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: Progressive Rock
Top Tracks: Pigs (Three Different Ones), Dogs
Parental Advisory: EXPLICIT - (Pigs (Three Different Ones))
An ultra-creative, Orwellian display with a statement to make: humanity's condition makes us no better than animals.
Best Line: “Everything's done under the sun
But you believe at heart everyone's a killer” [First added to this chart: 01/20/2018]
Top Tracks: Pigs (Three Different Ones), Dogs
Parental Advisory: EXPLICIT - (Pigs (Three Different Ones))
An ultra-creative, Orwellian display with a statement to make: humanity's condition makes us no better than animals.
Best Line: “Everything's done under the sun
But you believe at heart everyone's a killer” [First added to this chart: 01/20/2018]
Year of Release:
1977
Appears in:
Rank Score:
25,553
Rank in 1977:
Rank in 1970s:
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Comments:
198
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Genre: Rock
Top Tracks: Band on the Run, Jet, Mrs. Vanderbilt, Let Me Roll It, Mamunia
By all rights, this album seems like it shouldn't be this high. But from the opening guitar lick to the closing reprise, it's one big party that just doesn't seem to get old.
Best Line: “The next time you see L.A. rain clouds
Don't complain, it rains for you and me” [First added to this chart: 03/22/2016]
Top Tracks: Band on the Run, Jet, Mrs. Vanderbilt, Let Me Roll It, Mamunia
By all rights, this album seems like it shouldn't be this high. But from the opening guitar lick to the closing reprise, it's one big party that just doesn't seem to get old.
Best Line: “The next time you see L.A. rain clouds
Don't complain, it rains for you and me” [First added to this chart: 03/22/2016]
Year of Release:
1973
Appears in:
Rank Score:
6,742
Rank in 1973:
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Genre: Rock, Post-punk
Top Tracks: See No Evil, Venus, Marquee Moon
A polished, massively influential punk album incorporating elements of jazz for a near perfect product.
Best Line: “I spoke
To a man down at the tracks
And I ask him
How he don't go mad
He said ‘Look here, Junior
Don't you be so happy
And for Heaven's sake
Don't you be so sad.’” [First added to this chart: 08/13/2020]
Top Tracks: See No Evil, Venus, Marquee Moon
A polished, massively influential punk album incorporating elements of jazz for a near perfect product.
Best Line: “I spoke
To a man down at the tracks
And I ask him
How he don't go mad
He said ‘Look here, Junior
Don't you be so happy
And for Heaven's sake
Don't you be so sad.’” [First added to this chart: 08/13/2020]
Year of Release:
1977
Appears in:
Rank Score:
21,717
Rank in 1977:
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Average Rating:
Comments:
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Genre: New Wave, Funk, Art Pop
Top Tracks: Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On), Once In A Lifetime
Such a fun, unique album. A true work of art incorporating Afrobeat and whatever happens in David Byrne's brain.
Best Line: “You may find yourself in a beautiful house, with a beautiful wife
And you may ask yourself, ‘Well... how did I get here?’” [First added to this chart: 03/29/2016]
Top Tracks: Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On), Once In A Lifetime
Such a fun, unique album. A true work of art incorporating Afrobeat and whatever happens in David Byrne's brain.
Best Line: “You may find yourself in a beautiful house, with a beautiful wife
And you may ask yourself, ‘Well... how did I get here?’” [First added to this chart: 03/29/2016]
Year of Release:
1980
Appears in:
Rank Score:
30,685
Rank in 1980:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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Genre: Indie Pop
Top Tracks: Too Many People, Smile Away, Monkberry Moon Delight
A real, "don't forget to enjoy life while you live it" kind of album. Paul takes you to the party once again.
Best Line: “Too many people going underground
Too many reaching for a piece of cake
Too many people pulled and pushed around
Too many waiting for that lucky break” [First added to this chart: 03/27/2016]
Top Tracks: Too Many People, Smile Away, Monkberry Moon Delight
A real, "don't forget to enjoy life while you live it" kind of album. Paul takes you to the party once again.
