Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by 
meruizh 
I ask myself every now and then why I love music so much? Why has it become some sort of an addiction? To listen to new albums every chance I get, with every minute of my spare time trying to get my hands on my favorite records. I have come to realize that I am submerged in this crazy world of music, in which the last thing I am thinking off before going to bed is: “What album am I going to play tomorrow?”
I once read an article that mentioned that obsessive music listeners tend to be depressive people. At first it had me questioning me if this was really true. Am I just listening to stuff in order to give some sort of meaning to life? But music is not meant to give definition to your life; music is just part of it. When you play a specific album that creates a scenery in your head of a romantic night, or when you play some “depressive” album when you are in a down mood, music will always give you a hand.
In my case, music has something special I cannot find in anything else. I often find myself in the desperate need for it. It is a sort of “click” a song or an album can have in you. It is something I cannot describe with words. This “click” comes in rare occasions, but when it happens, it is like magic. It is an incredible feeling.
Music wakes me up and accompanies me throughout my day. Every single album, song or lyric are part of me. However, at the end, I think nothing gives me more pleasure than to share this passion, this small treasure I get from music, with the people I care about the most.
I am trying to give a comment on each album, not an album review, but a reflection, which tells you a bit of my experience with the album, or why I like it so much.
- Chart updated: 12/12/2018 18:45
- (Created: 12/30/2010 22:51).
- Chart size: 100 albums.
There are 75 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 100 Greatest Music Albums has an average rating of 90 out of 100 (from 108 votes). Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.
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This chart is currently filtered to only show albums from the 1960s. (Remove this filter)
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It was Winter of the year 2000, my mom gave my dad the No. 1 album of the Beatles as a christmas present. Honestly I was 9 years old, I loved the Backstreet Boys, N-sync and all that stuff. I didnt get the whole music world. It was something that causes a certein impact from the first listen. They are simply the best band in history. Abbey Road for me is the most trascendental álbum of the Beatles, it’s a masterpiece from beginning to end. The Beatles changed my life, I am the person I am, because of them. Something… the most beautiful song ever.
[First added to this chart: 12/30/2010]
Year of Release:
1969
Appears in:
Rank Score:
59,666
Rank in 1969:
Rank in 1960s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
475
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It was in 2008 when I got my crazy adiction to music, which has kept groing non-stop ever since. I bought the whole Beatles discography. After listening to this álbum I asked myself, how many times have I’ve Heard an álbum with 30 songs, which is not weak, or boring from beginning to end. This albums represents the essence of the best band in history. I dont have a personal anecdote for this álbum, but each song, and the álbum as a whole made an impact of the seize of 30 great anthems.
[First added to this chart: 12/30/2010]
Year of Release:
1968
Appears in:
Rank Score:
38,805
Rank in 1968:
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Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
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At the time I didn’t understand really what was the concept of a album as a whole. I kept asking me, how come the considered “Best album of the Beatles” just had two singles in No.1 in the 60’s. It was after Revolver that I understood the greatness of The Beatles. It was a band that didn’t follow the steps of musicians of the time, such as Elvis (just releasing singles) they created a completely new thing, they created the music of today. They didn’t cared about being in No. 1, they just did what every person should do, transcend doing what you love
[First added to this chart: 12/30/2010]
Year of Release:
1966
Appears in:
Rank Score:
51,649
Rank in 1966:
Rank in 1960s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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My first impression of this album was not great. I thought it was a good album but I couldn’t see the “Greatness” everyone saw on it. I kept reading this was one of the most influential-best albums ever, and the only thing I saw on it was “a good collections of pop songs, that were probably a hit back 66´”. It was too cheesy for me.
