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

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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Collector's summaryLog in or register to discover the great albums that are missing from your music collection!
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Buy album United States
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Baroque pop; post-punk revival

Fairly sad and mellow both musically and lyrically for an album with so much orchestral/baroque pop influences, but still an excellent alternative record. An album that, like Funeral or For Emma, I find relaxing and emotionally satisfying to listen to no matter what mood I am in. Manages to incorporate a lot of angst and emotional themes while still staying somewhat restrained and leaving me with a kind of cautiously hopeful vibe at the end.

Favourite songs: "Terrible Love", "Afraid of Everyone", "Bloodbuzz Ohio", "Conversation 16", "England", "Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks"

Rating: 10/10

Other Classic(s): Alligator
[First added to this chart: 01/25/2016]
Year of Release:
2010
Appears in:
Rank Score:
11,613
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Buy album United States
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Classic rock; blues rock; Celtic folk

A rare hard rock album for me where I enjoy the quieter songs and non-hit tracks just as much (and even more in some cases) as the hits. Manages to be a musically complex and dense album while also just being fun to listen to. Also, "When the Levee Breaks" has my favourite drum part in any song.

Favourite songs: "The Battle of Evermore", "Stairway to Heaven", "When the Levee Breaks".

Rating: 10/10

Other Classic(s): Led Zeppelin III
Houses of the Holy
[First added to this chart: 01/25/2016]
Year of Release:
1971
Appears in:
Rank Score:
44,303
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Buy album United States
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Indie rock; folk rock; indie pop

Indie rock/pop music that manages to be catchy and accessible while staying just weird enough to be attention-grabbing. Another album where I can find something to enjoy about every song and find myself listening to even the weaker ones over and over again.

Favourite songs: "The Con", "Soil, Soil", "Burn Your Life Down", "Nineteen", "Call it Off"

Rating: 10/10
[First added to this chart: 12/26/2015]
Year of Release:
2007
Appears in:
Rank Score:
685
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Buy album United States
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Disco; funk; soul; jazz

Thriller is often picked as the greatest pop album of all time, and it is an enjoyable listen (and probably more consistent than Off the Wall), but, at least to me, this album is much more exciting to listen to in almost every way and reaches highs that Thriller doesn't even come close to. This album would probably be in my top five of all time in terms of musical palette; the wider instrumentation, blend of genres, mixing, arrangements, and instrumental and vocal performances are all pretty much perfect. Like Lungs, this is another album that it is basically impossible for me to be in a bad mood when I am listening to it, and an album where a wider range of instrumentation actually adds to the songwriting and mood of the album rather than over-cluttering it. There are a couple overly cheesy songs on the second half, but the songwriting on here is pretty consistently great, especially from Rod Temperton and Michael Jackson himself. This album also has one of the best first sides of any rock or pop album, and, more than anything, has a compelling energy and almost real-time-live atmosphere that Thriller does not.

Favourite songs: "Don't Stop Till You Get Enough", "Rock With You", "Off the Wall", and "Burn This Disco Out".

Rating: 10/10
[First added to this chart: 02/06/2018]
Year of Release:
1979
Appears in:
Rank Score:
4,892
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Buy album United States
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Glam rock; neo-psychedelia; art pop

I've heard this album described as "of Montreal going glam rock" before, which is pretty accurate but also underplays how strange and unique this album gets; while it is obviously inspired by people like Prince and David Bowie, it also has its own very distinct character to it. An incredibly lyrically (and often musically) bizarre album, but one that is also very quotable, pretty funny, and surprisingly sad at times. Definitely one of the catchiest and most upbeat albums about crippling mental illness I've ever heard. Also somehow manages to be incredibly off-putting and abstract while being one of the most fun pop albums of the 2000s. Has a lot of ideas that sound like they could be terrible on paper (like "The Past is a Grotesque Animal", which is basically a 12-minute monologue about the main character detaching from reality and becoming his alter ego) that end up being some of the best songs on the album. I also have the version of this with the bonus tracks, which I think really add to the experience of the album, especially "No Conclusion".

Favourite songs: "Suffer for Fashion", "Cato as a Pun", "Gronlandic Edit", "The Past is A Grotesque Animal", "Faberge Falls for Shuggie"

Rating: 10/10
[First added to this chart: 10/04/2017]
Year of Release:
2007
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,487
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Comments:
16. (=)
Buy album United States
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Post-punk revival; dance punk; indie rock

When making this album, Foals was apparently inspired by musicians like Steve Reich, Madonna, Talking Heads, and Godspeed You! Black Emperor, and, while it may not be immediately obvious, I can definitely hear these influences the more I listen to this album. While an artist like Steve Reich might be a weird inspiration to use when talking about a dance-punk album, touches like the short, repetitive guitar parts and layering of rhythms throughout show that Foals can use influences like this in interesting ways throughout their music. This album is a little more one-note than most of their later ones, especially Total Life Forever, but they perform this style of music really well; the album has a really infectious energy throughout and the addition of math rock influences like shifting time signatures adds to the upbeat feel and grooves of the tracks. "Spanish Sahara" has always been my favourite Foals song, but this album has some pretty good competition with "Red Sox Pugie", which uses the (relatively) quiet intro build-up to big chorus formula incredibly well (and maybe even better than "Sahara").

