Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by DeusExMackia

Yo! Thanks for checking out my list of my favourite albums ever. Like most people on BEA, I listen to an absolute ton of music, a lot of which isn't on here. This then is a list of what I consider to be give or take the best music ever made (in my humble opinion).


As of 28th November 2022, this is the rough outline:
- Positions 1 to 20 are as good as it gets. Ordered based on what I'd choose with a gun to my head, so the ones nearer the top are 'better', but it's all relative.

- 20 to ~60 are the albums I'd consider "runner-up best albums ever", a.k.a. "there's not enough room to fit everything into the top 10" and really might as well just be one big joint position.

- Everything below is structured to reflect how highly I regard it, but all can be considered "albums to listen to before you die (in my humble opinion)".


Also, the comments I have made about each album; for some records I could wax lyrical about them for days, and for others I can barely say a word. This, however, in no way determines whether I like a record more than another. And for quite a few of them, I can't even properly articulate why I love them.

For something extra, here are my favorite artists of all time. It's not properly reflected in my choice of albums.
In a rough-but-no-particular order:
The Smiths, David Bowie, Sonic Youth, Joy Division, Pink Floyd, Kate Bush, Fleetwood Mac, R.E.M., Aretha Franklin, Nina Simone, Diana Ross, Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever, Idles, Fontaines D.C., Lou Reed, Nirvana, Radiohead, New Order, The Doors, The Clash, Prince, Gorillaz, Pet Shop Boys, Suede, The Rolling Stones, Talking Heads, Madonna, Squid, Little Simz, Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj, Janis Joplin, Bruce Springsteen, Pavement, Sophie, Beyoncé, Grace Jones, Lana Del Rey, Kraftwerk, FKA twigs, Slowdive, MBV, Missy Elliott

----
Update 12/11/23: Some big ol' changes in the midfield. With the leaves falling off the trees I've conveniently remembered how obsessed with Slowdive I've always been, so welcome Souvlaki to the top 20 at last. A few other big moves.

Update 21/09/23: Welcome back Wish You Were Here, gone for 2.5 years, and now back on here because I don't think life is quite right without it. Far lower than before, but that's okay. A recent spur of 60s and 70s listening for me has led to the Stones gaining a new entry, and OK Computer making a return too. Two 2010s EPs from some of the most exciting artists living today - Miss Azealia and Miss Twigs - join the mid-pack in the form of 1991 and M3LL155X respectively.

Update 28/11/22: A great purge has occurred. Wholesale reorder. New entries from across the universe. Shock and Awe in the top 20 - I've finally let go of DSOTM's number 2 spot. It better reflects who I am now and what I love. The beautiful thing with a having a list like this is the work it takes to cultivate it and keep it in tune with who you are. See the previous versions of this chart for my older notes :)

Update 21/01/22: Things continues to move with the addition of albums from 2020 and 2021. We're well on the way to seeing the records from the last 30 years outweighing the records older than 30 years.

Update 30/03/21: It's a shock twist! The Top 10 has been updated for the first time since December 2017. Truly glacial pace of change up there, and not without good reason. Lou Reed's Transformer drops 1 place to 11, and still means the world to me. Welcome in our new Number 10 album, Loveless by My Bloody Valentine. A long time in the climbing for this position, I've finally accepted that I love this album more than ranking will ever be able to quantify, and that it deserves to be up there.

Update 09/02/21: Farewell to Wish You Were Here. Tough decision, but I haven't revisited it for so long now. Having it in the Top 20 seemed hard enough, but to be honest, my taste has changed. Welcoming in Bowie's Glastonbury 2000 set and Talking Heads's Stop Making Sense. Two pieces of absolute live perfection to enjoy whilst we aren't allowed to go to real gigs.

There are 22 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 100 Greatest Music Albums has an average rating of 89 out of 100 (from 53 votes). Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.

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Collector's summaryLog in or register to discover the great albums that are missing from your music collection!
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Buy album United States
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Best Songs: Never Fight A Man With A Perm, Danny Nedelko, Samaritans

The most essential record in years. A catalogue of insanely catchy socio-political anthems that tap right into the heart of the struggles and problems modern Britain faces in the most happy-angry way possible.
[First added to this chart: 01/14/2019]
Year of Release:
2018
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,304
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Comments:
32. (=)
On The Radio 
Compilation
Buy album United States
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Best songs: Love To Love You Baby, I Feel Love, Hot Stuff

Her best hits, mixed to perfection. As reliable a Friday night just-got-off-work-pour-me-a-drink soundtrack as it gets. Affirms my queerness and my undying love of disco.
[First added to this chart: 12/12/2022]
Year of Release:
1979
Appears in:
Rank Score:
130
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Buy album United States
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Best Songs: Graceland, Homeless, Crazy Love, Vol II

