Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by Giant2015 
I've been meaning to update this chart for a while as my musical interests have widened a lot over the past few years, but I found I kept putting it off as I was having trouble figuring out how to organize it. While I wanted it to reflect my personal preferences as much as possible, I also felt like I was leaving a lot of great albums and artists that meant a lot to me out by focusing too much on repeats of the same artist. In the end I decided to compromise and go for a one album per artist approach, but also include an Other Classics section in many of the entries-this section is for any other albums by the same artist that left a big impact on me, and can almost be considered as an honorary inclusion in the chart.
My 101-200 list: https://www.besteveralbums.com/thechart.php?c=50830
Favourite songs (subject to change):
Here, There and Everywhere-The Beatles
Movin' On Up-Primal Scream
Dancing On My Own-Robyn
Dog Days Are Over-Florence and the Machine
Life on Mars?-David Bowie
Avril 14th-Aphex Twin
Le Jardin Féerique-Maurice Ravel
Between the Bars-Elliott Smith
Apistat Commander-Xiu Xiu
Providence-Godspeed You! Black Emperor
Nude-Radiohead
Stephanie Says-The Velvet Underground
I Wish I Was the Moon-Neko Case
The Last Time I Saw Richard-Joni Mitchell
Venice Bitch-Lana Del Rey
Drunk Drivers/Killer Whales-Car Seat Headrest
Ahead By a Century-The Tragically Hip
Like a Rolling Stone-Bob Dylan
Helplessness Blues-Fleet Foxes
Purple Rain-Prince
- Chart updated: 07/18/2021 22:15
- (Created: 06/29/2015 21:52).
- Chart size: 100 albums.
There are 21 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 100 Greatest Music Albums has an average rating of 90 out of 100 (from 47 votes). Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.
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Post-rock; dream pop; ambient
Favourite songs: "Svefn-g-englar", "Ny batteri", "Viorar vel til loftarasa", "Olsen Olsen"
Other Classic(s): Valtari [First added to this chart: 03/22/2021]
Favourite songs: "Svefn-g-englar", "Ny batteri", "Viorar vel til loftarasa", "Olsen Olsen"
Other Classic(s): Valtari [First added to this chart: 03/22/2021]
Year of Release:
1999
Appears in:
Rank Score:
17,223
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Comments:
138
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Indie rock; post-rock; indie folk; ambient; lo-fi
One of the saddest concept albums I have ever heard, but somehow manages to prevent itself from becoming too overwhelming at the same time. Can be hard to listen to, but in a good way, and is an album I often turn to when I am going through a difficult time emotionally. Stays lo-fi and relatively soft and quiet throughout (although there are some massive crescendoes in here) while still being musically interesting enough to keep my attention. Some very clever lyrical choices on this album, as the story is fairly clear but can also be interpreted in multiple different ways.
Favourite songs: "Kettering", "Bear", "Shiva", "Epilogue"
Rating: 9/10 [First added to this chart: 10/23/2016]
One of the saddest concept albums I have ever heard, but somehow manages to prevent itself from becoming too overwhelming at the same time. Can be hard to listen to, but in a good way, and is an album I often turn to when I am going through a difficult time emotionally. Stays lo-fi and relatively soft and quiet throughout (although there are some massive crescendoes in here) while still being musically interesting enough to keep my attention. Some very clever lyrical choices on this album, as the story is fairly clear but can also be interpreted in multiple different ways.
Favourite songs: "Kettering", "Bear", "Shiva", "Epilogue"
Rating: 9/10 [First added to this chart: 10/23/2016]
Year of Release:
2009
Appears in:
Rank Score:
6,293
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Folk rock; indie pop
A really fun underrated indie rock record by an underrated band. The songs here aren't too inventive or weird, but are all enjoyable listens, and this album never gets old to me no matter how many times I hear it. Another road trip album-find myself singing along to almost all of the songs on here at some point.
