Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by 
Arthurknight 
This chart has evolved a lot over the near decade its existed. I think in the past I used to try a lot harder at curating what was more a "recommendations" list, where I'd show off my esoteric finds and scatter in my favourite underrated greats . Other times I told myself the function of a good list was to be in contention with the Overall chart on this site; to be anti conventional music journalism and resist milquetoast taste. Nowadays I'm less ideological about it. To me, this chart is my music-hobbyist refuge where I delight in organising my own personal world of sounds. In short, it may well be the 100 greatest albums of all time (I certainly think so), but that's secondary to it being an outlet for creative expression. I've curated a display that says more about me than the music, to be glanced over by the few fellow BEA users who peruse it and friends at a bar who don't know what they're getting into when they ask me what I listen to.
~~ One Album per Artist. ~~
Notes:
Should you consider it a great injustice that there is very little emphasis on more recent music here, feel free to check out my 21st century decade charts. I'm also very active in making end of year charts which is really where all my heart and soul is poured into with BEA these days.
No Jazz, Hip-Hop, or Electronic albums feature in this chart simply because if they did 100 albums would barely suffice. I find it particularly difficult to compare these genres with other forms of popular music broadly or with each-other (I've similarly exempted classical recordings I especially enjoy for the same reason, but am too lazy to make a classical chart, for now...). In the past I have included these genres, but I've come to dislike it because the limits of 100 albums begins to feel too claustrophobic. Instead, I have made each their own respective custom chart, which you can find here:
Greatest 100 Jazz Albums: https://www.besteveralbums.com/thechart.php?c=32925
Greatest 100 Hip-Hop Albums: https://www.besteveralbums.com/thechart.php?c=32704
Greatest 100 Electronic/IDM Albums: https://www.besteveralbums.com/thechart.php?c=42751
- Chart updated: 07/16/2023 09:15
- (Created: 07/26/2014 08:45).
- Chart size: 100 albums.
There are 68 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 100 Greatest Music Albums has an average rating of 93 out of 100 (from 119 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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- #Sponsored
" - Warum bloß? Wahrscheinlich... nä... aber... warum isst du denn nicht Mohrrüben?
- Ja, das wäre wirklich schön.
- Wollen wir das machen?
- Ja."
- But why? Maybe... no... but... why don't you eat carrots?
- Yes, that would really be nice.
- Shall we do that?
- Yes."
9.5/10
_ [First added to this chart: 01/12/2017]
- Ja, das wäre wirklich schön.
- Wollen wir das machen?
- Ja."
- But why? Maybe... no... but... why don't you eat carrots?
- Yes, that would really be nice.
- Shall we do that?
- Yes."
9.5/10
_ [First added to this chart: 01/12/2017]
Year of Release:
1971
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,461
Rank in 1971:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
19
Buy album
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"In the mirror
She's not there
Where she won't care."
9.5/10
I used to be utterly obsessed with Shoegaze music, old versions of this very chart serve as demonstrable proof. At some point in my teen years, where I had somewhat of a disposable income from assistant tennis coaching, I learnt what a "guitar pedal" was, and started to frantically buy them up as if the end of the world was approaching. Shoegaze music's name is derived entirely from the fact band-members while playing were always staring at their feet (or, rather, pedalboards). In any case, I loved (and still do) MBV, Slowdive, Ride, and other smaller acts like Swervedriver or Lush, especially back then because I was determined to figure out how they made these washed out dreamlike haunting yet distorted and loud sounds; I wanted to reproduce them. One of the things that has stayed with me the most was the breakthrough I had discovering Kevin Shields secret "reverse reverb," an esoteric effect employed via (if I remember correctly) a Yamaha multi-effects unit - the rackmounted things that became in vogue for awhile and then died out shortly thereafter; turns out guitarists don't care for studio equipment as much as the market may have predicted. Reproducing it was difficult because I didn't have the particular Yamaha multi-effects unit, and by this stage people had gotten wind of the fact MBV's sound can hypothetically be boiled down to this effect + a lot of delay, fuzz, and overdrive, meaning the things were bloody expensive. I found a hack way around it though with a particular pedal that emulated the effect, and it worked particularly well when placed before the distortion section of the pedalchain. This is a counter-intuitive thing to do, usually you put modulation effects after distortion effects, otherwise you end up distorting the modulation rather than modulating the distortion. In a way, Loveless is kinda just that: distorting the modulation. Actually it's a hell of a lot more than that, it's the culmination of years of sonic refinement, development of songwriting, and the hilariously necessary in-band relationship that inevitably crashes and burns, but does so somehow amicably, and renders us with music made by people with nothing (left) to hide (from).