There's a joy and brightness in the words and sounds of Graceland that isn't present anywhere else. Simon managed to capture the essence of warmth and convert it into music.
[First added to this chart: 10/23/2014]
Year of Release:
1986
Appears in:
Rank Score:
11,887
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Comments:
Buy album United States
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Best Songs: Stylo, On Melancholy Hill, Plastic Beach

A bridge between the happy-clappy environmentalism that came before it and its now far graver and more immediate tone we have today. Exactly as Snoop says, "Welcome to the world of the Plastic Beach"; you lose yourself in the world of this album every time you play it, and frankly it's hard to leave. Book-ended by the sound of waves rolling onto the shore and packed with enough synthy, hip-hoppy, altnerative-neo-whatever-your-nan-calls-it goodness to burst.
[First added to this chart: 09/11/2015]
Year of Release:
2010
Appears in:
Rank Score:
7,026
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Comments:
Buy album United States
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Best songs: Bring Da Ruckus, C.R.E.A.M., Protect Ya Neck

F*ck me. There are rap albums, and there's Enter The Wu-Tang. In just over 60 minutes, they pack gobsmacking beats, murder their lyricism, and as much lore as the Lord Of The Rings. As far as a definable vision, few other records from the last 30 years come close.
[First added to this chart: 06/29/2018]
Year of Release:
1993
Appears in:
Rank Score:
13,491
Rank in 1993:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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Best Songs: William It Was Really Noting, Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now, This Night Has Opened My Eyes

The Smiths at their early best. Summed up in an almost humbling capturing with its mix of live sessions and studio work, the genius of their songwriting shines through unhibited. An essential album in the self-pitying musical canon; romanticising the depression of this world never felt more pure.
[First added to this chart: 10/23/2014]
Year of Release:
1984
Appears in:
Rank Score:
6,838
Rank in 1984:
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Comments:
Buy album United States
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Best Songs: Smells Like Teen Spirit, In Bloom, Endless Nameless

O̶n̶ ̶r̶e̶f̶l̶e̶c̶t̶i̶o̶n̶,̶ ̶N̶e̶v̶e̶r̶m̶i̶n̶d̶ ̶d̶o̶e̶s̶n̶'̶t̶ ̶q̶u̶i̶t̶e̶ ̶h̶i̶t̶ ̶a̶s̶ ̶h̶a̶r̶d̶ ̶a̶s̶ ̶s̶o̶m̶e̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶i̶r̶ ̶o̶t̶h̶e̶r̶ ̶r̶e̶l̶e̶a̶s̶e̶s̶.̶ ̶B̶u̶t̶ ̶e̶v̶e̶r̶y̶o̶n̶e̶ ̶h̶a̶s̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶s̶t̶a̶r̶t̶ ̶s̶o̶m̶e̶w̶h̶e̶r̶e̶ ̶w̶i̶t̶h̶ ̶N̶i̶r̶v̶a̶n̶a̶,̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶w̶h̶e̶n̶ ̶a̶ ̶b̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶w̶h̶o̶'̶s̶ ̶s̶o̶u̶n̶d̶ ̶s̶h̶o̶u̶l̶d̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶f̶a̶r̶ ̶t̶o̶o̶ ̶o̶f̶f̶-̶p̶u̶t̶t̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶m̶o̶s̶t̶ ̶m̶a̶k̶e̶ ̶l̶o̶u̶d̶ ̶m̶u̶s̶i̶c̶ ̶t̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶a̶c̶c̶e̶s̶s̶i̶b̶l̶e̶,̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶ ̶h̶a̶v̶e̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶g̶i̶v̶e̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶m̶ ̶c̶r̶e̶d̶i̶t̶.̶ ̶

Edit: Loooooooooooool nope! Who the fuck am I kidding. Save for personal tastes, this is a pretty much perfect record. Nevermind turning 30 very soon has put back front and centre of my listening, I intend to ignore everything else and restart my Grunge phase for the third time in my life.

