Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by 
Paule 
Hello there! Still working on the list... Suggestions welcome!
I mainly evaluate the art of songwriting and composition as I listen to it. I'm less concerned with things like social impact of an album. A completely honest list would contain all Radiohead and all Björk albums, but a slight restriction doesn't hurt, eh?
- Chart updated: 11/08/2024 22:15
- (Created: 08/03/2016 06:28).
- Chart size: 100 albums.
There are 19 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 100 Greatest Music Albums has an average rating of 92 out of 100 (from 36 votes). Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.
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EVERYTHIIIIIIIIING
This thing just passed the test of time, there is nothing like it. I compare every other album to Kid A in terms of sound, song creation, originality, groove and cohesion. Every possible artistic direction of a music album is perfected and every possible emotion from comfort to fear, anger is covered. It is a 40 minute journey that I have been on so many times and still enjoy every second of it. In many ways it is an essential part of my life that defines who I am and how I view and understand art. [First added to this chart: 08/03/2016]
This thing just passed the test of time, there is nothing like it. I compare every other album to Kid A in terms of sound, song creation, originality, groove and cohesion. Every possible artistic direction of a music album is perfected and every possible emotion from comfort to fear, anger is covered. It is a 40 minute journey that I have been on so many times and still enjoy every second of it. In many ways it is an essential part of my life that defines who I am and how I view and understand art. [First added to this chart: 08/03/2016]
Year of Release:
2000
Appears in:
Rank Score:
46,557
Rank in 2000:
Rank in 2000s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
557
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And now the piano chord, right? Now? No.. now? no.. now? no still not AHH THERE IT IS THAT PIANO CHORD
Mark Hollis was a genius. And he waited to show all the cards up his sleeve until the very last Talk Talk album. To me, this album is in many ways very similar to Kid A except for the sound. While Kid A is trying very hard to make guitars sound like.. well not guitars, every instrument on Laughing Stock is recognizable but used in a groundbreaking fashion. The notes or chords played by individual instruments are so sparse that every single one feels significant. [First added to this chart: 08/03/2016]
Mark Hollis was a genius. And he waited to show all the cards up his sleeve until the very last Talk Talk album. To me, this album is in many ways very similar to Kid A except for the sound. While Kid A is trying very hard to make guitars sound like.. well not guitars, every instrument on Laughing Stock is recognizable but used in a groundbreaking fashion. The notes or chords played by individual instruments are so sparse that every single one feels significant. [First added to this chart: 08/03/2016]
Year of Release:
1991
Appears in:
Rank Score:
9,164
Rank in 1991:
Rank in 1990s:
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50 shades of darkness
I know that there are people who want to listen to happy music. Personally I am very happy when I can listen to devastatingly sad music. Maybe I am a weirdo... but anyways, if you like the melancholic stuff, there is no better album than this one to get lost in. Geoff Barrow and Adrian Utley decorate Beth Gibbons' fragile voice with rumbling, beeping, and clanging sounds, beats, or beat-like things or weird choirs and all of it is great. WHERE IS THAT NEW ALBUM??? [First added to this chart: 08/03/2016]
I know that there are people who want to listen to happy music. Personally I am very happy when I can listen to devastatingly sad music. Maybe I am a weirdo... but anyways, if you like the melancholic stuff, there is no better album than this one to get lost in. Geoff Barrow and Adrian Utley decorate Beth Gibbons' fragile voice with rumbling, beeping, and clanging sounds, beats, or beat-like things or weird choirs and all of it is great. WHERE IS THAT NEW ALBUM??? [First added to this chart: 08/03/2016]
Year of Release:
2008
Appears in:
Rank Score:
5,580
Rank in 2008:
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Average Rating:
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Darwin told us about weird fishes...
It is just stunning how radiohead were able to create such an interesting, beautiful and cohesive album by using very conventional instrumentation and sound. It is, at first glance, a pop record. But the songwriting is just from a another planet. I interpret this as a darwinian songwriting style. EVOLUTION. In 4-5 minutes, every song evolves from one point to another, every song is its own journey but still, every song maintains its character. Radiohead show, that it is possible to create music that can be listened to and enjoyed in superficial fashion while at the same time, it can be dissected and dove into by music nerds. [First added to this chart: 08/03/2016]
It is just stunning how radiohead were able to create such an interesting, beautiful and cohesive album by using very conventional instrumentation and sound. It is, at first glance, a pop record. But the songwriting is just from a another planet. I interpret this as a darwinian songwriting style. EVOLUTION. In 4-5 minutes, every song evolves from one point to another, every song is its own journey but still, every song maintains its character. Radiohead show, that it is possible to create music that can be listened to and enjoyed in superficial fashion while at the same time, it can be dissected and dove into by music nerds. [First added to this chart: 08/03/2016]
Year of Release:
2007
Appears in:
Rank Score:
47,460
Rank in 2007:
Rank in 2000s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
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[First added to this chart: 12/18/2018]
Year of Release:
1974
Appears in:
Rank Score:
4,186
Rank in 1974:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
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What is this weird thing on the cover?
