Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by zgarrison88 Unknown

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.

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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Buy album United States
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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]
Year of Release:
2005
Appears in:
Rank Score:
23,206
Rank in 2005:
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Buy album United States
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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]
Year of Release:
1997
Appears in:
Rank Score:
77,370
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Buy album United States
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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]
Year of Release:
1973
Appears in:
Rank Score:
71,836
Rank in 1973:
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Buy album United States
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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]
Year of Release:
1967
Appears in:
Rank Score:
46,459
Rank in 1967:
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Buy album United States
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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]
Year of Release:
1971
Appears in:
Rank Score:
44,791
Rank in 1971:
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Buy album United States
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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]
Year of Release:
1969
Appears in:
Rank Score:
65,800
Rank in 1969:
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Buy album United States
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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]
Year of Release:
1975
Appears in:
Rank Score:
51,033
Rank in 1975:
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Buy album United States
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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]
Year of Release:
2007
Appears in:
Rank Score:
51,533
Rank in 2007:
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Average Rating:
Comments:
9. (=)
Buy album United States
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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]
Year of Release:
2000
Appears in:
Rank Score:
51,673
Rank in 2000:
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Comments:
Buy album United States
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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]
Year of Release:
2003
Appears in:
Rank Score:
372
Rank in 2003:
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Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 98. Page 1 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%
Josh Garrels 4 4%
Switchfoot 4 4%
Sufjan Stevens 3 3%
Pink Floyd 3 3%
U2 3 3%
Show all
Country Albums %


United States 60 60%
United Kingdom 27 27%
Canada 4 4%
Ireland 3 3%
Australia 3 3%
Mixed Nationality 2 2%
Jamaica 1 1%
Soundtrack? Albums %
No 98 98%
Yes 2 2%

Top 100 Greatest Music Albums chart changes

Biggest climbers
Climber Up 1 from 96th to 95th
Where The Light Shines Through
by Switchfoot
Biggest fallers
Faller Down 1 from 95th to 96th
Vice Verses
by Switchfoot

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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums ratings

Average Rating: 
88/100 (from 30 votes)
  Ratings distributionRatings distribution Average Rating = (n ÷ (n + m)) × av + (m ÷ (n + m)) × AV
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.

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RatingDate updatedMemberChart ratingsAvg. chart rating
 
95/100
 Report rating
12/25/2021 07:00 craab  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 1495/100
 
80/100
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11/29/2021 12:42 Cytoma  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 17190/100
 
85/100
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11/25/2021 16:40 Tamthebam  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 54985/100
  
100/100
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11/25/2021 13:20 desh79  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 1,28193/100
  
90/100
 Report rating
02/25/2021 02:51 RoundTheBend  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 37392/100

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

Showing latest 10 comments | Show all 14 comments |
Most Helpful First | Newest First | Maximum Rated First | Longest Comments First
(Only showing comments with -2 votes or higher. You can alter this threshold from your profile page. Manage Profile)

Rating:  
95/100
From 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 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 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 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 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 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 04/17/2020 07:03
This comment is beneath your viewing threshold.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | -5 votes (0 helpful | 5 unhelpful)
Rating:  
90/100
From 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 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 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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Best Albums of 2018
1. Twin Fantasy (Face To Face) by Car Seat Headrest
2. Kids See Ghosts by Kids See Ghosts
3. Joy As An Act Of Resistance. by Idles
4. 7 by Beach House
5. You Won't Get What You Want by Daughters
6. Wide Awake! by Parquet Courts
7. Little Dark Age by MGMT
8. Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino by Arctic Monkeys
9. Golden Hour by Kacey Musgraves
10. Some Rap Songs by Earl Sweatshirt
11. Be The Cowboy by Mitski
12. Dirty Computer by Janelle Monáe
13. Daytona by Pusha T
14. A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships by The 1975
15. TA13OO by Denzel Curry
16. Oil Of Every Pearl's Un-Insides by SOPHIE
17. Aviary by Julia Holter
18. Double Negative by Low
19. 2012-2017 by Against All Logic
20. Veteran by JPEGMAFIA
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