Top 100 Greatest Music Albums
by 
ledemoncleaner 
I usually try to think I have rather eclectic taste (compared to many people I know who rarely dabble out of their comfort zones of music). It seems not too long ago that'd I'd bash genres that aren't classic rock, but as I matured my taste, I feel, matured. I'm not the most eclectic guy on the earth, but I'd argue I'm better than most the crowd. Alas, enough rambling. Here are some of my FAVORITE (not best) albums.
VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: I'm limiting myself to 1 album per artist (there'd be a lot of Radiohead, Massive Attack, Pink Floyd, Beck, Beatles, and Queens of the Stone Age if that were the case). I feel like I'd show of my musical taste better this way.
UPDATE: Hey, checking in around 6/7/17. I feel like my taste has changed enough for a bit of a make over of this list. I still enjoy the majority of my 2016 list, but there's a few new favorites that I feel like I need to include on this list. Peace and thanks for all of the positive feedback over the past few years.
Update 04/2018: Thanks for the chart of the day. I use RYM now folks so here's my profile and new album list: https://rateyourmusic.com/~thedemoncleaner and https://rateyourmusic.com/list/thedemoncleaner/my-135-favorite-albums-in-no-real-order/
- Chart updated: 04/03/2018 15:15
- (Created: 05/28/2015 22:51).
- Chart size: 100 albums.
There are 31 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 100 Greatest Music Albums has an average rating of 92 out of 100 (from 55 votes). Please log in or create an account to leave a comment or assign a rating.
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This is the album that made me love music like I do. I may not consistently listen to it like I do my newer finds but it holds a place in my heart for being there for me in a rather tough time in my life (I got depressed in my 7th and 8th grade year). I feel everything on this record is already great enough to praise (Morrison's voice, the lyrics, the instrumentals), but my emotional attachment to this album makes the album more personal to me. I'd listened to "The End" so many times as a kid that I could recite the lyrics like verbatim. And of course while this album does resonate well with me, it also (sometimes) brings back some cringe worthy memories of when I was a little fucking prick. But I seriously don't think there COULD be another choice for number one, because of just what this album means to me. It started my interest in the full format of the album, and it still holds up after all these listens.
Favorite Song: I can't choose one, it'd just be too hard. [First added to this chart: 05/28/2015]
Favorite Song: I can't choose one, it'd just be too hard. [First added to this chart: 05/28/2015]
Year of Release:
1967
Appears in:
Rank Score:
25,353
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Kid A, In Rainbows, the Bends. Besides their debut, Radiohead has had a solid discography. I think OK Computer takes the cake for me. I've spent plenty of nights lying in bed being an angsty, emotional fuck to this record, and the fact that the record consistently maintains its gloomy mood and consistently great songwriting sells it for me. In Rainbows is pretty fucking close to taking that cake, but OK Computer
Favorite Song: No Surprises [First added to this chart: 05/28/2015]
Favorite Song: No Surprises [First added to this chart: 05/28/2015]
Year of Release:
1997
Appears in:
Rank Score:
58,984
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Every month or so I switch my favorite album by these guys. Honestly I don't know what draws me into this group so much. But they hit the perfect balance of being artsy and being fun. Their 3 best albums are a constant debate for me. Rated R has the most variety, Like Clockwork has the best production and lyrics, but Songs for the Deaf is just the best start to finish album by QOSTA. I always find myself apathetic to at least one or two songs on Rated R or Like Clockwork. But Songs for the Deaf has really no downpoints. Just great song after great song.
Favorite Song: (tie) Mosquito Song or Sky is Fallin'
Favorite Song: [First added to this chart: 05/28/2015]
Favorite Song: (tie) Mosquito Song or Sky is Fallin'
Favorite Song: [First added to this chart: 05/28/2015]
Year of Release:
2002
Appears in:
Rank Score:
9,899
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While some of their records became more diverse and emotional in 1964 and 65 with Hard Day's Night, Rubber Soul, and Help! I don't think anyone could have predicted this album, the most consistent, daring, and depressing of the Fab Four's already solid discography.