[First added to this chart: 12/18/2018]
Year of Release:
2012
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,721
Rank in 2012:
Rank in 2010s:
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Average Rating:
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Who doesn't need vitamin C??
Can is probably the most influential band on the type of music that I am interested in, the nondefinable, nonconventional yet emotionally appealing type. On Ege Bamyasi, Can move from sweet to heavy, always maintaining this undeniable groove (s/o Jaki, Can MVP, Drummer GOAT). I think it is their most consistent album and I go back to it the most. [First added to this chart: 08/03/2016]
Can is probably the most influential band on the type of music that I am interested in, the nondefinable, nonconventional yet emotionally appealing type. On Ege Bamyasi, Can move from sweet to heavy, always maintaining this undeniable groove (s/o Jaki, Can MVP, Drummer GOAT). I think it is their most consistent album and I go back to it the most. [First added to this chart: 08/03/2016]
Year of Release:
1972
Appears in:
Rank Score:
5,605
Rank in 1972:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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Do I need to buy it with some Bargeld?
Einstürzende Neubauten really struggle with commercialism, but have at that point in some way, become commercially successful. On this album, instead of just screaming against capitalist establishments, it seems like they try to deal with their conflict of identities and it suits them very well. I don't know why but I just love Blixas sharp lyrics more than usual on this thing. Sonically, the album has a unique flow to it and not every song is noisy, some of them are shockingly quiet and beautiful. It is by far the Neubauten album that I go back to the most and it owns a very firm place in my top 10. [First added to this chart: 03/08/2019]
Einstürzende Neubauten really struggle with commercialism, but have at that point in some way, become commercially successful. On this album, instead of just screaming against capitalist establishments, it seems like they try to deal with their conflict of identities and it suits them very well. I don't know why but I just love Blixas sharp lyrics more than usual on this thing. Sonically, the album has a unique flow to it and not every song is noisy, some of them are shockingly quiet and beautiful. It is by far the Neubauten album that I go back to the most and it owns a very firm place in my top 10. [First added to this chart: 03/08/2019]
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Is it his free will or IGORs?
I mean, it is very early I know. But I have not enjoyed a record like this in a long time. It is like a more cohesive version of Yeezus. The flow between all the tracks is immaculate. The production is from another planet. I am your PUPPET, Tyler, you control me.
And now I shall stop with the writing and go listen to IGOR again.. see ya. [First added to this chart: 05/19/2019]
I mean, it is very early I know. But I have not enjoyed a record like this in a long time. It is like a more cohesive version of Yeezus. The flow between all the tracks is immaculate. The production is from another planet. I am your PUPPET, Tyler, you control me.
And now I shall stop with the writing and go listen to IGOR again.. see ya. [First added to this chart: 05/19/2019]
Year of Release:
2019
Appears in:
Rank Score:
6,542
Rank in 2019:
Rank in 2010s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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Best arrangements and snare sound (yes really!) in the game.
The sexy voice of Serge Gainsbourg did not change drastically over the years. The sexy voices of crying, laughing, or groaning women are representing another classical recurring element of his music. However, he did always change up the underlying sound. And let's be honest, this mixture of psychedelic rock, string arrangements and chanson just fit best to his voice and the voice of crying/laughing/groaning women. Even though I'm not a smoker, I feel the need to light a cigarette and flush it with a bottle of red wine when listening to this thing. [First added to this chart: 12/18/2018]
The sexy voice of Serge Gainsbourg did not change drastically over the years. The sexy voices of crying, laughing, or groaning women are representing another classical recurring element of his music. However, he did always change up the underlying sound. And let's be honest, this mixture of psychedelic rock, string arrangements and chanson just fit best to his voice and the voice of crying/laughing/groaning women. Even though I'm not a smoker, I feel the need to light a cigarette and flush it with a bottle of red wine when listening to this thing. [First added to this chart: 12/18/2018]
Year of Release:
1971
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,175
Rank in 1971:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 100. Page 1 of 10
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums composition
| Decade | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| 1930s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1940s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1950s | 1 | 1% | |
| 1960s | 9 | 9% | |
| 1970s | 15 | 15% | |
| 1980s | 16 | 16% | |
| 1990s | 15 | 15% | |
| 2000s | 16 | 16% | |
| 2010s | 20 | 20% | |
| 2020s | 8 | 8% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Radiohead | 4 | 4% | |
| Björk | 2 | 2% | |
| Scott Walker | 2 | 2% | |
| Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds | 2 | 2% | |
| Talk Talk | 2 | 2% | |
| Portishead | 2 | 2% | |
| PJ Harvey | 2 | 2% | |
| Show all | |||
| Country | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
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22 | 22% | |
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22 | 22% | |
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8 | 8% | |
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5 | 5% | |
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4 | 4% | |
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4 | 4% | |
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3 | 3% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums chart changes
| Leavers |
|---|
 Holonby Nik Bärtsch's Ronin |
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums similar charts
| Title | Source | Type | Published | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 2010s | Paule | 2010s decade chart | 2021 | |
| Top 99 Music Albums of the 1980s | Paule | 1980s decade chart | 2022 | |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 2000s | Paule | 2000s decade chart | 2023 | |
| Top 100 Greatest Music Albums | Thad | Overall chart | 2020 | |
| Top 100 Greatest Music Albums |  jnfbn | Overall chart | 2020 |  |
| Best 100 albums ever. ( 1 per artist) | pinkfreud1981 | Custom chart | 2025 | |
| Top 100 Greatest Music Albums |  Stanleykurosawa | Overall chart | 2023 | |
| Top 100 Greatest Music Albums | gravityrider999 | Overall chart | 2019 | |
| Top 100 Greatest Music Albums |  Onater | Overall chart | 2019 | |
| Top 100 Greatest Music Albums | JamesMowbray | Overall chart | 2022 | |
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums ratings
92/100 (from 36 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 36 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
100/100  | 01/15/2025 16:33 | Exist-en-ciel | | 99/100 |
100/100 | 11/13/2024 13:51 | DrewHamster | | 78/100 |
 95/100 | 10/15/2023 14:15 |  Tamthebam | | 85/100 |
| 90/100 | 03/25/2023 02:49 |  mickilennial | | 77/100 |
| 95/100 | 03/24/2023 21:23 | Rm12398 | | 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 1% of all charts on BestEverAlbums.com. This chart has a Bayesian average rating of 92.4/100, a mean average of 94.2/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 94.2/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 7.4.
