Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by zgarrison88 (2021)

Music ought to serve us. It ought to help us explore ourselves and the world we live in. It ought to express the true excitements of life. It ought to bring clarity to our lives by capturing a moment, an emotion, something beyond ourselves.

These are the Top 100 Albums, in my opinion, that do that best--combining high quality music with the ability to leave the listener better off than when they started.

• Chart updated: 04/26/2021 15:15
• (Created: 01/24/2015 19:20).
• Chart size: 100 albums.

There are 14 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 100 Greatest Music Albums has an average rating of 88 out of 100 (from 30 votes). Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.

• Summary
• Composition
• Ratings
• Favourites
• Comments
• Your feedback

View the complete list of 46,000 charts on BestEverAlbums.com from The Charts page.

Sort by

• Overall Rank
• Num. Charts
• Avg. Rating
• Num. Ratings
• Release Date
• Title
• Artist
• Date Added

1. (=)

Illinois 

 Sufjan Stevens

Buy album

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Genre: Folk, Indie Rock
Top Tracks: Concerning The UFO Sighting Near Highland, Illinois; John Wayne Gacy, Jr.; Chicago; Casimir Pulaski Day

A beautifully composed album featuring Emerson-esque lyricism makes for a massively enjoyable, thought-provoking ride, constituting, for me, the greatest album of all time.

Best Line: "Goldenrod and the four H stone
The things I brought you
When I found out you had cancer of the bone" [First added to this chart: 01/04/2019]

Year of Release:

2005

Appears in:

1,505 charts

Rank Score:

25,767

Rank in 2005:

1

Rank in 2000s:

5

Overall Rank:

45

Average Rating:

 86 (1,761 votes)

Comments:

163

2. (=)

OK Computer 

 Radiohead

Buy album

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Genre: Alternative Rock
Top Tracks: Paranoid Android, Exit Music (For A Film), Karma Police, The Tourist
Parental Advisory: EXPLICIT - (Fitter Happier)

Disjointed lyrics for a fractured, technology-laden society. OK Computer is a must-hear masterpiece.

Best Line: “Hey man, slow down.
Idiot, slow down.” [First added to this chart: 03/22/2016]

Year of Release:

1997

Appears in:

4,157 charts

Rank Score:

92,605

Rank in 1997:

1

Rank in 1990s:

1

Overall Rank:

1

Average Rating:

 92 (5,240 votes)

Comments:

814

3. (=)

The Dark Side Of The Moon 

 Pink Floyd

Buy album

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Genre: Progressive Rock
Top Track: Brain Damage/Eclipse
Parental Advisory: EXPLICIT - (Speak to Me, Money)

Wonderfully crafted and horribly depressing. This album explores themes of struggle and madness via some of the best songs you've ever heard. Certainly worth a listen, if only to have a black backdrop for the light.

Best Line: “And all that is now and all that is gone
And all that's to come and everything under the sun is in tune
But the sun is eclipsed by the moon” [First added to this chart: 03/22/2016]

Year of Release:

1973

Appears in:

3,874 charts

Rank Score:

85,553

Rank in 1973:

1

Rank in 1970s:

1

Overall Rank:

2

Average Rating:

 92 (4,967 votes)

Comments:

558

4. (=)

The Velvet Underground & Nico 

 The Velvet Underground & Nico

Buy album

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Genre: Art Rock, Psychedelic Rock
Top Tracks: Heroin, Venus in Furs

Lyrically, this is an honest look at life's underbelly: drugs, prostitution, relationships gone wrong. Musically, it's like nothing you've ever heard. Makes for a one-of-a-kind listening experience.

Best Line: “I don't know just where I'm going
But I'm gonna try for the kingdom, if I can” [First added to this chart: 03/24/2016]

Year of Release:

1967

Appears in:

2,854 charts

Rank Score:

54,563

Rank in 1967:

2

Rank in 1960s:

4

Overall Rank:

10

Average Rating:

 89 (3,300 votes)

Comments:

339

5. (=)

Untitled (Led Zeppelin IV) 

 Led Zeppelin

Buy album

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Genre: Hard Rock, Folk, Blues Rock
Top Tracks: Stairway to Heaven, When the Levee Breaks

A (if not THE) quintessential rock-n-roll album. Energetic, creative perfection.

