Top 100 Greatest Music Albums
by 
M42K0 
Hey, everybody o/
This is the list of albums I've carefully listened and rated in the past year or so (every song, then took their average and weighted average, and rarely added/subtracted a point or two). I usually don't put an album on the list until I've listened to it enough to be certain of its qualities and to understand where on the list I should put it. This is why there are so many Springsteen's albums - he's one of the rare artists I've had a chance to listen to that carefully.
All the suggestion are warmly welcomed. Hope you like the picks and that I gave you some incentive to research more about great music.
(And if not, I didn't care much about you anyways. Ha.)
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Albums that have ratings of 70+ but didn't make it to the list:
Simon & Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water (71)
Michael Buble - Crazy Love (71)
Bruce Springsteen - The River (71)
Eagles - Desperado (70)
Grimes - Art Angels (70)
- Chart updated: 10/02/2016 19:15
- (Created: 11/02/2015 05:42).
- Chart size: 100 albums.
There are 9 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 100 Greatest Music Albums has an average rating of 88 out of 100 (from 19 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 2000s. (Remove this filter)
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In my opinion, the greatest live album ever made. Bruce sang almost every song from his first 3 (probably my 3 favorite Springsteen's) albums, and showed what a master performer, a poet, he is. The energy and emotion he brought in front of his first European crowd just can't be compared to any music artist since.
Best tracks: Most of them got 100/100 from me. Listen to "Thunder Road", "Lost in the Flood" and "Backstreets" if you want to feel the emotion. If you want to listen to some groovy rock music, go with "Born to Run", "She's the One", "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out" and "Rosalita".
(after some time I actually decided to type out song ratings for this album anyways)
100/100: Thunder Road, Lost In The Flood, Born To Run, Backstreets, Jungleland, Rosalita (Come Out Tonight), 4th Of July Ausbury Park (Sandy)
95/100: Tenth Avenue Freeze Out, She's The One, E Street Shuffle/Havin' A Party
90/100: Spirit In The Night, It's Hard To Be A Saint In The City, Detroit Medley, For You, Quarter To Three
85/100: /
80/100: Kitty's Back
Average song rating: 94.69/100
Weighted song average: 95.50/100
Album rating: 99/100
--- [First added to this chart: 11/03/2015]
In my opinion, the greatest live album ever made. Bruce sang almost every song from his first 3 (probably my 3 favorite Springsteen's) albums, and showed what a master performer, a poet, he is. The energy and emotion he brought in front of his first European crowd just can't be compared to any music artist since.
Best tracks: Most of them got 100/100 from me. Listen to "Thunder Road", "Lost in the Flood" and "Backstreets" if you want to feel the emotion. If you want to listen to some groovy rock music, go with "Born to Run", "She's the One", "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out" and "Rosalita".
(after some time I actually decided to type out song ratings for this album anyways)
100/100: Thunder Road, Lost In The Flood, Born To Run, Backstreets, Jungleland, Rosalita (Come Out Tonight), 4th Of July Ausbury Park (Sandy)
95/100: Tenth Avenue Freeze Out, She's The One, E Street Shuffle/Havin' A Party
90/100: Spirit In The Night, It's Hard To Be A Saint In The City, Detroit Medley, For You, Quarter To Three
85/100: /
80/100: Kitty's Back
Average song rating: 94.69/100
Weighted song average: 95.50/100
Album rating: 99/100
--- [First added to this chart: 11/03/2015]
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I mean fuck me if this is not the most complex (and again so simple in its complexity!), the most charmingly honest and the most innovative album of 21st century. And I don't care if it's overlong. Although I'm sure I'd probably put it in top 3-4 if he had cut it, I still think its scope wouldn't be this wide and appealing as it is now. Also, incredible how brutally emotional John Wayne Gacy, Pulanski Day and Predatory Wasp are. They all literally make me tear every time I hear them.
100/100: UFO, Feel the Illinoise, John Wayne Gacy, Casimir Pulanski Day, Predatory Wasp
95/100: Black Hawk War, Chicago, To The Workers
90/100: Jacksonville, Decatur, The Man Of Metropolis, The Tallest Man
85/100: /
80/100: /
75/100: The Prairie, Night Zombies, Single Note, The Seer's Tower, Out Of Egypt
Average song rating: 89.41/100
Weighted song average: 90.00/100
Album rating: 92/100
--- [First added to this chart: 11/20/2015]
I mean fuck me if this is not the most complex (and again so simple in its complexity!), the most charmingly honest and the most innovative album of 21st century. And I don't care if it's overlong. Although I'm sure I'd probably put it in top 3-4 if he had cut it, I still think its scope wouldn't be this wide and appealing as it is now. Also, incredible how brutally emotional John Wayne Gacy, Pulanski Day and Predatory Wasp are. They all literally make me tear every time I hear them.
