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.

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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Buy album United States
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A few years back my Radiohead discovery experienced continues, I've gone through The Bends, Ok Computer was next. I seriously didn't know what to expect about this album, but the result wasn't what I expected.

The album starts with "Airbag", something about this song that feel incredibly refreshing, you feel some kind of relief. It's a weird kind of an uplifting song, without it having any of the characteristics of one.
Right after this killer opener you get "Paranoid Android", which may not only qualify as one of Radiohead's best, but as one of the best songs ever. It's not my favorite song of the album, but it's just incredible. You get the feeling of being safe, without a problem in your life, when suddenly it attacks you out of nowhere. It's a song about fearing for your safety while all the time remaining true to yourself and taking comfort in that.

"Subterrean Homesick Alien" it's a song about alienation, not being comprehended by the World. You feel like a stranger with your own friends.
You want to show them your vision but they'll just cut you out. "I'd show them the stars and the meaning of life. They'd shut me away, but I'd be all right all right.."

"Exit Music (For A Film)" is the movie love story, the forbidden love. You want to fight your oppressors to finally embrace your love peacefully. It's like a Romeo and Juliet story. You get drowned in hate to others, you just want to be left alone. The 3:21 marks one of the most incredible moments in the album. "We hope that you choke, that you choke".

"Let Down" Beautiful, haunting, affecting, powerful, thematically dense, lyrically insightful. Another of Radiohead's greatest. Although the lyrics make seem sad, the song it's incredibly relieving. It's like being stuck in traffic for hours, you feel the pain, the sorrow of being there. As the minutes pass you see the light at the end of the tunnel, you know comfort lays ahead, happiness is on the way.

Ok, now with "Karma Police" I have to take a minute to appreciate what's happening. Although it is a cliche choice, for many years this was my all time favorite song. But it's fucking amazing. One of my greatest memories of my lifetime came in my second Radiohead concert, I've never heard this song live. When they started playing it, I almost cried. The song was played and it was an incredible experience, the band started preparing for the next song, when 60,000 people started singing "For a minute there, I lost myself". To get to feel those 60,000 voices screaming their heart out, with Thom Yorke taking the microphone and joining the crowd.. my heart skips a beat.

"Fitter Happier".... I love this lyric "Fond but not in Love"

"Electioneering" Thom Yorke get all political. It's a good song to move around, to pretend you are a rockstar blaming the whole World from your problems.

"Climbing Up the Walls" One of the most insidious and sinister songs on the album that's musically and lyrically incredibly dark and bleak. It a hell of a scary song, I feel terrified throughout the whole song, an uneasy kind of feeling.

"No Surprises" Is one of the most existential and despairing songs on the album. It's a slow killer filled with sad emotions but a many time the ugly reality. "A handshake of carbon monoxide"

"Lucky" makes you want to escape again, you are feeling annoyed by everything; I want to get out, experience freedom. You just need a hand to get out of your misery."Pull me out of the air-crash. Pull me out of the wake"

"The Tourist" the final ride, the last bite when you are full. It's a reflective closer, like watching from the other side of the window. You see the World crumbling around, but there's nothing you can do. Just sit there and watch.

In conclusion there are not enough words to explain what this album means to me.It's mental, insane, its gets you to scream, smile, cry, forget about life for a while. Beauty could be a word that describes the album.
[First added to this chart: 12/30/2010]
Year of Release:
1997
Appears in:
Rank Score:
66,933
Rank in 1997:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
10. (=)
Buy album United States
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I can’t see nothing. I’m lying in my bed with the lights off and the curtains down. It’s darker than most nights. I swear I can’t see anything. It’s lonely Saturday night, have no intention of going out or reaching out to some friends. I don’t know if I want to sleep or just lay here with my thoughts. I don’t remember what year this was, but all I could hear is some softened guitar chimes and thin drumbeats

Beth Gibbon’s voice, sexy but worn-down by disappointment. It’s a woman who is bleak, vulnerable, fragile, beautiful and full of despair. As the each chord is being played the more it becomes clearer there’s no way forward, no redemption, no future. It’s desolate and beautiful…

There's a real sense of being at the end of the world here, a desolation that brings to mind that lonely Saturday night. I wish I could have heard Dummythat night. It would have been a perfect soundtrack for that end of the world feeling.

