Top 50 Greatest Music Albums
by experiencemusic 
If you've made an albums chart for yourself, then you know how difficult it is to judge your favorite musical works against one another. I will continue modifying my chart to reflect ever changing musical tastes. The top ten albums are interchangeable since choosing a favorite album feels impossible. I hope you may discover and enjoy new music from looking at my albums chart.
NOTE:
1. I've excluded compilation, live, and soundtrack albums from the chart.
2. I'm using the one album per artist rule to give the chart a bit more diversity.
3. I've decided to exclude albums that are less than 20 years old to make things easier.
- Chart updated: 11/25/2024 21:45
- (Created: 12/06/2010 01:34).
- Chart size: 50 albums.
There are 36 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 50 Greatest Music Albums has an average rating of 86 out of 100 (from 71 votes). Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.
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These hip bohemian New Yorkers created a true experimental masterpiece. This album is one of the greatest records of the sixties, despite the fact that not many people knew about them until after they broke up. Although the band would eventually splinter apart and Lou Reed/John Cale/Nico would pursue solo careers, the band's music would soon inspire countless musicians (including CBGB mainstays the Ramones, Television, Talking Heads, Patti Smith).
[First added to this chart: 12/21/2010]
Year of Release:
1967
Appears in:
Rank Score:
39,112
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David Bowie's "Ziggy Stardust" character is one of the most beloved stage personas in popular music. Any time I put this album on I am reminded of his songwriting genius. All the songs are carefully refined to glam/pop/rock perfection.
[First added to this chart: 12/31/2012]
Year of Release:
1972
Appears in:
Rank Score:
42,462
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What can I say about The Beatles? Possibly the most beloved rock band of all time and not without good reason. Revolver to me represents an exciting evolution in the band's sound. I hear more willingness to experiment with weird ideas and interesting song topics outside the realms of love and romance.
[First added to this chart: 12/05/2010]
Year of Release:
1966
Appears in:
Rank Score:
48,765
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The legendary post-punk/proto-goth classic "Unknown Pleasures" manages to create its relentlessly dark and foreboding atmosphere by combining Ian's baritone voice with the unique stop-start drumming of Stephen Morris, Peter Hook's driving bass lines, and Bernard Sumner's sharp and aggressive guitar work.
[First added to this chart: 12/21/2010]
Year of Release:
1979
Appears in:
Rank Score:
21,319
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The most acclaimed record from what might be the most beloved group of the post-britpop/progressive rock era along with maybe Coldplay . Another heavily praised classic well deserving of its adoration.
[First added to this chart: 12/05/2010]
Year of Release:
1997
Appears in:
Rank Score:
62,874
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Enter Pink Floyd's existential magnum opus. Every track on this album flows effortlessly into the next. The band's relaxed yet progressive style gives me the impression of old wise men jamming out somewhere in deep space. You can still hear traces of their 1960's psychedelic past. Every heartbeat resonates with vibrations of cosmic awareness.
[First added to this chart: 12/05/2010]
Year of Release:
1973
Appears in:
Rank Score:
59,023
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Black Sabbath are considered to be one of the first heavy metal bands along with contemporaries like Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple. Tony Iommi's heavy guitar riffs, Geezer Butler's thick slabs of bass, Bill Ward's masterful drum work, and Ozzy's apocalyptic wailing are all on display on this album. This band would influence countless bands for decades to come. Tracks like "War Pigs" and "Paranoid" would become classic rock radio staples. A great introduction to the early days of heavy metal for anyone who may be interested.
[First added to this chart: 12/21/2010]
Year of Release:
1970
Appears in:
Rank Score:
18,659
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Comments:
8. (=)
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This album helped bring grunge to national attention. A few Seattle guys team up to play some sludge influenced punk rock and the chemistry is undeniable. Kurt Cobain's songwriting abilities along with a desire to appeal to a wider demographic via MTV would cause an unexpected obsession with the Seattle sound.
[First added to this chart: 12/05/2010]
Year of Release:
1991
Appears in:
Rank Score:
37,291
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The legendary Jimi Hendrix, Noel Redding, and Mitch Mitchell are all at the top of their game on this legendary debut. Hendrix's soulful vocals and unparalleled blues guitar create a sound which is bursting with imagination.
