Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by 
RoundTheBend 
Here's my old 2013 chart: http://www.besteveralbums.com/thechart.php?c=31041
In 2016 I listened to something like 1,600 albums (selected first from the top 100 of each decade on this site, but then some gems and recommendations) and reassessed what music I truly thought was good in that moment, rating them song for song and averaging out the album. I feel like I only scratched the surface in some areas while in others it was liberating discoveries. Obviously there were some reassessments of known favorites.
Along the way I discovered some prejudices with my own initial gut checks... like I thought I had to put Nevermind in my top 10 (not because of popularity, but because I thought it was a top 10 album) and maybe that is true and maybe it isn't. I realize this process is ever changing, and in 6 months it might change again, but no, I don't need to have my top 10 the gut check what "should" be in my top 10. The mathematical approach I did was both blind and at times shocking. It also wasn't perfect.
Some give me a hard time for liking my "big artists", but ever since I was 14 I kind of made this decision that I like big bands... they have great discographies, and felt other artists failed at creating something with true staying power, even if it was pretty cool for the time. Somehow my favorite aesthetic is that pop (very loose use of this term) group like Nirvana or U2 who can both appeal to the blue collar and the white collar - that sweet sour pop yet not pop, the artist who happens to play in the medium of pop, if you will... or maybe it's the pop artisan who aspires to make great art. To me great art best puts a mirror against humanity and conveys emotions and discusses ideas in powerful/meaningful ways. Great musicians are those who can do it in a beautifully tonal landscape.
I've also decided to go one artist per album on my overall. There's times when I say, why would I not put a 100 album on my list just because I want another artist on my list, who maybe really has an 80 album, then I realized at the end of this project, I wouldn't be able to fit all of my 80 or higher albums on this list... or 5 lists, so here it is 1 album per artist with the lowest score of 86.6.
Well it's 2018 now... I'm ready to revamp again (sometimes I look at it and I'm disappointed and sometimes I look at it and say, yeah, that feels about right), but this time incorporating my review of western music before 1950... WIP that probably will take a year or so... idk.
Starting to add descriptors and genre's from RYM to be a little more conscious of why I love these albums. It's a bit of unconscious competency for me sometimes. I will never use the genre's pop rock, indie rock, singer/songwriter to describe anything but garbage that doesn't have enough style to be unique. Also have decided I need to stop my stream of conscious ramblings and quote more thought out writings about albums. I usually am writing on this site after a 10 hour work day and mostly sound like incoherent ramblings than anything really constructive, even if I know better. I saw someone else do this as well and thought it a nice touch to their chart. If it's in quotes and references a user, it's not my words.
- Chart updated: 02/22/2021 03:15
- (Created: 06/02/2011 05:12).
- Chart size: 100 albums.
There are 82 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 100 Greatest Music Albums has an average rating of 88 out of 100 (from 137 votes). Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.
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Psychedelic Pop, Art Rock, Baroque Pop
surreal, melodic/soundscape palette, warm, lush
"Arguably one of the greatest achievements of the 20th century. A masterpiece of psychedelic pop rock. A legendary album that was the rare mix of revolutionary, popular, and influential all in one. Masterfully produced by the legendary George Martin... Truly a pleasure to listen to while still challenging and goose bump inducing." - glynspsa, BEA
"Hailed on its release as proof that popular music could be as rich an artistic pursuit as more high-minded media such as jazz and classical, the record's reputation and sense of ambition ushered in the album era." - Scott Plagenhoef, Pitchfork
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967): 100
Abbey Road (1969): 100
Magical Mystery Tour (1967): 95
Revolver(1966): 95
Let It Be (1970): 90
The Beatles (The White Album) (1968): 90
Rubber Soul (1965): 90
With The Beatles (1963): 90
Beatles For Sale (1964): 85
Help! (1965): 85
Please Please Me (1963): 80
A Hard Day's Night (1964): 80
Yellow Submarine (1969): 65 [First added to this chart: 12/15/2011]
surreal, melodic/soundscape palette, warm, lush
"Arguably one of the greatest achievements of the 20th century. A masterpiece of psychedelic pop rock. A legendary album that was the rare mix of revolutionary, popular, and influential all in one. Masterfully produced by the legendary George Martin... Truly a pleasure to listen to while still challenging and goose bump inducing." - glynspsa, BEA
"Hailed on its release as proof that popular music could be as rich an artistic pursuit as more high-minded media such as jazz and classical, the record's reputation and sense of ambition ushered in the album era." - Scott Plagenhoef, Pitchfork
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967): 100
Abbey Road (1969): 100
Magical Mystery Tour (1967): 95
Revolver(1966): 95
Let It Be (1970): 90
The Beatles (The White Album) (1968): 90
Rubber Soul (1965): 90
With The Beatles (1963): 90
Beatles For Sale (1964): 85
Help! (1965): 85
Please Please Me (1963): 80
A Hard Day's Night (1964): 80
Yellow Submarine (1969): 65 [First added to this chart: 12/15/2011]
Year of Release:
1967
Appears in:
Rank Score:
45,054
Rank in 1967:
Rank in 1960s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
491
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Art Rock, Alternative, Math Rock
lush, melancholic, introspective, bittersweet
"At a time when studio production and overdubbing has the ability to make sound bigger than it actually is, the magic of creating a full and immersive sound that seems greater than the sum of it's parts seems to be something that is taken for granted.
