Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by Thad 
I have listened to 1000s of albums, so here are 100 fantastic ones. Order is relevant, but to be honest, not very. How am I supposed to compare 60's tropicalia, 90s trip hop, 10s industrial hip hop, and 70s progressive rock?
I've tried to simply include albums that stand above the rest within their genre, era, region, movement etc. Once you get past that, it is very hard to compare. In my view, all of these albums are 10/10s. Not much more needs to be said.
Since some of these are a bit obscure, I'm working on adding genres so that you know if a certain album may be up your alley. Enjoy!
Short plug: if you're interested to see how these artists influence my own music, you can find it with the links below.
https://pianzhischeme.bandcamp.com
https://soundcloud.com/pianzhischeme
- Chart updated: 04/30/2020 19:45
- (Created: 07/26/2016 21:34).
- Chart size: 100 albums.
There are 41 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 100 Greatest Music Albums has an average rating of 93 out of 100 (from 72 votes). Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.
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This chart is currently filtered to only show albums from United States. (Remove this filter)
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Chamber folk, progressive folk. United States.
Joanna's finest effort. She's almost as good a poet as she is a musician. A grand medieval journey. [First added to this chart: 03/07/2019]
Joanna's finest effort. She's almost as good a poet as she is a musician. A grand medieval journey. [First added to this chart: 03/07/2019]
Year of Release:
2006
Appears in:
Rank Score:
8,820
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Comments:
87
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Avant garde jazz, third stream. United States.
It's easy to see why Mingus has been very influential to artists outside of jazz. [First added to this chart: 03/27/2018]
It's easy to see why Mingus has been very influential to artists outside of jazz. [First added to this chart: 03/27/2018]
Year of Release:
1963
Appears in:
Rank Score:
13,264
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Industrial hip hop, glitch hop. United States.
You think you know me... [First added to this chart: 03/07/2019]
You think you know me... [First added to this chart: 03/07/2019]
Year of Release:
2018
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,179
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Experimental folk, jazz folk. United States.
The cover art for this album does as bad a job at describing its sound as any album art ever has. Not your mother's singer-songwriter, but she could be fooled at the record store. [First added to this chart: 03/10/2019]
The cover art for this album does as bad a job at describing its sound as any album art ever has. Not your mother's singer-songwriter, but she could be fooled at the record store. [First added to this chart: 03/10/2019]
Year of Release:
1970
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,867
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Indie rock, post-hardcore. United States.
Man, I've always loved this album, but since I've moved to the Pacific Northwest I just connect to it more and more. [First added to this chart: 07/26/2016]
Man, I've always loved this album, but since I've moved to the Pacific Northwest I just connect to it more and more. [First added to this chart: 07/26/2016]
Year of Release:
1997
Appears in:
Rank Score:
8,168
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Third stream, modern classical. United States.
The viking of sixth avenue. Residents of New York thought he was a crazed homeless man wearing costumes. No, just a genius. [First added to this chart: 12/15/2019]
The viking of sixth avenue. Residents of New York thought he was a crazed homeless man wearing costumes. No, just a genius. [First added to this chart: 12/15/2019]
Year of Release:
1969
Appears in:
Rank Score:
968
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Jazz fusion, psychedelic jazz. United States.
[First added to this chart: 02/27/2018]
Year of Release:
1970
Appears in:
Rank Score:
9,464
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Noise pop, psychedelic folk. United States.
What's the difference between psychedelic and freak folk, you ask? Nothing, its arbitrary and no one asked that! But I think listening to this album and then the one above it kinda gives you an answer, if you were really wondering. [First added to this chart: 12/13/2016]
What's the difference between psychedelic and freak folk, you ask? Nothing, its arbitrary and no one asked that! But I think listening to this album and then the one above it kinda gives you an answer, if you were really wondering. [First added to this chart: 12/13/2016]
Year of Release:
2005
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,026
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Minimalism, modern classical. United States.
Maybe a bit pretentious, but only if you write off ambient music in the first place. [First added to this chart: 09/24/2019]
Maybe a bit pretentious, but only if you write off ambient music in the first place. [First added to this chart: 09/24/2019]
Year of Release:
1978
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,147
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Modal jazz, post-bop. United States.