Best Line: “Yes, there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run
There's still time to change the road you're on.” [First added to this chart: 03/24/2016]

Year of Release:

1971

Appears in:

2,962 charts

Rank Score:

53,496

Rank in 1971:

1

Rank in 1970s:

4

Overall Rank:

11

Average Rating:

 90 (3,750 votes)

Comments:

296

6. (=)

Abbey Road 

 The Beatles

Buy album

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Genre: Rock
Top Tracks: Come Together, Here Comes the Sun, You Never Give Me Your Money - The End

This was the end of the Beatles, and they all knew it. It strikes the perfect balance of what the Beatles had always been and lets them go out on the best high note in music history.

Best Line: “Here comes the sun, doo da doo doo
Here comes the sun, and I say
It's all right” [First added to this chart: 03/22/2016]

Year of Release:

1969

Appears in:

3,448 charts

Rank Score:

75,654

Rank in 1969:

1

Rank in 1960s:

1

Overall Rank:

3

Average Rating:

 92 (4,307 votes)

Comments:

447

7. (=)

Wish You Were Here 

 Pink Floyd

Buy album

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Genre: Progressive Rock, Art Rock
Top Track: Shine On You Crazy Diamond, Parts I-V

A beautiful tribute to former band member Syd Barrett (whose initials are referenced in the title Shine on You crazy Diamond), who left the band after their first album due to mental health issues. A five-song masterpiece.

Best Line: “Remember when you were young
You shone like the Sun
Shine on, you crazy diamond” [First added to this chart: 03/27/2016]

Year of Release:

1975

Appears in:

2,792 charts

Rank Score:

59,689

Rank in 1975:

1

Rank in 1970s:

2

Overall Rank:

8

Average Rating:

 91 (3,750 votes)

Comments:

294

8. (=)

In Rainbows 

 Radiohead

Buy album

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Genre: Art Rock, Experimental Rock
Top Tracks: Reckoner, House of Cards, Videotape

Wonderful, beautiful, sonic emotion.

Best Line: “When I'm at the pearly gates
This'll be on my videotape” [First added to this chart: 03/24/2016]

Year of Release:

2007

Appears in:

2,700 charts

Rank Score:

59,943

Rank in 2007:

1

Rank in 2000s:

2

Overall Rank:

7

Average Rating:

 89 (3,641 votes)

Comments:

370

9. (=)

Kid A 

 Radiohead

Buy album

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Genre: Electronica, Experimental Rock
Top Tracks: Everything In Its Right Place, How To Disappear Completely, Motion Picture Soundtrack

On the verge of mental breakdown after an exhausting OK Computer tour, Radiohead put out this album instead, accompanied by fractured lyrics and an entirely new aesthetic. Upon recently re-listening to it, it is absolutely phenomenal. Bravo!

Best Line: “Who's in a bunker? Who's in a bunker?
Women and children first” [First added to this chart: 03/24/2016]

Year of Release:

2000

Appears in:

3,026 charts

Rank Score:

62,689

Rank in 2000:

1

Rank in 2000s:

1

Overall Rank:

5

Average Rating:

 89 (4,143 votes)

Comments:

537

10. (=)

The Beautiful Letdown 

 Switchfoot

Buy album

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Genre: Alternative Rock
Top Tracks: This Is Your Life, Dare You to Move, The Beautiful Letdown, Gone

Obviously, you wouldn't find this album on most lists. Vastly underrated, Switchfoot has been called "The Thinking Man's Band", and this album was my absolute favorite of theirs (of anyone's, for that matter) throughout adolescence. Though it falls short in musical quality compared to some of the lower-ranking albums on this list, it remains a great album with lyrics in particular that are among the finest this reviewer has ever heard.

Best Line: “In a world full of bitter pain and bitter doubts
I was trying so hard to fit in, fit in
Until I found out
That I don't belong here” [First added to this chart: 03/22/2016]

Year of Release:

2003

Appears in:

71 charts

Rank Score:

474

Rank in 2003:

65

Rank in 2000s:

564

Overall Rank:

3,170

Average Rating:

 67 (143 votes)

Comments:

16

• « prev
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• ...
• 9
• 10
• next »
• Goto Page: 

Total albums: 100. Page 1 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	13	13%
1970s	20	20%
1980s	5	5%
1990s	12	12%
2000s	24	24%
2010s	21	21%
2020s	1	1%