As many things in life, my view on this album changed. It was after I watched “Love & Mercy”, a biographical drama that focuses on the life of Brian Wilson, which made my interest on this album and The Beach Boys in general surface once again
Brian himself was determined to make each track a “sound experience” of its own, explaining musically the way he felt inside. The result is a warm, uplifting, deeply emotional record that flows beautifully without any one track breaking the unifying atmosphere. The songs aren’t simply rock ‘n’ roll ballads, they are completely unique creations plucked instrument by instrument from Brian’s mind, culminating in heavenly creations stuffed with instruments, harmonies and bizarrely brilliant contributions from stranger sources such as bicycle bells and clown horns.
Pet Sounds is worthy of all the praise you’ve doubtless heard heaped upon it and then some. Spurred on by the Beatles Rubber Soul, Brian Wilson topped the album that had been the catalyst for all his hard work, inspiring the Beatles to work even harder and create Revolver. With two such monumental bands inspiring each other to create more and more ambitious albums, something had to give eventually and sadly it was Brian’s mental health.
After I finished listening to this album I kept asking myself “What could have happened if Wilson just kept going?” [First added to this chart: 11/25/2016]
As many things in life, my view on this album changed. It was after I watched “Love & Mercy”, a biographical drama that focuses on the life of Brian Wilson, which made my interest on this album and The Beach Boys in general surface once again
Brian himself was determined to make each track a “sound experience” of its own, explaining musically the way he felt inside. The result is a warm, uplifting, deeply emotional record that flows beautifully without any one track breaking the unifying atmosphere. The songs aren’t simply rock ‘n’ roll ballads, they are completely unique creations plucked instrument by instrument from Brian’s mind, culminating in heavenly creations stuffed with instruments, harmonies and bizarrely brilliant contributions from stranger sources such as bicycle bells and clown horns.
Pet Sounds is worthy of all the praise you’ve doubtless heard heaped upon it and then some. Spurred on by the Beatles Rubber Soul, Brian Wilson topped the album that had been the catalyst for all his hard work, inspiring the Beatles to work even harder and create Revolver. With two such monumental bands inspiring each other to create more and more ambitious albums, something had to give eventually and sadly it was Brian’s mental health.
After I finished listening to this album I kept asking myself “What could have happened if Wilson just kept going?” [First added to this chart: 11/25/2016]
Year of Release:
1966
Appears in:
Rank Score:
40,582
Rank in 1966:
Rank in 1960s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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In my journey to discover music in the past decades I went through the BEA charts and noticed the first The Doors album was a consistent in being in every single chart. Also taking to account everything around the band, I was only familiarized with their "Greatest Hits". So I chose this album to be the beginning of my journey with this band.
I can see why everyone loves this album. I mean it's great from beginning to end, specially the songs in the beginning "Break On Through (To The Other Side)", the middle "Light My Fire", and the end "The End". It is a perfect album, but what got most to me, was the impressive lyrics skills Jim Morrison showed in this album. I mean, those line from "The End"...
"He went into the room where his sister lived
And then he paid a visit to his brother
And then he walked on down the hall
And he came to a door
And he looked inside
Father?
Yes son
I want to kill you
Mother, I want to............."
Incredible.... [First added to this chart: 11/28/2013]
I can see why everyone loves this album. I mean it's great from beginning to end, specially the songs in the beginning "Break On Through (To The Other Side)", the middle "Light My Fire", and the end "The End". It is a perfect album, but what got most to me, was the impressive lyrics skills Jim Morrison showed in this album. I mean, those line from "The End"...
"He went into the room where his sister lived
And then he paid a visit to his brother
And then he walked on down the hall
And he came to a door
And he looked inside
Father?
Yes son
I want to kill you
Mother, I want to............."
Incredible.... [First added to this chart: 11/28/2013]
Year of Release:
1967
Appears in:
Rank Score:
27,395
Rank in 1967:
Rank in 1960s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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This album is an example of why they are considered the best band in history, anyone who denies, well.. the world is not perfect. Just think about it: Who sounded like them before? (clue: nobody), Who sound like that since then? (clue: everyone). It’s incredible how can they go from “When I’m Sixty-Four”, “With a Little Help From My Friends” to ”Fort he Benefit of Mr. Kite” and just keep sounding spectacular. Their legacy will transcend forever.
