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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Psychedelic folk; lo-fi; folk punk
The first few times I heard this album, I thought it was unbearable; Jeff Mangum's voice seemed to be trying to be grating and the melodies were too simple to stand up. Around a year later, I found this album again and decided to re-try it, and it clicked on the first listen for me; the raw production and simple melodies/chord changes have a similar effect on pulling me into the story as For Emma. I have not gotten tired of this album since then despite listening to it on repeat for almost a month at one point, and I always find a new lyric or interesting instrumental choice that throws me off guard every time I listen to it. Some of the music on here (specifically on "The Fool") even reminds me of Beirut.
Favourite songs: "The King of Carrot Flowers, Part 1", "In the Aeroplane Over the Sea", "Holland, 1945", "Communist Daughter", "Oh Comely"
Rating: 10/10 [First added to this chart: 01/25/2016]
The first few times I heard this album, I thought it was unbearable; Jeff Mangum's voice seemed to be trying to be grating and the melodies were too simple to stand up. Around a year later, I found this album again and decided to re-try it, and it clicked on the first listen for me; the raw production and simple melodies/chord changes have a similar effect on pulling me into the story as For Emma. I have not gotten tired of this album since then despite listening to it on repeat for almost a month at one point, and I always find a new lyric or interesting instrumental choice that throws me off guard every time I listen to it. Some of the music on here (specifically on "The Fool") even reminds me of Beirut.
Favourite songs: "The King of Carrot Flowers, Part 1", "In the Aeroplane Over the Sea", "Holland, 1945", "Communist Daughter", "Oh Comely"
Rating: 10/10 [First added to this chart: 01/25/2016]
Year of Release:
1998
Appears in:
Rank Score:
39,468
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Average Rating:
Comments:
425
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Post-rock; dark ambient; drone; spoken word; field recordings
The post-rock album that had the biggest impact on me from the first listen, which is kind of surprising to me as I tend to enjoy Explosions in the Sky style music more than ambient/drone. For some reason, this album pulled me in to its atmosphere right away. Some of the things that I have heard people mention as drawbacks (less instrumentation and more focus on sound effects; less composed song structures and more ambience) are what make the tone of the album so gripping to me; I almost find it more cinematic than Lift Your Skinny Fists because it seems more ambiguous to me. Reminds me of a movie soundtrack, but in the best way possible. I am also talking about the C.D. version and not the album one listed on here as I find the track listing stronger.
Favourite song: It changes every time I listen to it but I think all three are equally strong
Rating: 10/10
Other Classic(s): Slow Riot for New Zero Kanada
Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven [First added to this chart: 10/23/2016]
The post-rock album that had the biggest impact on me from the first listen, which is kind of surprising to me as I tend to enjoy Explosions in the Sky style music more than ambient/drone. For some reason, this album pulled me in to its atmosphere right away. Some of the things that I have heard people mention as drawbacks (less instrumentation and more focus on sound effects; less composed song structures and more ambience) are what make the tone of the album so gripping to me; I almost find it more cinematic than Lift Your Skinny Fists because it seems more ambiguous to me. Reminds me of a movie soundtrack, but in the best way possible. I am also talking about the C.D. version and not the album one listed on here as I find the track listing stronger.
Favourite song: It changes every time I listen to it but I think all three are equally strong
Rating: 10/10
Other Classic(s): Slow Riot for New Zero Kanada
Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven [First added to this chart: 10/23/2016]
Year of Release:
1997
Appears in:
Rank Score:
6,094
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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]
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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Power pop; pop punk; alternative rock
One of my favourite albums in this style because of how diverse the songs on here sound while still staying in an indie and power-pop kind of sound. I personally enjoy it a little more than Pinkerton because I think it has more consistent writing and generally more interesting lyrics. All the songs on here have at least one memorable hook as well.
Favourite songs: "My Name is Jonas", "Buddy Holly", "Undone (The Sweater Song)", "Say It Ain't So"
Rating: 9/10 [First added to this chart: 09/25/2016]
One of my favourite albums in this style because of how diverse the songs on here sound while still staying in an indie and power-pop kind of sound. I personally enjoy it a little more than Pinkerton because I think it has more consistent writing and generally more interesting lyrics. All the songs on here have at least one memorable hook as well.
