop around the world hiding dayglo painted eggs under furniture and place neatly laid-out chocolate kisses & gumdrops in little baskets. This is an album only could have sprung from Iceland. If Bjork and Sugur Ros had a magical elven daughter, this is the album she would make. Where the sunlight sparkles off of melting glaciers as they gather into bubbling brooks. The whole album bubbles and percolates with the magical sounds of the forest. Where wood sprites still live and can and do protect us from all sorts of dangers. And if you listen closely, you can hear the laughter and giggles of children.
But most importantly it captures how children see the world. It captures their faith. Their trust. There’s an undying hope that springs from these songs. It fills the air. That everything is going to work out and that the world is a magical place. A world where unikitties and rainbow unicorns exist and have the power to make Daddy all better. I believe in this world. I believe in this magic. Because I have seen it. Seen it in the eyes of my child.
Grade: A+. This is a magical album that really is the love child of Bjork and Sugur Ros. Check it out if you don’t believe me. Because it’s the truth. It’s an album that could only have sprung from the heart of a child. It’s ethereal and beautiful. It doesn’t quite fit into any neat categories straddling the lines of post-rock and indie electronica. It doesn’t need to. And it vaults all the way to number one. [First added to this chart: 04/17/2017]
Year of Release:
2002
Appears in:
Rank Score:
684
Rank in 2002:
Rank in 2000s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
TO LOVE AND LET IT GO
Here I am believin' words again
Here I am tryin' to find your love again
Here I am down on my knees again
Prayin' for a love
That we used to know
Both of us know
How hard it is to love
And let it go
Both of us know
How hard it is to go on living that way - I Must Have Been Blind
Then just like the river
I can change my ways - The River
To love and let it go. All of us have to go through this. It is part of being human. And it is one of the hardest things to do. And it is the central theme of this incredible album. Loving & letting go. And how we can blind ourselves. Deceive ourselves for a long, long time of the necessity to move on. But just like the river that provides the setting for so many of these beautiful, mournful songs - we can change our ways. We can move on. It can be so hard to believe that someone we feel so strongly about does not feel the same way. Does not reciprocate that love that we feel so deeply in our bones. We go into denial. And get stuck. Stagnate. And that’s disastrous for our soul. For our spirit. Luckily, Tim made this album for us during these these difficult times. Its an album that proves that we are not alone in this plight. That everyone loses love. That the feeling of love lost is universal. And we can go to that river that runs through all of us. Dance by the river's edge. And move on. Because just like the river, we can change our ways.
Grade: A+. I don’t know what this is. Is it Jazz? Folk? Who cares! Albums that bend and blur the genre lines are so often the best and this of course is no exception. Tim shows yet again that he was (by far!) the best vocalist of the folk rock kingdom for that era or really any era. His vocal prowess has really been unmatched. ( And if it has, school me! Please.) It was a singular instrument - sensuous yet longing. Full of vitality yet also vulnerable. Especially on Blue Afternoon - which even though he’s venturing even further into jazz terrain, it’s actually his most accessible and mellow album. Accessible is sometimes used as a four letter word. But, it really shouldn’t be. It just means it’s a natural fit. Like love should be! So sure Buckley has more challenging albums, more avant-garde albums such as BEA/Scaruffi faves like Lorca and Starsailor, but this is by far my favorite. It’s the perfect album to snuggle up with on this rainy, overcast morning with a cup of Numi's Aged Earl Gray. (I’m off coffee. Aargh!… Doctor’s orders, I’m afraid. Thanks for the tea recs, Paul & Jimmy!). And it meanders like a river all the way up to number six. [First added to this chart: 08/29/2016]
Here I am believin' words again
Here I am tryin' to find your love again
Here I am down on my knees again
Prayin' for a love
That we used to know
Both of us know
How hard it is to love
And let it go
Both of us know
How hard it is to go on living that way - I Must Have Been Blind
Then just like the river
I can change my ways - The River
To love and let it go. All of us have to go through this. It is part of being human. And it is one of the hardest things to do. And it is the central theme of this incredible album. Loving & letting go. And how we can blind ourselves. Deceive ourselves for a long, long time of the necessity to move on. But just like the river that provides the setting for so many of these beautiful, mournful songs - we can change our ways. We can move on. It can be so hard to believe that someone we feel so strongly about does not feel the same way. Does not reciprocate that love that we feel so deeply in our bones. We go into denial. And get stuck. Stagnate. And that’s disastrous for our soul. For our spirit. Luckily, Tim made this album for us during these these difficult times. Its an album that proves that we are not alone in this plight. That everyone loses love. That the feeling of love lost is universal. And we can go to that river that runs through all of us. Dance by the river's edge. And move on. Because just like the river, we can change our ways.