_ [First added to this chart: 10/10/2014]
She's not there
Where she won't care."
9.5/10
I used to be utterly obsessed with Shoegaze music, old versions of this very chart serve as demonstrable proof. At some point in my teen years, where I had somewhat of a disposable income from assistant tennis coaching, I learnt what a "guitar pedal" was, and started to frantically buy them up as if the end of the world was approaching. Shoegaze music's name is derived entirely from the fact band-members while playing were always staring at their feet (or, rather, pedalboards). In any case, I loved (and still do) MBV, Slowdive, Ride, and other smaller acts like Swervedriver or Lush, especially back then because I was determined to figure out how they made these washed out dreamlike haunting yet distorted and loud sounds; I wanted to reproduce them. One of the things that has stayed with me the most was the breakthrough I had discovering Kevin Shields secret "reverse reverb," an esoteric effect employed via (if I remember correctly) a Yamaha multi-effects unit - the rackmounted things that became in vogue for awhile and then died out shortly thereafter; turns out guitarists don't care for studio equipment as much as the market may have predicted. Reproducing it was difficult because I didn't have the particular Yamaha multi-effects unit, and by this stage people had gotten wind of the fact MBV's sound can hypothetically be boiled down to this effect + a lot of delay, fuzz, and overdrive, meaning the things were bloody expensive. I found a hack way around it though with a particular pedal that emulated the effect, and it worked particularly well when placed before the distortion section of the pedalchain. This is a counter-intuitive thing to do, usually you put modulation effects after distortion effects, otherwise you end up distorting the modulation rather than modulating the distortion. In a way, Loveless is kinda just that: distorting the modulation. Actually it's a hell of a lot more than that, it's the culmination of years of sonic refinement, development of songwriting, and the hilariously necessary in-band relationship that inevitably crashes and burns, but does so somehow amicably, and renders us with music made by people with nothing (left) to hide (from).
_ [First added to this chart: 10/10/2014]
Year of Release:
1991
Appears in:
Rank Score:
33,812
Rank in 1991:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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"Сколько тысяч слов - всё впустую,
Или кража огня у слепых богов."
"How many thousands of words - all in vain
Either stealing fire from the gods or the blind."
9.5/10
_ [First added to this chart: 10/23/2014]
Или кража огня у слепых богов."
"How many thousands of words - all in vain
Either stealing fire from the gods or the blind."
9.5/10
_ [First added to this chart: 10/23/2014]
Buy album
- #Sponsored
"Every time I hear 'em sayin'
That there's no way to delay
That trouble comin' every day."
9.5/10
_ [First added to this chart: 07/26/2014]
That there's no way to delay
That trouble comin' every day."
9.5/10
_ [First added to this chart: 07/26/2014]
Year of Release:
1966
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,765
Rank in 1966:
Rank in 1960s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
"Can I go on with this train of events?
Disturbing and purging my mind,
Back out of my duties, when all's said and done,
I know that I'll lose every time."
9.5/10
_ [First added to this chart: 10/22/2015]
Disturbing and purging my mind,
Back out of my duties, when all's said and done,
I know that I'll lose every time."
9.5/10
_ [First added to this chart: 10/22/2015]
Year of Release:
1980
Appears in:
Rank Score:
16,788
Rank in 1980:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
"I can recommend angels
I've watched as they've made a man strong
Oh so strong."