But, to watch Radiohead play this album live (For example, on their live from the basement video) is pretty amazing. The full and encompassing amount of sound produced by just these 5 guys and their instruments is pretty incredible." - Lastings, BEA
I too felt giddy at this release like nothing I've been giddy about since the late 90s/early 2000s and nothing else since: (full disclosure I wasn't there at the release, but when 15 Step first dropped... I was as giddy as I was at other album release parties... I was just late to it):
"Like many music lovers of a certain age, I have a lot of warm memories tied up with release days. I miss the simple ritual of making time to buy a record. I also miss listening to something special for the first time and imagining, against reason, the rest of the world holed up in their respective bedrooms, having the same experience. Before last Wednesday, I can't remember the last time I had that feeling. I also can't remember the last time I woke up voluntarily at 6 a.m. either, but like hundreds of thousands of other people around the world, there I was, sat at my computer, headphones on, groggy, but awake, and hitting play." - Marke Pytlik, Pitchfork
In Rainbows (2007): 100
Kid A (2000): 97.5
OK Computer (1997): 96.6
The Bends (1995): 94.5
The King Of Limbs (2011): 91.8
Amnesiac (2001): 90.9
Hail To The Thief (2003): 90.7
A Moon Shaped Pool (2016): 90
Pablo Honey (1993): 71.6 [First added to this chart: 06/01/2011]
lush, melancholic, introspective, bittersweet
"At a time when studio production and overdubbing has the ability to make sound bigger than it actually is, the magic of creating a full and immersive sound that seems greater than the sum of it's parts seems to be something that is taken for granted.
But, to watch Radiohead play this album live (For example, on their live from the basement video) is pretty amazing. The full and encompassing amount of sound produced by just these 5 guys and their instruments is pretty incredible." - Lastings, BEA
I too felt giddy at this release like nothing I've been giddy about since the late 90s/early 2000s and nothing else since: (full disclosure I wasn't there at the release, but when 15 Step first dropped... I was as giddy as I was at other album release parties... I was just late to it):
"Like many music lovers of a certain age, I have a lot of warm memories tied up with release days. I miss the simple ritual of making time to buy a record. I also miss listening to something special for the first time and imagining, against reason, the rest of the world holed up in their respective bedrooms, having the same experience. Before last Wednesday, I can't remember the last time I had that feeling. I also can't remember the last time I woke up voluntarily at 6 a.m. either, but like hundreds of thousands of other people around the world, there I was, sat at my computer, headphones on, groggy, but awake, and hitting play." - Marke Pytlik, Pitchfork
In Rainbows (2007): 100
Kid A (2000): 97.5
OK Computer (1997): 96.6
The Bends (1995): 94.5
The King Of Limbs (2011): 91.8
Amnesiac (2001): 90.9
Hail To The Thief (2003): 90.7
A Moon Shaped Pool (2016): 90
Pablo Honey (1993): 71.6 [First added to this chart: 06/01/2011]
Year of Release:
2007
Appears in:
Rank Score:
45,841
Rank in 2007:
Rank in 2000s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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Blues Rock, Rock & Roll, Psychedelic Rock
rebellious, hedonistic, eclectic, conscious
I would put Some Girls or Exile On Maint St. here, but honestly feel like this is their/his best collection of songs and The Rolling Stones really aren't album oriented rock, even if Some Girls and Exile on Main St. are near solid.
What I love about this album is how it takes us chronologically through their career in the 60s and captures really key performances during times when their albums nearly sucked, but some key early blues performances showed the diamond in the rough. It also really encapsulates to me what my father and those in his generation loved about this band. Side note: my father and his brother were at Altamont and this band is a big part of my family. More importantly - damn are these performances good.
Hot Rocks 1964-1971 1971 97.3
Some Girls 1978 89.5
Exile On Main St. 1972 88.8
Sticky Fingers 1971 85.5
Beggars Banquet 1968 85
Let It Bleed 1969 85
Tattoo You 1981 81.8
A Bigger Bang 2005 77.5
It's Only Rock 'N' Roll 1974 77
Out Of Our Heads 1965 75
Aftermath 1966 70
Between The Buttons 1967 70
The Rolling Stones No. 2 1965 65
Their Satanic Majesties Request 1967 60
Steel Wheels 1989 60
Black And Blue 1976 56.2 [First added to this chart: 06/01/2011]
rebellious, hedonistic, eclectic, conscious
I would put Some Girls or Exile On Maint St. here, but honestly feel like this is their/his best collection of songs and The Rolling Stones really aren't album oriented rock, even if Some Girls and Exile on Main St. are near solid.