Grade: A+. I don’t know what this is. Is it Jazz? Folk? Who cares! Albums that bend and blur the genre lines are so often the best and this of course is no exception. Tim shows yet again that he was (by far!) the best vocalist of the folk rock kingdom for that era or really any era. His vocal prowess has really been unmatched. ( And if it has, school me! Please.) It was a singular instrument - sensuous yet longing. Full of vitality yet also vulnerable. Especially on Blue Afternoon - which even though he’s venturing even further into jazz terrain, it’s actually his most accessible and mellow album. Accessible is sometimes used as a four letter word. But, it really shouldn’t be. It just means it’s a natural fit. Like love should be! So sure Buckley has more challenging albums, more avant-garde albums such as BEA/Scaruffi faves like Lorca and Starsailor, but this is by far my favorite. It’s the perfect album to snuggle up with on this rainy, overcast morning with a cup of Numi's Aged Earl Gray. (I’m off coffee. Aargh!… Doctor’s orders, I’m afraid. Thanks for the tea recs, Paul & Jimmy!). And it meanders like a river all the way up to number six. [First added to this chart: 08/29/2016]
Buy album
- #Sponsored
'47:a Riffin' the Scotch
aka Better To Burn Out...
He's hot as Hades
A lady's not safe in his arms when she's kissed
But I'm afraid that when he's cooled off
And maybe I'm ruled off his list
I'll never be missed - I MUST Have That Man (Billie Holiday)
People forget. They just do. Jazz was the Devil’s music. It wasn’t no place for a “Lady.” Day or night. These people lived hard. Partied harder. And you know who ruled that scene back in the thirties? Came in and turned everything upside down. A young Billie Holiday. The tempestuous Lady Day!
We tend to be too referential of the old-timers. Especially if they were a Lady. But there’s no denying it. Billie Holliday was a badass. She could zip when Teddy & his gang would zag. Her improvisational skills & riffing changed jazz forever. And she could drink you under the table while doing it. Don’t ever forget that. That would be cheapening her legacy.
And before I bid you good night, remember this as well, Teddy Wilson and His Orchestra was just positively sick => Benny Goodman on clarinet. Roy "Little Jazz" Eldridge on trumpet, & Ben Webster on tenor sax. Those three are household names for a reason. Billie's early recording sessions were positively oozing with talent.
Try just a little taste & you'll see what "just a little moonlight can do"... [First added to this chart: 09/07/2022]
aka Better To Burn Out...
He's hot as Hades
A lady's not safe in his arms when she's kissed
But I'm afraid that when he's cooled off
And maybe I'm ruled off his list
I'll never be missed - I MUST Have That Man (Billie Holiday)
People forget. They just do. Jazz was the Devil’s music. It wasn’t no place for a “Lady.” Day or night. These people lived hard. Partied harder. And you know who ruled that scene back in the thirties? Came in and turned everything upside down. A young Billie Holiday. The tempestuous Lady Day!
We tend to be too referential of the old-timers. Especially if they were a Lady. But there’s no denying it. Billie Holliday was a badass. She could zip when Teddy & his gang would zag. Her improvisational skills & riffing changed jazz forever. And she could drink you under the table while doing it. Don’t ever forget that. That would be cheapening her legacy.
