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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This chart is currently filtered to only show albums from the 1990s. (Remove this filter)
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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:
76,974
Rank in 1997:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
841
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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:
39,541
Rank in 1998:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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Genre: Alternative Rock
Top Tracks: Everybody Hurts, Nightswimming
Parental Advisory: EXPLICIT - (Ignoreland, Star Me Kitten)
Exploring themes of loss, mourning, nostalgia, and morality, Automatic for the People "shimmers with new, complex beauty."
Best Line: “When the day is long
And the night, the night is yours alone
When you're sure you've had enough
Of this life, well, hang on” [First added to this chart: 01/04/2019]
Top Tracks: Everybody Hurts, Nightswimming
Parental Advisory: EXPLICIT - (Ignoreland, Star Me Kitten)
Exploring themes of loss, mourning, nostalgia, and morality, Automatic for the People "shimmers with new, complex beauty."
Best Line: “When the day is long
And the night, the night is yours alone
When you're sure you've had enough
Of this life, well, hang on” [First added to this chart: 01/04/2019]
Year of Release:
1992
Appears in:
Rank Score:
20,415
Rank in 1992:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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Genre: Alternative Rock
Top Tracks: Planet Telex, High and Dry, Just
Parental Advisory: EXPLICIT - (My Iron Lung)
A bit of a downer, but ultra-self-reflective and highly artistic.
Best Line: "You can crush it but it's always near
Chasing you home
Saying
Everything is broken
Everyone is broken” [First added to this chart: 03/28/2016]
Top Tracks: Planet Telex, High and Dry, Just
Parental Advisory: EXPLICIT - (My Iron Lung)
A bit of a downer, but ultra-self-reflective and highly artistic.
Best Line: "You can crush it but it's always near
Chasing you home
Saying
Everything is broken
Everyone is broken” [First added to this chart: 03/28/2016]
Year of Release:
1995
Appears in:
Rank Score:
33,271
Rank in 1995:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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Genre: Rock, Britpop
Top Tracks: Wonderwall, Don't Look Back in Anger, Cast No Shadow, Champagne Supernova
This album does take philosophical ventures every so often, but it's honestly just a solid listen with quality musicianship. Can't complain about that.
Best Line: “'Cause people believe
That they're gonna get away for the summer
But you and I, we live and die
The world's still spinning 'round, we don't know why
Why? Why? Why? Why?” [First added to this chart: 07/05/2017]
Top Tracks: Wonderwall, Don't Look Back in Anger, Cast No Shadow, Champagne Supernova
This album does take philosophical ventures every so often, but it's honestly just a solid listen with quality musicianship. Can't complain about that.
Best Line: “'Cause people believe
That they're gonna get away for the summer
But you and I, we live and die
The world's still spinning 'round, we don't know why
Why? Why? Why? Why?” [First added to this chart: 07/05/2017]
Year of Release:
1995
Appears in:
Rank Score:
18,931
Rank in 1995:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
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Genre: Alternative Rock, Christian Hip-Hop
Top Tracks: Colored People, Jesus Freak, What If I Stumble?, In the Light
Often cited as one of the greatest Christian albums of all time, this double-platinum album peaked at #29 on the Billboard Hot 100 and contained a total of 10 singles (every song on the album that isn't an interlude). Its musical style is as diverse as its lyrics, ranging from grunge rock to hip-hop and back while covering themes from atheism to racism to hypocrisy, thus successfully making "songs that would hopefully touch a generation."
Best Line: “What's going on inside of me?
I despise my own behavior
This only serves to confirm my suspicions
That I'm still a man in need of a savior” [First added to this chart: 01/09/2021]
Top Tracks: Colored People, Jesus Freak, What If I Stumble?, In the Light
Often cited as one of the greatest Christian albums of all time, this double-platinum album peaked at #29 on the Billboard Hot 100 and contained a total of 10 singles (every song on the album that isn't an interlude). Its musical style is as diverse as its lyrics, ranging from grunge rock to hip-hop and back while covering themes from atheism to racism to hypocrisy, thus successfully making "songs that would hopefully touch a generation."