[First added to this chart: 12/30/2010]
Year of Release:
1967
Appears in:
Rank Score:
45,181
Rank in 1967:
Rank in 1960s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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I learned from this album existence thanks to a thread titled "Best Music to Wake Up" or something like that. Obviously "Care Of Cell 44" was in the post. A lot of users backed up this post, mentioning how good the song and the album is. It was a sunday morning, it felt right to give it a try. There's probably very few songs out there that can actually be named "Best Music to Wake Up", "Care Of Cell 44" is my number one contender for this. It's so incredibly happy and cheesy romantic. You want to send it to your girlfriend/boyfriend from the first time you listen to it.
The rest of the album follows the same path, beautiful melodies, cheesy lyrics, but most of all a happy mood. It's the album I want to wake up every day. Nothing can go wrong after such a great start. [First added to this chart: 12/02/2014]
The rest of the album follows the same path, beautiful melodies, cheesy lyrics, but most of all a happy mood. It's the album I want to wake up every day. Nothing can go wrong after such a great start. [First added to this chart: 12/02/2014]
Year of Release:
1968
Appears in:
Rank Score:
14,320
Rank in 1968:
Rank in 1960s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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I think a feel really peaceful when I listen to this album. Since Sunday Morning I'm completely at ease with myself after that there are 10 songs left which are perfectly written. Right about the middle Heroin kicks in and wow! my mind blows out. Perfect album
[First added to this chart: 12/18/2011]
Year of Release:
1967
Appears in:
Rank Score:
41,637
Rank in 1967:
Rank in 1960s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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*I tried to write a huge comment, but after re-reading it, I sounded like a kid trying to explain why he likes candy. So I summarize the whole essay in the next words:
I like this album. [First added to this chart: 07/30/2014]
I like this album. [First added to this chart: 07/30/2014]
Year of Release:
1967
Appears in:
Rank Score:
15,883
Rank in 1967:
Rank in 1960s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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People in this site have always mentioned me to try to expand my horizons. Jazz was a genre I literally have never listen to an album. I went on looking in some Jazz charts, and rateyourmusic. Charles Mingus always popped out, so I gave it a listen. I had a pre-notion of Jazz in a way. I knew the type of music played, the instruments used, and how big it was in places like New Orleans. I had this image that Jazz was the type of music you go to listen in some dark bar with a 1950's atmosphere, drink some whiskey and pass out at 5am in the morning. Yes I believe I've seen a lot of movies, but from the moment I started playing "The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady" I was transported to a different era. I was literally in a movie from the 1950's, not as an actor, but just as an extra sitting in the backseats of this crowded bar, blinded by the smoke.
[First added to this chart: 02/04/2015]
Year of Release:
1963
Appears in:
Rank Score:
13,291
Rank in 1963:
Rank in 1960s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 11. Page 1 of 2
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums composition
| Decade | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|
|
| 1930s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1940s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1950s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1960s | 11 | 11% | |
| 1970s | 8 | 8% | |
| 1980s | 8 | 8% | |
| 1990s | 23 | 23% | |
| 2000s | 31 | 31% | |
| 2010s | 19 | 19% | |
| 2020s | 0 | 0% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
 |
|
|
| Radiohead | 5 | 5% | |
| The Beatles | 4 | 4% | |
| Arcade Fire | 3 | 3% | |
| The National | 3 | 3% | |
| Coldplay | 3 | 3% | |
| Pink Floyd | 3 | 3% | |
| Oasis | 2 | 2% | |
| Show all | |||
| Country | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
41 | 41% | |
| |
40 | 40% | |
 |
6 | 6% | |
 |
5 | 5% | |
 |
3 | 3% | |
 |
2 | 2% | |
 |
1 | 1% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums chart changes
| Biggest climbers |
|---|
| Up 14 from 99th to 85th Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas To Heaven by Godspeed You! Black Emperor |
| Biggest fallers |
|---|
| Down 1 from 85th to 86th † [Cross] by Justice (FR) |
| Down 1 from 86th to 87th Parachutes by Coldplay |
| Down 1 from 87th to 88th Selected Ambient Works 85-92 by Aphex Twin |
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums ratings
90/100 (from 108 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 108 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
85/100  | 03/20/2025 17:25 | SomethingSpecial | | 85/100 |
90/100 | 03/12/2019 22:17 |  ForegroundNoise | | 87/100 |
95/100 | 03/09/2019 03:39 | bkogz | | 92/100 |
85/100 | 03/08/2019 18:47 |  greatson | | 80/100 |
100/100 | 03/08/2019 16:20 |  Rhyner | | 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).
