Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by corenfro Unknown

*Not necessarily in order yet beyond the top 10-20 or so*

I'm going to try to do the "one album per artist" as much as it pains me to do so. Shoutout to the many albums by The Who, The Beach Boys, Miles Davis, Radiohead, Marvin Gaye, Pink Floyd, The Beatles, Stevie Wonder, Kanye West, David Bowie, Yes, Genesis, and Kendrick Lamar. Some of them were VERY hard to pick a "only album from X artist" since some have 2 (or more) really important albums w/ vastly different stories that deserve inclusion (smile vs. pet sounds, tommy vs. who's next, kid a vs. ok computer, to pimp a butterfly vs. good kid madd city, lonerism vs. currents, sgt. pepper vs. others, kind of blue vs. bitches brew). But until I can unlock decade charts I must do this to fit a wider variety of music (there are well over 100 great albums that I really want to consider a top 100 album).

On a site littered with contrarians I actually tried to make a "top greatest music albums" list as opposed to a "top obscure albums you've never heard of" list. Because of this, when choosing which album from an artist to include, I generally err on the side of the more euphonic record when in doubt.

Hipsters and snobs: feel free to downvote at how mainstream I am.

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June 2024: I'm doing a trial run with this at #1

“In the morning, I’ll be alright my friend, but soon the night will bring the pain. Flying high in the friendly sky”

What do you get when you combine the smoothest voice in the history of music with the greatest bass lines in the history of music, and hotbox a Motown studio full of ?? An album that is better than anything in its genre and in its decade - which is saying a lot when you consider all that happened in the 1970’s.

If heroin could sing, it still wouldn’t sound as good as Marvin Gaye. I stand very firmly behind my opinion that Marvin Gaye possessed the greatest voice of all time. There are countless things to love about this album musically. There are entire albums' worth of super tight bass lines in like 8 bars of James Jamerson's mastery of the instrument. The smooth aesthetic is the quintessential soul sound. For 1971, it is a crazy well mixed assortment of wind and stringed instruments, and the variety of percussion. However, it’s Marvin’s show, and it’s his voice that carries the listener through the album. The man clearly had enormous talent, and it is displayed in its entirety on “What’s Going On”.

Listening to Marvin Gaye perform live must have been similar to watching Michael Jordan make the final shot of the 1998 NBA finals, or watching Aaron Rodgers play quarterback except better by several orders of magnitude because music is clearly a domain of excellence far superior to sports. One of his studio assistants was questioned at one point what the most difficult thing was when working with Marvin Gaye. The response was that it was so difficult to select which takes of his voice to keep and which to discard, because they were all so beautiful that it felt wrong to delete anything that he recorded.

“What’s Going On” is about discontent - with culture, with politics, with discrimination, with the imperfect self. It came at a time when the Barry Gordy’s Motown record label was interested only in pumping out radio hits for profit and wasn’t interested in any of this introspective, challenging music. Gaye demanded it be released as he envisioned it and was nearly close to breaking ties with the record label.

Marvin Gaye had a wild and remarkable career, plagued by the internal conflict which is was clear from his art, as well as his ongoing struggle with depression and multiple suicide attempts and drug addiction. It’s this struggle that fuels the beauty that is his music. His angelic voice carries just enough of a painful undertone to send shivers down the listener’s spine. That’s “What’s Going On”
[First added to this chart: 06/07/2015]
Year of Release:
1971
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Rank Score:
19,539
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This thing rocks! You get hit by a sample Boris Gardiner sample which is a introduction to the listener that Kendrick's is going to be going further through the black experience than he did in his 2012 release of the out-of-order concept album "Good Kid Madd City" of the story of losing his virginity to a girl in a different gang, then commandeering his Mom's van to meet up with his friends then get peer pressured into a drive by shooting, later exploring the death of a family member related to gang violence.

But back to TPAB: this is wider in scope than his earlier work. He addresses the identity politics of race at a more sociopolitical level, but also addresses his personal experience of coping with fame and the life of materialistic abundance. There is a tension between his newfound life of wealth, fame, and touring the world and his obligations to his friends and family back in Compton. Coming from a very different background than Kendrick, but it expands my consciousness of his world, and still resonates with me on some level.

What I can respond to is the music though. This is a perfectly eclectic mix of hip hop, jazz, funk, neo-soul, and experimentation. The father of funk, George Clinton, is on the first track (which is a banger by the way) along with a variety of expert producers: Thundercat, Flying Lotus, Pharrell Williams, Terrace Martin, and not least the great saxophonist Kamasi Washington.