Favorite Song: I'm Only Sleeping [First added to this chart: 05/28/2015]
Favorite Song: I'm Only Sleeping [First added to this chart: 05/28/2015]
Year of Release:
1966
Appears in:
Rank Score:
46,069
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Blue Lines is fantastic, but there's one or two songs I'd certainly skip on it. Mezzanine is all killer no filler. Featuring excellent mixing and instrumentals sent by the music gods themselves.
Favorite Song: Man Next Door [First added to this chart: 07/26/2015]
Favorite Song: Man Next Door [First added to this chart: 07/26/2015]
Year of Release:
1998
Appears in:
Rank Score:
9,595
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Rain Dogs may have introduced me to his sound, but Bone Machine is what cements Tom Waits as one of the all time greats. Absolutely stunning lyricism, large amounts of variety, and a constant theme of dread, mortality, death, and misery filling out the running time.
Favorite Song: Who Are You This Time [First added to this chart: 11/25/2015]
Favorite Song: Who Are You This Time [First added to this chart: 11/25/2015]
Year of Release:
1992
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,991
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First album I ever listened to 100% through and it STILL holds up. The wall of sound never has and never will sound this grand.
Favorite Song: Thunder Road [First added to this chart: 05/28/2015]
Favorite Song: Thunder Road [First added to this chart: 05/28/2015]
Year of Release:
1975
Appears in:
Rank Score:
14,226
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Pink Floyd holds up. Sure, their long history constitutes the fact that they've probably released a lot of mediocre records. But their good records are absolutely stunning. Dark Side of the Moon and Wish You Were Here are probably two of my favorite albums of all time. But I'd really choose Wish You Were Here ever so narrowly. It's honestly just 5 absolutely amazing songs one after another. The best one? Shine on You Crazy Diamond. A 24 minute 9 part epic that is probably the crowning achievement of Pink Floyd's lustrous career.\
Favorite Song: [First added to this chart: 09/21/2015]
Favorite Song: [First added to this chart: 09/21/2015]
Year of Release:
1975
Appears in:
Rank Score:
41,480
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This may be the perfect hip-hop album. Lyricism, beats, and flow are all absolutely amazing. Each concept for a song is wildly interesting and last long enough to get a vibe of the tune, but short enough so you don't get bored of the concept itself.
Favorite Song: All Caps [First added to this chart: 08/05/2015]
Favorite Song: All Caps [First added to this chart: 08/05/2015]
Year of Release:
2004
Appears in:
Rank Score:
13,063
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Absolutely gorgeous. This combination of Americana, alternative, country, and electronica makes for a rather interesting stew. Bizarre euphemisms aside, albums wish they were as consistent as this.
Favorite Song: Jesus Etc. [First added to this chart: 05/28/2015]
Favorite Song: Jesus Etc. [First added to this chart: 05/28/2015]
Year of Release:
2002
Appears in:
Rank Score:
16,077
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Total albums: 100. Page 1 of 10
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums composition
| Decade | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1940s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1950s | 2 | 2% | |
| 1960s | 7 | 7% | |
| 1970s | 20 | 20% | |
| 1980s | 10 | 10% | |
| 1990s | 29 | 29% | |
| 2000s | 25 | 25% | |
| 2010s | 7 | 7% | |
| 2020s | 0 | 0% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| Interpol | 1 | 1% | |
| Andrew Bird | 1 | 1% | |
| Creedence Clearwater Revival | 1 | 1% | |
| LCD Soundsystem | 1 | 1% | |
| Richard David James | 1 | 1% | |
| Death Grips | 1 | 1% | |
| Pink Floyd | 1 | 1% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums chart changes
| Biggest fallers |
|---|
Down 1 from 43rd to 44th |
| New entries |
|---|
| Leavers |
|---|
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums ratings
Average Rating = (n ÷ (n + m)) × av + (m ÷ (n + m)) × AVwhere:
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Showing latest 3 ratings for this chart. | Show all 55 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ! | 01/15/2025 16:42 | Exist-en-ciel | 166 | 97/100 |
| ! | 07/03/2020 12:08 | vruslov | 582 | 89/100 |
| ! | 02/27/2019 02:18 |  Rhyner | 1,463 | 99/100 |
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).