Favourite songs: "Red Sox Pugie", "Olympic Airways", "Heavy Water", "Two Steps, Twice", "Big Big Love (Fig. 2)".

Rating: 10/10
[First added to this chart: 02/06/2018]
Year of Release:
2008
Appears in:
Rank Score:
930
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Comments:
Buy album United States
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Indie pop; synth-pop

This album used to be a lot lower because while it is a great album, it is also a pretty straight-forward indie pop album; however, the more I listen to it, the more I realize how enjoyable it is as an album. The production is fantastic throughout the entire album and there is a really nice blend of live and electronic instrumentation; it is obviously pretty digital but still comes across as having all the energy and colour of a live performance. Every song on here has at least one memorable hook (most songs have more than one), and while there may not be anything left-field or surprising in terms of song structure, the elements are still very well-executed and incredibly satisfying to listen to. There is also really good control of tension and release throughout the whole album; even moments that may seem underwritten or a little repetitive, like the first part of "Love Like a Sunset", have interesting instrumental build-ups or changes in atmosphere within them. It is impossible for me to listen to this album all the way through and not end up in a good mood by the end of it.

Favourite songs: Basically all of them but if I had to pick it would be "Lisztomania", "1901", "Fences", and "Countdown"

Rating: 10/10
[First added to this chart: 01/25/2016]
Year of Release:
2009
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,932
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Comments:
Buy album United States
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Art rock; alt-country; folk rock

An album that I thought had some decent songs at first but didn't really get into until more recently. Manages to combine more direct Wilco with more experimental Wilco for their most focused record. It might not be as instantly likable and catchy as an album like Summerteeth, and there are some sections that go on a little too long for me, but the high points on this record are way better than any of the band's other work, and there are a lot of stand-out tracks to me.

Favourite songs: "I Am Trying to Break Your Heart", "Jesus, Etc.", "I'm the Man Who Loves You", "Poor Places"

Rating: 10/10

Other Classic(s): Summerteeth
[First added to this chart: 12/26/2015]
Year of Release:
2002
Appears in:
Rank Score:
20,566
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Comments:
Buy album United States
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Indie folk; progressive folk; folk rock

Indie folk that is both soothing and filled with different elements and layers of sound and storytelling. May be just a little darker than their first album, and the shorter ballads and longer multi-part epics are equally well done. While none of the tracks on here are bad, some of them are noticeably better and more developed than others for me; however, the album is still fascinating as a whole musical story.

Favourite songs: "Montezuma", "Helplessness Blues", "Someone You'd Admire", "The Shrine/An Argument"

Rating: 10/10

Other Classic(s): Crack-Up
[First added to this chart: 01/25/2016]
Year of Release:
2011
Appears in:
Rank Score:
9,461
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Comments:
Buy album United States
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Chamber pop; folk rock

Like Ziggy Stardust, this is another album that grabbed my attention the first time I heard it. One of my favourite lyrical albums of all time, and the stretch of songs from "The Stars of Track and Field" to "If You're Feeling Sinister" is one of the most consistently great on any album.

Favourite songs: "Like Dylan in the Movies", "The Fox in the Snow", "Get Me Away From Here, I'm Dying", "If You're Feeling Sinister"

Rating: 9.5/10

Other Classic(s): Tigermilk
[First added to this chart: 10/23/2016]
Year of Release:
1996
Appears in:
Rank Score:
11,994
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Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 100. Page 2 of 10

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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums composition

Decade Albums %


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%
Country Albums %


United States 50 50%
United Kingdom 28 28%
Canada 12 12%
Mixed Nationality 3 3%
Iceland 2 2%
Ireland 1 1%
France 1 1%
Show all
Soundtrack? Albums %
No 99 99%
Yes 1 1%

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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums ratings

Average Rating: 
90/100 (from 47 votes)
  Ratings distributionRatings distribution Average Rating = (n ÷ (n + m)) × av + (m ÷ (n + m)) × AV
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).
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12/11/2023 18:06 skrapoel  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 893/100
  
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03/25/2021 20:02 Rhyner  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 1,38299/100
  
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03/25/2021 16:51 mjp11  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 3795/100
  
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03/25/2021 08:08 ssteve  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 20792/100
  
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06/13/2020 10:10 StefanR10  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 8388/100

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 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 favourites

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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums comments

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Rating:  
95/100
From 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)
Rating:  
90/100
From 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)
Rating:  
95/100
From 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)
Rating:  
95/100
From 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)
Rating:  
95/100
From 06/19/2019 22:07
Great chart!
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
100/100
From 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)
Rating:  
100/100
From 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)
Rating:  
90/100
From 01/20/2019 16:19
Solid!
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
90/100
From 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)
Rating:  
100/100
From 01/20/2019 10:04
Ashamed of myself, for not discovering this incredible earlier.
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