Kendrick is the hottest rapper in the industry now, and one of the greatest of all time, and his rapping is not even close to my favorite part of this record. The songs are just - good. It takes all it's influences from the genres it does, and the samples it uses (which is another review entirely) but there is a distince "kendrick" sound to it. Imitators (anderson paak?) and the industry as a whole are already starting to take influence from this eclectic "all of the above" blend of genres that's itself become a staple of how experimental jazz hip hop can, and will sound.

Just take a look at 2016: Beyonce's "Lemonade", Solange's "A Seat at the Table", Bowie's "Blackstar", Kanye's "Pablo", Frank Ocean's "Blonde", Tribe's "We got it" all take influence from this in some way

The TPAB recording sessions were so great that the untitled unmastered b-sides got released a year later and made many top albums lists. They had an outstanding group of producers and musicians in on this. Unreal.
[First added to this chart: 06/07/2015]
Year of Release:
2015
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Rank Score:
33,200
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I've had encounters with Jimi through this album, through his other albums through documentaries and experiences that I simply can't describe with words. It's cliche to say that an artist lives on through their music, but it's the truth because Jimi is the truth. His confidence that oozes out of every measure of his music has been rebirthed inside of me, and the countless people who have connected so intimately with his music.

Establishing the connection is so easy because it's so clear that Jimi was doing exactly what he was meant to do. Because he was so obviously fulfilling his divine purpose, if you will, he was able to put so much of his personality into his music and convey everything he needed to so effectively in such a short period of time.

Jimi's lesson was so poignant: find what you are meant to do and do it because it's all you can do. You are a part of radiant cosmic energy that is unstoppable there is no birth or death or life there is only being. Birth, death and rebirth are only heuristics to help us understand the essence of being.

I may or may not have been tripping hard upon this discovery, but I don't think I'm wrong.
[First added to this chart: 01/01/2019]
Year of Release:
1967
Appears in:
Rank Score:
22,578
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I believe this is possibly the most underrated album of all time. This album seemed quirky at first, but like other "quirky" albums that are actually classics, it becomes the new normal when I now listen. This is an acoustic-guitar driven / orchastra / horns driven pop album trying to be psychedelic.

Wonderfully crafted songs, with mysterious well-written lyrics, this was the last album featuring both Arthur and Bryan. Forever Changes requires the listener to adjust, but doing so pays off greatly. Some of the greatest moments from this genre and the 60's in general lie on this piece and most people have never heard of it.

Move over Sloop John B - Andmoreagain is the best Carol Kaye bass line and I will take that to my grave.
[First added to this chart: 06/07/2015]
Year of Release:
1967
Appears in:
Rank Score:
15,947
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Magdalena Bay are crazy underrated. Think Charli XCX / PC Music hyperpop, but remove some of the more annoying parts and keep the parts that make hyperpop so great, then combine them with the best elements of vaporwave and house, and get a great modern sounding synthpop album, with all the adornments of the 2010s Grimes sound, with a little Caroline Polachek sprinkled in.

Oh, and did I mention it's a concept album? I think it works decently well (the mercurial world) but what's even more impressive than the thematic cohesion is how MUSICALLY the tracks fit and transition so well together that we really get something that feels like it's greater than a collection of tracks.

The production (done by Magdalena Bay themselves, including the mixing and mastering) is also top notch, the arrangements are fantastic. Want to know how a Mag Bay song is produced? They stream nearly every week, often go into the raw DAW mix, then upload them to youtube, in addition, they have a really unique social media presence with the aesthetic of their TikTok's and videos uploaded to youtube. They nearly have a music video for every song, and despite this being their debut album, they have a ridiculous amount of EP's and associated videos that are really well done and creative.

Magdalena Bay has unlimited talent and potential and I can't wait to see what they do next. Update: they did Imaginal Disk and it is another step forward. But this record will stand here for the nostalgia
[First added to this chart: 11/07/2022]
Year of Release:
2021
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Rank Score:
921
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Hip hop but also synth pop / RnB / soul album that showcases Tyler's creative skill and talented musicianship. To try to describe this in genres would undermine the creativity and diversity of sounds in the instrumentals on this. He is really a great songwriter.

1 part in a 3 part trilogy of really great albums from Tyler the Creator to solidify him in the hip hop album trilogy hall of fame

Tyler is cooking up what other people can't do and the combination of sounds here ends up being entirely unique. Do I agree with every mixing decision? No. But ultimately this is a musical masterpiece that you'd be deaf to not head bang too.