100/100: UFO, Feel the Illinoise, John Wayne Gacy, Casimir Pulanski Day, Predatory Wasp
95/100: Black Hawk War, Chicago, To The Workers
90/100: Jacksonville, Decatur, The Man Of Metropolis, The Tallest Man
85/100: /
80/100: /
75/100: The Prairie, Night Zombies, Single Note, The Seer's Tower, Out Of Egypt
Average song rating: 89.41/100
Weighted song average: 90.00/100
Album rating: 92/100
--- [First added to this chart: 11/20/2015]
Year of Release:
2005
Appears in:
Rank Score:
20,347
Rank in 2005:
Rank in 2000s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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I bet if somebody put the gun to my head and asked me to say which song I think is the greatest rock song of 21st century, I can bet I'd go for Jesus etc. The more you listen to it, your main description of this album switches from "experimental" to "immensely complex". Very rich album. Its arrangements make beautiful and poignant lyrics seem so very minimalistic.
100/100: Jesus etc.
95/100: Radio Cure, Heavy Metal Drummer
90/100: I Am Trying To Break Your Heart, Kamera, War On War, Ashes Of American Flags
85/100: I'm The Man Who Loves You, Pot Kettle Black
80/100: Poor Places, Reservations
Average song rating: 89.09/100
Weighted song average: 88.89/100
Album rating: 90/100
--- [First added to this chart: 01/07/2016]
I bet if somebody put the gun to my head and asked me to say which song I think is the greatest rock song of 21st century, I can bet I'd go for Jesus etc. The more you listen to it, your main description of this album switches from "experimental" to "immensely complex". Very rich album. Its arrangements make beautiful and poignant lyrics seem so very minimalistic.
100/100: Jesus etc.
95/100: Radio Cure, Heavy Metal Drummer
90/100: I Am Trying To Break Your Heart, Kamera, War On War, Ashes Of American Flags
85/100: I'm The Man Who Loves You, Pot Kettle Black
80/100: Poor Places, Reservations
Average song rating: 89.09/100
Weighted song average: 88.89/100
Album rating: 90/100
--- [First added to this chart: 01/07/2016]
Year of Release:
2002
Appears in:
Rank Score:
17,188
Rank in 2002:
Rank in 2000s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
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When I started seriously listening to 21st century music (it was around October 2015), EVERYBODY, EVERYWHERE said this was the one to start with. And you bet I didn't regret it. Very magical. Beautiful instrumentalization and lyricism. Probably the best debut album in the
100/100: Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels), Crown Of Love, Wake Up
95/100: Rebellion (Lies)
90/100: Neighborhood #4 (7 Kettles)
85/100: Une Annee Sans Lumière, Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)
80/100: Neighborhood #2 (Laïka), Haiti, In The Backseat
Average song rating: 89.50/100
Weighted song average: 89.38/100
Album rating: 90/100
--- [First added to this chart: 11/03/2015]
When I started seriously listening to 21st century music (it was around October 2015), EVERYBODY, EVERYWHERE said this was the one to start with. And you bet I didn't regret it. Very magical. Beautiful instrumentalization and lyricism. Probably the best debut album in the
100/100: Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels), Crown Of Love, Wake Up
95/100: Rebellion (Lies)
90/100: Neighborhood #4 (7 Kettles)
85/100: Une Annee Sans Lumière, Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)
80/100: Neighborhood #2 (Laïka), Haiti, In The Backseat
Average song rating: 89.50/100
Weighted song average: 89.38/100
Album rating: 90/100
--- [First added to this chart: 11/03/2015]
Year of Release:
2004
Appears in:
Rank Score:
34,072
Rank in 2004:
Rank in 2000s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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A piece of art - and I'm not exaggerating even a bit. All the polyrhythms and the overwhelmingly rich orchestrations make this more than a record you buy, listen and own. It is a small musical adventure you go to just to understand how lyrically and musically poor all the music you've listened before it was. And I do honestly consider Emily to be one of the greatest songs ever written.
100/100: Emily
95/100: /
90/100: Only Skin
85/100: Monkey & Bear, Sawdust & Diamonds, Cosmia
Average song rating: 89.00/100
Weighted song average: 86.67/100
Album rating: 88/100
--- [First added to this chart: 03/10/2016]
A piece of art - and I'm not exaggerating even a bit. All the polyrhythms and the overwhelmingly rich orchestrations make this more than a record you buy, listen and own. It is a small musical adventure you go to just to understand how lyrically and musically poor all the music you've listened before it was. And I do honestly consider Emily to be one of the greatest songs ever written.
