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Just updated this for the first time in a while and good god was it out of date.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 86 votes). Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.

• Summary
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31. (32) 1

OK Computer 

 Radiohead

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"One day, I am going to grow wings, a chemical reaction, hysterical and useless, hysterical and..."

I've listened to this album at least a hundred times, and I swear, it just gets better every time. Every single track from it has been my favourite at some point (yes, even Fitter Happier).

First listen February 2016

Favourite Tracks: Let Down, No Surprises, Exit Music (For A Film), Paranoid Android, Airbag, The Tourist [First added to this chart: 05/17/2016]

Year of Release:

1997

Appears in:

4,335 charts

Rank Score:

76,857

Rank in 1997:

1

Rank in 1990s:

1

Overall Rank:

1

Average Rating:

 92 (5,497 votes)

Comments:

841

32. (31) 1

Soundtracks For The Blind 

 Swans

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"You have to listen to him groan and say disgusting things, but, I suppose those things are only disgusting if that's the way you're looking at it."

Favourite Tracks: Helpless Child, The Sound, I Was A Prisoner In Your Skull, The Final Sacrifice, Animus [First added to this chart: 03/04/2017]

Year of Release:

1996

Appears in:

376 charts

Rank Score:

4,512

Rank in 1996:

7

Rank in 1990s:

72

Overall Rank:

397

Average Rating:

 83 (487 votes)

Comments:

32

33. (=)

Spirit Of Eden 

 Talk Talk

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"Everybody needs someone to live by. Everybody will need someone."

This is what I think it would sound like if the earth itself were to release an album. Also I don't understand a word that he's saying, and looking up the lyrics just makes them even more incomprehensible.

Favourite Tracks: The Rainbow, Wealth, Eden, I Believe In You [First added to this chart: 12/19/2016]

Year of Release:

1988

Appears in:

891 charts

Rank Score:

11,263

Rank in 1988:

3

Rank in 1980s:

17

Overall Rank:

134

Average Rating:

 84 (965 votes)

Comments:

67

34. (=)

Funeral 

 Arcade Fire

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"I carved your name across my eyelids. You pray for rain, I pray for blindness."

Like being eight years old and waking up to run to the window in awe on the first snow day of the year.

First listen April 2016

Favourite Tracks: Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels), Wake Up, Rebellion (Lies), Neighborhood #3 (Power Out), Crown Of Love, In The Backseat [First added to this chart: 05/17/2016]

Year of Release:

2004

Appears in:

2,826 charts

Rank Score:

41,746

Rank in 2004:

1

Rank in 2000s:

3

Overall Rank:

15

Average Rating:

 88 (3,599 votes)

Comments:

400

35. (=)

Different Class 

 Pulp

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"I've kissed your mother twice, and now I'm working on your dad."

Jarvis Cocker has got to be one the horniest guys in rock history. There's maybe one song on the album that doesn't mention sex in some way or another. He also happens to be a master a putting a climax to a song. There isn't a chorus here that can't be belted out like a lunatic.

Favourite Tracks: Disco 2000, Common People, I Spy, Bar Italia, Mis-Shapes [First added to this chart: 10/22/2017]

Year of Release:

1995

Appears in:

896 charts

Rank Score:

8,838

Rank in 1995:

4

Rank in 1990s:

39

Overall Rank:

184

Average Rating:

 82 (1,016 votes)

Comments:

65

36. (=)

To Pimp A Butterfly 

 Kendrick Lamar

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"So why did I weep when Trayvon Martin was in the street, when gang banging make me kill a nigga blacker than me?"

First listen November 2016

Favourite Tracks: The Blacker The Berry, How Much A Dollar Cost, These Walls, King Kunta, Mortal Man, u, For Free? [First added to this chart: 11/14/2016]

Year of Release:

2015

Appears in:

1,775 charts

Rank Score:

37,213

Rank in 2015:

1

Rank in 2010s:

1

Overall Rank:

19

Average Rating:

 89 (2,223 votes)

Comments:

364

37. (=)

Escalator Over The Hill 

 Carla Bley / Paul Haines

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"They check her flavor by sticking straws into her eyes."

Favourite Tracks: Hotel Overture, Escalator Over The Hill, Doctor Why, Why [First added to this chart: 11/30/2018]

Year of Release:

1971

Appears in:

67 charts

Rank Score:

513

Rank in 1971:

60

Rank in 1970s:

529

Overall Rank:

2,953

Average Rating:

 73 (67 votes)

Comments:

2

38. (=)

Unknown Pleasures 

 Joy Division

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"A loaded gun won't set you free. So you say."

Favourite Tracks: Disorder, New Dawn Fades, Shadowplay, Day Of The Lords [First added to this chart: 10/14/2016]

Year of Release:

1979

Appears in:

1,917 charts

Rank Score:

24,935

Rank in 1979:

3

Rank in 1970s:

9

Overall Rank:

38

Average Rating:

 87 (2,273 votes)

Comments:

189

39. (41) 2

Tago Mago 

 Can

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"SEARCHING FOR MY BLACK DOPE, HALELELELELELUWAH!"

Side 1 is a bunch of cool, trippy, kinda spooky prog rock tracks. Side 2 is a massive, repetitive, hypnotic jam that grows in insanity throughout. Suddenly, the repetition and hypnotic rhythms of the first disc disappear on side 3 in favour of 17 minutes of scary, ambient, dissonant noise. The first half of side 4 is just ridiculous, and the second half returns to the style of the first few tracks. It's quite a journey to listen to, and not an easy one at that. But it is so hypnotic and weird, there aren't a lot of albums that can compare.