9.5/10
_ [First added to this chart: 01/02/2018]
I've watched as they've made a man strong
Oh so strong."
9.5/10
_ [First added to this chart: 01/02/2018]
Year of Release:
1969
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,267
Rank in 1969:
Rank in 1960s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
"You're asking me will my love grow
I don't know, I don't know
You stick around and it may show
I don't know, I don't know."
9.5/10
The Beatles deserve their place here, in fact it's quite hard to resist including more Beatles. Abbey Road remains a relatively tentative favourite, a sort of gun-to-my-head pick, let's call it. However, to lean into the incessant ordering of best to worst, and to grab the opportunity to give some hot takes:
If your top Beatles pick is Abbey Road, The White Album, or Revolver, I respect you.
If your top Beatles pick is Rubber Soul, or Let it Be, okay I guess?
If your top Beatles pick is Magical Mystery Tour, you're a fool (On the Hill)
If your top Beatles album is Please Please Me, With the Beatles, A Hard Day's Night, Beatles for Sale, or Help! You need some help.
I've missed one haven't I...?
_ [First added to this chart: 03/08/2018]
I don't know, I don't know
You stick around and it may show
I don't know, I don't know."
9.5/10
The Beatles deserve their place here, in fact it's quite hard to resist including more Beatles. Abbey Road remains a relatively tentative favourite, a sort of gun-to-my-head pick, let's call it. However, to lean into the incessant ordering of best to worst, and to grab the opportunity to give some hot takes:
If your top Beatles pick is Abbey Road, The White Album, or Revolver, I respect you.
If your top Beatles pick is Rubber Soul, or Let it Be, okay I guess?
If your top Beatles pick is Magical Mystery Tour, you're a fool (On the Hill)
If your top Beatles album is Please Please Me, With the Beatles, A Hard Day's Night, Beatles for Sale, or Help! You need some help.
I've missed one haven't I...?
_ [First added to this chart: 03/08/2018]
Year of Release:
1969
Appears in:
Rank Score:
65,319
Rank in 1969:
Rank in 1960s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
"Jiskra bílého inferna,
Pod nímž spánek snů lsti snová,
Kreslí znamení a slova
Ostrých nožek hroty šesti.
Splnění i zmatek věstí."
"Sparkle white inferno
Under, where dreams dream
Deceit, drawing signs and words
Sharp as spikes six feet."
9.5/10
_ [First added to this chart: 06/04/2015]
Pod nímž spánek snů lsti snová,
Kreslí znamení a slova
Ostrých nožek hroty šesti.
Splnění i zmatek věstí."
"Sparkle white inferno
Under, where dreams dream
Deceit, drawing signs and words
Sharp as spikes six feet."
9.5/10
_ [First added to this chart: 06/04/2015]
Buy album
- #Sponsored
"But I know they're gonna make it
Just one more night
Too many words, too many words."
9.5/10
_ [First added to this chart: 03/09/2015]
Just one more night
Too many words, too many words."
9.5/10
_ [First added to this chart: 03/09/2015]
Year of Release:
1994
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,723
Rank in 1994:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
"Now I don't mind choppin' wood
And I don't care if the money's no good."
9.5/10
_ [First added to this chart: 07/26/2014]
And I don't care if the money's no good."