100/100: Emily
95/100: /
90/100: Only Skin
85/100: Monkey & Bear, Sawdust & Diamonds, Cosmia
Average song rating: 89.00/100
Weighted song average: 86.67/100
Album rating: 88/100
--- [First added to this chart: 03/10/2016]
Year of Release:
2006
Appears in:
Rank Score:
8,506
Rank in 2006:
Rank in 2000s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
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---
100/100: /
95/100: /
90/100: Storm
85/100: Static, Sleep, Antennas To Heaven
Average song rating: 88.75/100
Weighted song average: 85.00/100
Album rating: 86.5/100
--- [First added to this chart: 09/29/2016]
100/100: /
95/100: /
90/100: Storm
85/100: Static, Sleep, Antennas To Heaven
Average song rating: 88.75/100
Weighted song average: 85.00/100
Album rating: 86.5/100
--- [First added to this chart: 09/29/2016]
Year of Release:
2000
Appears in:
Rank Score:
13,009
Rank in 2000:
Rank in 2000s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
36. (=)
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The most likable and the most listenable punk-indie-rock album ever made and one of the greatest albums of the decade. Both its sound and its lyrics sound are simple enough to let you understand what's going on but still complex enough to warmly welcome you any time you come back to it. It's fair to say "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot", "Funeral" and "Is This It" all pretty much shaped the sound of music bands are making today.
100/100: /
95/100: Someday, Last Nite
90/100: Is This It, The Modern Age, Barely Legal, Hard To Explain, New York City Cops
85/100: /
80/100: Soma
75/100: /
70/100: Alone Together, Trying Your Luck
65/100: /
60/100: Take It Or Leave It
Average song rating: 83.64/100
Weighted song average: 85.00/100
Album rating: 84.5/100
--- [First added to this chart: 11/03/2015]
The most likable and the most listenable punk-indie-rock album ever made and one of the greatest albums of the decade. Both its sound and its lyrics sound are simple enough to let you understand what's going on but still complex enough to warmly welcome you any time you come back to it. It's fair to say "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot", "Funeral" and "Is This It" all pretty much shaped the sound of music bands are making today.
100/100: /
95/100: Someday, Last Nite
90/100: Is This It, The Modern Age, Barely Legal, Hard To Explain, New York City Cops
85/100: /
80/100: Soma
75/100: /
70/100: Alone Together, Trying Your Luck
65/100: /
60/100: Take It Or Leave It
Average song rating: 83.64/100
Weighted song average: 85.00/100
Album rating: 84.5/100
--- [First added to this chart: 11/03/2015]
Year of Release:
2001
Appears in:
Rank Score:
28,308
Rank in 2001:
Rank in 2000s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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---
100/100: For Emma Forever Ago
95/100: Flume
90/100: Skinny Love
85/100: Lump Sum, Re: Stacks
80/100: Blindsided, Creature Fear
75/100: The Wolves (Act I And II)
70/100: /
65/100: Team
Average song rating: 83.89/100
Weighted song average: 84.29/100
Album rating: 84.5/100
--- [First added to this chart: 09/01/2016]
100/100: For Emma Forever Ago
95/100: Flume
90/100: Skinny Love
85/100: Lump Sum, Re: Stacks
80/100: Blindsided, Creature Fear
75/100: The Wolves (Act I And II)
70/100: /
65/100: Team
Average song rating: 83.89/100
Weighted song average: 84.29/100
Album rating: 84.5/100
--- [First added to this chart: 09/01/2016]
Year of Release:
2007
Appears in:
Rank Score:
11,047
Rank in 2007:
Rank in 2000s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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---
100/100: /
95/100: The View From The Afternoon, I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor
90/100: Fake Tales Of San Francisco
85/100: Dancing Shoes, Mardy Bum, From The Ritz To The Rubble, A Certain Romance
80/100: You Probably Couldn't See..., Still Take You Home, Riot Van, Red Light Indicates Doors Are Secured, When The Sun Goes Down
75/100: Perhaps Vampires Is A Bit Strong But...
Average song rating: 84.23/100
Weighted song average: 84.09/100
Album rating: 84/100
--- [First added to this chart: 08/31/2016]
100/100: /
95/100: The View From The Afternoon, I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor
90/100: Fake Tales Of San Francisco
85/100: Dancing Shoes, Mardy Bum, From The Ritz To The Rubble, A Certain Romance
80/100: You Probably Couldn't See..., Still Take You Home, Riot Van, Red Light Indicates Doors Are Secured, When The Sun Goes Down
75/100: Perhaps Vampires Is A Bit Strong But...