Best Line: “Too many people going underground
Too many reaching for a piece of cake
Too many people pulled and pushed around
Too many waiting for that lucky break” [First added to this chart: 03/27/2016]
Year of Release:
1971
Appears in:
Rank Score:
5,242
Rank in 1971:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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Genre: Christian Rock
Top Tracks: The Outlaw, Why Don’t You Look Into Jesus, The Great American Novel, Reader’s Digest
Larry Norman sought to reach the flower children of the 70s with this album, bringing with it the “abrasive, urban reality of the gospel". Musically, it holds its own with much of the music of its time and otherwise, it just ain’t too shabby.
Best Line: “Beatles said ‘all you need is love’
And then they broke up” [First added to this chart: 02/16/2021]
Top Tracks: The Outlaw, Why Don’t You Look Into Jesus, The Great American Novel, Reader’s Digest
Larry Norman sought to reach the flower children of the 70s with this album, bringing with it the “abrasive, urban reality of the gospel". Musically, it holds its own with much of the music of its time and otherwise, it just ain’t too shabby.
Best Line: “Beatles said ‘all you need is love’
And then they broke up” [First added to this chart: 02/16/2021]
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Genre: Christmas
Top Tracks: Silent Night, White Christmas, Faith of Our Fathers, Mele Kalikimaka
Only the most classic Christmas album of all time merits breaking the compilation rule. Have yourself a merry little Christmas and put this on while you're at it.
Best Line: "Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright" [First added to this chart: 03/22/2016]
Top Tracks: Silent Night, White Christmas, Faith of Our Fathers, Mele Kalikimaka
Only the most classic Christmas album of all time merits breaking the compilation rule. Have yourself a merry little Christmas and put this on while you're at it.
Best Line: "Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright" [First added to this chart: 03/22/2016]
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Genre: Reggae
Top Tracks: So Much Things to Say, Jamming, Waiting in Vain, Three Little Birds, One Love/People Get Ready
A fine reggae album capitalizing on themes of political justice and spirituality. This is laid-back tunage with a real message behind it.
Best Line: "Don't worry about a thing
Cause every little thing is gonna be alright” [First added to this chart: 11/10/2020]
Top Tracks: So Much Things to Say, Jamming, Waiting in Vain, Three Little Birds, One Love/People Get Ready
A fine reggae album capitalizing on themes of political justice and spirituality. This is laid-back tunage with a real message behind it.
Best Line: "Don't worry about a thing
Cause every little thing is gonna be alright” [First added to this chart: 11/10/2020]
Year of Release:
1977
Appears in:
Rank Score:
6,401
Rank in 1977:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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Genre: Christian Hip-Hop
Top Tracks: Dead Preacher, Where's Love?, The Solution, Ode to Lauryn
A formidably talented spoken word poet gave us this for her freshman hip-hop album and I have no complaints. Fresh beats meet lyrical art and make for an album that is a true joy to listen to.
Best Line: “Our affections are infected
We read but we don't see we backwards our actions act dyslexic” [First added to this chart: 06/12/2018]
Top Tracks: Dead Preacher, Where's Love?, The Solution, Ode to Lauryn
A formidably talented spoken word poet gave us this for her freshman hip-hop album and I have no complaints. Fresh beats meet lyrical art and make for an album that is a true joy to listen to.
Best Line: “Our affections are infected
We read but we don't see we backwards our actions act dyslexic” [First added to this chart: 06/12/2018]
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Genre: Rock, Post-punk
Top Track: Sunday Bloody Sunday
U2's first album which delved into politics, namely about war and the personal and global fallout therefrom. It's just so good.
Best Line: “Angry words won't stop the fight, two wrongs won't make it right
A new heart is what I need, oh, God, make it bleed” [First added to this chart: 08/25/2019]
Top Track: Sunday Bloody Sunday
U2's first album which delved into politics, namely about war and the personal and global fallout therefrom. It's just so good.
Best Line: “Angry words won't stop the fight, two wrongs won't make it right
A new heart is what I need, oh, God, make it bleed” [First added to this chart: 08/25/2019]
Year of Release:
1983
Appears in:
Rank Score:
5,528
Rank in 1983:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 98. Page 4 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% | |
| 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
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.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | -5 votes (0 helpful | 5 unhelpful)
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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