Best Line: “What's going on inside of me?
I despise my own behavior
This only serves to confirm my suspicions
That I'm still a man in need of a savior” [First added to this chart: 01/09/2021]
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Genre: Neo-psychedelia, Art Rock
Top Tracks: Race for the Prize, The Spiderbite Song, Waitin' for Superman
Widely considered the Flaming Lips’ masterpiece, the large, symphonic sound of this album earned it a reputation from a few critics as the Pet Sounds of the 90s, almost overshadowing the fact that its powerful, existential lyrics alone are worth applauding.
Best Line: “It's a good time for a Superman
To lift the sun into the sky
Cause it's getting heavy
Well I thought it was
Already as heavy as can be” [First added to this chart: 02/10/2021]
Top Tracks: Race for the Prize, The Spiderbite Song, Waitin' for Superman
Widely considered the Flaming Lips’ masterpiece, the large, symphonic sound of this album earned it a reputation from a few critics as the Pet Sounds of the 90s, almost overshadowing the fact that its powerful, existential lyrics alone are worth applauding.
Best Line: “It's a good time for a Superman
To lift the sun into the sky
Cause it's getting heavy
Well I thought it was
Already as heavy as can be” [First added to this chart: 02/10/2021]
Year of Release:
1999
Appears in:
Rank Score:
12,150
Rank in 1999:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
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Genre: Alternative Rock
Top Tracks: Zoo Station, Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses
Parental Advisory: EXPLICIT - (Acrobat)
U2 gave itself a makeover after their effort on "Rattle and Hum" was not well received. And boy did people enjoy it. Influenced by the German music scene at the end of the its Cold War division, Achtung Baby took off quickly, and a new, edgier U2 along with it.
Best Line: “It's no secret that a conscience can sometimes be a pest” [First added to this chart: 09/18/2019]
Top Tracks: Zoo Station, Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses
Parental Advisory: EXPLICIT - (Acrobat)
U2 gave itself a makeover after their effort on "Rattle and Hum" was not well received. And boy did people enjoy it. Influenced by the German music scene at the end of the its Cold War division, Achtung Baby took off quickly, and a new, edgier U2 along with it.
Best Line: “It's no secret that a conscience can sometimes be a pest” [First added to this chart: 09/18/2019]
Year of Release:
1991
Appears in:
Rank Score:
12,965
Rank in 1991:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
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Genre: Christian Rock, Christian Pop
Top Tracks: Breakfast, Lost the Plot
A classic from the Aussies, Take Me to Your Leader does not shy from offending its listener with blunt truth. It’s got charm, it’s got style, it’s got guts. A must-hear.
Best Line: “When the toast is burned
And all the milk has turned
And Cap'n Crunch is wavin' farewell
When the big one finds you
May this song remind you
That they don't serve breakfast in Hell” [First added to this chart: 03/27/2016]
Top Tracks: Breakfast, Lost the Plot
A classic from the Aussies, Take Me to Your Leader does not shy from offending its listener with blunt truth. It’s got charm, it’s got style, it’s got guts. A must-hear.
Best Line: “When the toast is burned
And all the milk has turned
And Cap'n Crunch is wavin' farewell
When the big one finds you
May this song remind you
That they don't serve breakfast in Hell” [First added to this chart: 03/27/2016]
Buy album
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Genre: Alternative Folk, Christian Rock
Top Tracks: Liquid, Love Song for a Savior, Flood
One of the few Christian albums in the mid-1990s to achieve platinum status, this sonic effort ended up supplying a fresh sound that became a landmark for Christian rock.
Best Line: “So you fight, and retreat
And talk yourself out of believing
In any peace that you can't see” [First added to this chart: 12/03/2020]
Top Tracks: Liquid, Love Song for a Savior, Flood
One of the few Christian albums in the mid-1990s to achieve platinum status, this sonic effort ended up supplying a fresh sound that became a landmark for Christian rock.
Best Line: “So you fight, and retreat
And talk yourself out of believing
In any peace that you can't see” [First added to this chart: 12/03/2020]
Total albums: 12. Page 1 of 2
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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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