Average song rating: 84.23/100
Weighted song average: 84.09/100
Album rating: 84/100
--- [First added to this chart: 08/31/2016]
Year of Release:
2006
Appears in:
Rank Score:
15,969
Rank in 2006:
Rank in 2000s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
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---
Although most people do see (or at least say they do) a difference in quality between "The Wild Hunt" and "Shallow Grave", I personally think it's a matter of preference. To ask me to specifically pick out one or another would be like choosing which of my 2 brothers I love more. Even though this one is a bit less musically demanding than "The Wild Hunt", its genuineness makes it a bit more approachable. Lyrics, on the other side, are completely on pair with the ones on "The Wild Hunt". Also, "The Gardener" is arguably one of the greatest acoustic songs of 21st century.
100/100:
95/100: The Gardener, I Won't Be Found
90/100: Honey Won't You Let Me In, The Sparrow And The Medicine
85/100: /
80/100: Pistol Dreams, Shallow Grave, The Blizzard's Never Seen The Desert Sands
75/100: The Wind
70/100: Where Do My Bluebird Fly
65/100: Into The Stream
Average song rating: 82.00/100
Weighted song average: 82.5/100
Album rating: 82.5/100
--- [First added to this chart: 02/03/2016]
Although most people do see (or at least say they do) a difference in quality between "The Wild Hunt" and "Shallow Grave", I personally think it's a matter of preference. To ask me to specifically pick out one or another would be like choosing which of my 2 brothers I love more. Even though this one is a bit less musically demanding than "The Wild Hunt", its genuineness makes it a bit more approachable. Lyrics, on the other side, are completely on pair with the ones on "The Wild Hunt". Also, "The Gardener" is arguably one of the greatest acoustic songs of 21st century.
100/100:
95/100: The Gardener, I Won't Be Found
90/100: Honey Won't You Let Me In, The Sparrow And The Medicine
85/100: /
80/100: Pistol Dreams, Shallow Grave, The Blizzard's Never Seen The Desert Sands
75/100: The Wind
70/100: Where Do My Bluebird Fly
65/100: Into The Stream
Average song rating: 82.00/100
Weighted song average: 82.5/100
Album rating: 82.5/100
--- [First added to this chart: 02/03/2016]
Year of Release:
2008
Appears in:
Rank Score:
628
Rank in 2008:
Rank in 2000s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 18. 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 | 17 | 17% | |
| 1970s | 36 | 36% | |
| 1980s | 10 | 10% | |
| 1990s | 12 | 12% | |
| 2000s | 18 | 18% | |
| 2010s | 7 | 7% | |
| 2020s | 0 | 0% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| Bruce Springsteen | 9 | 9% | |
| Bob Dylan | 4 | 4% | |
| Genesis | 4 | 4% | |
| Pink Floyd | 4 | 4% | |
| The Beatles | 3 | 3% | |
| David Bowie | 3 | 3% | |
| Van Morrison | 3 | 3% | |
| Show all | |||
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums ratings
Average Rating = (n ÷ (n + m)) × av + (m ÷ (n + m)) × AVwhere:
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 19 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ! | 02/02/2018 07:39 |  RaineyWins | 247 | 74/100 |
| ! | 07/02/2017 06:38 | york59 | 90 | 87/100 |
| ! | 02/11/2017 19:24 | NamibiaStarr | 439 | 85/100 |
| ! | 02/04/2017 11:21 |  arthurbittencour | 162 | 90/100 |
| ! | 02/04/2017 04:06 | borninhockeytown | 9 | 91/100 |
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 7% of all charts on BestEverAlbums.com. This chart has a Bayesian average rating of 88.2/100, a mean average of 85.0/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 89.5/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 19.9.
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums comments
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From 
buzzdainer 06/13/2016 17:14 | #168618
buzzdainer 06/13/2016 17:14 | #168618
I've had to bump up my rating, as I like your update(s).
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
arthur237 04/28/2016 22:22 | #164810
arthur237 04/28/2016 22:22 | #164810
Crimson a taste in music is not right or wrong its indefinable. Why not have a live album at number one, what is an album?
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From buzzdainer 04/22/2016 03:08 | #164261
buzzdainer 04/22/2016 03:08 | #164261
Very diverse and interesting chart! I love the inclusion of Funeral, Illinois, and Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, which are also among my all-time favorites. Lots of stuff for me to dig into here.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
chisholm.matt 03/27/2016 14:23 | #162746
chisholm.matt 03/27/2016 14:23 | #162746
Awesome list...thanks for the look on my page! Looking forward to listening some of the Springsteen and Genesis albums I haven't listened to yet.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
Davy 02/06/2016 09:40 | #158824
Davy 02/06/2016 09:40 | #158824
A lot of the Boss, but I can see why :D Great :)
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
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