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.
View the complete list of 56,000 charts on BestEverAlbums.com from The Charts page.
This chart is currently filtered to only show albums from the 1980s. (Remove this filter)
Buy album 
- #Sponsored
It only took me one listen to like it, and three to fall in love with it. With this album I can see how rock and alternative rock was shaped for the next to decades.
"Wanna grow to be a debaser"
From the first chords of "Debaser" you are already jumping and screaming. The album goes straight to the point, blow our minds.Nirvana has a "Tame" sound in every single album.
"Wave of Mutilation" and "Here Comes Your Mind" are so simple, it's incredible, few lines of lyrics and an instant impact. I will always relate "Here Comes Your Mind" with that karaoke scene in 500 Days of Summer,
When you listen to "Dead", I can picture Jack White, The Kills and so many other bands. It's incredible how evident is their legacy in bands now a days.
The centerpiece "Monkey Gone to Heaven" is a masterpiece. The contrast between Kim Deal and Black Francis makes the song perfected, so different but fit perfectly.
“If the Devil is six then God is seven”
It is a fantastic record in every sense, musically, lyrically it's an album that inspired generations. Every time a listen to this album I see myself coming back from work in NY, getting out of the subway after a 40 min commute only wanting to rest in the big black sofa. It's in that moment that the album finishes exactly.
Listening to this album and instantly relating it to bands I love, just makes me think, how can someone make an album so perfect that defines in some way the sounds of the future.
And what album today will be the one that defines our future as Doolittle did? [First added to this chart: 06/14/2013]
"Wanna grow to be a debaser"
From the first chords of "Debaser" you are already jumping and screaming. The album goes straight to the point, blow our minds.Nirvana has a "Tame" sound in every single album.
"Wave of Mutilation" and "Here Comes Your Mind" are so simple, it's incredible, few lines of lyrics and an instant impact. I will always relate "Here Comes Your Mind" with that karaoke scene in 500 Days of Summer,
When you listen to "Dead", I can picture Jack White, The Kills and so many other bands. It's incredible how evident is their legacy in bands now a days.
The centerpiece "Monkey Gone to Heaven" is a masterpiece. The contrast between Kim Deal and Black Francis makes the song perfected, so different but fit perfectly.
“If the Devil is six then God is seven”
It is a fantastic record in every sense, musically, lyrically it's an album that inspired generations. Every time a listen to this album I see myself coming back from work in NY, getting out of the subway after a 40 min commute only wanting to rest in the big black sofa. It's in that moment that the album finishes exactly.
Listening to this album and instantly relating it to bands I love, just makes me think, how can someone make an album so perfect that defines in some way the sounds of the future.
And what album today will be the one that defines our future as Doolittle did? [First added to this chart: 06/14/2013]
Year of Release:
1989
Appears in:
Rank Score:
33,029
Rank in 1989:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
293
Buy album
- #Sponsored
I don’t know how music now a days be without the Smiths. They are hell depressive, but with a magnificent reality. With just this album you can get the whole picture of how great they were. I don’t really have a personal experience with this guys, but as everyone can say in the BestEverAlbums charts, they are fucking awesome. Morrisey y Johnny Marr God-like geniuses.
[First added to this chart: 12/03/2011]
Year of Release:
1986
Appears in:
Rank Score:
35,154
Rank in 1986:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
Anyone who knows this band, well he has done his homework. They are not very well-known outside of the UK (that explains their last Coachella headline disaster). And well, they only have two albums (and Second Coming... sucks). But their debut “The Stone Roses” is out of this World, fuck, that thing is magical. Every single song is amazing, you can listen in every song a piece of blur, Oasis, Pulp, Suede, etc. They are the creators of Britpop. I just recently saw them live in Mexico City, yes they are old, and the lack playing time is noticeable, but wow! One of the best gigs in my life. I AM THE RESURRECTION!!!
[First added to this chart: 09/29/2012]
Year of Release:
1989
Appears in:
Rank Score:
23,781
Rank in 1989:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
"Existence, well, what does it matter, I exist on the best terms I can. The past is now part of my future. The present is well out of hand."
Starting with that quote. I think is the greatest line ever written, at least for me. It just mean so much to me, every existential dilema or every time I felt lost, that line, that song takes me out. It´s is pure poetry and at the same time it´s so simple.
I can´t understand how a person can write so beautiful lyrics, then make a perfect song out of them.
That being said, well the album couldn´t go wrong in any aspect. It was the second Joy Division album, and they were just killing it. I mean "Heart & Soul", "Twenty Four Hour", "Decades", "Isolation",.... they are a beauty.
