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 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.
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Genre: Indie Rock, Psychedelic Folk
Top Tracks: The King Of Carrot Flowers Pt. One, In The Aeroplane Over The Sea
Parental Advisory: EXPLICIT (in background) - (Oh Comely)
Care to dwell on the tragedies of human existence? This is the album for you! Purportedly devoted to Anne Frank, it is both haunting and achingly beautiful.
Best Line: "“And one day we will die
And our ashes will fly
From the aeroplane over the sea" [First added to this chart: 07/19/2016]
Top Tracks: The King Of Carrot Flowers Pt. One, In The Aeroplane Over The Sea
Parental Advisory: EXPLICIT (in background) - (Oh Comely)
Care to dwell on the tragedies of human existence? This is the album for you! Purportedly devoted to Anne Frank, it is both haunting and achingly beautiful.
Best Line: "“And one day we will die
And our ashes will fly
From the aeroplane over the sea" [First added to this chart: 07/19/2016]
Year of Release:
1998
Appears in:
Rank Score:
39,524
Rank in 1998:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
425
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Genre: Indie Rock, Chamber Pop, Art Rock
Top Tracks: Wake Up, Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels), Neighborhood #3 (Power Out), Neighborhood #4 (7 Kettles)
An album about coming of age and feeling disenchanted about the life found on the other side. Nostalgic, emotional, powerful--an atheistic cry of discontent that attempts to soothe the burns from the funeral pyre.
Best Line: “And the power's out in the heart of man” [First added to this chart: 03/24/2016]
Top Tracks: Wake Up, Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels), Neighborhood #3 (Power Out), Neighborhood #4 (7 Kettles)
An album about coming of age and feeling disenchanted about the life found on the other side. Nostalgic, emotional, powerful--an atheistic cry of discontent that attempts to soothe the burns from the funeral pyre.
Best Line: “And the power's out in the heart of man” [First added to this chart: 03/24/2016]
Year of Release:
2004
Appears in:
Rank Score:
41,803
Rank in 2004:
Rank in 2000s:
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Genre: Folk Rock
Top Tracks: Tangled Up in Blue, Simple Twist of Fate, You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go, Buckets of Rain
Hands down, the best breakup album there ever was.
Best Line: “I like your smile
And your fingertips
I like the way that you move your hips
I like the cool way you look at me
Everything about you is bringing me misery” [First added to this chart: 03/27/2016]
Top Tracks: Tangled Up in Blue, Simple Twist of Fate, You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go, Buckets of Rain
Hands down, the best breakup album there ever was.
Best Line: “I like your smile
And your fingertips
I like the way that you move your hips
I like the cool way you look at me
Everything about you is bringing me misery” [First added to this chart: 03/27/2016]
Year of Release:
1975
Appears in:
Rank Score:
23,648
Rank in 1975:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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Genre: Folk Rock, Psychedelic Rock
Top Tracks: Alone Again Or, A House Is Not a Motel
Released in the Summer of Love, this album is "grim but blissful", from an artist "who intuitively understood that letting the sunshine in wouldn't instantly vaporize the world's (or his own) dark stuff". That being said, the sunshine certainly came through.
Best Line: “This is the only thing that I am sure of
And that's all that lives is gonna die
And there'll always be some people here to wonder why" [First added to this chart: 01/24/2019]
Top Tracks: Alone Again Or, A House Is Not a Motel
Released in the Summer of Love, this album is "grim but blissful", from an artist "who intuitively understood that letting the sunshine in wouldn't instantly vaporize the world's (or his own) dark stuff". That being said, the sunshine certainly came through.
Best Line: “This is the only thing that I am sure of
And that's all that lives is gonna die
And there'll always be some people here to wonder why" [First added to this chart: 01/24/2019]
Year of Release:
1967
Appears in:
Rank Score:
17,163
Rank in 1967:
Rank in 1960s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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Genre: Experimental Pop
Top Tracks: Peacebone, For Reverend Green, Fireworks
Parental Advisory: OVERTLY SEXUAL LANGUAGE - (For Reverend Green - "touches your breast")
Band member David Portner says, "we wanna play with your ears in terms of colours and space with sound." Indeed you do, David, indeed you do. A riot of an album with surprising lyrical depth.
Best Line: “Now I think it's alright to feel inhuman
Now I think that's a riot
Now I think it's alright we'll sing together
Now I think that's a riot” [First added to this chart: 10/08/2019]
Top Tracks: Peacebone, For Reverend Green, Fireworks
Parental Advisory: OVERTLY SEXUAL LANGUAGE - (For Reverend Green - "touches your breast")
Band member David Portner says, "we wanna play with your ears in terms of colours and space with sound." Indeed you do, David, indeed you do. A riot of an album with surprising lyrical depth.
Best Line: “Now I think it's alright to feel inhuman
Now I think that's a riot
Now I think it's alright we'll sing together
Now I think that's a riot” [First added to this chart: 10/08/2019]
Year of Release:
2007
Appears in:
Rank Score:
4,534
Rank in 2007:
Rank in 2000s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
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Genre: Progressive Pop, Chamber Pop
Top Tracks: Wouldn't It Be Nice, That's Not Me, God Only Knows, Caroline No
As one writer said, this is an album filled with "sad songs about loneliness and heartache; sad songs even about happiness." An essential listen that, despite its content, sure cheers me up anyway.
Best Line: “Wouldn't it be nice if we were older?