Favourite Tracks: Halleluwah, Oh Yeah, Paperhouse [First added to this chart: 11/03/2016]

Year of Release:

1971

Appears in:

903 charts

Rank Score:

10,204

Rank in 1971:

8

Rank in 1970s:

39

Overall Rank:

151

Average Rating:

 83 (1,017 votes)

Comments:

77

40. (=)

Loveless 

 My Bloody Valentine

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"When I look at you, oh, I don't know what's real."

It'll give you tinnitus, but it's worth it.

Favourite Tracks: When You Sleep, Sometimes, Soon, Only Shallow, Come In Alone [First added to this chart: 08/18/2016]

Year of Release:

1991

Appears in:

2,109 charts

Rank Score:

33,785

Rank in 1991:

2

Rank in 1990s:

4

Overall Rank:

22

Average Rating:

 86 (2,408 votes)

Comments:

308

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Total albums: 100. Page 4 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%
Tom Waits	3	3%
Radiohead	3	3%
Swans	3	3%
Kendrick Lamar	2	2%
John Coltrane	2	2%
Joy Division	2	2%
Show all

Country	Albums	%
	62	62%
	21	21%
	9	9%
	3	3%
	2	2%
	2	2%
	1	1%

Top 100 Greatest Music Albums chart changes

Biggest climbers
Up 14 from 19th to 5th Just Got Back From The Discomfort - We're Alright by The Brave Little Abacus
Up 11 from 88th to 77th Dummy by Portishead
Up 11 from 72nd to 61st F♯ A♯ ∞ (LP Version) by Godspeed You! Black Emperor

Biggest fallers
Down 14 from 68th to 82nd The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady by Charles Mingus
Down 12 from 71st to 83rd Since I Left You by The Avalanches
Down 11 from 74th to 85th For Emma, Forever Ago by Bon Iver

New entries
Wasted Years Together by Pale North
Beethoven: Symphonien No. 9 by Herbert von Karajan / Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Fare Forward Voyagers (Soldier's Choice) by John Fahey
Frostbite by Kitty
Geek The Girl by Lisa Germano

Leavers
In A Silent Way by Miles Davis
Blood On The Tracks by Bob Dylan
Push The Sky Away by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
At The Mountains Of Madness by Electric Masada

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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums similarity to your chart(s)

Top 100 Greatest Music Albums ratings

Showing latest 5 ratings for this chart. | Show all 86 ratings for this chart.

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Rating	Date updated	Member	Chart ratings	Avg. chart rating
95/100	03/30/2021 01:12	DriftingOrpheus	79	91/100
100/100	11/29/2019 15:48	ForegroundNoise	475	87/100
90/100	10/04/2019 19:14	pctrooper	336	88/100
100/100	08/12/2019 11:05	Timooosterink	131	90/100
95/100	06/14/2019 13:34	gidgidi	114	88/100

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 1% of all charts on BestEverAlbums.com. This chart has a Bayesian average rating of 92.0/100, a mean average of 92.3/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 92.7/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 6.9.

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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums favourites

Showing all 14 members who have added this chart as a favourite

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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums comments

Showing latest 10 comments | Show all 31 comments |
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Rating:  

100/100

From ForegroundNoise 11/29/2019 15:49

Not sure why I hadn't already given this 100, since your chart is obviously a brilliant labour of love. One of my faves on this site for sure!!

Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

Rating:  

100/100

From Timooosterink 11/29/2019 10:27

nice

Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

Rating:  

90/100

From pctrooper 10/04/2019 19:14

Great choices. you crushed it.

Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

Rating:  

100/100

From Timooosterink 08/12/2019 11:06

Nice chart! I like the effort you have put into this

Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

Rating:  

95/100

From gidgidi 06/14/2019 13:34

Great picks!

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Rating:  

85/100

From mianfei 06/14/2019 07:10

It is rare to see a chart with so many as sixteen artists in common with my own (this figure includes Steven Osborne for his Messiaen works). Moreover, there are others in my large backlog of recordings to listen to , including ‘Escalator Over the Hill’.

One recording I would recommend you that it seems you haven’t heard is ‘I’m the One’ by Annette Peacock. Little-known on this site, ‘I’m the One’ is undoubtedly a masterful work of soul power that surpasses most black artists at soul music. The title track and ‘Pony’ turn funk into lush soundscapes of both beauty and personal power.

Two other recommendations are the Trees Community’s ‘The Christ Tree’ and Victoria Williams’ ‘Swing the Statue’. These in many ways predate the “freak folk” of the mid-2000s by thirty and fifteen years respectively, with the former being the most beautifully transcendent psalms as communitarian music-making and the latter a deeply personal work of wonder at the beauty of little things.

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Rating:  

100/100

From Glitterboiii 01/26/2019 18:36

Fantastic chart! So many of my favorites up here!
Please update this like in any way so Twin Fantasy gets its points.

Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (1 helpful | 1 unhelpful)

Rating:  

100/100

From ForegroundNoise 12/10/2018 09:29

Absolutely love the notes you've added and the lyrics from each album too, really great stuff :)

Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

From Azbest2000 05/13/2018 17:54

Professionaly made list. You have an eclectic taste and it's clear to see that you are really interested in music.

Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

Rating:  

100/100

From DommeDamian 11/24/2017 07:05

By any means one of the greatest charst, man. The descriptions really hits hard, as of how well-written and well-structured they are. Keep up the phenomenal work :)

Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

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