Artist	Albums	%
Bob Dylan	5	5%
Radiohead	5	5%
Switchfoot	4	4%
Josh Garrels	4	4%
Sufjan Stevens	3	3%
Pink Floyd	3	3%
U2	3	3%
Show all

Country	Albums	%
	60	60%
	27	27%
	4	4%
	3	3%
	3	3%
	2	2%
	1	1%

Top 100 Greatest Music Albums chart changes

Biggest climbers
Up 1 from 96th to 95th Where The Light Shines Through by Switchfoot

Biggest fallers
Down 1 from 95th to 96th Vice Verses by Switchfoot

Top 100 Greatest Music Albums similar charts

• Ya joking? Should've been higher! All Time edition by Purplepash (2022)
• An Objective Ranking Of BEA'S Top 100... by covecove (2017)
• An Objective Ranking of the BEA Top 100 by PaperVinnie (2018)
• BEA's Top 100 re-ranked by EyeKanFly (2020)
• BEA's Top 100 - The Correct Order by babyBlueSedan (2020)
• Re-Ranking BEA's Top 100 by sunnydhamm (2020)
• Overall for yours truly by RoundTheBend (2020)
• My Personal Ranking of Best Ever Albums' Top 100 by Xxnu99etxX (2020)
• Rearrange Top 100 by Larcx13 (2020)
• BEA top 100 reranked by LedZep (2020)

Top 100 Greatest Music Albums similarity to your chart(s)

Top 100 Greatest Music Albums ratings

Showing latest 5 ratings for this chart. | Show all 30 ratings for this chart.

Sort ratings

• Rating
• Date updated
• Member

Rating	Date updated	Member	Chart ratings	Avg. chart rating
95/100	12/25/2021 07:00	craab	9	94/100
80/100	11/29/2021 12:42	Cytoma	179	90/100
85/100	11/25/2021 16:40	Tamthebam	390	85/100
100/100	11/25/2021 13:20	desh79	1,293	93/100
90/100	02/25/2021 02:51	RoundTheBend	374	92/100

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 10% of all charts on BestEverAlbums.com. This chart has a Bayesian average rating of 87.8/100, a mean average of 85.7/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 88.4/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 17.1.

• Related links:
• Top charts

Please log in or register if you want to be able to leave a rating

Top 100 Greatest Music Albums comments

Showing latest 10 comments | Show all 14 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)

Rating:  

95/100

From craab 12/25/2021 07:00

I love the values vision of your chart. Thank you! I LOVE Switchfoot, and am glad to see another fan out there on BEA! Based on your chart, I think you should check out the Hold Steady album: Separation Sunday.

Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

Rating:  

90/100

From Keatownrodriguez 02/24/2021 20:39

Illinois is so deserving of a number 1 spot. Nice chart

Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

From AMEIER 02/24/2021 17:05

What a beautiful and honest chart! Love it!!
Strong to your beliefs this is good.
Also enjoyed seeing Switchfoot getting the credit they deserve. Cheers

Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

Rating:  

65/100

From mrmcrook 01/27/2021 01:24

The joy of music is how varied it is and how different people's tastes are. Fascinating list. I've never seem one before with so many Christmas based albums in it. I liked your notes indicating what genre each album was in. And as you said, 'what makes the best music for each one of us is it's ability to leave us feeling better off than when they started'.

Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

Rating:  

90/100

From Larcx13 11/19/2020 23:21

You like it epic.
Good list

Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

Rating:  

90/100

From leniad 11/12/2020 03:45

what is Switchfoot?
the rest good

Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

Rating:  

5/100

From ThuramThugood 04/17/2020 07:03

This comment is beneath your viewing threshold.

Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | -5 votes (0 helpful | 5 unhelpful)

Rating:  

90/100

From martinjaa 04/16/2020 23:59

Pretty good! You cant go wrong with these albums

Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | -1 votes (0 helpful | 1 unhelpful)

Rating:  

100/100

From 911Turbo 04/16/2020 19:36

you have alot of great albums and a few surprises.
im definitely going to have to listen to switchfoot- since you give it such high value.
i think all the critics/members will be faced with this observation.
But, thank you, for making me aware of switchfoot. i hope it is as good as you think it is.

Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

Rating:  

75/100

From LankyLen 10/09/2019 13:02

Love your list. Need to check out Switchfoot, though

Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (1 helpful | 1 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!