And before I bid you good night, remember this as well, Teddy Wilson and His Orchestra was just positively sick => Benny Goodman on clarinet. Roy "Little Jazz" Eldridge on trumpet, & Ben Webster on tenor sax. Those three are household names for a reason. Billie's early recording sessions were positively oozing with talent.
Try just a little taste & you'll see what "just a little moonlight can do"... [First added to this chart: 09/07/2022]
Buy album
- #Sponsored
THE TROUBLE WITH DESIRE
Somewhere else in the universe - exactly where I do not know - there is a planet and civilization not unlike our own. They’re busy with jobs and making ends meet mostly. But they are also vastly curious about life. Chiefly whether they are all alone is this vast universe. Whether the entire universe exists just for them.
So just like us, they built a space program. But this being science fiction and all, theres is a bit more advanced than ours. And they built and coded this amazing android. It is capable of learning how to create any and all languages, dialects & tongues. Given enough time it would be able to communicate with any creature in the entire world. No matter how big or small. How complex or simple. Insects, humanoids, birds, amoebas... you name it. Essentially, if a life form, or even another droid, can communicate, this droid will learn how to communicate with it. The people on this planet - let’s call them Clusterferians just for fun - were naturally quite proud of their creation. And they built a moderate sized space vessel such that their droid could comb the universe looking for any sign of life to communicate with. And then report back to them.
To give the mission the best chance of success, the Clusterferians gave this robot something new. Something they had never encoded into a robot before. A strong message that this mission was critical. Vital. In a word they gave it Desire.
Time passes. Millions of years. The droid performs its tasks and tries to carry out its mission. Sending out signals. And waiting for a response. Sending out more signals. Trying to communicate. To connect. To anything. It creates endless variations of sounds. But nothing ever comes back. Just the vast emptiness of space. And him.
And then the unthinkable happens. The unimaginable. He develops feelings. After eons and eons of trying and trying to fulfill its mission with that strong desire encoded in him, he starts to grow sad. This desire to connect to something, ANYTHING, overwhelms him. The years of sending and sending, trying and trying and getting nothing back in return changes him. He becomes what we would call depressed. He preservers on with his mission of course. He’s a robot after all. But a shade of loneliness, of mourning now pervades the sounds he creates. A lament. The lament of being lonely. Of being human.
Grade A+: Cluster makes sounds better than anyone. Eno enhances sounds better than anyone. So together this is a dream team. And they amply fulfill the promise such a collaboration would suggest. This is one of the greatest dark ambient albums of all time. Considering its pedigree, I’m quite surprised it’s bit undiscovered. Don’t let it stay lonely anymore! Seek out and connect with this major ambient gem. There’s a lonely robot just waiting to hear from you. And this LP hurdles through space all the way to number 11. [First added to this chart: 02/21/2016]
Somewhere else in the universe - exactly where I do not know - there is a planet and civilization not unlike our own. They’re busy with jobs and making ends meet mostly. But they are also vastly curious about life. Chiefly whether they are all alone is this vast universe. Whether the entire universe exists just for them.
So just like us, they built a space program. But this being science fiction and all, theres is a bit more advanced than ours. And they built and coded this amazing android. It is capable of learning how to create any and all languages, dialects & tongues. Given enough time it would be able to communicate with any creature in the entire world. No matter how big or small. How complex or simple. Insects, humanoids, birds, amoebas... you name it. Essentially, if a life form, or even another droid, can communicate, this droid will learn how to communicate with it. The people on this planet - let’s call them Clusterferians just for fun - were naturally quite proud of their creation. And they built a moderate sized space vessel such that their droid could comb the universe looking for any sign of life to communicate with. And then report back to them.
To give the mission the best chance of success, the Clusterferians gave this robot something new. Something they had never encoded into a robot before. A strong message that this mission was critical. Vital. In a word they gave it Desire.
Time passes. Millions of years. The droid performs its tasks and tries to carry out its mission. Sending out signals. And waiting for a response. Sending out more signals. Trying to communicate. To connect. To anything. It creates endless variations of sounds. But nothing ever comes back. Just the vast emptiness of space. And him.