(*In practice, some charts can have several thousand ratings)
This chart is rated in the top 2% of all charts on BestEverAlbums.com. This chart has a Bayesian average rating of 89.9/100, a mean average of 89.5/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 90.3/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 10.0.
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums comments
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90/100
From ForegroundNoise 03/12/2019 22:25
ForegroundNoise 03/12/2019 22:25
God I am astounded by your notes, truly something to be proud of. That said you seem to be someone much more comfortable in the modern era, with many of your older pics being slanted towards the classics. The 70s and 80s (the former especially!!) I think could do with a little more love, so here's a couple from those decades I think you might enjoy:
The Stooges - Fun House
Vashti Bunyan - Just Another Diamond Day
Brian Eno - Another Green World
Hiroshi Yoshimura - Music For Nine Postcards
Dinosaur Jr - You're Living All Over Me
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
85/100
From greatson 03/08/2019 18:47
greatson 03/08/2019 18:47
well done!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
90/100
From 
nitomano 04/22/2017 06:31
nitomano 04/22/2017 06:31
Great chart!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
80/100
From LedZep 04/19/2017 11:54
LedZep 04/19/2017 11:54
I like the descriptions very much, but it's not that diverse (not talking about Radiohead, more about the lack of pre 90s albums). It's a great chart nontheless
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
95/100
From 
Strangel 10/19/2016 11:46
Strangel 10/19/2016 11:46
You're obviously still young but you write like you've been a music connoisseur for 30+ years. A shit load of time and effort put into this and I really enjoyed reading your summaries on the impact each album has had on you.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
100/100
From 
Davy 05/27/2016 08:06
Davy 05/27/2016 08:06
I normally don't give a 100/100-rating, but your chart deserves every single point. You manage to explain what everyone on this website is feeling about music and the amount of effort you put into this chart and these comments is amazing. Chapeau, señor
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100/100
From 
ShadowColossi 04/02/2016 14:55
ShadowColossi 04/02/2016 14:55
Helllll yeah. Love this. Love the comments- Even longer than mine! Very well constructed list, can tell the music on this chart is very important to you.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
craola 07/28/2015 21:21
craola 07/28/2015 21:21
props on the album comments. really well put together with lots to say.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
100/100
From 
awesomness425 06/01/2015 22:47
awesomness425 06/01/2015 22:47
These Notes Are On Point and the album choices are good as well (You Said a lot of Radiohead..pfft...i have the whole discography and thier live album), but also i saw a good amount of post-rock and you're right it's quite an interesting genre. I don't know if i'd put any on my list because as good as i know it is i just don't give the albums much listens...its something i listen to while lying on bed or when looking up at the cloud's or something, but Mogwai's Young Team or Sigur Ros' Agaetus Byrjun...Tied To be my favorite chart on this website...If you haven't already i reccomend Smashing Pumpkins
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (2 helpful | 1 unhelpful)
100/100
From 
Laurence 03/31/2015 12:55
Laurence 03/31/2015 12:55
Great chart! Love your notes as well, (though I haven't read them all yet) especially those for Doolittle - they're spot on!
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