Oh and those chord progressions and synth arrangements? So good
[First added to this chart: 10/24/2022]
Year of Release:
2019
Appears in:
Rank Score:
6,750
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Buy album United States
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Pet Sounds was a classic and a monumental album. No offense to Rubber Soul but Pet Sounds is to my ears the first *great* art album. I was able to see one of the final performances of pet sounds and it was played with a more modern mix w/ a punchier bass guitar, it sounded great with the upgrade in technology even if Brian's voice isn't what it once was.

Pet sounds is the best album of the 60's - and it was all Wilson. Plagued with mental health issues his whole life, there was a time period where he was able to utilize his wonderfully unique brain to create just some very stunning art. Three things drive this album: vocal harmonies, chord progressions, and aesthetic.

The voice of Brian Wilson along with the other beach boys are just tremendous. They weave through the chord progressions adding and subtracting different notes, it's just wonderful. The mostly major chord progressions will change key without the uncritical listener noticing much of a difference because Wilson does it so smoothly. I'm no music theory expert, but the "God Only Knows" has such a beauty in how it moves between different keys. When I go to play it on piano I'm amazed by it's beautiful simplicity.

Pet Sounds was revolutionary as far as the recording technology that went into it. It sounds a little dated, but there are so many bands today trying to get a similar aesthetic that it's hard to knock him for that. So many different instruments were used for various purposes. You will get a 7 million part harmony on the hook from "You still believe in me" then occasionally music will cut out and have just a bass and piano along Brian's vocals like in the "Here Today" pre-chorus.

This thing is trippy! The debate rages on whether this is psychedelic or pre-psych or whatever but there are many parts on this where you just want to zone in and feel your body reverberate with the music. "I Just Wasn't Made for These Times" was WAY more psychedelic live and I felt like I was tripping my balls off when they played it.

Pet Sounds MADE the Beatles start to be more artistic (they took influence from Zappa as well for this) The Beatles, Animal Collective, Tame Impala, Radiohead, Brian Eno, and may others have the Beach Boys to thank.

SHOUT OUT TO SMILE - BEST UNRELEASED ALBUM OF ALL TIME. IT PAINS ME TO NOT INCLUDE THAT IN THIS LIST!!
[First added to this chart: 05/15/2016]
Year of Release:
1966
Appears in:
Rank Score:
40,619
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The first half of this album is absolutely incredible. This album was instantly nostalgic for me even after only a few listens. A unique and immensely emotional indie art rock record that has no equal.

I don't have an explanation for why I like this album so much, I honestly don't. There's nothing musically original or stylistically profound on here, it just has this soul-wrenching quality to it I can't explain. Even on the less profound songs on the back end I feel my spirit moved.

To me this is heads over heels his best record and the Bon Iver sound at it's finest.
[First added to this chart: 06/07/2015]
Year of Release:
2011
Appears in:
Rank Score:
8,459
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Could just as easily gone with "Songs in the Key of Life" - Stevie Wonder's colorful soul and stretch of music from 72-76 is absolutely phenomenal. [First added to this chart: 06/07/2015]
Year of Release:
1973
Appears in:
Rank Score:
12,911
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The creator of Neo-Soul makes a comeback album - his best next to Voodoo. He's low key one of the most imitated musicians of the last 30 years but no one does D'Angelo like D'Angelo. This album is an audiophile's dream. [First added to this chart: 01/24/2017]
Year of Release:
2014
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Rank Score:
3,399
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Total albums: 54. Page 1 of 6

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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums composition

Decade Albums %


1930s 0 0%
1940s 0 0%
1950s 1 1%
1960s 12 12%
1970s 24 24%
1980s 10 10%
1990s 14 14%
2000s 14 14%
2010s 21 21%
2020s 4 4%
Artist Albums %


Supertramp 1 1%
Kate Bush 1 1%
Mike Oldfield 1 1%
Marvin Gaye 1 1%
Genesis 1 1%
Simon & Garfunkel 1 1%
Sigur Rós 1 1%
Show all
Country Albums %


United States 54 54%
United Kingdom 29 29%
Canada 5 5%
Mixed Nationality 3 3%
Iceland 2 2%
Finland 1 1%
New Zealand 1 1%
Show all
Compilation? Albums %
No 98 98%
Yes 2 2%
Soundtrack? Albums %
No 98 98%
Yes 2 2%