What I love about this album is how it takes us chronologically through their career in the 60s and captures really key performances during times when their albums nearly sucked, but some key early blues performances showed the diamond in the rough. It also really encapsulates to me what my father and those in his generation loved about this band. Side note: my father and his brother were at Altamont and this band is a big part of my family. More importantly - damn are these performances good.
Hot Rocks 1964-1971 1971 97.3
Some Girls 1978 89.5
Exile On Main St. 1972 88.8
Sticky Fingers 1971 85.5
Beggars Banquet 1968 85
Let It Bleed 1969 85
Tattoo You 1981 81.8
A Bigger Bang 2005 77.5
It's Only Rock 'N' Roll 1974 77
Out Of Our Heads 1965 75
Aftermath 1966 70
Between The Buttons 1967 70
The Rolling Stones No. 2 1965 65
Their Satanic Majesties Request 1967 60
Steel Wheels 1989 60
Black And Blue 1976 56.2 [First added to this chart: 06/01/2011]
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Art Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Space Rock
philosophical, atmospheric, mellow, introspective
It's concise and intriguing the whole time. No meandering.
"By condensing the sonic explorations of Meddle to actual songs and adding a lush, immaculate production to their trippiest instrumental sections, Pink Floyd inadvertently designed their commercial breakthrough with Dark Side of the Moon. The primary revelation of Dark Side of the Moon is what a little focus does for the band. Roger Waters wrote a series of songs about mundane, everyday details which aren't that impressive by themselves, but when given the sonic backdrop of Floyd's slow, atmospheric soundscapes and carefully placed sound effects, they achieve an emotional resonance. But what gives the album true power is the subtly textured music, which evolves from ponderous, neo-psychedelic art rock to jazz fusion and blues-rock before turning back to psychedelia. It's dense with detail, but leisurely paced, creating its own dark, haunting world." -Stephen Thomas Erlewine, AllMusic
The Dark Side Of The Moon 1973 97
The Wall 1979 91.9
Meddle 1971 88.3
Atom Heart Mother 1970 87
Wish You Were Here 1975 86
The Final Cut 1983 85
The Endless River 2014 79
A Momentary Lapse Of Reason 1987 78.5
The Division Bell 1994 75
Animals 1977 73
The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn 1967 70
A Saucerful Of Secrets 1968 65
Ummagumma 1969 [First added to this chart: 02/03/2012]
philosophical, atmospheric, mellow, introspective
It's concise and intriguing the whole time. No meandering.
"By condensing the sonic explorations of Meddle to actual songs and adding a lush, immaculate production to their trippiest instrumental sections, Pink Floyd inadvertently designed their commercial breakthrough with Dark Side of the Moon. The primary revelation of Dark Side of the Moon is what a little focus does for the band. Roger Waters wrote a series of songs about mundane, everyday details which aren't that impressive by themselves, but when given the sonic backdrop of Floyd's slow, atmospheric soundscapes and carefully placed sound effects, they achieve an emotional resonance. But what gives the album true power is the subtly textured music, which evolves from ponderous, neo-psychedelic art rock to jazz fusion and blues-rock before turning back to psychedelia. It's dense with detail, but leisurely paced, creating its own dark, haunting world." -Stephen Thomas Erlewine, AllMusic
The Dark Side Of The Moon 1973 97
The Wall 1979 91.9
Meddle 1971 88.3
Atom Heart Mother 1970 87
Wish You Were Here 1975 86
The Final Cut 1983 85
The Endless River 2014 79
A Momentary Lapse Of Reason 1987 78.5
The Division Bell 1994 75
Animals 1977 73
The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn 1967 70
A Saucerful Of Secrets 1968 65
Ummagumma 1969 [First added to this chart: 02/03/2012]
Year of Release:
1973
Appears in:
Rank Score:
62,965
Rank in 1973:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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Art Pop, Chamber Pop, Art Rock
lush, triumphant, melodic/soundscape palette, warm
I know Coldplay is cringe-worthy, but this album is just fantastic to me. It probably is Brian Eno's fault. I really like the textures developed here.