Favourite songs: "My Rights Versus Yours", "Unguided", "Go Places", "The Spirit of Giving"
Rating: 9/10
Other Classic(s): Twin Cinema
Together [First added to this chart: 01/25/2016]
A really fun underrated indie rock record by an underrated band. The songs here aren't too inventive or weird, but are all enjoyable listens, and this album never gets old to me no matter how many times I hear it. Another road trip album-find myself singing along to almost all of the songs on here at some point.
Favourite songs: "My Rights Versus Yours", "Unguided", "Go Places", "The Spirit of Giving"
Rating: 9/10
Other Classic(s): Twin Cinema
Together [First added to this chart: 01/25/2016]
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Indie pop; indie dance
Well done indie pop/rock similar to Fantasies, although a little more electronic and softer in tone. Nice instrumental touches on some of these songs (especially strings on "Runaway"). Another album with great balance between different types of songs (in this case, more disco-ish tracks, softer ballads, and up-tempo indie-rock).
Favourite songs: "Soft Shock", "Dull Life", "Runaway", "Hysteric"
Rating: 9/10 [First added to this chart: 01/25/2016]
Well done indie pop/rock similar to Fantasies, although a little more electronic and softer in tone. Nice instrumental touches on some of these songs (especially strings on "Runaway"). Another album with great balance between different types of songs (in this case, more disco-ish tracks, softer ballads, and up-tempo indie-rock).
Favourite songs: "Soft Shock", "Dull Life", "Runaway", "Hysteric"
Rating: 9/10 [First added to this chart: 01/25/2016]
Year of Release:
2009
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,578
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Progressive rock; art rock
I am not always a fan of newer prog-rock, but something about this album pulls me in in a way that not a lot of other recent albums in the genre do. The story is compelling and interestingly told, and I love a lot of the song structures on here. The instrumentation is also a high point; I like the heavier, more metallic songs as much as the more orchestral epics as much as the quieter moments (like "Transience"). A very enjoyable listen overall.
Favourite songs: "First Regret/3 Years Older", "Routine", "Transience"
Rating: 9/10 [First added to this chart: 09/25/2016]
I am not always a fan of newer prog-rock, but something about this album pulls me in in a way that not a lot of other recent albums in the genre do. The story is compelling and interestingly told, and I love a lot of the song structures on here. The instrumentation is also a high point; I like the heavier, more metallic songs as much as the more orchestral epics as much as the quieter moments (like "Transience"). A very enjoyable listen overall.
Favourite songs: "First Regret/3 Years Older", "Routine", "Transience"
Rating: 9/10 [First added to this chart: 09/25/2016]
Year of Release:
2015
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,219
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Progressive rock; art rock; progressive pop
Favourite songs: "School", "Hide In Your Shell", "Dreamer", "Crime of the Century"
Other Classic(s): Breakfast in America [First added to this chart: 03/22/2021]
Favourite songs: "School", "Hide In Your Shell", "Dreamer", "Crime of the Century"
Other Classic(s): Breakfast in America [First added to this chart: 03/22/2021]
Year of Release:
1974
Appears in:
Rank Score:
6,579
Rank in 1974:
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Post-hardcore; indie rock; math rock; post-punk revival
Favourite songs: "A Life of Possibilities", "What Do You Want Me to Say", "Gyroscope", "The City" [First added to this chart: 03/21/2021]
Favourite songs: "A Life of Possibilities", "What Do You Want Me to Say", "Gyroscope", "The City" [First added to this chart: 03/21/2021]
Year of Release:
1999
Appears in:
Rank Score:
4,350
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Buy album
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Indie rock; indie folk
Relatively accessible indie pop/indie rock that stands out from the rest of the late 2000s/early 2010s crowd. Takes Ra Ra Riot or Radical Face-esque indie pop and combines it with Fleet Foxes styled indie folk and an almost post-punk like focus on rhythm and percussion to create an interesting and relatively original sound. I love the drum mixing on this album and the heavy focus of percussion throughout most of the songs as it creates a driving feel that carries most of the album, similarly to Violent Femmes. Although the drumming is the main focus, the other instrumentation is handled really well too; I love the complex fingerpicking and folk influences on the guitars on most of the songs here, and the emphasis placed on vibraphone, especially on "Hunting Season". The songwriting and song structures are also really well handled on this album, as they manage to balance the catchiness of indie pop with some unexpected tempo and time signature changes in a very smooth way; some of the songs on here are almost more like mini suites than traditional rock songs with verse-chorus progressions.
