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Just updated this for the first time in a while and good god was it out of date.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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1. (=)

Ys 

 Joanna Newsom

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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]

Year of Release:

2006

Appears in:

749 charts

Rank Score:

9,292

Rank in 2006:

2

Rank in 2000s:

28

Overall Rank:

171

Average Rating:

 82 (827 votes)

Comments:

85

9. (7) 2

Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas To Heaven 

 Godspeed You! Black Emperor

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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]

Year of Release:

2000

Appears in:

1,064 charts

Rank Score:

14,756

Rank in 2000:

2

Rank in 2000s:

10

Overall Rank:

89

Average Rating:

 86 (1,290 votes)

Comments:

106

13. (15) 2

Spirit They're Gone, Spirit They've Vanished 

 Avey Tare & Panda Bear

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"It's hard to just kiss our childhood games goodbye."

Favourite Tracks: Penny Dreadfuls, Alvin Row, Spirit They've Vanished, April And The Phantoms, Chocolate Girl [First added to this chart: 07/11/2017]

Year of Release:

2000

Appears in:

177 charts

Rank Score:

1,520

Rank in 2000:

23

Rank in 2000s:

184

Overall Rank:

1,169

Average Rating:

 79 (318 votes)

Comments:

24

20. (21) 1

The Milk-Eyed Mender 

 Joanna Newsom

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"This is unlike the story it was written to be, I was riding its back when it used to ride me. We were galloping manic to the mouth of the source, we were swallowing panic in the face of its force."

While not as ambitious and epic as Ys, The Milk Eyed Mender feels like a sweeter, more sincere album.

Favourite Tracks: Peach Plum Pear, Bridges And Balloons, Sprout And The Bean, Clam Crab Cockle Cowrie, Sadie [First added to this chart: 12/19/2016]

Year of Release:

2004

Appears in:

317 charts

Rank Score:

2,712

Rank in 2004:

11

Rank in 2000s:

104

Overall Rank:

662

Average Rating:

 80 (357 votes)

Comments:

17

22. (16) 6

Illinois 

 Sufjan Stevens

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"Tuesday night at the Bible study, we lift our hands and pray over your body, but nothing ever happens."

This is an album that is inseparable from my memories of it: I first listened to it during what would have to have been the best week of my life, and it will always bring me back to that.

First listen February 2017

Favourite Tracks: Concerning The UFO Sighting Near Highland Illinois, Casimir Pulaski Day, The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades is Out to Get Us!, Go! Chicago! Go! Yeah!, Come On! Feel The Illinoise!, John Wayne Gacy Jr. [First added to this chart: 03/04/2017]

Year of Release:

2005

Appears in:

1,598 charts

Rank Score:

23,045

Rank in 2005:

1

Rank in 2000s:

5

Overall Rank:

42

Average Rating:

 86 (1,851 votes)

Comments:

166

29. (=)

Turn On The Bright Lights 

 Interpol

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"Yours is the only version of my desertion that I could ever subscribe to. That is all that I can do."

Favourite Tracks: Obstacle 1, Untitled, PDA, Say Hello To The Angels, Hands Away, NYC [First added to this chart: 05/26/2018]

Year of Release:

2002

Appears in:

1,251 charts

Rank Score:

14,940

Rank in 2002:

2

Rank in 2000s:

9

Overall Rank:

88

Average Rating:

 84 (1,578 votes)

Comments:

127

30. (=)

Yankee Hotel Foxtrot 

 Wilco

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"You were right about the stars; each one is a setting sun."

Favourite tracks: Jesus Etc, I Am Trying To Break Your Heart, Poor Places, Radio Cure, Ashes Of American Flags [First added to this chart: 07/04/2016]

Year of Release:

2002

Appears in:

1,637 charts

Rank Score:

20,573

Rank in 2002:

1

Rank in 2000s:

6

Overall Rank:

48

Average Rating:

 85 (1,914 votes)

Comments:

172

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:

41,762

Rank in 2004:

1

Rank in 2000s:

3

Overall Rank:

15

Average Rating:

 88 (3,599 votes)

Comments:

400

41. (39) 2

You Forgot It In People 

 Broken Social Scene

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"Used to be one of the rotten ones, and I liked you for that."

The string of songs from Looks Just Like The Sun to Cause = Time is pretty much perfect. Not to say the rest of the album isn't excellent too, because it is.

Favourite Tracks: Cause = Time, Anthems For A Seventeen Year-Old Girl, Looks Just Like The Sun, Almost Crimes, Pacific Theme, Pitter Patter Goes My Heart [First added to this chart: 02/08/2017]

Year of Release:

2002

Appears in:

614 charts

Rank Score:

6,146

Rank in 2002:

6

Rank in 2000s:

46

Overall Rank:

291

Average Rating:

 83 (693 votes)

Comments:

33

42. (=)

Boxer 

 The National

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"You wouldn't want an angel watching over, surprise, surprise, they wouldn't want to watch."

Favourite Tracks: Fake Empire, Mistaken For Strangers, Slow Show, Green Gloves, Brainy [First added to this chart: 12/03/2017]

Year of Release:

2007

Appears in:

972 charts

Rank Score:

10,649

Rank in 2007:

4

Rank in 2000s:

22

Overall Rank:

141

Average Rating:

 82 (1,185 votes)

Comments:

91

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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	2	2%
Joy Division	2	2%
Miles Davis	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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• Albums with the Best Songs by Imaybeparanoid (2017)
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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

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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!!

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Rating:  

100/100

From Timooosterink 11/29/2019 10:27

nice

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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

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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.

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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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