[First added to this chart: 12/21/2010]
Year of Release:
1967
Appears in:
Rank Score:
21,399
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Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
10. (9) 1
Safe Mode: On Certain images on this site may contain sensitive content and are flagged as 'unsafe'. BestEverAlbums.com does not display these images by default, but you may choose to show or hide these images from your profile page. If you choose to hide these images, you'll see an image with a warning message instead of the actual image. If you choose to show them, you'll see these images no differently than regular (safe) images.
I just can't seem to pin down the sound of this band. In any case, they became a massive influence to innumerable indie/underground/alternative bands in the 1990's and beyond.
[First added to this chart: 08/21/2011]
Year of Release:
1988
Appears in:
Rank Score:
11,965
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Total albums: 50. Page 1 of 5
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Top 50 Greatest Music Albums composition
| Decade | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1940s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1950s | 2 | 4% | |
| 1960s | 9 | 18% | |
| 1970s | 12 | 24% | |
| 1980s | 11 | 22% | |
| 1990s | 12 | 24% | |
| 2000s | 4 | 8% | |
| 2010s | 0 | 0% | |
| 2020s | 0 | 0% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| Iggy And The Stooges | 1 | 2% | |
| The Beatles | 1 | 2% | |
| Slayer | 1 | 2% | |
| Modest Mouse | 1 | 2% | |
| The Stone Roses | 1 | 2% | |
| Charles Mingus | 1 | 2% | |
| Joy Division | 1 | 2% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 50 Greatest Music Albums chart changes
| Biggest climbers |
|---|
| Up 1 from 10th to 9thAre You Experienced by The Jimi Hendrix Experience |
| Biggest fallers |
|---|
| Down 1 from 9th to 10thSurfer Rosa by Pixies |
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| Top 40 Greatest Music Albums | 112806 | Overall chart | 2023 | |
| Top 40 Greatest Music Albums | angusmayo | Overall chart | 2021 | |
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Top 50 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 71 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10/20/2025 08:13 |  MadhattanJack | 280 | 85/100 | |
| 03/22/2025 12:08 |  SomethingSpecial | 1,094 | 85/100 | |
| 03/22/2025 08:40 |  NowhereMan | 292 | 82/100 | |
| 02/27/2024 19:59 | Sonoffatboy | 8 | 89/100 | |
| 02/27/2023 08:08 | Moondance | 476 | 85/100 |
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 has a Bayesian average rating of 86.3/100, a mean average of 86.3/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 86.4/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 7.9.
Top 50 Greatest Music Albums favourites
Showing all 2 members who have added this chart as a favourite
Top 50 Greatest Music Albums comments
Showing latest 10 comments | Show all 36 comments |
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From Moondance 02/27/2023 08:10 | #294497
Nice enough chart given the rules you have imposed on constructing the chart. Would like to see how your chart develops once you have added #51 - #100.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
sssvnnn 02/26/2023 10:40 | #294467
sssvnnn 02/26/2023 10:40 | #294467
very classical chart - fine
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From Johnnyo 11/28/2022 21:13 | #291632
Really nice chart. Would love to see 51 - 100
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From bobnickmad 04/25/2022 08:30 | #284615
One of the best charts on this site.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
thirstyDog 08/13/2017 19:56 | #196028
thirstyDog 08/13/2017 19:56 | #196028
Wow, nice chart! Good stuff
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
LedZep 08/13/2017 16:21 | #196015
LedZep 08/13/2017 16:21 | #196015
Very interesting chart as a whole, many genres and classics along with great underground choices. Descriptions are so nice too
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From platus 08/13/2017 08:27 | #196009
Good start!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From boyd94 08/12/2016 19:35 | #172812
Really appreciate this chart, my top 50 has 16 albums in common with yours, 19 artists.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From LordMark 01/26/2016 08:20 | #157773
11 albums in common, 7 of which are in your top 12.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
phantom1305 01/26/2016 01:30 | #157747
phantom1305 01/26/2016 01:30 | #157747
Great chart! I especially love your top 10! Personally, I'm not a huge Beach Boys fan, but I can appreciate it! ^^
Also love that you included Metric too!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
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