Favourite songs: "Black Night", "Good", "Sleep", "Hunting Season", and "Companions"
Rating: 9/10 [First added to this chart: 01/25/2016]
Relatively accessible indie pop/indie rock that stands out from the rest of the late 2000s/early 2010s crowd. Takes Ra Ra Riot or Radical Face-esque indie pop and combines it with Fleet Foxes styled indie folk and an almost post-punk like focus on rhythm and percussion to create an interesting and relatively original sound. I love the drum mixing on this album and the heavy focus of percussion throughout most of the songs as it creates a driving feel that carries most of the album, similarly to Violent Femmes. Although the drumming is the main focus, the other instrumentation is handled really well too; I love the complex fingerpicking and folk influences on the guitars on most of the songs here, and the emphasis placed on vibraphone, especially on "Hunting Season". The songwriting and song structures are also really well handled on this album, as they manage to balance the catchiness of indie pop with some unexpected tempo and time signature changes in a very smooth way; some of the songs on here are almost more like mini suites than traditional rock songs with verse-chorus progressions.
Favourite songs: "Black Night", "Good", "Sleep", "Hunting Season", and "Companions"
Rating: 9/10 [First added to this chart: 01/25/2016]
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Balkan folk; orchestral folk
The album that made me interested in getting into more music than just classic rock or indie rock; combines Balkan folk with indie folk in a pretty accessible way. The lyrics and music might get a little melodramatic at times, but it adds to the charm of the listening experience to me. Another very epic album experience.
Favourite songs: "Guyamas Sonora", "Cliquot", "In the Mausoleum", and "Cherbourg"
Rating: 9/10 [First added to this chart: 06/29/2015]
The album that made me interested in getting into more music than just classic rock or indie rock; combines Balkan folk with indie folk in a pretty accessible way. The lyrics and music might get a little melodramatic at times, but it adds to the charm of the listening experience to me. Another very epic album experience.
Favourite songs: "Guyamas Sonora", "Cliquot", "In the Mausoleum", and "Cherbourg"
Rating: 9/10 [First added to this chart: 06/29/2015]
Year of Release:
2007
Appears in:
Rank Score:
864
Rank in 2007:
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Comments:
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Indie rock
A pretty underrated album by a pretty underrated band. Champ usually gets more attention, as it does have more developed songs and is a little more diverse sonically, but this album has a quirky energy to it that sets it apart from the others to me. Might be a little short at 28 minutes, and some of the songs seem a little unfinished, but the songs on here are also all extremely memorable and well-written.
Favourite songs: "Centennial", "In a Cave", "Sixties Remake", "Your English is Good"
Rating: 9/10 [First added to this chart: 06/29/2015]
A pretty underrated album by a pretty underrated band. Champ usually gets more attention, as it does have more developed songs and is a little more diverse sonically, but this album has a quirky energy to it that sets it apart from the others to me. Might be a little short at 28 minutes, and some of the songs seem a little unfinished, but the songs on here are also all extremely memorable and well-written.