And then the unthinkable happens. The unimaginable. He develops feelings. After eons and eons of trying and trying to fulfill its mission with that strong desire encoded in him, he starts to grow sad. This desire to connect to something, ANYTHING, overwhelms him. The years of sending and sending, trying and trying and getting nothing back in return changes him. He becomes what we would call depressed. He preservers on with his mission of course. He’s a robot after all. But a shade of loneliness, of mourning now pervades the sounds he creates. A lament. The lament of being lonely. Of being human.
Grade A+: Cluster makes sounds better than anyone. Eno enhances sounds better than anyone. So together this is a dream team. And they amply fulfill the promise such a collaboration would suggest. This is one of the greatest dark ambient albums of all time. Considering its pedigree, I’m quite surprised it’s bit undiscovered. Don’t let it stay lonely anymore! Seek out and connect with this major ambient gem. There’s a lonely robot just waiting to hear from you. And this LP hurdles through space all the way to number 11. [First added to this chart: 02/21/2016]
Buy album
- #Sponsored
'51:a The Country Standard
I'm a rollin' stone, all alone and lost
For a life of sin, I have paid the cost – "Lost Highway"
Some artists just cannot be touched. Towering figures in their field even years after their passing and/or disbanding. Take The Beatles. You CANNOT talk about the history of Rock without name checking those giants.
And in Country Music, the same would be true of Hank Williams. He is not only the bedrock of the sound but “The Mansion On The Hill.” The target. The standard. Just like The Beatles, pretty much ANYTHING Hank Williams touched in his all too short career is gold. The BEST country you’ll ever hear.
Authentic. Harrowing. These are songs that worm there way not just into the ol’ earhole but your gut. Songs that live with you. Like a good pair of blue jeans, these are songs that fit ya’ better with each listen. A veritable well worn wardrobe to keep you warm and comfy when life inevitably sends you down that “Lost Highway.”
So get yourself a “jug of wine”, pour yourself a glass or two, and join me & ol’ Hank reminiscing about the countless lives that could have been lived but weren’t. The paths not taken that should have been. Because that’s what country music is all about. I don’t know a lot. (I know that now. But then NONE of us do.) But there is one more thing I DO know. And THAT'S that joining me & my pal Hank here is the one sure thing you will NOT regret come morning. [First added to this chart: 08/28/2022]
I'm a rollin' stone, all alone and lost
For a life of sin, I have paid the cost – "Lost Highway"
Some artists just cannot be touched. Towering figures in their field even years after their passing and/or disbanding. Take The Beatles. You CANNOT talk about the history of Rock without name checking those giants.
And in Country Music, the same would be true of Hank Williams. He is not only the bedrock of the sound but “The Mansion On The Hill.” The target. The standard. Just like The Beatles, pretty much ANYTHING Hank Williams touched in his all too short career is gold. The BEST country you’ll ever hear.
Authentic. Harrowing. These are songs that worm there way not just into the ol’ earhole but your gut. Songs that live with you. Like a good pair of blue jeans, these are songs that fit ya’ better with each listen. A veritable well worn wardrobe to keep you warm and comfy when life inevitably sends you down that “Lost Highway.”
So get yourself a “jug of wine”, pour yourself a glass or two, and join me & ol’ Hank reminiscing about the countless lives that could have been lived but weren’t. The paths not taken that should have been. Because that’s what country music is all about. I don’t know a lot. (I know that now. But then NONE of us do.) But there is one more thing I DO know. And THAT'S that joining me & my pal Hank here is the one sure thing you will NOT regret come morning. [First added to this chart: 08/28/2022]
Total albums: 100. Page 2 of 10
Don't agree with this chart? Create your own from the My Charts page!