"There's all manners of layered percussion, a lot more emphasis is placed on atmospheric texture courtesy of Brian Eno and Jon Hopkins (with the former producing and the latter guest featuring), an electronic flair rears its head from time to time and off-the-cuff instruments like sitar and yanqqin make appearances in a way that sounds like the band just got into a studio containing every instrument ever created. There's a lot more experimentation within the songwriting too. Songs aren't afraid to take sudden twists in mood or tempo within themselves ("42" makes this the song's entire point), there's a lot more build-up intros and outros that the band normally would have chopped and occasionally you even hear whole new, unexpected elements like the sudden shoegaze blast of "Chinese Sleep Chant". The instrumental opener "Life in Technicolor" sounds like it could have been a big pop moment had it been fleshed out into a full song, and then you learn that it was intentionally stripped of its vocals in order to avoid taking that easy route." - FlintGF, RYM
"Gone are Chris Martin's piano recitals and gone are the washes of meticulously majestic guitar, replaced by orchestrations of sound, sometimes literally consisting of strings but usually a tapestry of synthesizers, percussion, organs, electronics, and guitars that avoid playing riffs. Gone too are simpering schoolboy ballads like "Fix You," and along with them the soaring melodies designed to fill arenas. In fact, there are no insistent hooks to be found anywhere on Viva la Vida, and there are no clear singles in this collection of insinuatingly ingratiating songs. This reliance on elliptical melodies isn't off-putting -- alienation is alien to Coldplay -- and this is where Eno's guidance pays off, as he helps sculpt Viva la Vida to work as a musical whole, where there are long stretches of instrumentals and where only "Strawberry Swing," with its light, gently infectious melody and insistent rhythmic pulse, breaks from the album's appealingly meditative murk. Whatever iciness there is to the sound of Viva la Vida is warmed by Martin's voice, but the music is by design an heir to the earnest British art rock of '80s Peter Gabriel and U2 -- arty enough to convey sober intelligence without seeming snobby, the kind of album that deserves to take its title from Frida Kahlo and album art from Eugene Delacroix. That Delacroix painting depicts the French Revolution, so it does fit that Martin tones down his relentless self-obsession -- the songs aren't heavy on lyrics and some are shockingly written in character -- which is a development as welcome as the expanded sonic palette. Martin's refined writing topics may be outpaced by the band's guided adventure, but they're both indicative that Coldplay are desperate to not just strive for the title of great band -- a title they seem to believe that they're to the manor born -- but to actually burrow into the explorative work of creating music. And so the greatest thing Coldplay may have learned from Eno is his work ethic, as they demonstrate a focused concentration throughout this tight album -- it's only 47 minutes yet covers more ground than X&Y and arguably A Rush of Blood to the Head -- that turns Viva la Vida into something quietly satisfying." - Stephen Thomas Erlewin, AllMusic
Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends (2008): 99
Parachutes (2000): 93.5
A Rush Of Blood To The Head (2002): 90.4
X&Y (2005): 84
Mylo Xyloto (2011): 81.5
Ghost Stories (2014): 79.9
Prospekt's March (2008): 70
A Head Full Of Dreams (2015): 70
Kaleidoscope EP (2017): 70 [First added to this chart: 06/01/2011]
lush, triumphant, melodic/soundscape palette, warm
I know Coldplay is cringe-worthy, but this album is just fantastic to me. It probably is Brian Eno's fault. I really like the textures developed here.
"There's all manners of layered percussion, a lot more emphasis is placed on atmospheric texture courtesy of Brian Eno and Jon Hopkins (with the former producing and the latter guest featuring), an electronic flair rears its head from time to time and off-the-cuff instruments like sitar and yanqqin make appearances in a way that sounds like the band just got into a studio containing every instrument ever created. There's a lot more experimentation within the songwriting too. Songs aren't afraid to take sudden twists in mood or tempo within themselves ("42" makes this the song's entire point), there's a lot more build-up intros and outros that the band normally would have chopped and occasionally you even hear whole new, unexpected elements like the sudden shoegaze blast of "Chinese Sleep Chant". The instrumental opener "Life in Technicolor" sounds like it could have been a big pop moment had it been fleshed out into a full song, and then you learn that it was intentionally stripped of its vocals in order to avoid taking that easy route." - FlintGF, RYM
"Gone are Chris Martin's piano recitals and gone are the washes of meticulously majestic guitar, replaced by orchestrations of sound, sometimes literally consisting of strings but usually a tapestry of synthesizers, percussion, organs, electronics, and guitars that avoid playing riffs. Gone too are simpering schoolboy ballads like "Fix You," and along with them the soaring melodies designed to fill arenas. In fact, there are no insistent hooks to be found anywhere on Viva la Vida, and there are no clear singles in this collection of insinuatingly ingratiating songs. This reliance on elliptical melodies isn't off-putting -- alienation is alien to Coldplay -- and this is where Eno's guidance pays off, as he helps sculpt Viva la Vida to work as a musical whole, where there are long stretches of instrumentals and where only "Strawberry Swing," with its light, gently infectious melody and insistent rhythmic pulse, breaks from the album's appealingly meditative murk. Whatever iciness there is to the sound of Viva la Vida is warmed by Martin's voice, but the music is by design an heir to the earnest British art rock of '80s Peter Gabriel and U2 -- arty enough to convey sober intelligence without seeming snobby, the kind of album that deserves to take its title from Frida Kahlo and album art from Eugene Delacroix. That Delacroix painting depicts the French Revolution, so it does fit that Martin tones down his relentless self-obsession -- the songs aren't heavy on lyrics and some are shockingly written in character -- which is a development as welcome as the expanded sonic palette. Martin's refined writing topics may be outpaced by the band's guided adventure, but they're both indicative that Coldplay are desperate to not just strive for the title of great band -- a title they seem to believe that they're to the manor born -- but to actually burrow into the explorative work of creating music. And so the greatest thing Coldplay may have learned from Eno is his work ethic, as they demonstrate a focused concentration throughout this tight album -- it's only 47 minutes yet covers more ground than X&Y and arguably A Rush of Blood to the Head -- that turns Viva la Vida into something quietly satisfying." - Stephen Thomas Erlewin, AllMusic
Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends (2008): 99
Parachutes (2000): 93.5
A Rush Of Blood To The Head (2002): 90.4
X&Y (2005): 84
Mylo Xyloto (2011): 81.5
Ghost Stories (2014): 79.9
Prospekt's March (2008): 70
A Head Full Of Dreams (2015): 70
Kaleidoscope EP (2017): 70 [First added to this chart: 06/01/2011]
Year of Release:
2008
Appears in:
Rank Score:
5,094
Rank in 2008:
Rank in 2000s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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Chamber Pop, Art Rock, Alternative
warm, poetic, lush, introspective
Dude's voice is quite possibly the best in all of music. And I'm not even kidding. Love the fuzz bass. Love the dynamic musical range. Love the musical and emotional journey I go on when I listen to this album and I don't feel that way about a few songs, rather the whole album.
