Top 100 Greatest Music Albums
by 
Onater 
I've been listening to music as albums rather than individual songs since July 2015, and every album on this list is one I have discovered in that time. I previously had 3 favourite tracks from each album in chronological order. I changed that to 2-5 favourite tracks from each in order from best to worst, but now I've decided that I don't need any limit on how many favourite tracks.
I've pretty much moved this over to Rateyourmusic at https://rateyourmusic.com/list/Onater/onaters-top-however-many-albums-2/ because they allow more than 100 there.
Just updated this for the first time in a while and good god was it out of date. The comments and favourite tracks probably still are but whatever. I may have cheated a bit and snuck in a compilation or two.
My Top 20 songs of all time:
20. Tim Buckley - Song To The Siren (Starsailor, 1970)
19. Sam Cooke - A Change Is Gonna Come (Ain't That Good News, 1964)
18. Kermit - The Rainbow Connection (The Muppet Movie, 1979)
17. Television - Marquee Moon (Marquee Moon, 1977)
16. Bruce Springsteen - Thunder Road (Born To Run, 1975)
15. Joanna Newsom - Peach, Plum, Pear (The Milk-Eyed Mender, 2004)
14. LCD Soundsystem - All My Friends (Sound Of Silver, 2007)
13. Animal Collective - Fireworks (Strawberry Jam, 2007)
12. Sonic Youth - The Diamond Sea (Washing Machine, 1995)
11. Gordon Lightfoot - If You Could Read My Mind (If You Could Read My Mind, 1970)
10. Car Seat Headrest - Beach Life-In-Death (Twin Fantasy, 2018)
9. Joanna Newsom - Cosmia (Ys, 2006)
8. R.E.M. - Nightswimming (Automatic For The People, 1992)
7. Joanna Newsom - Sawdust & Diamonds (Ys, 2006)
6. The Tragically Hip - Escape Is At Hand For The Travellin' Man (Phantom Power, 1998)
5. David Bowie - "Heroes" ("Heroes", 1977)
4. Talking Heads - This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody) (Speaking In Tongues, 1983)
3. The Tragically Hip - Bobcaygeon (Phantom Power, 1998)
2. Joanna Newsom - Only Skin (Ys, 2006)
1. The Tragically Hip - Ahead By A Century (Trouble At The Henhouse, 1996)
- Chart updated: 07/26/2019 07:15
- (Created: 04/30/2016 05:27).
- Chart size: 100 albums.
There are 31 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 100 Greatest Music Albums has an average rating of 92 out of 100 (from 88 votes). Please log in or create an account to leave a comment or assign a rating.
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"And if the love of a woman or two, dear, couldn't move you to such heights, then all I can do is do, my darling, right by you."
I used to have a big blurb here about how this is the greatest piece of art ever created by humans but every time I read it over I cringe so I'll just let you fill it out for yourself from the fact that it's at the top of the list.
First listen August 2016
Favourite Tracks: Only Skin, Sawdust & Diamonds, Cosmia [First added to this chart: 08/25/2016]
I used to have a big blurb here about how this is the greatest piece of art ever created by humans but every time I read it over I cringe so I'll just let you fill it out for yourself from the fact that it's at the top of the list.
First listen August 2016
Favourite Tracks: Only Skin, Sawdust & Diamonds, Cosmia [First added to this chart: 08/25/2016]
Year of Release:
2006
Appears in:
Rank Score:
8,179
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Comments:
Available from
"It'll take some time, but somewhere down the line, we won't be alone."
If you had told me a year ago that a straighforward indie rock album released in 2018 could make my top 3 albums of all time, I wouldn't believed you. Especially not one from Car Seat Headrest. For a long time my only exposure to this band was through 2016's Teens of Denial, an album that I thought that, despite having some great high points, was a very bland, unexciting, commercial Strokes knockoff. It wasn't until late 2017 that I heard the original 2011 Twin Fantasy, and I immediately fell in love with it, and my opinion on the band changed completely - and when I heard that they were going to re-record it, I was upset. I was sure that it would be turned into a watered-down commercialized Teens of Denial-esque version, and that wasn't what I wanted for that album at all. So the original continued growing on me, and it finally made it to that glorious 5 star rating just a week before the new version came out. And I never would have expected to say this, but the new version is better. In almost every way. I've barely listened to the 2011 one since this came out - the only real advantage that it has over this is Will's vocal performance, the monologue on Nervous Young Inhumans (I miss galvanism!) and the whole 'sincerity' factor. I mean, they're both 10/10 albums, but, in addition to the better production, this one also has the extended version of Famous Prophets, which alone is enough to push it above the original, and the different/more optimistic monologue at the end of the title track. I still think that the original is essential to listen to before hearing this, but I definitely consider this the superior version. But even setting aside the differences between the versions, I didn't expect to like this album, either version, as much as I did. But the themes, the lyrics, the angst, oh that glorious angst, it was exactly what I needed during that first half of 2018, my final year of high school. I can't begin to count the times I screamed along to Beach Life-In-Death while driving to school, or the amount of hope I found in the simplicity of My Boy, or how strongly I could relate to almost every song on the album as much as I despise myself for it. I guess there's a bit of gay furry in all of us.