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums comments
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95/100
From 
sssvnnn 10/16/2024 21:08
sssvnnn 10/16/2024 21:08
tolle chart.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
95/100
From Rm12398 03/24/2023 21:25
A unique and intriguing list with a lot of time and effort clearly involved in the making of it. Will definitely check out some of these I am unfamiliar with. Thank you!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
100/100
From 
LedZep 03/24/2023 10:27
LedZep 03/24/2023 10:27
Yeah easily one of the best charts around. Excellent choices from the well known artists. Your Funeral My Trial, White Chalk, The Seer - all 3 are my personal faves by the artists and Confusion is Sex is an underrated one too. "Cool experimental 80s albums" is a fantastic niche to explore, a lot of great picks like Einstürzende Neubauten, Tuxedomoon, Laibach, Glenn Branca and Lydia Lunch. There were several albums which caught me off guard, like the new Širom, Scott Walker's experimental phase albums, Talabot's ƒIN... Never expected to see them in the chart which has 2 Radiohead albums in the top 5 (nothing against Radiohead though, those are great albums!) There are at least 20-ish albums I've never even heard of, which is exactly what I want out of BEA charts.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
100/100
From Johnnyo 05/28/2021 16:04
Can’t fault this chart. Simply a collection of stunning albums and I love the commentary. Great stuff
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
100/100
From FelipeBoorkes 04/02/2020 05:28
There is so much to be thankful on this list. First, you put so much passion into your comments. Second, there is a lot of variety, from countries to genres. And third, it seems you're still searching for more music to amaze you.
I didn't see any Mexican artists there so let me suggest 3 artists and let's see if they make the cut:
1) Santa Sabina's El mar abierto en la sangre. Great art-rock band that mixes goth aesthetics with jazz and choral sounds.
2) La Barranca's La Rueda de los Tiempos. It is rock, with a twist of Mexican and Latin American folk.
3) Cafe Tacvba's Revés/Yo Soy. They are the biggest Mexican rock band and this album is just insane: the first one (Revés) is just a collection of instrumental pieces, including the participation of the Kronos Quartet; the second (Yo Soy), was a collection of honest pop-rock songs. Warning: This one is not on Spotify but it is available on Youtube.
If you check them out tell me your opinion.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
100/100
From 
doubleA 03/23/2020 21:49
doubleA 03/23/2020 21:49
The writing is nice and all, but the title sentences really steps it up! They're often simple and quirky, but manages to hit the soft and funny spots in the feels, making every pick feel natural and obvious. And I don't usually comment on specifically the picks, but this is brilliant; Julia Holter, Can, Björk, Fishmans, Swans, Dead Can Dance, Tuxedomoon, Fela Kuti, Faust, Exuma, Jenny Hval. This is kinda uncanny. Thanfully this is not completely familiar, so there's tons to discover! An absolutely wonderful chart!
As you asked, some recommendations (a few wild and/or freaky ones to spice things up):
Pom Pom by Ariel Pink
Tricentennial 2076 by Vyto B
Unorthodox Behaviour by Brand X
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
95/100
From bonnequestion 03/11/2020 13:45
Nice chart! Very unique and original, with interesting comments, good job!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
100/100
From Thad 03/11/2020 13:04
We share not only top spots for well respected acts like Radiohead, Can, Portishead, Bjork, King Crimson and Fela Kuti
But also all the lesser known stuff; Moondog, Exuma, Fishmans, This Heat, Ground Zero, Peter Brotzmann, Jenny Hval, Faust etc
superb chart
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
100/100
From Timooosterink 03/11/2020 11:10
Nice chart! I would recommend listening to Gorillaz
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
100/100
From jpajovich 06/24/2019 12:17
Kid A over OKC and LONG SEASON, phenomenal
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 |