"Creative, intelligent, articulate, entertaining...
I bought this on recommendation and I understand that this set won the 2008 Mercury prize. The winning of this prize usually means artistic, creative and generally interesting. In my view all these attributes fit. Elbow offer understated, mature music, capped off with great and original lyrics. The arrangements are also highly interesting." - corkie, RYM
As anyone who knows me, knows that I find cathartic art nearly the most powerful - the stuff that really mirrors humanity:
"Sometimes an album leaps out at me from an act's discography and captures 'the moment' for me. The Seldom Seen Kid has been that album through the first few months of 2009. It's not like Elbow have reinvented their sound to appeal to a mass audience, they've just honed their craft to a point where their songs tap into a part of my psyche where as I listen to this album it can at various points stop me in my tracks as I fight to hide my emotions and mutter, "Yeah man, I've been there..." to myself." - p_q, RYM
The Seldom Seen Kid 2008 96.8
Little Fictions 2017 90
Cast Of Thousands 2003 86.3
Build A Rocket Boys! 2011 85.4
Leaders Of The Free World 2005 84
The Take Off and Landing of Everything 2014 80
Asleep In The Back 2001 79 [First added to this chart: 06/01/2011]
warm, poetic, lush, introspective
Dude's voice is quite possibly the best in all of music. And I'm not even kidding. Love the fuzz bass. Love the dynamic musical range. Love the musical and emotional journey I go on when I listen to this album and I don't feel that way about a few songs, rather the whole album.
"Creative, intelligent, articulate, entertaining...
I bought this on recommendation and I understand that this set won the 2008 Mercury prize. The winning of this prize usually means artistic, creative and generally interesting. In my view all these attributes fit. Elbow offer understated, mature music, capped off with great and original lyrics. The arrangements are also highly interesting." - corkie, RYM
As anyone who knows me, knows that I find cathartic art nearly the most powerful - the stuff that really mirrors humanity:
"Sometimes an album leaps out at me from an act's discography and captures 'the moment' for me. The Seldom Seen Kid has been that album through the first few months of 2009. It's not like Elbow have reinvented their sound to appeal to a mass audience, they've just honed their craft to a point where their songs tap into a part of my psyche where as I listen to this album it can at various points stop me in my tracks as I fight to hide my emotions and mutter, "Yeah man, I've been there..." to myself." - p_q, RYM
The Seldom Seen Kid 2008 96.8
Little Fictions 2017 90
Cast Of Thousands 2003 86.3
Build A Rocket Boys! 2011 85.4
Leaders Of The Free World 2005 84
The Take Off and Landing of Everything 2014 80
Asleep In The Back 2001 79 [First added to this chart: 06/01/2011]
Year of Release:
2008
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,186
Rank in 2008:
Rank in 2000s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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Art Rock, Symphonic Prog, Space Rock
apocalyptic, passionate, political, eclectic
"While I disagree Muse just stole other's musical identities (Bellamy's vocals sound nothing like Freddie Mercury or Thom Yorke, but yes, they are all great singers), this review captures a lot of what makes this album great: "Though some may still consider them Radiohead mimics, obviously Muse continues to strike a nerve with their alternative hard rock audience, here releasing their third album of heavy guitars, haunted harmonics, and paranoid musings in Absolution. Frontman Matt Bellamy and company stick to the same disturbed, and sometimes disturbing, formula that's worked in the past: the emotional intensity and style of Radiohead, a rock thunder descended from Black Sabbath, and the baroque drama of Queen. Longtime producer John Leckie sits this one out, and in steps indie über-engineer Rich Costey. With Costey manning the desk, the music feels more polished and slick, but less epic and raw. Longtime fans won't miss a beat though, because Bellamy delivers the same Thom Yorke vocal impersonation for which he's known, and continues the