[First added to this chart: 12/15/2019]
Year of Release:
1966
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,200
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Total albums: 28. Page 1 of 3
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums composition
| Decade | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|
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| 1930s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1940s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1950s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1960s | 15 | 15% | |
| 1970s | 24 | 24% | |
| 1980s | 7 | 7% | |
| 1990s | 19 | 19% | |
| 2000s | 24 | 24% | |
| 2010s | 11 | 11% | |
| 2020s | 0 | 0% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
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|
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|
|
| 공중도둑 [Mid-Air Thief] | 1 | 1% | |
| Pescado Rabioso | 1 | 1% | |
| Popol Vuh (DE) | 1 | 1% | |
| Jenny Hval | 1 | 1% | |
| Quasimoto | 1 | 1% | |
| The Moody Blues | 1 | 1% | |
| Charles Mingus | 1 | 1% | |
| Show all | |||
| Country | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
28 | 28% | |
 |
17 | 17% | |
 |
7 | 7% | |
 |
7 | 7% | |
 |
7 | 7% | |
 |
4 | 4% | |
 |
3 | 3% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums chart changes
There have been no changes to this chart.Top 100 Greatest Music Albums similar charts
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums ratings
93/100 (from 72 votes)
where:
av = trimmed mean average rating an item has currently received.
n = number of ratings an item has currently received.
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Showing latest 5 ratings for this chart. | Show all 72 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
90/100  | 02/09/2025 18:06 | Johnnyo | | 80/100 |
100/100 | 01/15/2025 16:21 | Exist-en-ciel | | 99/100 |
100/100 | 01/10/2025 13:51 | DrewHamster | | 79/100 |
70/100 | 07/13/2022 08:50 |  Applerill | | 75/100 |
100/100 | 12/12/2021 18:23 |  AvalancheGrips | | 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).
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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 93.3/100, a mean average of 93.4/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 94.4/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 7.2.
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums comments
Showing latest 10 comments | Show all 41 comments |
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90/100
From Johnnyo 02/09/2025 18:07
Really great chart. Like it an awful lot. Some outstanding pick here
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
90/100
From 
sssvnnn 11/06/2020 20:22
sssvnnn 11/06/2020 20:22
Very good chart. Very well composed: A big variety of nations, styles, centuries… a lot of intense albums.
I´m sorry to say that there are too many albums that I don´t like to rate higher, but anyway: Well done.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
90/100
From 
StefanR10 07/18/2020 21:00
StefanR10 07/18/2020 21:00
Interesting chart with some outliners and well known artist but most of them I know. And maybe there could be the Beatles or the doors.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
100/100
From 
doubleA 03/24/2020 07:54
doubleA 03/24/2020 07:54
Stuff from all corners of the world, I love it! Immediately jumped into Kagayaki as you told me. There's tons to learn from this chart, what an excitement to behold!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
100/100
From 
revolver94 01/14/2020 20:03
revolver94 01/14/2020 20:03
thank you Thad! so glad i was able to get you into jenny hval, she's probably my all-time favorite artist. off of my chart i'd also recommend lydia ainsworth, still art pop but more on the pop side of things (relative to hval anyway lol). susanne sundfor is another one to check out
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
Rockdrigo 12/21/2019 03:22
Rockdrigo 12/21/2019 03:22
Metá Metá's style is best described as Vanguarda Paulista (or Candomblé Music with a healthy mix of art rock, art punk, afrobeat, samba, jazz rock, math rock, experimental rock and jazz; all but samba-jazz, which is reserved for particularly jazzy bossa nova).
Similarly to No Wave, the original early 80s Vanguarda Paulista artists were a scene of associated experimental musicians who in retrospective are referred to as a sub-genre of their own. Our current decade's revival of the genre has been championed by Metá Metá and their own associates, so the genre now sounds a lot like the group's genres of preference (notably Candomblé Music). Their singer Juçara Marçal's “Encarnado” and Elza Soares' “A Mulher Do Fim Do Mundo” are two good albums to follow.
On another note, if you liked “El Jardín De Los Presentes” and are a fan of Charles Mingus you'll be into Astor Piazzolla. “Libertango” and “Tango: Zero Hour” could be interesting additions to your already varied taste.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
100/100
From 
Amirkhosro 12/04/2019 23:52
Amirkhosro 12/04/2019 23:52
This looks like my chart's long lost brother
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
100/100
From 
craola 11/26/2019 00:29
craola 11/26/2019 00:29
thank you for the kind words. this is a great chart as well. a few here i've managed to miss out on. os mutantes ... i've somehow not gotten around to listening to them, so i'll start there.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
95/100
From 
arthurbittencourt 11/20/2019 16:54
arthurbittencourt 11/20/2019 16:54
Chad comment on my page, chad chart. Are you brazilian? Mutantes @ 3 is really curious for someone who doesn't live here. I have tons of references for you. Negro Leo, has released two masterpieces, he is a true genius. The easiest is called Agua Batizada, the chad one is Action Lekking. Try both! please!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
95/100
From pctrooper 11/13/2019 20:43
Man, this is really great. Lots of styles I don't usually listen to, but these artists are pretty much all gold and it adds together for a gnarly music chart.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
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