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This chart is rated in the top 1% of all charts on BestEverAlbums.com. This chart has a Bayesian average rating of 91.8/100, a mean average of 92.9/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 92.8/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 6.3.
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums favourites
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums forum mentions
This chart has been referenced 3 times on the forums, Explore the wider forum discussion to see what members have said about it.
From 
BestEverAlbums 04/03/2018 08:00 in Chart of the day (#2354): By ledemoncleaner
BestEverAlbums 04/03/2018 08:00 in Chart of the day (#2354): By ledemoncleaner“Today's chart of the day Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by ledemoncleaner () 1. The Doors by The Doors (1967) 2. OK Computer by Radiohead (1997) 3. Songs For The Deaf by Queens Of The Stone Age (2002) 4. Revolver by The Beatles (1966) 5. Mezzanine by Massive Attack (1998) 6. Bone Machine by Tom…”
View forum post →From BestEverAlbums 04/10/2017 08:00 in Chart of the day (#2001): By ledemoncleaner
BestEverAlbums 04/10/2017 08:00 in Chart of the day (#2001): By ledemoncleaner“Today's chart of the day Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by ledemoncleaner () 1. The Doors by The Doors (1967) 2. OK Computer by Radiohead (1997) 3. Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd (1975) 4. Songs For The Deaf by Queens Of The Stone Age (2002) 5. Revolver by The Beatles (1966) 6. Lonerism by Tame…”
View forum post →From BestEverAlbums 02/03/2016 09:00 in Chart of the day (#1569): By ledemoncleaner
BestEverAlbums 02/03/2016 09:00 in Chart of the day (#1569): By ledemoncleaner“Today's chart of the day Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by ledemoncleaner () 1. The Doors by The Doors (1967) 2. Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd (1975) 3. Songs For The Deaf by Queens Of The Stone Age (2002) 4. Revolver by The Beatles (1966) 5. OK Computer by Radiohead (1997) 6. Lonerism by Tame…”
View forum post →Top 100 Greatest Music Albums comments
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From
ledemoncleaner 04/18/2016 21:12 | #164088
ledemoncleaner 04/18/2016 21:12 | #164088
@crimson
I don't consider this list to be objective in really anyway whatsoever. This is just my list of personal favorites. I won't go around praising Lonerism as a revolutionary album, but it's one of my personal favorites. It pretty much defined a whole summer for me and I find myself to still enjoy giving it a listen (on vinyl or on my phone).
Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 1
From
CharlieBarley 04/10/2017 13:13 | #188991
CharlieBarley 04/10/2017 13:13 | #188991
Good chart. 24 albums in common. This deserves 100. Great taste in music, good interesting notes, some really good albums. I( don't adhere to the 1 album per artist rule myself but the good thing is through it you present a broad range of artists). You are clearly enthusiastic about your music. Great chart of the day.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 1
From
Gionzi 02/03/2016 17:49 | #158597
A little of all, I could define it a democratic chart. Many albums I love (8 albums, 11 artists in common), many I appreciate, many I am curious to listen to. Only one thing: I saw Clapton with Layla but didn't see Cream(I think they deserve to be in)!!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 1
From
pa 07/27/2015 08:57 | #146518
pa 07/27/2015 08:57 | #146518
beautiful chart dude and I love your #1 :)
Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 2
From
louisjwyatt TOP 100 COMMENTER 10/07/2015 22:30 | #151147
louisjwyatt TOP 100 COMMENTER 10/07/2015 22:30 | #151147
A very lovely, concise chart. Never been a Springsteen or QOTSA fan, but I'm really digging this. I'll revisit Massive Attack just for you :3
Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 1
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