same anthemic posturing he's lifted from Freddie Mercury. With song titles and subject matter fueled by fear of the apocalypse and worries about infidelities and random murders, the subject matter is as gloriously pretentious and lovably unlovable as ever. Newcomers to the band should expect killer guitars reminiscent of jackhammers and chainsaws, bloodcurdling choruses, and of course, tender passages of falsetto. A recurring motif of racing samplers suggests nothing less than a rock opera version of the score to Koyaanisqatsi, and then there are the occasional spooky moments where funky rhythms mingle with heavy metal guitars, suggesting a progressive Italian zombie flick soundtrack. There's little point in selecting highlights, because other than some slow moments that feel tacked on, there's not much variation in theme or mood. Many listeners will probably prefer to tackle the album in small doses, and only the most headstrong won't require a breather. Muse continues to make unrelenting hardcore art rock; Absolution is a tad cheesy, a bit too grandiose in its ambitions, bursting at the seams with too many ideas, and thus exactly what any Muse fan craves." - Tim DiGravina, AllMusic
The classical influences in this album totally got me. I realize Muse often is formulaic in their songwriting and sometimes seem to have a lacking emotional depth, yet at the same time sometimes have an incredible emotional and musical depth most artists haven't even come close to.
Absolution 2003 96
Black Holes And Revelations 2006 94
The Resistance 2009 93.6
Origin Of Symmetry 2001 92.2
Showbiz 1999 87.5
The 2nd Law 2012 87.6
Drones 2015 87.5 [First added to this chart: 12/15/2011]
apocalyptic, passionate, political, eclectic
"While I disagree Muse just stole other's musical identities (Bellamy's vocals sound nothing like Freddie Mercury or Thom Yorke, but yes, they are all great singers), this review captures a lot of what makes this album great: "Though some may still consider them Radiohead mimics, obviously Muse continues to strike a nerve with their alternative hard rock audience, here releasing their third album of heavy guitars, haunted harmonics, and paranoid musings in Absolution. Frontman Matt Bellamy and company stick to the same disturbed, and sometimes disturbing, formula that's worked in the past: the emotional intensity and style of Radiohead, a rock thunder descended from Black Sabbath, and the baroque drama of Queen. Longtime producer John Leckie sits this one out, and in steps indie über-engineer Rich Costey. With Costey manning the desk, the music feels more polished and slick, but less epic and raw. Longtime fans won't miss a beat though, because Bellamy delivers the same Thom Yorke vocal impersonation for which he's known, and continues the same anthemic posturing he's lifted from Freddie Mercury. With song titles and subject matter fueled by fear of the apocalypse and worries about infidelities and random murders, the subject matter is as gloriously pretentious and lovably unlovable as ever. Newcomers to the band should expect killer guitars reminiscent of jackhammers and chainsaws, bloodcurdling choruses, and of course, tender passages of falsetto. A recurring motif of racing samplers suggests nothing less than a rock opera version of the score to Koyaanisqatsi, and then there are the occasional spooky moments where funky rhythms mingle with heavy metal guitars, suggesting a progressive Italian zombie flick soundtrack. There's little point in selecting highlights, because other than some slow moments that feel tacked on, there's not much variation in theme or mood. Many listeners will probably prefer to tackle the album in small doses, and only the most headstrong won't require a breather. Muse continues to make unrelenting hardcore art rock; Absolution is a tad cheesy, a bit too grandiose in its ambitions, bursting at the seams with too many ideas, and thus exactly what any Muse fan craves." - Tim DiGravina, AllMusic
The classical influences in this album totally got me. I realize Muse often is formulaic in their songwriting and sometimes seem to have a lacking emotional depth, yet at the same time sometimes have an incredible emotional and musical depth most artists haven't even come close to.
