Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by 
baystateoftheart 
How I Stopped Worrying And Learned To Love The Chart (Sort Of)
It would be fair to label me a perfectionist. So naturally, making this chart has been a time-consuming process. Since creating it in 2015, I’ve tested out dozens of different rating criteria, inclusion criteria, note styles, and so on. None of this experimentation has been satisfying, because a chart that represents one’s personal taste is not something that can be perfected unless that taste is static. I guarantee I couldn’t listen to all 100 albums in this chart without my preferences changing in the process, let alone assess recorded music more broadly without radical turnover. So here we are: as a perfectionist, I have come to terms with the fact that this chart will never approach perfection. It will remain a laggy approximation of the music I love. And truthfully, that is all it needs to be. BEA has given me a valuable nudge to let a project be simply good enough.
This introductory reflection serves in place of written notes describing what I love about each of these records. Because while musical preferences ebb and flow, insights and thoughts generated by a piece of music feel more ephemeral still, and that is perhaps as it should be.
Edits to the chart I'm working on:
1. Scoring more of my favorite albums to add them
2. Creating a further listening section for each artist
Now for our regularly-scheduled programming.
- Chart updated: 11/19/2023 15:45
- (Created: 10/09/2015 21:56).
- Chart size: 100 albums.
There are 26 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 100 Greatest Music Albums has an average rating of 91 out of 100 (from 49 votes). Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.
View the complete list of 53,000 charts on BestEverAlbums.com from The Charts page.
This chart is currently filtered to only show albums from United Kingdom. (Remove this filter)
Buy album
- #Sponsored
Gothic Rock • Post-Punk
Score: 93.6
Further Listening:
2. Standing On A Beach: The Singles TBD 4.5/5
3. Seventeen Seconds TBD 4/5
4. The Head On The Door TBD 4/5
4a. Boys Don't Cry TBD 3.5/5
5. Faith TBD 3.5/5
6. Bloodflowers TBD 3.5/5
6a. Galore: The Singles 1987-1997 TBD 3.5/5
7. Pornography TBD 3/5
8. Wish TBD 3/5
9. Three Imaginary Boys TBD 3/5
10. Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me TBD 3/5
~ [First added to this chart: 10/09/2015]
Score: 93.6
Further Listening:
2. Standing On A Beach: The Singles TBD 4.5/5
3. Seventeen Seconds TBD 4/5
4. The Head On The Door TBD 4/5
4a. Boys Don't Cry TBD 3.5/5
5. Faith TBD 3.5/5
6. Bloodflowers TBD 3.5/5
6a. Galore: The Singles 1987-1997 TBD 3.5/5
7. Pornography TBD 3/5
8. Wish TBD 3/5
9. Three Imaginary Boys TBD 3/5
10. Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me TBD 3/5
~ [First added to this chart: 10/09/2015]
Year of Release:
1989
Appears in:
Rank Score:
27,763
Rank in 1989:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
150
Buy album
- #Sponsored
Trip Hop
Score: 92.8 (US Version)
Further Listening:
2. Roseland NYC Live TBD 4.5/5
3. Portishead TBD 4/5
4. Third TBD 4/5
~ [First added to this chart: 02/21/2016]
Score: 92.8 (US Version)
Further Listening:
2. Roseland NYC Live TBD 4.5/5
3. Portishead TBD 4/5
4. Third TBD 4/5
~ [First added to this chart: 02/21/2016]
Year of Release:
1994
Appears in:
Rank Score:
17,138
Rank in 1994:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
Psychedelic Pop • Baroque Pop
Score: 92.6
Further Listening:
1. Begin Here TBD 3/5
~ [First added to this chart: 10/09/2015]
Score: 92.6
Further Listening:
1. Begin Here TBD 3/5
~ [First added to this chart: 10/09/2015]
Year of Release:
1968
Appears in:
Rank Score:
15,315
Rank in 1968:
Rank in 1960s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
Future Garage • Dubstep
Score: 91.8
Further Listening:
1. Rival Dealer TBD 4.5/5
2. Truant / Rough Sleeper TBD 4/5
3. Street Halo TBD 4/5
4. Kindred TBD 3.5/5
~ [First added to this chart: 11/07/2018]
Score: 91.8
Further Listening:
1. Rival Dealer TBD 4.5/5
2. Truant / Rough Sleeper TBD 4/5
3. Street Halo TBD 4/5
4. Kindred TBD 3.5/5
~ [First added to this chart: 11/07/2018]
Year of Release:
2007
Appears in:
Rank Score:
5,141
Rank in 2007:
Rank in 2000s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
Glam Rock • Pop Rock
Score: 91.8
Further Listening:
2. Station To Station 91.2
3. Low 85.6
4. Hunky Dory 83.8
5. "Heroes" TBD 4/5
6. Space Oddity TBD 4/5
7. ★ (Blackstar) TBD 4/5
8. Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) TBD 3.5/5
9. Lodger TBD 3.5/5
10. The Man Who Sold The World TBD 3.5/5
~ [First added to this chart: 10/09/2015]
Score: 91.8
Further Listening:
2. Station To Station 91.2
3. Low 85.6
4. Hunky Dory 83.8
5. "Heroes" TBD 4/5
6. Space Oddity TBD 4/5
7. ★ (Blackstar) TBD 4/5
8. Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) TBD 3.5/5
9. Lodger TBD 3.5/5
10. The Man Who Sold The World TBD 3.5/5
~ [First added to this chart: 10/09/2015]
Year of Release:
1972
Appears in:
Rank Score:
49,993
Rank in 1972:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
Bubblegum Bass • Electropop • Hyperpop
Score: 91.2
~ [First added to this chart: 08/02/2018]
Score: 91.2
~ [First added to this chart: 08/02/2018]
Buy album
- #Sponsored
Singer/Songwriter • Chamber Folk • Contemporary Folk
Score: 91.2
~ [First added to this chart: 11/05/2017]
Score: 91.2
~ [First added to this chart: 11/05/2017]
Year of Release:
1969
Appears in:
Rank Score:
9,337
Rank in 1969:
Rank in 1960s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
Art Rock • Funk Rock
Score: 91.2
~ [First added to this chart: 01/21/2017]
Score: 91.2
~ [First added to this chart: 01/21/2017]
Year of Release:
1976
Appears in:
Rank Score:
13,289