One day I was talking with my cousin, and asked him, What do you thing it could haave happened if Ian Curtis was still alive? His answer was simple, modern music wouldnt be the same, because the simple fact he died, gave birth to New Order, which eventually defined the 80´s sounds and therefore the 90´s and the 00´s music. So yes maybe Ian Curtis death had one of the most important positive impacts in music, but then again, I think no one will ever come closer in writing those perfect lyrics-songs. [First added to this chart: 06/15/2013]
Starting with that quote. I think is the greatest line ever written, at least for me. It just mean so much to me, every existential dilema or every time I felt lost, that line, that song takes me out. It´s is pure poetry and at the same time it´s so simple.
I can´t understand how a person can write so beautiful lyrics, then make a perfect song out of them.
That being said, well the album couldn´t go wrong in any aspect. It was the second Joy Division album, and they were just killing it. I mean "Heart & Soul", "Twenty Four Hour", "Decades", "Isolation",.... they are a beauty.
One day I was talking with my cousin, and asked him, What do you thing it could haave happened if Ian Curtis was still alive? His answer was simple, modern music wouldnt be the same, because the simple fact he died, gave birth to New Order, which eventually defined the 80´s sounds and therefore the 90´s and the 00´s music. So yes maybe Ian Curtis death had one of the most important positive impacts in music, but then again, I think no one will ever come closer in writing those perfect lyrics-songs. [First added to this chart: 06/15/2013]
Year of Release:
1980
Appears in:
Rank Score:
15,649
Rank in 1980:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
57. (=)
Safe Mode: On Certain images on this site may contain sensitive content and are flagged as 'unsafe'. BestEverAlbums.com does not display these images by default, but you may choose to show or hide these images from your profile page. If you choose to hide these images, you'll see an image with a warning message instead of the actual image. If you choose to show them, you'll see these images no differently than regular (safe) images.
Buy album
- #Sponsored
I just recently learned to really appreciate this album. I really liked it, but not that much, to be included in my chart. But after a listen in my exchange semester in Belgium, I realized... This is brilliant, I love this album. It is so raw, but perfect at the same time.
Since the start of "Bone Machine"... it just goes crazy.
I really don't know what is the thing of this album, because it has a completely different sound, than Doolittle, but at the same time it sounds fresh and original. [First added to this chart: 02/11/2014]
Since the start of "Bone Machine"... it just goes crazy.
I really don't know what is the thing of this album, because it has a completely different sound, than Doolittle, but at the same time it sounds fresh and original. [First added to this chart: 02/11/2014]
Year of Release:
1988
Appears in:
Rank Score:
12,439
Rank in 1988:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
There was a time when I became obsessed with Joy Division, focusing a lot on Ian Curtis. I was intrigued and fascinated by his songwriting gifts. He is my favorite lyricist of all time; I even have a tattoo based a Joy Division song.
But after his death, was there a future for the rest of the genius members? Well history told us that yes. Reinvented themselves as a new band, brought us a great amount of brilliant songs, and more than one awesome album. This in special comes to mind . It´s really brilliant from start to finish. "Leave Me Alone" has become one of my favorite songs all time. It´s a fantastic piece of music.
I once asked my cousin; Imagine what would´ve happened if Ian Curtis was still alive? His answer was pretty simple; well, New Order would have never existed and Electronic Music would not exist like we know it. [First added to this chart: 06/18/2014]
But after his death, was there a future for the rest of the genius members? Well history told us that yes. Reinvented themselves as a new band, brought us a great amount of brilliant songs, and more than one awesome album. This in special comes to mind . It´s really brilliant from start to finish. "Leave Me Alone" has become one of my favorite songs all time. It´s a fantastic piece of music.
I once asked my cousin; Imagine what would´ve happened if Ian Curtis was still alive? His answer was pretty simple; well, New Order would have never existed and Electronic Music would not exist like we know it. [First added to this chart: 06/18/2014]
Year of Release:
1983
Appears in:
Rank Score:
6,527
Rank in 1983:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
I think it was 3 years ago when the only thing I could listen was The Smiths, I was in ski trip down in Canada, and for full straight 8 hours just listen to all their albums. I only had a problem with Meat is Murder, I never got a grip of that album, regardless of How Soon is Now been one of the greatest songs ever.
So yes, "The Queen Is Dead" is probably one of the greatest albums ever created, but "Strangeways, Here We Come" just sinks down under your skin and stays there. "A Rush and a Push and the Land is Ours" is just a perfect openes, and "Dead of a Disco Dancer" is my favorite song in here, pure melancholy and darkness in that song.