Absolution 2003 96
Black Holes And Revelations 2006 94
The Resistance 2009 93.6
Origin Of Symmetry 2001 92.2
Showbiz 1999 87.5
The 2nd Law 2012 87.6
Drones 2015 87.5 [First added to this chart: 12/15/2011]
Year of Release:
2003
Appears in:
Rank Score:
8,101
Rank in 2003:
Rank in 2000s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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Hard Rock, Blues Rock
hedonistic, sensual, rhythmic, passionate
Led Zeppelin II has been called, and held responsible for, many things. From the birth of heavy metal and the first example of a shredding guitar solo to the end of The Beatles reign as Kings of the music world. Far more consistent in quality than most peoples preferred choice of IV Led Zep II is the album that perfectly blends all of their styles. There is plenty of blues, and more original blues too, than on the first album. There is the sheer power of hard rock and yet there is still plenty of hippy folkiness and sixties ideology on offer too." - MartinLeedham, RYM
Led Zeppelin II 1969 95
Led Zeppelin 1969 90
Led Zeppelin IV 1971 89.3
Houses Of The Holy 1973 87.5
Led Zeppelin III 1970 87
Physical Graffiti 1975 80
Coda 1982 77
Presence 1976 70 [First added to this chart: 06/01/2011]
hedonistic, sensual, rhythmic, passionate
Led Zeppelin II has been called, and held responsible for, many things. From the birth of heavy metal and the first example of a shredding guitar solo to the end of The Beatles reign as Kings of the music world. Far more consistent in quality than most peoples preferred choice of IV Led Zep II is the album that perfectly blends all of their styles. There is plenty of blues, and more original blues too, than on the first album. There is the sheer power of hard rock and yet there is still plenty of hippy folkiness and sixties ideology on offer too." - MartinLeedham, RYM
Led Zeppelin II 1969 95
Led Zeppelin 1969 90
Led Zeppelin IV 1971 89.3
Houses Of The Holy 1973 87.5
Led Zeppelin III 1970 87
Physical Graffiti 1975 80
Coda 1982 77
Presence 1976 70 [First added to this chart: 06/01/2011]
Year of Release:
1969
Appears in:
Rank Score:
21,575
Rank in 1969:
Rank in 1960s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
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Psychedelic Pop, Folk Pop, Baroque Pop
warm, eclectic, mellow, medieval
" Donovan's Greatest Hits is the Psychadelic equivalent of a nuclear weapon, so much awesomeness in one album should be illegal. Donovan took his excellent songwriting compositions and covered them in burning, lambent, psychedelic washes of fantastic sound and made some really amazing songs. And this is the most complete chronicle of them. This album is a must own if for no other reason than pairing Season Of The Witch with Hurdy Gurdy man." -DarthKarl, RYM
I would put here Hurdy Gurdy Man or Sunshine Superman here, but honestly feel like this is his best collection of songs. I know Greatest Hits/compilations are given a hard time on BEA, but if I have one album to represent this artist, this is it.
Donovan's Greatest Hits Donovan 1969 5 95
Sunshine Superman Donovan 1966 7 80
The Hurdy Gurdy Man Donovan 1968 14 80
A Gift from a Flower to a Garden Donovan 1967 75
Mellow Yellow Donovan 1967 34 60 [First added to this chart: 06/01/2011]
warm, eclectic, mellow, medieval
" Donovan's Greatest Hits is the Psychadelic equivalent of a nuclear weapon, so much awesomeness in one album should be illegal. Donovan took his excellent songwriting compositions and covered them in burning, lambent, psychedelic washes of fantastic sound and made some really amazing songs. And this is the most complete chronicle of them. This album is a must own if for no other reason than pairing Season Of The Witch with Hurdy Gurdy man." -DarthKarl, RYM
I would put here Hurdy Gurdy Man or Sunshine Superman here, but honestly feel like this is his best collection of songs. I know Greatest Hits/compilations are given a hard time on BEA, but if I have one album to represent this artist, this is it.
Donovan's Greatest Hits Donovan 1969 5 95
Sunshine Superman Donovan 1966 7 80
The Hurdy Gurdy Man Donovan 1968 14 80
A Gift from a Flower to a Garden Donovan 1967 75
Mellow Yellow Donovan 1967 34 60 [First added to this chart: 06/01/2011]
Buy album
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Sophisti-Pop, Jangle Pop, Pop Soul
sarcastic, satirical, bittersweet, pessimistic [First added to this chart: 07/08/2016]
sarcastic, satirical, bittersweet, pessimistic [First added to this chart: 07/08/2016]
Total albums: 21. Page 1 of 3
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums composition
| Decade | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| 1930s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1940s | 1 | 1% | |
| 1950s | 6 | 6% | |
| 1960s | 17 | 17% | |
| 1970s | 10 | 10% | |
| 1980s | 16 | 16% | |
| 1990s | 19 | 19% | |
| 2000s | 26 | 26% | |
| 2010s | 5 | 5% | |
| 2020s | 0 | 0% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
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|
 |
|
|
| Igor Stravinsky / Columbia Symphony Orchestra | 1 | 1% | |
| Foo Fighters | 1 | 1% | |
| The Beach Boys | 1 | 1% | |
| The Rolling Stones | 1 | 1% | |
| The Cure | 1 | 1% | |
| Talking Heads | 1 | 1% | |
| Bob Dylan | 1 | 1% | |
| Show all | |||
| Country | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
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67 | 67% | |
 |
21 | 21% | |
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3 | 3% | |
 |
2 | 2% | |
 |
2 | 2% | |
 |
1 | 1% | |
 |
1 | 1% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums chart changes
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums similar charts
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| Best Album per Year | RoundTheBend | Custom chart | 2022 | |
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums ratings
88/100 (from 137 votes)
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.