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums composition
| Decade | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|
|
| 1930s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1940s | 1 | 1% | |
| 1950s | 3 | 3% | |
| 1960s | 9 | 9% | |
| 1970s | 29 | 29% | |
| 1980s | 37 | 37% | |
| 1990s | 3 | 3% | |
| 2000s | 9 | 9% | |
| 2010s | 9 | 9% | |
| 2020s | 0 | 0% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
 |
|
|
| Real Estate | 3 | 3% | |
| Venom | 2 | 2% | |
| Scorpions | 2 | 2% | |
| Bert Jansch | 2 | 2% | |
| Beach House | 2 | 2% | |
| Bob Dylan | 2 | 2% | |
| Townes Van Zandt | 2 | 2% | |
| Show all | |||
| Country | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
49 | 49% | |
 |
29 | 29% | |
 |
5 | 5% | |
 |
4 | 4% | |
 |
3 | 3% | |
 |
2 | 2% | |
 |
2 | 2% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums chart changes
| Biggest climbers |
|---|
| Up 88 from 94th to 6th Self Portrait by Bob Dylan |
| Up 81 from 93rd to 12th Fading Frontier by Deerhunter |
| Up 43 from 62nd to 19th Cluster & Eno by Cluster & Eno |
| Biggest fallers |
|---|
| Down 39 from 60th to 99th Rock Until You Drop by Raven (UK) |
| Down 4 from 16th to 20th Hank Williams Sings by Hank Williams With His Drifting Cowboys |
| Down 4 from 17th to 21st Johnny Burnette And The Rock N' Roll Trio by Johnny Burnette & The Rock 'n Roll Trio |
| New entries |
|---|
 Midnight Blueby Kenny Burrell |
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums similar charts
- No Bullshit: Repo's Top Metal Albums! by Repo (2023)
- Favorite 1980s Metal Albums by
NoisyBeast (2017) - Top 34 Music Albums of the 1970s by Repo (2020)
- The Hitchhiker's Guide To The New Wave Of British Heavy Metal by
MW19704U (2024) - Favorite 1980s Metal Albums II by NoisyBeast (2017)
- Top 100 80's Hard Rock Albums by saltysurprise (2020)
- Top 78 Music Albums of 1984 by vruslov (2021)
- 1980: Metal by Repo (2023)
- NWOBHM (1979-1984) by Repo (2023)
- 1982: Metal by Repo (2024)
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums similarity to your chart(s)
Not a member? Registering is quick, easy and FREE!
Why register?
Join a passionate community of over 50,000 music fans.- Create & share your own charts.
- Have your say in the overall rankings.
- Post comments in the forums and vote on polls.
- Comment on or rate any album, artist, track or chart.
- Discover new music & improve your music collection.
- Customise the overall chart using a variety of different filters & metrics.
- Create a wishlist of albums.
- Help maintain the BEA database.
- Earn member points and gain access to increasing levels of functionality!
- ... And lots more!
Register now - it only takes a moment!
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums ratings
95/100 (from 72 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 72 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 85/100  | 10/09/2023 08:40 | Moondance | | 84/100 |
| 85/100 | 10/28/2022 03:30 | mianfei | | 61/100 |
| 100/100 | 08/29/2022 05:28 |  seb7 | | 91/100 |
| 100/100 | 06/20/2022 08:31 |  Applerill | | 75/100 |
| 100/100 | 04/04/2022 13:11 |  arthurbittencour | | 90/100 |
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 1% of all charts on BestEverAlbums.com. This chart has a Bayesian average rating of 95.2/100, a mean average of 95.2/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 96.5/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 9.2.
Please log in or register if you want to be able to leave a rating
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums favourites
Showing latest 20 members who have added this chart as a favourite | Show all 25 members
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums comments
Showing latest 10 comments | Show all 51 comments |
Most Helpful First | Newest First | Maximum Rated First |
Longest Comments First
(Only showing comments with -2 votes or higher. You can alter this threshold from your profile page. Manage Profile)
100/100
From 
DommeDamian 10/09/2023 09:56
DommeDamian 10/09/2023 09:56
Have I ever properly thanked you for making me check out Mazzy Star, Yo La Tengo, Real Estate early 70s-era Dylan, as well as revisiting Townes Van Zandt? Either way, thank you again.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From Foxforce5 06/28/2023 09:46
There are 3 elements to a great chart for me.