Then we wouldn't have to wait so long
And wouldn't it be nice to live together
In the kind of world where we belong?” [First added to this chart: 03/27/2016]
Top Tracks: Wouldn't It Be Nice, That's Not Me, God Only Knows, Caroline No
As one writer said, this is an album filled with "sad songs about loneliness and heartache; sad songs even about happiness." An essential listen that, despite its content, sure cheers me up anyway.
Best Line: “Wouldn't it be nice if we were older?
Then we wouldn't have to wait so long
And wouldn't it be nice to live together
In the kind of world where we belong?” [First added to this chart: 03/27/2016]
Year of Release:
1966
Appears in:
Rank Score:
45,127
Rank in 1966:
Rank in 1960s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
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Genre: Folk Rock
Top Tracks: Visions Of Johanna, I Want You, Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again, Sad Eyed Lady Of The Lowlands
Another Dylan classic that merits praise for getting the listener to really think, even if they're not really sure what on earth they're thinking about.
Best Line: “To live outside the law, you must be honest" [First added to this chart: 03/22/2016]
Top Tracks: Visions Of Johanna, I Want You, Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again, Sad Eyed Lady Of The Lowlands
Another Dylan classic that merits praise for getting the listener to really think, even if they're not really sure what on earth they're thinking about.
Best Line: “To live outside the law, you must be honest" [First added to this chart: 03/22/2016]
Year of Release:
1966
Appears in:
Rank Score:
27,839
Rank in 1966:
Rank in 1960s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
Genre: Progressive Rock
Top Tracks: 21st Century Schizoid Man, The Court Of The Crimson King
Parental Advisory: EXPLICIT - (21st Century Schizoid Man)
The album that started Prog-Rock is infused with allusions to the Vietnam War, elements of folklore, and epic instrumental sections. One of a kind.
Best Line: “Death seed, blind man's greed
Poets' starving, children bleed
Nothing he's got he really needs
Twenty-first century schizoid man” [First added to this chart: 03/24/2016]
Top Tracks: 21st Century Schizoid Man, The Court Of The Crimson King
Parental Advisory: EXPLICIT - (21st Century Schizoid Man)
The album that started Prog-Rock is infused with allusions to the Vietnam War, elements of folklore, and epic instrumental sections. One of a kind.
Best Line: “Death seed, blind man's greed
Poets' starving, children bleed
Nothing he's got he really needs
Twenty-first century schizoid man” [First added to this chart: 03/24/2016]
Year of Release:
1969
Appears in:
Rank Score:
31,666
Rank in 1969:
Rank in 1960s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
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Genre: Rock
Top Tracks: I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, Where the Streets Have No Name, Red Hill Mining Town, Bullet the Blue Sky
Parental Advisory: OVERT SEXUAL LANGUAGE - (One Tree Hill - "bullets rape the night")
Spiritual, political, rock-n-roll. Ireland's finest doesn't get better than this.
Best Line: “I believe in the Kingdom Come
Then all the colours will bleed into one” [First added to this chart: 03/27/2016]
Top Tracks: I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, Where the Streets Have No Name, Red Hill Mining Town, Bullet the Blue Sky
Parental Advisory: OVERT SEXUAL LANGUAGE - (One Tree Hill - "bullets rape the night")
Spiritual, political, rock-n-roll. Ireland's finest doesn't get better than this.
Best Line: “I believe in the Kingdom Come
Then all the colours will bleed into one” [First added to this chart: 03/27/2016]
Year of Release:
1987
Appears in:
Rank Score:
19,910
Rank in 1987:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
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Genre: Folk Rock
Top Tracks: Like A Rolling Stone, Ballad of a Thin Man, Desolation Row
Parental Advisory: RELIGIOUS EXCLAMATION - (Ballad of a Thin Man)
The album that "started" the 1960s is so densely poetic that he's either a lyrical genius or talking complete nonsense. Either way, this album has proved itself to be timeless.
Best Line: “They’re selling postcards of the hanging
They’re painting the passports brown
The beauty parlor is filled with sailors
The circus is in town” [First added to this chart: 03/22/2016]
Top Tracks: Like A Rolling Stone, Ballad of a Thin Man, Desolation Row
Parental Advisory: RELIGIOUS EXCLAMATION - (Ballad of a Thin Man)
The album that "started" the 1960s is so densely poetic that he's either a lyrical genius or talking complete nonsense. Either way, this album has proved itself to be timeless.
Best Line: “They’re selling postcards of the hanging
They’re painting the passports brown
The beauty parlor is filled with sailors
The circus is in town” [First added to this chart: 03/22/2016]
Year of Release:
1965
Appears in:
Rank Score:
31,104
Rank in 1965:
Rank in 1960s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 100. Page 2 of 10
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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 | |||
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
88/100 (from 30 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 30 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
95/100  | 12/25/2021 07:00 | craab | | 95/100 |
80/100 | 11/29/2021 12:42 |  Cytoma | | 90/100 |
85/100 | 11/25/2021 16:40 |  Tamthebam | | 85/100 |
 100/100 | 11/25/2021 13:20 |  desh79 | | 93/100 |
| 90/100 | 02/25/2021 02:51 | RoundTheBend | | 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.
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums comments
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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)
90/100
From 
Keatownrodriguez 02/24/2021 20:39
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
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)
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)
90/100
From Larcx13 11/19/2020 23:21
Larcx13 11/19/2020 23:21
You like it epic.
Good list
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
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)
5/100
From ThuramThugood 04/17/2020 07:03
This comment is beneath your viewing threshold.
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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)
100/100
From 
911Turbo 04/16/2020 19:36
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)
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)
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