This album is a complete fantasy
[First added to this chart: 12/22/2011]
Year of Release:
1994
Appears in:
Rank Score:
16,822
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Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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This is one of those few albums that reaches you from the first listen. It's is beautifully constructed, giving you a feeling of peacefulness few albums may achieve.
I dont know, for me, I remembering listening this for the first time in a classic rainy-cold weather in Belgium, just walking through the streets of the campus. A genuine smile came out of me, not really thinking about something in special, but just feeling really happy for no reason in that particular moment.

Is that type of album that tells you, "everything is fine". The way they are telling you a story, grabs your attention completely and doesnt let you go for the whole length of the album. It's quite perfect.

I cant choose a favorite song at the moment, but "If You're Feeling Sinister" and "The Stars Of Track And Field" are definite highlights.
[First added to this chart: 04/19/2014]
Year of Release:
1996
Appears in:
Rank Score:
10,814
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Overall Rank:
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Comments:
Buy album United States
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I think in general I’m not a fan of the grunge movement or the bands at all. But then there is Nirvana, which is one of my favorites all time bands. Does it make sense? No, it doesn’t do, and I think that is what makes the band and this particular album one of the most brilliant things ever done. Every time I want to jump or scream, if I’m depressed or angry, I feel completed related to the album (in utero is a masterpiece too). Believe it or not, Nirvana helps me with my introspective self, my ideas flow while listening to Nirvana, and feel so calm after the album ends. [First added to this chart: 09/29/2012]
Year of Release:
1991
Appears in:
Rank Score:
39,423
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Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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I have to thank my cousin for introducing Radiohead to me. Simply talking about music, he mentioned Radiohead as his favorite band. I had no clue who they were, I just kind of knew the famous Creep. He kept insisting to give them a shot, so I said why not.. It’s was The Bends the first album I purchased of Radiohead. It was from Planet Telex, followed by The Bends, High and Dry….. I just thought, FUCK!! These guys are just MONUMENTAL!! I’ve never experience something like that. Radiohead changed my way of perceiving music. Its a completely new world, which few understand, but if you ever get to know it, it is……. don’t know lol [First added to this chart: 12/30/2010]
Year of Release:
1995
Appears in:
Rank Score:
30,239
Rank in 1995:
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Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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What can I say about my dear friends Oasis. They started like fucking gods, and ended up being simply human beings. But this album has its fucking amazing, seriously y a work of art, better than having watching porn and having sex (well… maybe not that much). It is a disgrace that every single album that came after What’s the Story Morning Glory went so low in every term. I can accept they made great tunes after, but never a great album such as this and their debut. [First added to this chart: 12/30/2010]
Year of Release:
1995
Appears in:
Rank Score:
17,824
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Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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If I have to define my childhood somehow, I will put blink 182 in top of my list. I just couldnt go a day without listening to a blink 182 album and not going crazy about it. In 2004 I saw them live, I was 13 years old, one of my first real gigs, and everything about it was amazing. I can say every single album after Enema of the State is wonderful, but if I have to choose one album in particular, this is it. Sure, they might not show the emotional depth of other bands like Green Day, but they have some brilliant tunes, speedy that make you want to jump and dance. This album or any other blink 182 album wont change anyone's life, but it will always be a big part of it. [First added to this chart: 12/30/2010]
Year of Release:
1999
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,458
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Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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It’s one of the saddest and depressing albums I’ve ever listened in my life, add to that that one of music greatest, Kurt Cobain, killed himself listening to this masterpiece. Nightswimming its a good example of what the album is about. R.E.M changed the music World, along with The Smiths, Pixies, etc. they created indie music, and every single band, every single one, its influenced by them. [First added to this chart: 12/30/2010]
Year of Release:
1992
Appears in:
Rank Score:
19,565
Rank in 1992:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
37. (=)
Buy album United States
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My obsession with blur began 3 years ago. The first thing I listened too was the Best of Blur album, you know just to get the idea, or if they were worth the time to listen to their seven albums. Parklife was the first album I bought of them, and finally understtok why they were a huge music movement back in the 90’s, at least in the UK (USA people need to appreciate them). They influenced every single British act afterwards. The big difference with Oasis, they evolved, created new music, and aimed higher. [First added to this chart: 12/29/2012]
Year of Release:
1994
Appears in:
Rank Score:
7,666
Rank in 1994:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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I gave you a huge speech about my feelings about Oasis in the comments of “What the Story Morning Glory”. Definitely Maybe, its arguable as good or even better than its successor. I hate the fact, they went to shit. But as the great Noel Gallagher said. "Do you accept that nothing you do can be as big as Oasis? Absolutely, nothing anybody does can be as big? as Oasis. Not Coldplay, not Kasabian, not the Arctic Monkeys, in this country, not U2, not any of them. It's as simple as that…. We were the last, we were the greatest, THE END." [First added to this chart: 12/30/2010]
Year of Release:
1994
Appears in:
Rank Score:
11,473
Rank in 1994:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 23. Page 1 of 3