Rank in 1976:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
Art Pop • Alternative R&B
Score: 90.2
~ [First added to this chart: 10/09/2015]
Score: 90.2
~ [First added to this chart: 10/09/2015]
Year of Release:
2014
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,414
Rank in 2014:
Rank in 2010s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
Twee Pop • Indie Pop
Score: 89.4
~ [First added to this chart: 12/26/2018]
Score: 89.4
~ [First added to this chart: 12/26/2018]
Total albums: 17. Page 1 of 2
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 | 15 | 15% | |
| 1970s | 29 | 29% | |
| 1980s | 8 | 8% | |
| 1990s | 11 | 11% | |
| 2000s | 10 | 10% | |
| 2010s | 27 | 27% | |
| 2020s | 0 | 0% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
 |
|
|
| Fela Kuti & Africa 70 | 8 | 8% | |
| Curtis Mayfield | 3 | 3% | |
| Joni Mitchell | 3 | 3% | |
| Jenny Hval | 3 | 3% | |
| Bob Dylan | 2 | 2% | |
| Carly Rae Jepsen | 2 | 2% | |
| Otis Redding | 2 | 2% | |
| Show all | |||
| Country | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
53 | 53% | |
 |
17 | 17% | |
 |
9 | 9% | |
 |
8 | 8% | |
 |
3 | 3% | |
 |
2 | 2% | |
 |
2 | 2% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums chart changes
| Biggest climbers |
|---|
| Up 1 from 100th to 99th Give Up by The Postal Service |
| New entries |
|---|
 The Dock Of The Bayby Otis Redding |
| Leavers |
|---|
 Outside Your Room EPby Slowdive |
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums similar charts
- Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by
Sandinistar (2019) - Top 86 Music Albums of the 1970s by baystateoftheart (2024)
- Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by DrewCox2 (2018)
- Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by
Space-Dementia (2019) - PPV Overall Ranking by bea (2021)
- BEA 100 (One Album per Artist) by
BozoTyrannus (2020) - Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by Tidus1997 (2020)
- Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by Lisandro (2023)
- Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by
colonelchibbers (2024) - RYM Average Rating by Imaybeparanoid (2016)
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
91/100 (from 49 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 49 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 95/100  | 11/12/2023 22:42 | Johnnyo | | 80/100 |
| 95/100 | 01/09/2022 23:23 |  AAL2014 | | 92/100 |
| 95/100 | 10/19/2021 04:43 |  seb7 | | 91/100 |
| 100/100 | 02/17/2021 05:53 |  pjohnsongolf | | 89/100 |
| 100/100 | 12/03/2020 18:06 |  RoundTheBend | | 92/100 |
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 90.6/100, a mean average of 91.5/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 91.6/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 7.4.
Please log in or register if you want to be able to leave a rating
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums favourites
Showing all 6 members who have added this chart as a favourite
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums comments
Showing latest 10 comments | Show all 26 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)
95/100
From Johnnyo 11/12/2023 22:42
Fantastic chart
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
95/100
From seb7 10/19/2021 04:45
seb7 10/19/2021 04:45
Great list of a lot of awesome albums spanning basically all years and genres. Love it! Thanks for your rating on my chart 😊
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
95/100
From pctrooper 04/24/2020 21:44
This is an excellent chart and I like your soul and hip-hop picks. Thanks for recommending Kate Tempest to me.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
95/100
From 
ForegroundNoise 11/22/2019 08:43
ForegroundNoise 11/22/2019 08:43
Really fascinating mix of classic and contemporary side-by-side. I love the approach you take to your chart making as well, a few written notes and this would be a top-rated chart for me!!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
90/100
From 
mickilennial 11/16/2019 08:23
mickilennial 11/16/2019 08:23
"4 artists in common"
this is a cursed image
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
95/100
From 
Jameth 09/27/2019 18:07
Jameth 09/27/2019 18:07
I had a blast surveying your chart Bay! You're genre selection is rangier than most, keep it up. Even with all of the genres on display, you obviously have an underlying predilection for the sugary, yet you do a great job of separating the good from the saccharine. I don't think I do a very good job of letting pop work its magic, but I do know where I'm coming if I'm in need of something sweet.
There are a bunch of picks from the back half of your chart that I'm gonna queue up, that I haven't already...Blowout Comb, Construção, and a few others.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
90/100
From 
DommeDamian 10/26/2018 15:09
DommeDamian 10/26/2018 15:09
Your diversity's on top. Illmatic, Blood On The Tracks, SILY, etc. Check out my chart.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
95/100
From 
Boltzmann 03/17/2018 13:55
Boltzmann 03/17/2018 13:55
I saw you put Here’s Little Richard at no. 1 in your ‘50s chart, so I thought your all time chart must be good. I was not wrong.
Nice to see Carly Rae Jepsen and The Ronettes unironically on a chart.
Great work!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
70/100
From 
C_Krug2009 03/15/2018 19:15
C_Krug2009 03/15/2018 19:15
Glad to see FlyLo!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
95/100
From 
LedZep 02/02/2018 21:14
LedZep 02/02/2018 21:14
Love the way you rate songs on albums and rank all the albums of a certain band. Also Pet Sounds is so good!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 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.