"Oh, so I drank one. It became four. And when I fell on the floor ... I drank more " [First added to this chart: 06/17/2013]
So yes, "The Queen Is Dead" is probably one of the greatest albums ever created, but "Strangeways, Here We Come" just sinks down under your skin and stays there. "A Rush and a Push and the Land is Ours" is just a perfect openes, and "Dead of a Disco Dancer" is my favorite song in here, pure melancholy and darkness in that song.
"Oh, so I drank one. It became four. And when I fell on the floor ... I drank more " [First added to this chart: 06/17/2013]
Year of Release:
1987
Appears in:
Rank Score:
5,869
Rank in 1987:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
This album sounds like a bunch of guys playing in a garage and not giving a fuck, but at the same time they actually sound amazing. A beatiful raw experience, with the bass killing it in many songs. Blister in The Sun and Kiss Off are killer songs, but what about the ending? Good Feeling is one of those songs that you know they were meant to close the album.
I dont know whats about this album, just produces so many feelings. Most of the times it just feels like a fun record to listen to while driving, but it has some really dark lyrics, which get you all introspective and shit.
Great album! [First added to this chart: 12/13/2013]
I dont know whats about this album, just produces so many feelings. Most of the times it just feels like a fun record to listen to while driving, but it has some really dark lyrics, which get you all introspective and shit.
Great album! [First added to this chart: 12/13/2013]
Year of Release:
1983
Appears in:
Rank Score:
8,102
Rank in 1983:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 8. Page 1 of 1
Don't agree with this chart? Create your own from the My Charts page!
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% | |
| The National | 3 | 3% | |
| Coldplay | 3 | 3% | |
| Pink Floyd | 3 | 3% | |
| Arcade Fire | 3 | 3% | |
| Blur | 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 |
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums similar charts
| Title | Source | Type | Published | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top 100 Greatest Music Albums | OurLastBreathe | Overall chart | 2018 |  |
| BEA's Top 100 - The Correct Order |  babyBlueSedan | Custom chart | 2020 | |
| Re-Ranking BEA's Top 100 | sunnydhamm | Custom chart | 2020 | |
| My Ranking of the BEA top 100 |  sszwalbenest | Custom chart | 2021 | |
| BEA top 100 reranked - 2020 |  LedZep | Custom chart | 2023 |  |
| BEA's Top 100 re-ranked |  EyeKanFly | Custom chart | 2020 | |
| Overall for yours truly |  RoundTheBend | Custom chart | 2020 | |
| Going With My Gut: The Overall Chart Top 100 Re-ranked |  CharlieBarley | Custom chart | 2024 | |
| Rearrange Top 100 |  Larcx13 | Custom chart | 2020 |  |
| Ranking the BEA top 1000 by track score | Johnnyo | Custom chart | 2025 | |
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums similarity to your chart(s)
Not a member? Registering is quick, easy and FREE!
Why register?
Join a passionate community of over 50,000 music fans.- Create & share your own charts.
- Have your say in the overall rankings.
- Post comments in the forums and vote on polls.
- Comment on or rate any album, artist, track or chart.
- Discover new music & improve your music collection.
- Customise the overall chart using a variety of different filters & metrics.
- Create a wishlist of albums.
- Help maintain the BEA database.
- Earn member points and gain access to increasing levels of functionality!
- ... And lots more!
Register now - it only takes a moment!
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.
Please log in or register if you want to be able to leave a rating
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums favourites
Showing latest 20 members who have added this chart as a favourite | Show all 21 members
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums comments
Showing latest 10 comments | Show all 75 comments |
Most Helpful First | Newest First | Maximum Rated First |
Longest Comments First
(Only showing comments with -2 votes or higher. You can alter this threshold from your profile page. Manage Profile)
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
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
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!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Please log in or register if you want to be able to add a comment
Your feedback for Top 100 Greatest Music Albums
Let us know what you think of this chart by adding a comment or assigning a rating below!
If you enjoy our site, please consider supporting us by sparing a few seconds to disable your ad blocker.
A lot of hard work happens in the background to keep BEA running, and it's especially difficult to do this when we can't pay our hosting fees :(
We work very hard to ensure our site is as fast (and FREE!) as possible, and we respect your privacy.
A lot of hard work happens in the background to keep BEA running, and it's especially difficult to do this when we can't pay our hosting fees :(
We work very hard to ensure our site is as fast (and FREE!) as possible, and we respect your privacy.