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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%
Nirvana 2 2%
Show all
Country Albums %


United Kingdom 41 41%
United States 40 40%
Canada 6 6%
France 5 5%
Denmark 3 3%
Mixed Nationality 2 2%
Iceland 1 1%
Show all

Top 100 Greatest Music Albums chart changes

Biggest fallers
Faller Down 1 from 85th to 86th
† [Cross]
by Justice (FR)
Faller Down 1 from 86th to 87th
Parachutes
by Coldplay
Faller Down 1 from 87th to 88th
Selected Ambient Works 85-92
by Aphex Twin
TitleSourceTypePublishedCountry
Top 100 Greatest Music AlbumsOurLastBreatheOverall chart2018
BEA's Top 100 - The Correct Order babyBlueSedanCustom chart2020
Re-Ranking BEA's Top 100sunnydhammCustom chart2020
My Ranking of the BEA top 100 sszwalbenestCustom chart2021
BEA top 100 reranked - 2020 LedZepCustom chart2023
BEA's Top 100 re-ranked EyeKanFlyCustom chart2020
Overall for yours truly RoundTheBendCustom chart2020
Going With My Gut: The Overall Chart Top 100 Re-ranked CharlieBarleyCustom chart2024
Rearrange Top 100 Larcx13Custom chart2020
Ranking the BEA top 1000 by track scoreJohnnyoCustom chart2025

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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums ratings

Average Rating: 
90/100 (from 108 votes)
  Ratings distributionRatings distribution Average Rating = (n ÷ (n + m)) × av + (m ÷ (n + m)) × AV
where:
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03/20/2025 17:25 SomethingSpecial  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 1,10885/100
 
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03/12/2019 22:17 ForegroundNoise  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 47287/100
 
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03/09/2019 03:39 bkogz  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 4592/100
 
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03/08/2019 18:47 greatson  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 90480/100
 
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03/08/2019 16:20 Rhyner  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 1,44899/100

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 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

Showing latest 10 comments | Show all 75 comments |
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Rating:  
90/100
From 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)
Rating:  
85/100
From 03/08/2019 18:47
well done!
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
90/100
From 04/22/2017 06:31
Great chart!
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
80/100
From 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
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Rating:  
95/100
From 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.
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Rating:  
100/100
From 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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Rating:  
100/100
From 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.
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From 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)
Rating:  
100/100
From 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
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Rating:  
100/100
From 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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