First listen February 2018
Favourite Tracks: Beach Life-In-Death, Famous Prophets (Stars), Bodys, My Boy (Twin Fantasy), Sober To Death, Nervous Young Inhumans [First added to this chart: 03/23/2018]
If you had told me a year ago that a straighforward indie rock album released in 2018 could make my top 3 albums of all time, I wouldn't believed you. Especially not one from Car Seat Headrest. For a long time my only exposure to this band was through 2016's Teens of Denial, an album that I thought that, despite having some great high points, was a very bland, unexciting, commercial Strokes knockoff. It wasn't until late 2017 that I heard the original 2011 Twin Fantasy, and I immediately fell in love with it, and my opinion on the band changed completely - and when I heard that they were going to re-record it, I was upset. I was sure that it would be turned into a watered-down commercialized Teens of Denial-esque version, and that wasn't what I wanted for that album at all. So the original continued growing on me, and it finally made it to that glorious 5 star rating just a week before the new version came out. And I never would have expected to say this, but the new version is better. In almost every way. I've barely listened to the 2011 one since this came out - the only real advantage that it has over this is Will's vocal performance, the monologue on Nervous Young Inhumans (I miss galvanism!) and the whole 'sincerity' factor. I mean, they're both 10/10 albums, but, in addition to the better production, this one also has the extended version of Famous Prophets, which alone is enough to push it above the original, and the different/more optimistic monologue at the end of the title track. I still think that the original is essential to listen to before hearing this, but I definitely consider this the superior version. But even setting aside the differences between the versions, I didn't expect to like this album, either version, as much as I did. But the themes, the lyrics, the angst, oh that glorious angst, it was exactly what I needed during that first half of 2018, my final year of high school. I can't begin to count the times I screamed along to Beach Life-In-Death while driving to school, or the amount of hope I found in the simplicity of My Boy, or how strongly I could relate to almost every song on the album as much as I despise myself for it. I guess there's a bit of gay furry in all of us.
First listen February 2018
Favourite Tracks: Beach Life-In-Death, Famous Prophets (Stars), Bodys, My Boy (Twin Fantasy), Sober To Death, Nervous Young Inhumans [First added to this chart: 03/23/2018]
Year of Release:
2018
Appears in:
Rank Score:
5,538
Rank in 2018:
Rank in 2010s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Available from
"Pick up here and chase the ride, the river empties to the tide. All of this is coming your way."
Really, this shouldn't be this high on the chart. It is a very straightforward pop rock album. Yet memories connected to it have, as they so often do, made it mean something to me that it doesn't quite mean to anyone else, and that alone justifies its place.
First listen March 2016
Favourite Tracks: Nightswimming, Find The River, The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite, Man On The Moon [First added to this chart: 05/17/2016]
Really, this shouldn't be this high on the chart. It is a very straightforward pop rock album. Yet memories connected to it have, as they so often do, made it mean something to me that it doesn't quite mean to anyone else, and that alone justifies its place.
First listen March 2016
Favourite Tracks: Nightswimming, Find The River, The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite, Man On The Moon [First added to this chart: 05/17/2016]
Year of Release:
1992
Appears in:
Rank Score:
18,448
Rank in 1992:
Rank in 1990s:
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Average Rating:
Comments:
Available from
"Elation. Elegance. Exaltation. All from God. Thank you God. Amen."
First listen June 2016
Favourite Tracks: Psalm, Acknowledgement [First added to this chart: 10/07/2016]
First listen June 2016
Favourite Tracks: Psalm, Acknowledgement [First added to this chart: 10/07/2016]
Year of Release:
1965
Appears in:
Rank Score:
14,585
Rank in 1965:
Rank in 1960s:
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Comments:
Available from
"At some point it stops."
