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.
Buy album 
- #Sponsored
"Blood and tears from old Japan
Caravans and lots of jam and maids of honor
Singing crying singing tediously."
9.5/10
_ [First added to this chart: 03/20/2016]
Caravans and lots of jam and maids of honor
Singing crying singing tediously."
9.5/10
_ [First added to this chart: 03/20/2016]
Year of Release:
1973
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,356
Rank in 1973:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
15
Buy album
- #Sponsored
"From this time, unchained
We're all looking at a different picture
Through this new frame of mind."
9.5/10
_ [First added to this chart: 10/23/2014]
We're all looking at a different picture
Through this new frame of mind."
9.5/10
_ [First added to this chart: 10/23/2014]
Year of Release:
1994
Appears in:
Rank Score:
17,145
Rank in 1994:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
"But hey, man, you can take it
As long as they don't shove you out in the cold
It's not getting better, no, it's not getting better, man
It's just getting old."
9.5/10
_ [First added to this chart: 12/17/2020]
As long as they don't shove you out in the cold
It's not getting better, no, it's not getting better, man
It's just getting old."
9.5/10
_ [First added to this chart: 12/17/2020]
Year of Release:
2007
Appears in:
Rank Score:
13,670
Rank in 2007:
Rank in 2000s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
"Cause London is drowning
and I live by the river."
9.5/10
_ [First added to this chart: 07/26/2014]
and I live by the river."
9.5/10
_ [First added to this chart: 07/26/2014]
Year of Release:
1979
Appears in:
Rank Score:
36,238
Rank in 1979:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
"Maybe this is how all young ideas die,
But they didn't have to die."
9.5/10
_ [First added to this chart: 05/25/2015]
But they didn't have to die."
9.5/10
_ [First added to this chart: 05/25/2015]
Buy album
- #Sponsored
"We're trapped in the belly of this horrible machine
And the machine is bleeding to death."
9.5/10
_ [First added to this chart: 10/23/2014]
And the machine is bleeding to death."
9.5/10
_ [First added to this chart: 10/23/2014]
Year of Release:
1997
Appears in:
Rank Score:
6,092
Rank in 1997:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
-Instrumental
9.5/10
_ [First added to this chart: 05/25/2015]
9.5/10
_ [First added to this chart: 05/25/2015]
Year of Release:
1996
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,509
Rank in 1996:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
"From our complete outfit
For a double suicide
I choose, the palm, that crosses
The smart Tahitian shirt."
9.5/10
There's a song on this album that is very important to me because i feel like it should encapsulate how I felt after something that happened to me, and I sometimes find it does, but mostly i feel like fate slipped and the circumstance went awry. The moment was meant to be as Penguin Cafe beautifully, blissfully and sorrowfully conjure up but it all went terribly wrong, or somehow just wasn't meant to be. I found this on vinyl not too long ago and it gets span quite a lot.
_ [First added to this chart: 01/13/2017]
For a double suicide
I choose, the palm, that crosses
The smart Tahitian shirt."
9.5/10
There's a song on this album that is very important to me because i feel like it should encapsulate how I felt after something that happened to me, and I sometimes find it does, but mostly i feel like fate slipped and the circumstance went awry. The moment was meant to be as Penguin Cafe beautifully, blissfully and sorrowfully conjure up but it all went terribly wrong, or somehow just wasn't meant to be. I found this on vinyl not too long ago and it gets span quite a lot.
_ [First added to this chart: 01/13/2017]
Buy album
- #Sponsored
"Used to be one of the rotten ones and I liked you for that
Now you're all gone, got your make-up on and you're not coming back."
9.5/10
_ [First added to this chart: 02/09/2016]
Now you're all gone, got your make-up on and you're not coming back."
9.5/10
_ [First added to this chart: 02/09/2016]
Year of Release:
2002
Appears in:
Rank Score:
6,143
Rank in 2002:
Rank in 2000s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
"Blues that make the walls rush in
Walls that tell you where you've been
And you've been to the hollow
Lonely women yeah."
9.5/10
_ [First added to this chart: 12/06/2017]
Walls that tell you where you've been
And you've been to the hollow
Lonely women yeah."
9.5/10
_ [First added to this chart: 12/06/2017]
Year of Release:
1968
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,494
Rank in 1968:
Rank in 1960s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 100. Page 7 of 10
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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 | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
 |
|
|
| LCD Soundsystem | 1 | 1% | |
| La Máquina De Hacer Pájaros | 1 | 1% | |
| The Beach Boys | 1 | 1% | |
| Аквариум [Aquarium] | 1 | 1% | |
| Sweet Trip | 1 | 1% | |
| Robert Wyatt | 1 | 1% | |
| Serge Gainsbourg | 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
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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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Showing latest 20 members who have added this chart as a favourite | Show all 28 members
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums comments
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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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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.