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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23. (=)

Borderland 

 John Mark McMillan

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Genre: Christian Alternative Rock
Top Tracks: Borderland, Monsters Talk, Heart Run

An honest and gorgeous album brimming with poetic energy that you can listen to on repeat.

Best Line: “Ruin pushes rubble in the city of sin
But I found love at the end of the world” [First added to this chart: 02/27/2019]

Year of Release:

2014

Appears in:

5 charts

Rank Score:

130

Rank in 2014:

192

Rank in 2010s:

1,884

Overall Rank:

9,195

Average Rating:

 78 (6 votes)

Comments:

1

25. (=)

Resurrection Letters, Volume I 

 Andrew Peterson

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Genre: Worship, Folk Rock
Top Tracks: God Rested, His Heart Beats, Remember Me

I know of no other album that so vividly captures the moments of Jesus' death and resurrection. An extremely moving effort from a very talented songwriter and lyricist.

Best Line: “The Son will stand on the mount again
With an army of angels at His command
And the earth will split like the hull of a seed
Wherever Jesus plants His feet” [First added to this chart: 08/25/2019]

Year of Release:

2018

Appears in:

3 charts

Rank Score:

77

Rank in 2018:

280

Rank in 2010s:

3,145

Overall Rank:

14,602

Average Rating:

 75 (3 votes)

Comments:

0

39. (=)

The Art Of Joy 

 Jackie Hill Perry

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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]

Year of Release:

2014

Appears in:

2 charts

Rank Score:

62

Rank in 2014:

424

Rank in 2010s:

3,816

Overall Rank:

17,260

Average Rating:

 74 (1 vote)

Comments:

0

41. (=)

This Is Happening 

 LCD Soundsystem

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Genre: Dance-punk
Top Tracks: Dance Yrself Clean, You Wanted a Hit
Parental Advisory: EXPLICIT - (All I Want, Pow Pow)

This album's combination of talented production, captivating lyrics, and humor led one reviewer to call LCD Soundsystem "one of the most exciting and interesting bands around in the 2000s." It's not perfect, but it's a lot of fun.

Best Line: “Go and dance yourself clean
You're blowing Marxism to pieces” [First added to this chart: 04/11/2017]

Year of Release:

2010

Appears in:

846 charts

Rank Score:

8,435

Rank in 2010:

5

Rank in 2010s:

19

Overall Rank:

194

Average Rating:

 82 (1,121 votes)

Comments:

70

47. (=)

An Awesome Wave 

 alt-J

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Genre: Indie Pop, Folktronica
Top Tracks: Tessellate, Breezeblocks, Fitzpleasure, Taro
Parental Advisory: EXPLICIT - (Intro)

The dizzying array of literary references, instrumentation, lovely harmonies, and nasally vocals make this a one-of-a-kind album that is more than just "smart alt-pop".

Best Line: “It's worth knowing
Like all good fruit, the balance of life
Is in the ripe and ruin” [First added to this chart: 03/27/2016]

Year of Release:

2012

Appears in:

670 charts

Rank Score:

7,446

Rank in 2012:

6

Rank in 2010s:

27

Overall Rank:

225

Average Rating:

 78 (988 votes)

Comments:

73

48. (=)

Economy 

 John Mark McMillan

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Genre: Alternative Rock, Worship
Top Tracks: Sheet of Night, Love You Swore, Chemicals

A beautiful, creative album that tops about any other worship album you'll find.

Best Line: “You have loved alive the dead and gone
And filled our thirsty veins with blood and song
Our hearts bleed for you” [First added to this chart: 02/27/2019]

Year of Release:

2011

Appears in:

4 charts

Rank Score:

67

Rank in 2011:

356

Rank in 2010s:

3,589

Overall Rank:

16,370

Average Rating:

 75 (4 votes)

Comments:

0

53. (=)

The Suburbs 

 Arcade Fire

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Genre: Indie Rock, Baroque Pop
Top Tracks: The Suburbs, Rococo, Deep Blue, Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)

Part criticism of modern, everyday America, part love letter to the memories of growing up in it. The Suburbs paints a complex picture of what it means to be human in a modern age, and it's brilliant. Lovely, emotional, and poignant.

Best Line: “The last defender of the sprawl
Said ‘Well, where do you kids live?’
Well, sir, if you only knew what the answer’s worth
I’ve been searching every corner of the earth” [First added to this chart: 03/24/2016]

Year of Release:

2010

Appears in:

1,811 charts

Rank Score:

22,230

Rank in 2010:

2

Rank in 2010s:

4

Overall Rank:

45

Average Rating:

 84 (2,681 votes)

Comments:

253

57. (=)

Love & War & The Sea In Between 

 Josh Garrels

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Genre: Folk
Top Tracks: Farther Along, Slip Away, Ulysses, Million Miles, Revelator

Termed "prophetic, incisive, achingly human, and longingly spiritual," this album combines a nautical theme with Garrel's gorgeous voice and densely-packed lyrics for a stunning result.

Best Line: “Farther along we’ll know all about it
Farther along we’ll understand why
So cheer up my brothers, live in the sunshine
We’ll understand this, all by and by” [First added to this chart: 05/21/2018]

Year of Release:

2011

Appears in:

7 charts

Rank Score:

174

Rank in 2011:

161

Rank in 2010s:

1,418

Overall Rank:

7,243

Average Rating:

 77 (8 votes)

Comments:

0

60. (=)

Lonerism 

 Tame Impala

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Genre: Psychedelic Rock, Psychedelic Pop
Top Tracks: Be Above It, Apocalypse Dreams, Mind Mischief, Feels Like We Only Go Backwards
Parental Warning: MILDLY EXPLICIT (Mind Mischief, Keep On Lying, Elephant)

Appropriately created by a one-man-band, Lonerism dives into the world of isolation, and the struggle that comes from living in such a world. Come along for the journey.

Best Line: “In so many ways I'm somebody else
While tryin' so hard to be myself
I just need to hear somebody say
This will all make sense one day” [First added to this chart: 06/26/2017]

Year of Release:

2012

Appears in:

1,348 charts

Rank Score:

16,825

Rank in 2012:

2

Rank in 2010s:

7

Overall Rank:

79

Average Rating:

 85 (1,845 votes)

Comments:

184

63. (=)

Brothers 

 The Black Keys

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Genre: Blues Rock, Garage Rock
Top Tracks: Everlasting Light, Tighten Up, Ten Cent Pistol, Sinister Kid

Good ol’ fashioned rock and roll from 2010. An album about girls, heartbreak, loneliness, and yearning--- with massive amounts of guitar shredding. Gotta love it.

Best Line: “Let me be your everlasting light
The sun when there is none
I'm a shepherd for you
And I will guide you through” [First added to this chart: 03/22/2016]

Year of Release:

2010

Appears in:

699 charts

Rank Score:

5,111

Rank in 2010:

9

Rank in 2010s:

44

Overall Rank:

353

Average Rating:

 79 (1,213 votes)

Comments:

56

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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

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

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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.

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Rating	Date updated	Member	Chart ratings	Avg. chart rating
95/100	12/25/2021 07:00	craab	14	95/100
80/100	11/29/2021 12:42	Cytoma	171	90/100
85/100	11/25/2021 16:40	Tamthebam	550	85/100
100/100	11/25/2021 13:20	desh79	1,281	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 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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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

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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)

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