1. Some great words to tell us why the album is there.
2. A similar taste to your own - a musical message in a bottle
3. Some new picks for my own wish list.
This chart is bristling with new recommendations for my playlist. Whole genres I’ve never explored.
2 out of 3 ain’t bad.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
85/100
From mianfei 10/28/2022 03:50
One really interesting and diverse list, quite unlike anything I have ever seen here or anywhere else! Many very unusual choices and genres make this a great list. The chart has virtually nothing in common with my own chart or other lists by major magazines, Joe S. Harrington, David Keenan or Piero Scaruffi.
The notes are better than anything I have seen outside of Harrington or Keenan, too.
A minor quibble of mine is the way in which albums of the same genre are clustered together. (When I see that I always wonder if the compiler is not being careful enough to be sure they are being ranked as accurately as thought possible.) even with this reservation, it is an exceptionally interesting and well-written list.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
100/100
From DommeDamian 10/25/2022 08:24
DommeDamian 10/25/2022 08:24
Still wanna the greatest charts ever made on both this site and others like RYM. I think you've inspired me to do the same one day by making a chart of lesser known records, and outta those picks, create an alternate universe so flamboyant, colorful, and exciting based on descriptions and stuff.
I think something in the beautiful Donovan description summed it up "these songs doesn't know that radio exists", because some of the favorites on this chart raises this question; what would musicians/artists do if radio never existed". The answer lies in that they probably would make something so flamboyantly authentic as a lotta these wondrous records, and we could only listen to music by hand and choice etc.
God bless!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
85/100
From Moondance 10/24/2022 03:20
What I like about this chart:
1. we have ZERO albums in common:
2. we have only 4 artists in common, and that may very well become 1 artist in common when I do a review of my chart over the next month;
3. the 1 artist we have in common is Dylan - although our album preferences differ significantly (I am sure that doesn't come as any surprise - you can check out my '64 Dylan albums rated' chart if you have time :));
4. this chart oozes someone who actually breathes, eats, smells, tastes, touches, feels music more than hears it;
5. knowing the effort needed to make even short comments on album choices, the EFFORT in this chart is EXTRAordinary;
6. rather than a regurgitation of the BEA top 100, this chart has only 6 albums rated in the top 1000! and the highest ranking album is at #197 on the overall chart;
7. this chart actually made me go on a wild musical album/artist discovery hunt - I didn't actually find anything that I 'fell in love with' but sometimes the journey is more valuable than the end point ~ at least it gave me a few hours of hope; that maybe out there, somewhere, there is an artist/album undiscovered in my musical universe who will excite me in ways that I cannot explain;
8. ...and finally, the 2 Australian albums - excellent choices!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +3 votes (3 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
100/100
From seb7 08/29/2022 05:28
seb7 08/29/2022 05:28
super frikin interesting. love this chart!!!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (1 helpful | 1 unhelpful)
100/100
From 
SuedeSwede 07/11/2022 09:17
SuedeSwede 07/11/2022 09:17
naang naang!! <3 hope ur doing well friend
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
100/100
From seb7 02/16/2022 00:47
seb7 02/16/2022 00:47
man this is great. I can't even say I agree with A SINGLE ONE of your picks but damn this is very well put together chart. Just the passion you seem to have for music is insane and I love it!!!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
100/100
From 
Timestarter 08/05/2021 09:25
Timestarter 08/05/2021 09:25
What a unique list :)
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
90/100
From 
StefanR10 04/03/2021 23:24
StefanR10 04/03/2021 23:24
Interesting choices, the number 1 is very unique and the rest is metal at the most. I know much of them and i like them some kind of diversive chart. Nice to see such things here.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +3 votes (3 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Please log in or register if you want to be able to add a comment
Your feedback for Top 100 Greatest Music Albums
Let us know what you think of this chart by adding a comment or assigning a rating below!
If you enjoy our site, please consider supporting us by sparing a few seconds to disable your ad blocker.
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.
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.