Showing latest 5 ratings for this chart. | Show all 137 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
75/100  | 03/27/2025 15:52 | DrewHamster | | 79/100 |
90/100 | 11/15/2024 19:22 | StreakyNuno | | 82/100 |
100/100 | 04/05/2024 10:52 |  spigelwii | | 100/100 |
95/100 | 05/25/2021 09:27 | BlueNote | | 74/100 |
 100/100 | 02/17/2021 05:37 |  pjohnsongolf | | 89/100 |
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 87.8/100, a mean average of 87.2/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 87.9/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 11.4.
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums favourites
Showing all 12 members who have added this chart as a favourite
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums comments
Showing latest 10 comments | Show all 82 comments |
Most Helpful First | Newest First | Maximum Rated First |
Longest Comments First
(Only showing comments with -2 votes or higher. You can alter this threshold from your profile page. Manage Profile)
100/100
From spigelwii 04/05/2024 10:52
spigelwii 04/05/2024 10:52
A really incredible chart, and a shining example of what we should all be striving for on this site. Very inspirational to me as I continue to rate and review all the music that I've collected over the years.
Oh, and your choices? The first one that jumped out was Get Behind Me Satan as the best White Stripes album. You are OBVIOUSLY a person of excellent taste.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
90/100
From WillyMac 03/29/2021 14:42
Very eclectic and wide-ranging. I love your choices from the 1950s and the way you don't go overboard on the 1970s like so many charts on this site. Your inclusion of compilation albums was surprising to me... both surprising to see them, and surprisingly good choices.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
95/100
From 
EyeKanFly 01/04/2021 14:35
EyeKanFly 01/04/2021 14:35
I rated your chart 85/100 back in 2013 and I think I gotta come back and bump that up a bit. I don't personally follow the 1-album-per-artist rule and I'm also not huge on adding compilations, but the amount of thought and effort you've put into the notes for every album here really shows. One thing I love is how even though you've limited yourself to a album per artist, you've also ranked the other albums (at least for the top half or so of the chart). This gives a fuller picture of your preferences, which is really incredible. You get the best of both worlds: diversity of artists PLUS a true ranking of your favorite albums even. There's some fantastic stuff here, lot's in common but also a lot I need to revisit or check out for the first time.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
85/100
From 
ExTeaSea 11/27/2020 04:08
ExTeaSea 11/27/2020 04:08
Interesting chart! 20 artists in common. Love your notes for Mellon Collie. Some of the best notes for any album on this site. It's my all time favorite album.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
salahshoori 09/21/2020 03:52
salahshoori 09/21/2020 03:52
It's an outstanding chart. It would be a crime if I rated your chart any less than perfect.
Our tastes might differ a little and that's the way it should be, what would be the point of user charts if all the users had the same taste in music?
I don't agree with your way of rating albums though. I believe an album should be an experience as a whole. A "great" album has to be able to change your state, mentally. A collection of 10/10 songs isn't necessarily a great album IMHO.
Thanks for sharing!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
90/100
From WillyMac 08/23/2020 13:28
Hard to knock virtually any of your choices (that I've heard). Loved that you ranked other albums by the same band, and find them very different than how I would rank most of them, but appreciate that your perspective is unique. Thx.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From RoundTheBend 06/18/2020 03:15
RoundTheBend 06/18/2020 03:15
Thanks for all the kind comments. I have updated this charts comments/descriptors, etc. over the past 4 years, but not the rankings/inclusions much. I desperately need to revamp since I have a spreadsheet/took a more deliberate approach on music I like, but wasn't as pencil headed about. I'm just afraid to touch anything... haha.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
100/100
From 
Jameth 06/15/2020 19:03
Jameth 06/15/2020 19:03
I don’t think I’ve been here since last year, and I’m honestly a little stunned at all the power pop and alternative...given how much classical and jazz you seem to listen to. But hey, it’s your chart, so kick it your way.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
85/100
From 
StefanR10 06/15/2020 12:12
StefanR10 06/15/2020 12:12
Good work I like it a little bit much of compilations but ok they have great songs on it. So I gone you 85 points.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
95/100
From LankyLen 10/16/2019 11:41
Points for Mellon Collie and Graceland I’m the top 10. I can’t justify a greatest hits collection on the list though, although those songs are great.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
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| Best Artists of the 1980s | |
|---|---|
| 1. The Smiths | |
| 2. Prince | |
| 3. Pixies | |
| 4. The Cure | |
| 5. Talking Heads | |
| 6. U2 | |
| 7. Metallica | |
| 8. Kate Bush | |
| 9. R.E.M. | |
| 10. The Stone Roses | |
| 11. Sonic Youth | |
| 12. Michael Jackson | |
| 13. Bruce Springsteen | |
| 14. Iron Maiden | |
| 15. Prince And The Revolution | |
| 16. Tom Waits | |
| 17. Joy Division | |
| 18. New Order | |
| 19. Talk Talk | |
| 20. Rush |