9.5/10
_ [First added to this chart: 07/26/2014]
Year of Release:
1969
Appears in:
Rank Score:
6,923
Rank in 1969:
Rank in 1960s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 100. Page 4 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 | 0 | 0% | |
| 1950s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1960s | 14 | 14% | |
| 1970s | 28 | 28% | |
| 1980s | 20 | 20% | |
| 1990s | 29 | 29% | |
| 2000s | 8 | 8% | |
| 2010s | 1 | 1% | |
| 2020s | 0 | 0% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
 |
|
|
| Sparks | 1 | 1% | |
| The Magnetic Fields | 1 | 1% | |
| dEUS | 1 | 1% | |
| Einstürzende Neubauten | 1 | 1% | |
| Radiohead | 1 | 1% | |
| The Doors | 1 | 1% | |
| LCD Soundsystem | 1 | 1% | |
| Show all | |||
| Country | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
40 | 40% | |
 |
26 | 26% | |
 |
6 | 6% | |
 |
6 | 6% | |
 |
3 | 3% | |
 |
3 | 3% | |
| |
3 | 3% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums chart changes
There have been no changes to this chart.Top 100 Greatest Music Albums similar charts
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- Best Artists by
flamingyesdept (2023) - PPV Overall Ranking by bea (2021)
- BEA Forum Regulars' Top 100 (2015) by
HigherThanTheSun (2015) - Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums ratings
93/100 (from 119 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 119 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
80/100  | 03/19/2024 11:07 |  Tamthebam | | 85/100 |
85/100 | 03/05/2024 19:32 | martintho | | 74/100 |
90/100 | 02/18/2024 09:24 | Tuur | | 86/100 |
 85/100 | 07/02/2023 08:02 |  MadhattanJack | | 84/100 |
| 100/100 | 11/10/2022 16:03 | Rm12398 | | 89/100 |
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 93.2/100, a mean average of 93.2/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 93.8/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 8.2.
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums favourites
Showing latest 20 members who have added this chart as a favourite | Show all 28 members
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums comments
Showing latest 10 comments | Show all 68 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 Rm12398 11/10/2022 16:03
Love the Murmur- R.E.M. placement here! Have always felt that was my favourite record of theirs, so it's nice to see my opinion validated with your chart. “La Máquina De Hacer Pájaros” is fantastic to see here as well. Massively underrated on this site in my opinion. Love the multicultural feel of the list as well. Have recently been trying to get into more international music so your chart may be a great help to do that.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
80/100
From 
cartoken 11/10/2022 09:53
cartoken 11/10/2022 09:53
Thanks for the comment and the rating.
Great tastes as well, very heavy on classical rock but still very sold chart
Kudos for including Youth of America 👌
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
100/100
From Johnnyo 11/09/2022 08:36
Fabulous chart. One of the best on the site
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
85/100
From Moondance 11/09/2022 02:54
Was really hoping to see a few more exceptional Australian albums in the chart. Otherwise, cool chart and appreciate the effort in putting together your comments.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | -1 votes (0 helpful | 1 unhelpful)
100/100
From flamingyesdept 10/05/2022 08:04
flamingyesdept 10/05/2022 08:04
Still my favourite chart! SMiLE Sessions really is the greatest thing in popular music ♥
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
100/100
From rubysmith 07/21/2022 11:17
Nice.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
100/100
From 
peate754 12/21/2021 00:48
peate754 12/21/2021 00:48
Wow Great job and very good list
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
95/100
From 
seb7 12/07/2020 19:34
seb7 12/07/2020 19:34
one of the best lists on the site. Creative, methodical, and just overall cool
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
95/100
From 
EyeKanFly 09/11/2020 16:18
EyeKanFly 09/11/2020 16:18
I'll definitely use this for recs!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
100/100
From 
DommeDamian 09/11/2020 08:48
DommeDamian 09/11/2020 08:48
Brrrrrrravo!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
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| Best Artists of 1968 | |
|---|---|
| 1. The Beatles | |
| 2. Jimi Hendrix | |
| 3. The Jimi Hendrix Experience | |
| 4. Van Morrison | |
| 5. The Zombies | |
| 6. The Kinks | |
| 7. The Velvet Underground | |
| 8. The Rolling Stones | |
| 9. The Band | |
| 10. Simon & Garfunkel | |
| 11. Johnny Cash | |
| 12. The Byrds | |
| 13. Aretha Franklin | |
| 14. Frank Zappa | |
| 15. Pink Floyd | |
| 16. The Doors | |
| 17. The Mothers Of Invention | |
| 18. Big Brother And The Holding Company | |
| 19. Os Mutantes | |
| 20. Cream |