Top 100 Greatest Music Albums
by 
rilex 
My top "rock" albums-- no jazz, blues, or classical as that is like comparing apples and oranges. p.s. Someone please tell me the difference between "best" and "favorite!"
- Chart updated: 09/04/2016 13:15
- (Created: 03/10/2011 17:57).
- Chart size: 100 albums.
There are 46 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 100 Greatest Music Albums has an average rating of 88 out of 100 (from 59 votes). Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.
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***UPDATE: (see 24-bit Lossless files) From 'Taxman''s riffage to 'Tomorrow Never Knows''s drumbeat, the album lights up my imagination. A pop song sang over a string quartet? Check. Harpsichord and trumpet counterpoint? Check. A song about an LSD-dosing doctor? Check. "Got to Get You Into My Life" is so good. This album "was meant to be near me."
[First added to this chart: 03/10/2011]
Year of Release:
1966
Appears in:
Rank Score:
48,113
Rank in 1966:
Rank in 1960s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
I have a soft spot for production, and in my opinion, this album contains the most creative use of sound in modern recording history. Yes, the album has amazing songs, but production (i.e. the drums in 'Spiderbite;' the melodic validity of synth lines throughout; 'Spoonful..' stereo-panned guitars; background vocals in 'The Spark...,' and 'Feeling Youreself...,'; the acoustic guitar/bass combo in 'Buggin'' etc.) is the reason it ranks so high on my chart
[First added to this chart: 03/10/2011]
Year of Release:
1999
Appears in:
Rank Score:
10,480
Rank in 1999:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Herein lies some of his most imaginative poetry, some of his best melodies, and the most heart-twisting ending of any album ('Mr. Tambourine Man,' 'Gates of Eden,' 'It's Alright Ma...,' and 'It's All Over Now...'). Some say 'Subterranean Homesick Blues' has the makings of Hip-Hop before 'Rapper's Delight,' but I think it's just a brilliantly intoned narcotic ode to rhyme.
[First added to this chart: 03/10/2011]
Year of Release:
1965
Appears in:
Rank Score:
11,422
Rank in 1965:
Rank in 1960s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
When I was 15, I bought an old console turntable from a 2nd-hand store and started listening to my parents old LPs. After exhausting their Boston, Supertramp, and Styx, I decided to purchase a colorful LP by a band I knew little about. The worn-out record pulsed its way past a worn-down needle and through dusty low-quality speakers. I believe it was as early as "...Bill-leeee Shears..." that I knew something special was happening. I was not exposed to the brilliance of this band until that point, which may be why I still find them so alluring; though most people say they have grown tired of The Beatles, I still feel what I felt then.
[First added to this chart: 03/10/2011]
Year of Release:
1967
Appears in:
Rank Score:
42,051
Rank in 1967:
Rank in 1960s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
I love the flow and it's blantant disregard for modern recording conventions. Vocal mics cut out, tape-hiss abounds, drums sound like wet cardboard, entire songs sound unrehearsed. Like the Sphinx, this is a genuine marvel of human creation all broken and janky.
[First added to this chart: 03/10/2011]
Year of Release:
1995
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,400
Rank in 1995:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
I'm no Dead-Head, but this album is truly amazing. Put aside your prejudices (if you have any) against The Dead, and listen to this album! At this point, they were all classically trained musicians playing very demanding parts on (mostly) acoustic instruments. Try 'Ripple' if you are interested.
[First added to this chart: 03/10/2011]
Year of Release:
1970
Appears in:
Rank Score:
4,296
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Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Another production phenomenon-- from an engineer's viewpoint, this album is impossibly cohesive. The drum layering coupled with expressive and engaging harmonies, both melodic and underlying, allow for multiple listens. The music is phenomenal, but the lyrics are a bit too sincere for me.
[First added to this chart: 03/10/2011]
Year of Release:
1966
Appears in:
Rank Score:
37,483
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Overall Rank:
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Comments:
This is a great pop album with a loose concept. It has beautiful orchestration and near-perfect songs, but what the hell is 'Phenomenal Cat?'
[First added to this chart: 03/10/2011]
Year of Release:
1968
Appears in:
Rank Score:
9,232
Rank in 1968:
Rank in 1960s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Again I could mention production, but songwriting is what thrills me here. Schneider and Mangum team up like superheroes on this one. Each's mission complements the other perfectly to create an undeniably timeless aura. Simple guitar/vocal songs seamlessly flow into fuzzy orchestras wild.
[First added to this chart: 03/10/2011]
Year of Release:
1998
Appears in:
Rank Score:
31,138
Rank in 1998:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Don Van Vliet's dadaist lyrics, the band's erratic guitars, and wacky song structures keep the album fresh throughout. It's also ironically melancholic at points.
[First added to this chart: 03/10/2011]
Year of Release:
1980
Appears in:
Rank Score:
629
Rank in 1980:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 100. Page 1 of 10
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums composition
| Decade | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1940s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1950s | 2 | 2% | |
| 1960s | 23 | 23% | |
| 1970s | 36 | 36% | |
| 1980s | 13 | 13% | |
| 1990s | 16 | 16% | |
| 2000s | 9 | 9% | |
| 2010s | 1 | 1% | |
| 2020s | 0 | 0% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| The Kinks | 3 | 3% | |
| The Beatles | 3 | 3% | |
| Bob Dylan | 3 | 3% | |
| Neil Young | 2 | 2% | |
| Big Star | 2 | 2% | |
| The Byrds | 2 | 2% | |
| Eno | 2 | 2% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums chart changes
There have been no changes to this chart.Top 100 Greatest Music Albums similar charts
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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 59 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01/18/2017 02:08 | Seab | 2,001 | 93/100 | |
| 12/05/2015 23:58 |  Applerill | 972 | 75/100 | |
| 12/23/2014 13:31 |  Antonio-Pedro | 562 | 90/100 | |
| 12/18/2013 07:28 |  sssvnnn | 2,877 | 83/100 | |
| 06/02/2013 23:00 | JumpingJackFlash | 67 | 86/100 |
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 12% of all charts on BestEverAlbums.com. This chart has a Bayesian average rating of 87.7/100, a mean average of 87.4/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 88.0/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 10.9.
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums favourites
Showing all 16 members who have added this chart as a favourite
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums comments
Showing latest 10 comments | Show all 46 comments |
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From sssvnnn 12/18/2013 07:28 | #97957
sssvnnn 12/18/2013 07:28 | #97957
Nice taste.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
meccalecca 04/04/2013 18:10 | #71370
meccalecca 04/04/2013 18:10 | #71370
I love everything on this list!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
SingingPeasant96 04/04/2013 16:07 | #71359
SingingPeasant96 04/04/2013 16:07 | #71359
Nice taste
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From quadrophenia17 04/04/2013 15:48 | #71356
We have some things in common. Great chart so far. I can't wait to see the next 30!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
AleJohnMari 04/04/2013 09:40 | #71318
AleJohnMari 04/04/2013 09:40 | #71318
Original picks and still enough great albums in between.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From davidhuret 04/04/2013 09:08 | #71312
some of my favorite albums are in your chart.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
junodog4 10/18/2012 02:09 | #52599
junodog4 10/18/2012 02:09 | #52599
Flaming Lips deserve to be where you put them...
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From Rikuff 10/02/2012 16:52 | #51633
Only one album in common with mine, but I love your taste anyway!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From album guru joe 10/02/2012 08:33 | #51615
Great list :)
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
revolver94 10/02/2012 08:16 | #51614
revolver94 10/02/2012 08:16 | #51614
Great list. Perfect score for the personal and accurate descriptions of the albums. Keep it up!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
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