Top 100 Greatest Music Albums
by zgarrison88 
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 13 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.
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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]
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:
Rank Score:
20,293
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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]
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:
Rank Score:
63,588
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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]
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:
Rank Score:
60,023
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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]
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:
Rank Score:
39,895
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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]
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:
Rank Score:
38,630
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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]
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:
Rank Score:
57,231
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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]
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:
Rank Score:
44,640
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Average Rating:
Comments:
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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]
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:
Rank Score:
43,840
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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]
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:
Rank Score:
42,289
Rank in 2000:
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Average Rating:
Comments:
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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]
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]
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% | |
| Pink Floyd | 3 | 3% | |
| U2 | 3 | 3% | |
| Sufjan Stevens | 3 | 3% | |
| Show all | |||
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 |
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums ratings
Average Rating = (n ÷ (n + m)) × av + (m ÷ (n + m)) × AVwhere:
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 30 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ! | 12/25/2021 07:00 | craab | 15 | 95/100 |
| ! | 11/29/2021 12:42 |  Cytoma | 171 | 90/100 |
| ! | 11/25/2021 16:40 |  Tamthebam | 645 | 85/100 |
| ! | 11/25/2021 13:20 |  desh79 | 1,278 | 93/100 |
| ! | 02/25/2021 02:51 | RoundTheBend | 372 | 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 12% 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.
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums favourites
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums comments
Showing latest 10 comments | Show all 13 comments |
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From craab 12/25/2021 07:00 | #277953
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)
From 
Keatownrodriguez 02/24/2021 20:39 | #266666
Keatownrodriguez 02/24/2021 20:39 | #266666
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 | #266656
AMEIER 02/24/2021 17:05 | #266656
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)
From mrmcrook 01/27/2021 01:24 | #265168
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)
From 
Larcx13 11/19/2020 23:21 | #261117
Larcx13 11/19/2020 23:21 | #261117
You like it epic.
Good list
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From leniad 11/12/2020 03:45 | #260689
what is Switchfoot?
the rest good
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From ThuramThugood 04/17/2020 07:03 | #250093
This comment is beneath your viewing threshold.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | -5 votes (0 helpful | 5 unhelpful)
From martinjaa 04/16/2020 23:59 | #250064
Pretty good! You cant go wrong with these albums
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | -1 votes (0 helpful | 1 unhelpful)
From 
911Turbo 04/16/2020 19:36 | #250037
911Turbo 04/16/2020 19:36 | #250037
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)
From LankyLen 10/09/2019 13:02 | #243580
Love your list. Need to check out Switchfoot, though
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (1 helpful | 1 unhelpful)
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