Favourite Tracks: Pile! No Pile! Pile!, Bug-Infested Floorboards — Can We Please Just Leave This Place Now, Please Don't Cry They Stopped Hours Ago, A Highway Got Paved Over My Future I Drive It Getting To School, The Blah Blah Blahs [First added to this chart: 05/31/2019]
Favourite Tracks: Pile! No Pile! Pile!, Bug-Infested Floorboards — Can We Please Just Leave This Place Now, Please Don't Cry They Stopped Hours Ago, A Highway Got Paved Over My Future I Drive It Getting To School, The Blah Blah Blahs [First added to this chart: 05/31/2019]
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"And now we rise, and we are everywhere."
First listen August 2016
Favourite Tracks: From The Morning, Pink Moon, Place To Be, Road, Which Will, Things Behind The Sun [First added to this chart: 08/01/2017]
First listen August 2016
Favourite Tracks: From The Morning, Pink Moon, Place To Be, Road, Which Will, Things Behind The Sun [First added to this chart: 08/01/2017]
Year of Release:
1972
Appears in:
Rank Score:
16,551
Rank in 1972:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Available from
"Myself, I long for love and light, but must it come so cruel, and oh so bright?"
First listen November 2016
Favourite Tracks: Sing Another Song Boys, Famous Blue Raincoat, Joan Of Arc, Avalanche, Last Year's Man [First added to this chart: 12/19/2016]
First listen November 2016
Favourite Tracks: Sing Another Song Boys, Famous Blue Raincoat, Joan Of Arc, Avalanche, Last Year's Man [First added to this chart: 12/19/2016]
Year of Release:
1971
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,245
Rank in 1971:
Rank in 1970s:
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Comments:
Available from
"Why can't we all just walk away."
I'm considering this as the entire Inmost Light trilogy 'cause you just can't separate them from each other.
Favourite Tracks: The Starres Are Marching Sadly Home, The Blood Bells Chime, Calling For Vanished Faces II, The Frolic, Patripassian, The Inmost Light Itself [First added to this chart: 04/15/2019]
I'm considering this as the entire Inmost Light trilogy 'cause you just can't separate them from each other.
Favourite Tracks: The Starres Are Marching Sadly Home, The Blood Bells Chime, Calling For Vanished Faces II, The Frolic, Patripassian, The Inmost Light Itself [First added to this chart: 04/15/2019]
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"Because when you see the face of God, you will die, and there will be nothing left of you, except the God-man, the God-woman, the heavenly man, the heavenly woman the heavenly child."
First listen October 2016
Favourite Tracks: She Dreamt She Was A Bulldozer She Dreamt She Was Alone In An Empty Field, Lift Yr. Skinny Fists Like Antennas To Heaven, Gathering Storm / Il Pleut À Mourir (+Clatters Like Worry), Broken Windows Locks Of Love Pt. III / 3rd Part [First added to this chart: 11/03/2016]
First listen October 2016
Favourite Tracks: She Dreamt She Was A Bulldozer She Dreamt She Was Alone In An Empty Field, Lift Yr. Skinny Fists Like Antennas To Heaven, Gathering Storm / Il Pleut À Mourir (+Clatters Like Worry), Broken Windows Locks Of Love Pt. III / 3rd Part [First added to this chart: 11/03/2016]
Year of Release:
2000
Appears in:
Rank Score:
11,854
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Rank in 2000s:
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Average Rating:
Comments:
Available from
"That is all, that is all, there is nothing else."