And on a side note, a big thank you to Endless, Nameless for shaving at least two years off my hearing.
[First added to this chart: 10/23/2014]
Year of Release:
1991
Appears in:
Rank Score:
42,253
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Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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Best Songs: Star Treatment, One Point Perspective, The Ultracheese

It's astounding how good I can be at stubbornly refusing to accept how much I actually love a record. In that regard, I've treated Tranquility Base very badly indeed. I hated this album on first listen, and I mean properly hated, and yet here we are now. The single greatest musical middle finger in years, and an outstanding left turn for the band. A story of sleaze, lost dreams and pianos from a moon resort in the near-distant future; to call it addictive and totally convincing would be an understatement.
[First added to this chart: 10/28/2019]
Year of Release:
2018
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,558
Rank in 2018:
Rank in 2010s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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Best Songs: The Bends, High & Dry, Fake Plastic Trees

Bounding, striding, lightyears ahead of almost any other alternative rock album. It's creative, it's changeable, it remains focused, it's remarkably enjoyable to listen to and Fake Plastic Trees has the power to split atoms apart. I think that's all the boxes ticked?
[First added to this chart: 09/11/2015]
Year of Release:
1995
Appears in:
Rank Score:
33,390
Rank in 1995:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
40. (=)
Buy album United States
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Best Songs: How To Disappear Completely, Optimistic, Motion Picture Soundtrack

What is Kid A?
It might be a concept album about the first human clone, or a reality check for the 21st century. Or a cynical look at capitalism. Or Thom Yorke's life conceptualised into music. I don't know. The music is hard enough to decipher, let alone the lyrics. In fact it's hard to distinguish between them at points. What.

And good holy lord, it just sounds so good. As the band guide you through their quaint dystopia, the soundscape they create captures you entirely. A gloriously saddening world to lose yourself in.
[First added to this chart: 03/02/2016]
Year of Release:
2000
Appears in:
Rank Score:
51,673
Rank in 2000:
Rank in 2000s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 100. Page 4 of 10

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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums composition

Decade Albums %


1930s 0 0%
1940s 0 0%
1950s 0 0%
1960s 3 3%
1970s 20 20%
1980s 18 18%
1990s 20 20%
2000s 7 7%
2010s 25 25%
2020s 7 7%
Artist Albums %


David Bowie 7 7%
Radiohead 4 4%
Pink Floyd 3 3%
Kendrick Lamar 3 3%
Nirvana 3 3%
The Smiths 3 3%
Sonic Youth 3 3%
Show all
Country Albums %


United Kingdom 51 51%
United States 38 38%
Mixed Nationality 5 5%
Germany 2 2%
Ireland 2 2%
Canada 1 1%
Australia 1 1%
Compilation? Albums %
No 97 97%
Yes 3 3%
Live? Albums %
No 95 95%
Yes 5 5%
Soundtrack? Albums %
No 97 97%
Yes 3 3%

Top 100 Greatest Music Albums chart changes

Biggest fallers
Faller Down 1 from 83rd to 84th
新しい日の誕生 [Birth Of A New Day]
by 2814
Faller Down 1 from 84th to 85th
Goo
by Sonic Youth
Faller Down 1 from 85th to 86th
Galore
by Kirsty MacColl
New entries
New entryThe White Room
by The KLF

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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums ratings

Average Rating: 
89/100 (from 53 votes)
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This chart is rated in the top 4% of all charts on BestEverAlbums.com. This chart has a Bayesian average rating of 89.3/100, a mean average of 89.9/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 89.9/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 7.2.

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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums comments

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From 11/02/2023 09:12
So no Beatles?
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
100/100
From 07/26/2022 00:35
Picks are absolutely fantastic and the commentary on how your music taste changes throughout must be great to look back on from a personal perspective. Great list!
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
100/100
From 01/05/2021 22:37
Any chart with this much commentary attached to it is an amazing one in my book!
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
90/100
From 12/02/2019 12:17
Gorillaz! I love every chart with gorillaz!
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (1 helpful | 1 unhelpful)
Rating:  
90/100
From 06/05/2019 17:15
Nice chart, I like a lot of your picks for best tracks, crazy how you're so into Bowie, only think a couple of his albums are really up there with the best of all time
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 11/13/2018 09:04
@Sandinistar very good question, they're up there mainly for personal reasons, as in they have personal meaning to myself. They all mean a lot to me in one way or another.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 11/13/2018 01:34
I'm intrigued, because almost all of your Top 10 are highly regarded albums that I like okay and think are good but think are overrated because they fail as cohesive albums. Would like to understand why you think they're all great, because I'm not opposed to that view I just don't fully get it.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
95/100
From 10/08/2018 14:42
Ha it's taken me long enough to figure out how this site works, but here I am bby xoxo
Love your music, you're such an inspiration, I can't wait for Saturday Night Alternative to start up again.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
95/100
From 10/08/2018 14:40
Ha it's taken me long enough to figure out how this site works, but here I am bby xoxo
Love your music, you're such an inspiration, I can't wait for Saturday Night Alternative to start up again.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
75/100
From 09/11/2018 21:54
A well curated collection with good descriptions. The "best songs" for every album are very helpful.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

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