Top 100 Greatest Music Albums
by 
ObsoleteEntity 
I began this chart by trying to remain as objective as possible. I wanted to make a chart that highlighted the most influential music of all time, but I quickly realized that music is anything but objective. It is personal. So, simply stated, this chart is the soundtrack of my life, balanced against the objective measures of its impact on the future, the influence on others, the overall message (as I believe greatness must have a message), the consideration of being "ahead of its time", and the talent/genius it took to create and implement the vision of sound.
FYI: I could add, but will not, all the albums from Led Zep, Beatles, Hendrix, Marley, Doors, and Smiths.
There is more than one album per artist.
- Chart updated: 04/17/2021 14:45
- (Created: 03/22/2015 22:28).
- 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 89 out of 100 (from 47 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 1980s. (Remove this filter)
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- #Sponsored
Another masterpiece. Orchestral, if you will.
[First added to this chart: 03/22/2015]
Year of Release:
1989
Appears in:
Rank Score:
26,223
Rank in 1989:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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- #Sponsored
This album changed my views on music. I listened to it 3 to 4 times per day for a good year.
[First added to this chart: 05/31/2015]
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Energy. The metal album that allowed me to understand the genre.
[First added to this chart: 09/18/2015]
Year of Release:
1986
Appears in:
Rank Score:
12,554
Rank in 1986:
Rank in 1980s:
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Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
Poetic and thought provoking. This band was a single unit at their peak.
[First added to this chart: 03/22/2015]
Year of Release:
1985
Appears in:
Rank Score:
6,368
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Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
Another teenage favorite. My #1 Rap-Hop album of all time.
[First added to this chart: 06/20/2015]
Year of Release:
1988
Appears in:
Rank Score:
7,048
Rank in 1988:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
This one just has a lot of personal history. I still have every lyric memorized. It's simply imprinted on my brain. Perfect hardcore album.
[First added to this chart: 06/29/2015]
Year of Release:
1983
Appears in:
Rank Score:
342
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Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
"Sister" was always my favorite, but this album is better.
[First added to this chart: 06/20/2015]
Year of Release:
1988
Appears in:
Rank Score:
15,692
Rank in 1988:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
Classic metal album. Get your anger out my friend!!
[First added to this chart: 12/16/2017]
Year of Release:
1986
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,762
Rank in 1986:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
I would listen to this right before competing. It would get my blood boiling. Then I took it out on my opponents. Great hardcore!
[First added to this chart: 02/28/2016]
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- #Sponsored
At first listen it may sound messy or too playful, but the tracks are crafted to create a unique sound. Surfers took crazy to a new level.
[First added to this chart: 05/31/2015]
Year of Release:
1987
Appears in:
Rank Score:
560
Rank in 1987:
Rank in 1980s:
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Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 23. Page 1 of 3
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums composition
| Decade | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1940s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1950s | 2 | 2% | |
| 1960s | 23 | 23% | |
| 1970s | 38 | 38% | |
| 1980s | 23 | 23% | |
| 1990s | 7 | 7% | |
| 2000s | 6 | 6% | |
| 2010s | 1 | 1% | |
| 2020s | 0 | 0% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| The Beatles | 6 | 6% | |
| The Cure | 3 | 3% | |
| The Smiths | 3 | 3% | |
| Neil Young | 3 | 3% | |
| Bob Dylan | 3 | 3% | |
| The Doors | 3 | 3% | |
| Miles Davis | 3 | 3% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums chart changes
| Biggest climbers |
|---|
| Up 21 from 92nd to 71st July by July |
| Up 21 from 91st to 70th Breathe Awhile by Arcadium |
| Biggest fallers |
|---|
| Down 2 from 70th to 72nd The Stooges by The Stooges |
| Down 2 from 71st to 73rd Blood On The Tracks by Bob Dylan |
| Down 2 from 72nd to 74th Songs About Fucking by Big Black |
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums similar charts
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s | ObsoleteEntity | 1970s decade chart | 2021 | |
| AllMusic's Greatest Albums | musicologist97 | Custom chart | 2019 |  |
| Top 100 Greatest Music Albums | album guru joe | Overall chart | 2013 |  |
| Top 100 Greatest Music Albums |  StefanR10 | Overall chart | 2020 |  |
| TOP 100 IN THE FUTURE |  exileonthehell | Custom chart | 2016 |  |
| BEA+RYM Overall Rank | Imaybeparanoid | Custom chart | 2017 |  |
| Most Acclaimed Music Albums | Imaybeparanoid | Custom chart | 2015 | |
| An Objective Ranking Of BEA'S Top 100... |  covecove | Custom chart | 2017 |  |
| Top 100 Greatest Music Albums |  RFNAPLES | Overall chart | 2013 | |
| An Objective Ranking of the BEA Top 100 | PaperVinnie | Custom chart | 2018 | |
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums ratings
Average Rating = (n ÷ (n + m)) × av + (m ÷ (n + m)) × AVwhere:
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 47 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ! | 03/20/2025 15:23 |  SomethingSpecial | 1,106 | 85/100 |
| ! | 02/27/2022 18:47 | dougcummings | 22 | 70/100 |
| ! | 09/08/2021 19:49 | RioBravo | 201 | 84/100 |
| ! | 09/08/2021 19:02 |  desh79 | 1,278 | 93/100 |
| ! | 09/08/2021 11:23 |  Cytoma | 171 | 90/100 |
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 4% of all charts on BestEverAlbums.com. This chart has a Bayesian average rating of 89.1/100, a mean average of 88.1/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 89.8/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 14.8.
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums favourites
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums comments
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From 
salahshoori 07/29/2021 00:47 | #272026
salahshoori 07/29/2021 00:47 | #272026
Great chart! Any chart with July on it, is lovely.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
seb7 12/10/2020 19:56 | #262496
seb7 12/10/2020 19:56 | #262496
Interesting list
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From vancevisuals 11/21/2018 22:11 | #225422
Like the chart
Electric Ladyland is my favorite Hendrix as well
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
ForegroundNoise 11/21/2018 09:16 | #225382
ForegroundNoise 11/21/2018 09:16 | #225382
Really great picks and love the notes you've put to (almost) all the albums. Keep it up!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
patriciatoledo 12/23/2017 20:54 | #203780
patriciatoledo 12/23/2017 20:54 | #203780
I think I'm in love
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
MW19704U 10/09/2017 17:42 | #199316
MW19704U 10/09/2017 17:42 | #199316
Inspiring Collection!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | -1 votes (0 helpful | 1 unhelpful)
From 
Repo 07/11/2017 18:59 | #194078
Repo 07/11/2017 18:59 | #194078
Insanely great chart. Love seeing MBM, Ministry and DRI so high!!! Camping with Kevvvy is always a good idea. lol. Really awesome chart. Feel free to leave me some mellow recs in The Mellow Zone (it;s in the Music Diaries portion of the forum.) I LOVE your taste, Peace, brother!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | -1 votes (0 helpful | 1 unhelpful)
From 
LedZep 02/12/2017 13:21 | #185461
LedZep 02/12/2017 13:21 | #185461
Diverse, and I haven't listened to many albums here but I like the outlook. I'm also a metal fan (at least for the criteria on this page) so I like most of your choices
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
corenfro 01/29/2017 22:55 | #184538
corenfro 01/29/2017 22:55 | #184538
Love the comments. Lots of great stuff from the 60's / 70's.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
SaulCortes1992 12/21/2016 02:00 | #180636
SaulCortes1992 12/21/2016 02:00 | #180636
This comment is beneath your viewing threshold.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | -14 votes (0 helpful | 14 unhelpful)
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