Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by imimesis

There are (still) so many albums that I want to hear, so I have undoubtedly missed something that will someday be in this list (including an album you love that I've criminally excluded). As such, this reflects what I intentionally and carefully listened to and what stands apart from the crowd in some artistic or classic sense.

I wanted to stay away from many of the obvious best albums found here and elsewhere, but some of those I couldn't help but include.

While I would like to keep the list to one album per artist, that just isn't possible when an artist is so good that they put out consistently excellent albums.

Also worth noting: I strove to include as many female artists and bands as possible. While I am enjoying this website and community, I am surprised by how male-dominated the top albums and artists are.

That is all for now.

There are 20 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 100 Greatest Music Albums has an average rating of 89 out of 100 (from 51 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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[First added to this chart: 12/31/2015]
Year of Release:
1965
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,785
Rank in 1965:
Rank in 1960s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
12. (11) Down1
Buy album United States
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[First added to this chart: 12/30/2015]
Year of Release:
1997
Appears in:
Rank Score:
13,880
Rank in 1997:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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[First added to this chart: 12/30/2015]
Year of Release:
2015
Appears in:
Rank Score:
18,352
Rank in 2015:
Rank in 2010s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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  • #Sponsored
[First added to this chart: 12/30/2015]
Year of Release:
1965
Appears in:
Rank Score:
30,764
Rank in 1965:
Rank in 1960s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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[First added to this chart: 01/09/2016]
Year of Release:
1971
Appears in:
Rank Score:
44,791
Rank in 1971:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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[First added to this chart: 12/30/2015]
Year of Release:
2015
Appears in:
Rank Score:
596
Rank in 2015:
Rank in 2010s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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[First added to this chart: 12/31/2015]
Year of Release:
1970
Appears in:
Rank Score:
16,327
Rank in 1970:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
18. (17) Down1
Buy album United States
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[First added to this chart: 01/01/2016]
Year of Release:
1971
Appears in:
Rank Score:
17,100
Rank in 1971:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
19. (18) Down1
Buy album United States
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[First added to this chart: 12/30/2015]
Year of Release:
2004
Appears in:
Rank Score:
41,955
Rank in 2004:
Rank in 2000s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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  • eBay
  • iTunes
  • Spotify
  • #Sponsored
[First added to this chart: 12/30/2015]
Year of Release:
2010
Appears in:
Rank Score:
4,945
Rank in 2010:
Rank in 2010s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 100. Page 2 of 10

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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums composition

Decade Albums %


1930s 0 0%
1940s 0 0%
1950s 4 4%
1960s 13 13%
1970s 20 20%
1980s 16 16%
1990s 16 16%
2000s 17 17%
2010s 12 12%
2020s 2 2%
Artist Albums %


The Beatles 3 3%
Bob Dylan 2 2%
Joni Mitchell 2 2%
Arcade Fire 2 2%
Joanna Newsom 2 2%
Spoon 2 2%
Michael Jackson 2 2%
Show all
Country Albums %


United States 51 51%
United Kingdom 29 29%
Canada 6 6%
Mixed Nationality 4 4%
Australia 2 2%
Iceland 2 2%
Sweden 1 1%
Show all
Compilation? Albums %
No 97 97%
Yes 3 3%
Soundtrack? Albums %
No 99 99%
Yes 1 1%

Top 100 Greatest Music Albums chart changes

Biggest climbers
Climber Up 1 from 8th to 7th
Graceland
by Paul Simon
Biggest fallers
Faller Down 2 from 7th to 9th
Car Wheels On A Gravel Road
by Lucinda Williams
Faller Down 1 from 9th to 10th
Pink Moon
by Nick Drake
Faller Down 1 from 10th to 11th
Pastel Blues
by Nina Simone

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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums ratings

Average Rating: 
89/100 (from 51 votes)
  Ratings distributionRatings distribution Average Rating = (n ÷ (n + m)) × av + (m ÷ (n + m)) × AV
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.