Favourite songs: "Centennial", "In a Cave", "Sixties Remake", "Your English is Good"
Rating: 9/10 [First added to this chart: 06/29/2015]
Total albums: 100. Page 10 of 10
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums composition
| Decade | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| 1930s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1940s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1950s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1960s | 8 | 8% | |
| 1970s | 21 | 21% | |
| 1980s | 11 | 11% | |
| 1990s | 14 | 14% | |
| 2000s | 31 | 31% | |
| 2010s | 14 | 14% | |
| 2020s | 1 | 1% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
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|
|
| Simon & Garfunkel | 1 | 1% | |
| Phoenix | 1 | 1% | |
| Joe Jackson | 1 | 1% | |
| Cocteau Twins | 1 | 1% | |
| Modest Mouse | 1 | 1% | |
| Portishead | 1 | 1% | |
| Black Midi | 1 | 1% | |
| Show all | |||
| Country | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
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|
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| |
50 | 50% | |
 |
28 | 28% | |
| |
12 | 12% | |
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3 | 3% | |
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2 | 2% | |
 |
1 | 1% | |
 |
1 | 1% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums chart changes
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums ratings
90/100 (from 47 votes)
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 47 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
95/100  | 12/11/2023 18:06 | skrapoel | | 93/100 |
 90/100 | 03/25/2021 20:02 |  Rhyner | | 99/100 |
| 100/100 | 03/25/2021 16:51 | mjp11 | | 95/100 |
| 95/100 | 03/25/2021 08:08 |  ssteve | | 92/100 |
| 95/100 | 06/13/2020 10:10 |  StefanR10 | | 88/100 |
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 3% of all charts on BestEverAlbums.com. This chart has a Bayesian average rating of 89.9/100, a mean average of 90.3/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 90.7/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 8.9.
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums comments
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95/100
From StefanR10 06/13/2020 10:11
StefanR10 06/13/2020 10:11
I like your chart very good artists and some underrated musicians i give you a high rating for the collection. Good taste.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
90/100
From 
VitorHugoP 09/11/2019 03:17
VitorHugoP 09/11/2019 03:17
David Bowie is not even close to being proto punk, but good chart nevertheless
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
95/100
From 
ForegroundNoise 08/27/2019 06:59
ForegroundNoise 08/27/2019 06:59
I'm revisiting this chart and my comment on it since it was chart of the day again a couple of days ago.
Whatever reason I gave it an 80 before clearly doesn't hold now; the detail you've put into each note both with your rating and album score is a really nice touch. I get a strong sense of your personality and taste from this lovely chart so I have upped my score accordingly :)
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
95/100
From 
ExTeaSea 08/23/2019 10:25
ExTeaSea 08/23/2019 10:25
Love this chart! Love how high you rated Feels by Animal Collective, it's excellent. Nice seeing St. Vincent on a top 100. Perhaps I shall put one of hers on my main chart.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
95/100
From 
gidgidi 06/19/2019 22:07
gidgidi 06/19/2019 22:07
Great chart!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
100/100
From Ashmark 03/02/2019 15:49
Fantastic list and the work you have put in to it is greatly appreciated. Thank you for your descriptions and explanations because allows others (less knowledgeable like me) to check out albums they are not familiar or intimate with. What makes your list a 100 for me is the diversity of musical genres, your interesting ranking of albums by some of the great artists (for god’s sake where is Dark Side of the Moon) and the inclusion of lower ranked albums generally that you have personally connected with. Not pretentious at all, I will be checking out your other charts. By the way, I felt the same way as you about the Stones but recently came to love Exile as a whole album. Cheers! [I love Japan- Obscure Alternatives; Gord Downie-Coke Machine Glow]
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
100/100
From 
Lukeanaderdude 01/21/2019 02:52
Lukeanaderdude 01/21/2019 02:52
Very nice list! Lots of great albums all varied in different genres and decades too. Nice Job!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
90/100
From RoundTheBend 01/20/2019 16:19
RoundTheBend 01/20/2019 16:19
Solid!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
90/100
From manurock 01/20/2019 12:56
Great chart. Can't say I agree with every album you have on the top spots but, hey, it's a personal chart that I respect and I like your comments. Also, though we have not that many albums in common, some of them are ones which I don't tend to have in common with other users.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
100/100
From 
DommeDamian 01/20/2019 10:04
DommeDamian 01/20/2019 10:04
Ashamed of myself, for not discovering this incredible earlier.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
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We work very hard to ensure our site is as fast (and FREE!) as possible, and we respect your privacy.