Favourite Tracks: Turn the Light On, Words I Hear, I Shall Love 2, I Shall Love 1, Underneath The Moon [First added to this chart: 05/31/2019]
Favourite Tracks: Turn the Light On, Words I Hear, I Shall Love 2, I Shall Love 1, Underneath The Moon [First added to this chart: 05/31/2019]
Year of Release:
2018
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,262
Rank in 2018:
Rank in 2010s:
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 | 4 | 4% | |
| 1960s | 9 | 9% | |
| 1970s | 16 | 16% | |
| 1980s | 11 | 11% | |
| 1990s | 24 | 24% | |
| 2000s | 23 | 23% | |
| 2010s | 13 | 13% | |
| 2020s | 0 | 0% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| Joanna Newsom | 4 | 4% | |
| Radiohead | 3 | 3% | |
| Swans | 3 | 3% | |
| Tom Waits | 3 | 3% | |
| John Coltrane | 3 | 3% | |
| Godspeed You! Black Emperor | 2 | 2% | |
| The Tragically Hip | 2 | 2% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums chart changes
| Biggest climbers |
|---|
Up 14 from 19th to 5th |
Up 11 from 88th to 77th |
Up 11 from 72nd to 61st |
| Biggest fallers |
|---|
Down 14 from 68th to 82nd |
Down 12 from 71st to 83rd |
Down 11 from 74th to 85th |
| New entries |
|---|
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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 3 ratings for this chart. | Show all 88 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ! | 03/25/2025 20:14 | DrewHamster | 314 | 79/100 |
| ! | 03/20/2025 15:23 |  SomethingSpecial | 1,088 | 86/100 |
| ! | 01/15/2025 16:35 | Exist-en-ciel | 165 | 97/100 |
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 1% of all charts on BestEverAlbums.com. This chart has a Bayesian average rating of 91.9/100, a mean average of 92.2/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 92.6/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 6.9.
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums favourites
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums forum mentions
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From 
BestEverAlbums 11/29/2019 09:00 in Chart of the day (#2959): By Onater
BestEverAlbums 11/29/2019 09:00 in Chart of the day (#2959): By Onater“Today's chart of the day Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by Onater () 1. Ys by Joanna Newsom (2006) 2. Twin Fantasy (Face To Face) by Car Seat Headrest (2018) 3. Automatic For The People by R.E.M. (1992) 4. A Love Supreme by John Coltrane (1965) 5. Just Got Back From The Discomfort- We're Alright by…”
(3 mentions across Chart of the Day topics)View latest topic →
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums comments
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From
phantom1305 12/10/2016 01:46 | #179830
phantom1305 12/10/2016 01:46 | #179830
Great chart! I like the addition of Tragically Hip in your top 10! I'm guessing you must be from Canada lol. I know they are so beloved here, but anyone I talk to outside of Canada doesn't know them lol. I was considering putting them on my chart too but before now I wasn't sure which album to start with.
You've got a nice collection of Pink Floyd and Radiohead on this chart. I like that. If I didn't do the one album per artist rule I would probably do the same. :)
Aso Supertramp in the top 10!! I love that ^^
You also picked my personal favorite Bjork album! :)
Great chart! Have you heard my number 1 album Karma by Delerium or The Tea Party? Both are great bands from Canada. If you end up listening to either of them pleease send me your thoughts! So few people have heard of either group so I'm dying to hear more opinions because I really love them both.
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From
calsper 11/13/2016 11:48 | #178357
calsper 11/13/2016 11:48 | #178357
Excellent chart! I really dig your entries and their positioning - would love to see more of your thoughts on the albums. Only thing I do not get is your ranking of Radiohead's 9th, which in my opinion is the single most overrated album on the site, imho, and not anywhere near Rainbows or Bends in terms of sound, coherence, impact, genres, the list goes on and on. Sorry for my rambling, but EXCELLENT chart, Onater!
Additionally, thanks for the reminder, by the way. I must admit to the aversion of certain subgenres within prog and pop punk, but I have actually added the CD's to my collection now and will give them a shot. :-)
Kind regards,
Casper
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From
daftpunter 03/31/2017 05:54 | #188447
Two years in and what a collection. Better yet...what a chart. Not afraid to be a fan (note to all the 1 album per artist lists) after 40 years of listening to quite a few of these masterpieces you pointed some things out that makes me need to reinvest some time. And in doing so you've peaked my interest in some newer stuff that I've dismissed. This is a top notch list. Bravo!
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From
jhuik TOP 100 COMMENTER 02/18/2017 00:40 | #185864
jhuik TOP 100 COMMENTER 02/18/2017 00:40 | #185864
Love your top ten especially inclusion of the Hip. I also have three Hip on my list, two that are different from your choices, but I wouldn't argue with the inclusion of both Road Apples and Phantom Power on any list, both such great discs. Plus we have 20 in common -- very similar tastes. And your comments throughout are also very nice to read. Salute.
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From
Thad 09/23/2016 14:23 | #175648
Can never give a bad rating to someone who appreciates Radiohead. Overall, love the top 30 but it starts to lose diversity after that. Considering how long you've been listening to albums, that is to be expected of you though, so no problem!
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