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80/100
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03/01/2024 11:50 ffudnebbuh  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 65291/100
  
90/100
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02/24/2024 23:13 Moondance  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 45084/100
 
90/100
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02/24/2024 12:32 Bach  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 94178/100
 
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02/24/2024 09:47 Tamthebam  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 54985/100
  
60/100
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06/15/2023 21:30 Applerill  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 97675/100

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 4% of all charts on BestEverAlbums.com. This chart has a Bayesian average rating of 89.2/100, a mean average of 89.2/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 89.8/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 8.1.

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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums comments

Showing latest 10 comments | Show all 20 comments |
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Rating:  
100/100
From 07/02/2022 05:56
really liked your chart, i can say you like folk and not the go to albums from some artists, good taste friend
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
90/100
From 08/18/2021 01:57
Congratulations on a well considered and diverse list - and I couldn't agree more on the need to give credit to the female artists in the album world. I would also suggest that music outside the USA/UK bastions, need to be better acknowledged - something you have given thought to. Good to see Australians bands getting a mention - 3 in your top 100 is a good start (lol). Cheers!
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
80/100
From 12/08/2020 08:00
A very good chart, Steeleye Span is particularly noteworthy. Although I have not fully heard them, the Books, Ella Fitzgerald and Wanda Jackson are worth noting as well. There are a few over-familiar choices here, but they are more than balanced by the number of exceptional records like ‘Divers’, ‘Lift Your Skinny Fists like Antennas to Heaven’, ‘Dummy’, ‘Hounds of Love’, and ‘Hejira’.

Some you may not have heard of but really would be worth your time to listen to:

— ‘New York Tendaberry’ by Laura Nyro
— ‘Parallelograms’ by Linda Perhacs
— ‘The Christ Tree’ by the Trees Community
— ‘St. Radigunds’ by Spirogyra
— ‘Swing the Statue’ by Victoria Williams
— ‘Native Speaker’ by Braids
— ‘Love Agenda’ by Band of Susans
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
90/100
From 12/06/2020 18:10
Really interesting and good chart very unique and I found something new thank you for Over-the-rhine and Steeleye Span.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
95/100
From 12/06/2020 17:58
Totally my cup of tea, and more!!
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
100/100
From 12/06/2020 17:45
Great chart!
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | -1 votes (0 helpful | 1 unhelpful)
Rating:  
95/100
From 03/27/2019 23:02
Some of my 2nd tier favourites here, bands that aren't in my top 100 but could be on a different day. From Yo La Tengo and St. Vincent to Aphex Twin and Glass. Seems like the only thing I'm not a fan of here is Vampire Weekend lol. A great chart
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
90/100
From 03/27/2019 15:16
I like the amount of female artists here and I think that's an underrated aspect of a good chart and honestly something mine could be more inclusive of, too. I appreciate how much non-western music here too--a lot of good stuff to dig into!
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
100/100
From 03/27/2019 13:41
Outstanding chart: very diverse and interesting.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
85/100
From 05/24/2018 12:38
noice
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (1 helpful | 1 unhelpful)

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Best Ever Albums
1. OK Computer by Radiohead
2. The Dark Side Of The Moon by Pink Floyd
3. Abbey Road by The Beatles
4. Revolver by The Beatles
5. Kid A by Radiohead
6. In Rainbows by Radiohead
7. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles
8. Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd
9. The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars by David Bowie
10. The Velvet Underground & Nico by The Velvet Underground & Nico
11. Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys
12. Untitled (Led Zeppelin IV) by Led Zeppelin
13. The Beatles (The White Album) by The Beatles
14. Nevermind by Nirvana
15. Funeral by Arcade Fire
16. In The Aeroplane Over The Sea by Neutral Milk Hotel
17. The Queen Is Dead by The Smiths
18. Doolittle by Pixies
19. To Pimp A Butterfly by Kendrick Lamar
20. London Calling by The Clash
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