Top 100 Greatest Music Albums chart changes

Biggest fallers
Faller Down 1 from 10th to 11th
Igor
by Tyler, The Creator
Faller Down 1 from 11th to 12th
How I'm Feeling Now
by Charli XCX
Faller Down 1 from 12th to 13th
Pet Sounds
by The Beach Boys
New entries
New entryOur Love
by Caribou
Leavers
Leaver Andorra
by Caribou
TitleSourceTypePublishedCountry
BEA 100 (One Album per Artist) BozoTyrannusCustom chart2020
If The BEA Overall Chart Had A One Album Per Artist Rule... RomanelliCustom chart2015
Top 100 Greatest Music Albumsmjp11Overall chart2025
BEA Top 100 Reorganized According To My TastebonnequestionCustom chart2025
Ya joking? Should've been higher! All Time edition PurplepashCustom chart2025
Re-Ranking BEA's Top 100sunnydhammCustom chart2020
Rearrange Top 100 Larcx13Custom chart2020
BEA top 100 reranked - 2020 LedZepCustom chart2023
Overall for yours truly RoundTheBendCustom chart2020
BEA's Top 100 re-ranked EyeKanFlyCustom chart2020

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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums ratings

Average Rating: 
90/100 (from 78 votes)
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This chart is rated in the top 2% of all charts on BestEverAlbums.com. This chart has a Bayesian average rating of 90.0/100, a mean average of 89.5/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 90.6/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 13.5.

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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums comments

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Rating:  
100/100
From 09/11/2024 14:00
A highlight on this site. Also love the authenticity in your descriptions
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
90/100
From 09/11/2024 12:41
I’m really fascinated to see how brat sounds into the future and how influential it’ll end up being. It almost sounds like it could be an end cap of an era as much as it could be the start of an entirely new one, but time will tell. Great list, I personally can’t do no duplicate artists, but I respect your effort!
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
90/100
From 01/25/2023 10:43
Love the note accompanying this entries. Don’t agree with the one album per artist thing but that’s a personal choice. Not going to criticise you for that. Great chart
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
85/100
From 01/25/2023 10:06
Nice chart with a fairly even split across the decades (which is not something you see that often). Overall, a bit too USA focussed ~ and only one album from south of the Equator....
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
95/100
From 08/15/2020 13:53
Very good selection of classic rock albums. Particularly Tommy and Moody Blues. I don't know why you never see Tommy too much anymore. I guess it's not as popular as it used to be for some strange reason.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
90/100
From 07/25/2020 16:39
I find it difficult to condone the one album per artist thing, seems arbitrary to me, what's the rational? I agree with you on the 'top obscure albums you've never heard of' comment, this site is full of charts containing albums that make me think, can those albums really be favorites or just 'clever' picks?
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (2 helpful | 1 unhelpful)
Rating:  
100/100
From 07/19/2020 09:54
YOU GET A FAVORITE FROM ME!
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Rating:  
100/100
From 07/19/2020 09:52
Remarkable descriptions, great chart!
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
90/100
From 03/08/2020 04:24
27 artists in common! That's a bunch! Great chart!
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
95/100
From 01/02/2020 00:45
A lot of work has clearly gone into this. incredible
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Recognised  Decade Charts (2020s)
1. 100 Best Albums of the 2010s: Staff Picks by Billboard (2019)
2. 100 Best Albums of the 2010s by Rolling Stone (2019)
3. The 50 best albums of the decade – 2010 to 2019 by Independent (2019)
4. The Needle Drop's Top Albums Of The 2010s by The Needle Drop (2019)
5. The 200 Best Albums of the 2010s by Pitchfork (2019)
6. The A.V. Club's 50 best albums of the 2010s by The A.V. Club (2019)
7. BrooklynVegan's Top Albums of 2010s by BrooklynVegan (2020)
8. All The Best Albums Of The 2010s, Ranked by Uproxx (2019)
9. Gorilla vs. Bear Albums of the 2010s by Gorilla vs. Bear (2019)
10. Top 100 Albums of the Decade by Crack Magazine (2019)
11. NME's Greatest Albums of The Decade: The 2010s by New Music Express (2019)
12. Top 50 Albums of the 2010s by The Wild Honey Pie (2019)
13. The 50 Best Albums of the Decade by Deep Cuts (2019)
14. The 100 Best Albums Of The 2010s by Stereogum (2019)
15. The 101 Best Albums of the 2010s by Spin (2020)
16. BEST OF 2011 - 2020: Die besten Alben des Jahrzehnts by laut (2020)
17. Tiny Mix Tapes 2010s: Favorite 100 Music Releases of the Decade by Tiny Mix Tapes (2019)
18. Top 100 Albums of the 2010s by Consequence of Sound (2019)
19. Die 100 besten Alben der 10er Jahre by Musikexpress.de (2020)
20. The 100 Best Albums of the 2010s by Paste (2019)
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