Favourite songs: "My Name is Jonas", "Buddy Holly", "Undone (The Sweater Song)", "Say It Ain't So"
Rating: 9/10 [First added to this chart: 09/25/2016]
Year of Release:
1994
Appears in:
Rank Score:
16,877
Rank in 1994:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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Alternative rock; alternative metal; prog rock; art rock; acoustic rock
May be a little bit too long, but not by much, which is surprising for an album that runs for over 2 hours. This album's flow is also really strong for an album that lasts so long and runs through so many genres; even though there are a couple songs on here that I would only call alright, none of them disrupt the track list or take a lot away from my enjoyment of the record. The concept of this album as a journey through day and night matches the tone of the music in interesting ways as well, especially on the ballads, which are often very atmospheric and almost cinematic. The Smashing Pumpkins' ballads are often my favourites of their songs, so it's nice that we get so many on this album (including almost the entire second disk, which is an interesting move for a band known for being hard rocking). "Take Me Down" is one of the Pumpkins' most soothing songs.
Favourite songs: "Tonight, Tonight", "Zero", "Bullet With Butterfly Wings", "Muzzle", "Take Me Down", "Thirty-Three", "1979", "By Starlight"
Rating: 9.5/10
Other Classic(s): Siamese Dream [First added to this chart: 06/29/2015]
May be a little bit too long, but not by much, which is surprising for an album that runs for over 2 hours. This album's flow is also really strong for an album that lasts so long and runs through so many genres; even though there are a couple songs on here that I would only call alright, none of them disrupt the track list or take a lot away from my enjoyment of the record. The concept of this album as a journey through day and night matches the tone of the music in interesting ways as well, especially on the ballads, which are often very atmospheric and almost cinematic. The Smashing Pumpkins' ballads are often my favourites of their songs, so it's nice that we get so many on this album (including almost the entire second disk, which is an interesting move for a band known for being hard rocking). "Take Me Down" is one of the Pumpkins' most soothing songs.
Favourite songs: "Tonight, Tonight", "Zero", "Bullet With Butterfly Wings", "Muzzle", "Take Me Down", "Thirty-Three", "1979", "By Starlight"
Rating: 9.5/10
Other Classic(s): Siamese Dream [First added to this chart: 06/29/2015]
Year of Release:
1995
Appears in:
Rank Score:
15,969
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Trip hop; acid jazz
Favourite songs: "Sour Times", "Strangers", "Roads", "Glory Box" [First added to this chart: 03/22/2021]
Favourite songs: "Sour Times", "Strangers", "Roads", "Glory Box" [First added to this chart: 03/22/2021]
Year of Release:
1994
Appears in:
Rank Score:
17,119
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Electronica; trip hop; experimental pop
Homogenic is one of the coldest albums I have ever heard, and I mean that in a good way; it feels like I am actually in the middle of a frozen landscape somewhere listening to this. The combination of trip-hop beats and electronic production with very dramatic and orchestral acoustic instrumentation is used really well on the album; it keeps the album grounded even as it gets more experimental and icy. Bjork's singing is also at its best on this album; ranging from the relatively restrained and dynamic vocals on "Unravel" to the insane distorted screaming at the end of "Pluto". It may not be quite as innovative as Medulla or interesting conceptually as Biophilia, but it is the album with her strongest and most consistent set of songs, and one of the most important electronic/art pop albums ever.
Favourite songs: "Joga", "Unravel", "Bachelorette", "All Neon Like", and "Alarm Call"
Other classic(s): Post
Rating: 9/10 [First added to this chart: 02/14/2018]
Homogenic is one of the coldest albums I have ever heard, and I mean that in a good way; it feels like I am actually in the middle of a frozen landscape somewhere listening to this. The combination of trip-hop beats and electronic production with very dramatic and orchestral acoustic instrumentation is used really well on the album; it keeps the album grounded even as it gets more experimental and icy. Bjork's singing is also at its best on this album; ranging from the relatively restrained and dynamic vocals on "Unravel" to the insane distorted screaming at the end of "Pluto". It may not be quite as innovative as Medulla or interesting conceptually as Biophilia, but it is the album with her strongest and most consistent set of songs, and one of the most important electronic/art pop albums ever.
