Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by Paule Unknown

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?

There are 18 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 100 Greatest Music Albums has an average rating of 92 out of 100 (from 34 votes). Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.

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Collector's summary (filtered)Log in or register to discover the great albums that are missing from your music collection!

This chart is currently filtered to only show albums from the 1990s. (Remove this filter)

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Buy album United States
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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]
Year of Release:
1991
Appears in:
Rank Score:
9,303
Rank in 1991:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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Oh hello there... Radiohead again.... No surprises eh?

What is there to say about OK Computer? It's definitely much better than OK. It contains some of the best pop/rock songs ever written. It came up with new ways to make britpop/rock guitar band music sound interesting after it had become the most predictable type of music out there. I guess the reason it is not higher on the list for me personally is the fact that it does not feel as cohesive as Kid A and In Rainbows.. If I had to be completely honest it would probably be number 5 on the list.
[First added to this chart: 08/03/2016]
Year of Release:
1997
Appears in:
Rank Score:
77,370
Rank in 1997:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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Mark Hollis I know you are hidden somewhere in my room singing songs that is a bit creepy but it is you so go ahead! [First added to this chart: 12/18/2018]
Year of Release:
1998
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,063
Rank in 1998:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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[First added to this chart: 05/22/2019]
Year of Release:
1997
Appears in:
Rank Score:
213
Rank in 1997:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
35. (33) Down2
Buy album United States
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[First added to this chart: 03/26/2019]
Year of Release:
1993
Appears in:
Rank Score:
5,472
Rank in 1993:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
50. (=)
Buy album United States
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The feels on roads- [First added to this chart: 12/18/2018]
Year of Release:
1994
Appears in:
Rank Score:
17,088
Rank in 1994:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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Noooo..vember [First added to this chart: 03/09/2019]
Year of Release:
1993
Appears in:
Rank Score:
321
Rank in 1993:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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  • #Sponsored
[First added to this chart: 12/18/2018]
Year of Release:
1995
Appears in:
Rank Score:
569
Rank in 1995:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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  • iTunes
  • Spotify
  • #Sponsored
[First added to this chart: 05/26/2020]
Year of Release:
1997
Appears in:
Rank Score:
4,612
Rank in 1997:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
72. (=)
Buy album United States
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  • iTunes
  • Spotify
  • #Sponsored
[First added to this chart: 03/09/2019]
Year of Release:
1997
Appears in:
Rank Score:
13,880
Rank in 1997:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 14. Page 1 of 2

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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums composition

Decade Albums %


1930s 0 0%
1940s 0 0%
1950s 1 1%
1960s 9 9%
1970s 15 15%
1980s 17 17%
1990s 14 14%
2000s 20 20%
2010s 21 21%
2020s 3 3%
Artist Albums %


Radiohead 4 4%
Björk 3 3%
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds 2 2%
Scott Walker 2 2%
Talk Talk 2 2%
PJ Harvey 2 2%
Portishead 2 2%
Show all
Country Albums %


United Kingdom 24 24%
United States 18 18%
Germany 8 8%
Mixed Nationality 7 7%
Iceland 4 4%
France 4 4%
Canada 4 4%
Show all
Compilation? Albums %
No 98 98%
Yes 2 2%

Top 100 Greatest Music Albums chart changes

Biggest climbers
Climber Up 26 from 46th to 20th
My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts
by Brian Eno & David Byrne
Climber Up 21 from 40th to 19th
Illuminations
by Buffy Sainte-Marie
Biggest fallers
Faller Down 2 from 19th to 21st
You Won't Get What You Want
by Daughters
Faller Down 2 from 20th to 22nd
★ (Blackstar)
by David Bowie
Faller Down 2 from 21st to 23rd
Loud City Song
by Julia Holter

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


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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums ratings

Average Rating: 
92/100 (from 34 votes)
  Ratings distributionRatings distribution Average Rating = (n ÷ (n + m)) × av + (m ÷ (n + m)) × AV
where:
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95/100
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10/15/2023 14:15 Tamthebam  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 54985/100
  
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03/25/2023 02:49 mickilennial  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 71877/100
  
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03/24/2023 21:23 Rm12398  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 9989/100
  
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03/24/2023 09:22 LedZep  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 1,07784/100
  
85/100
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06/20/2022 17:55 Applerill  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 97675/100

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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 92.0/100, a mean average of 93.8/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 93.8/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 7.5.

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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums comments

Showing latest 10 comments | Show all 18 comments |
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Rating:  
95/100
From 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)
Rating:  
100/100
From 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)
Rating:  
100/100
From 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)
Rating:  
100/100
From 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)
Rating:  
100/100
From 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)
Rating:  
95/100
From 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)
Rating:  
100/100
From 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)
Rating:  
100/100
From 03/11/2020 11:10
Nice chart! I would recommend listening to Gorillaz
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
100/100
From 06/24/2019 12:17
Kid A over OKC and LONG SEASON, phenomenal
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
75/100
From 06/05/2019 11:04
Impressive list. Twelve artists but only three albums in common, though there are quite a few I have wanted to check out.

I wonder if you have heard ‘Winter Songs’ by Art Bears – an offshoot of Henry Cow that actually surpasses them with Dagmar Krause’s proto-Björk wail and some of the most intense, yet mysterious guitar and piano work ever put to record.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

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