Favourite songs: "Joga", "Unravel", "Bachelorette", "All Neon Like", and "Alarm Call"
Other classic(s): Post
Rating: 9/10 [First added to this chart: 02/14/2018]
Year of Release:
1997
Appears in:
Rank Score:
13,800
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Average Rating:
Comments:
65. (=)
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Jazz-rock; avant-garde jazz; grindcore; surf rock; no wave
[First added to this chart: 03/22/2021]
Year of Release:
1990
Appears in:
Rank Score:
796
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Average Rating:
Comments:
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Southern hip hop; neosoul; funk
Probably my favourite hip hop album of the 90s; the tracklist is a little long and some songs could have been cut from the second half, but none of the songs on here are downright bad. Reminds me a lot of albums like Good Kid, m.A.A.d. City and Late Registration, although it was released before either of those. Another album that manages to bring influences from many different genres together in a way that feels natural; some of my favourite songs on here, like "Liberation", aren't even really based in hip hop. The album cover art is great as well.
Favourite songs: "Rosa Parks", "Synthesizer", "Spottieottiedopaliscious", and "Liberation"
Rating: 9/10 [First added to this chart: 02/06/2018]
Probably my favourite hip hop album of the 90s; the tracklist is a little long and some songs could have been cut from the second half, but none of the songs on here are downright bad. Reminds me a lot of albums like Good Kid, m.A.A.d. City and Late Registration, although it was released before either of those. Another album that manages to bring influences from many different genres together in a way that feels natural; some of my favourite songs on here, like "Liberation", aren't even really based in hip hop. The album cover art is great as well.
Favourite songs: "Rosa Parks", "Synthesizer", "Spottieottiedopaliscious", and "Liberation"
Rating: 9/10 [First added to this chart: 02/06/2018]
Year of Release:
1998
Appears in:
Rank Score:
6,218
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Ambient; electronic; dark ambient
Favourite songs: "Cliffs", "Radiator", "Rhubarb", "Tree", "Parallel Stripes", "Windowsill", "Lichen", "Tassels"
Other Classic(s): Drukqs [First added to this chart: 03/22/2021]
Favourite songs: "Cliffs", "Radiator", "Rhubarb", "Tree", "Parallel Stripes", "Windowsill", "Lichen", "Tassels"
Other Classic(s): Drukqs [First added to this chart: 03/22/2021]
Year of Release:
1994
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,262
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Comments:
Total albums: 14. Page 1 of 2
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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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| Kanye West | 1 | 1% | |
| The Rolling Stones | 1 | 1% | |
| Black Midi | 1 | 1% | |
| Belle And Sebastian | 1 | 1% | |
| Neil Young | 1 | 1% | |
| Aphex Twin | 1 | 1% | |
| The Cars | 1 | 1% | |
| Show all | |||
| Country | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
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50 | 50% | |
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28 | 28% | |
| |
12 | 12% | |
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3 | 3% | |
 |
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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| Best Artists of 1976 | |
|---|---|
| 1. Stevie Wonder | |
| 2. David Bowie | |
| 3. Ramones | |
| 4. Eagles | |
| 5. Boston | |
| 6. Genesis | |
| 7. Rush | |
| 8. Bob Dylan | |
| 9. The Modern Lovers | |
| 10. Joni Mitchell | |
| 11. Thin Lizzy | |
| 12. Electric Light Orchestra | |
| 13. Rainbow | |
| 14. AC/DC | |
| 15. Steely Dan | |
| 16. Led Zeppelin | |
| 17. Queen | |
| 18. Jean Michel Jarre | |
| 19. Jorge Ben | |
| 20. Aerosmith |