Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by joedec
- Chart updated: 11/04/2023 19:15
- (Created: 07/31/2011 15:33).
- Chart size: 100 albums.
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Favorite Tracks
1. Battery
2. Master Of Puppets
3. (Welcome Home) Sanitarium
4. Orion
If you were ask any metalhead what they consider the greatest Heavy Metal of all time, you'll get different answers. Believe me, there's no right or wrong answer. But if you were to ask me that very question, I would say without hesitation Master of Puppets. The third album from Metallica, Master of Puppets took Metallica to the next level in so many ways. It's also the main reason why I consider 1986 the best year for Metal, especially Thrash Metal. With MOP, Metallica took the formula they created on Ride the Lightning and perfected it. This album is perfect from start to finish, no questions asked. Whereas the previous album dealt with concept of death, MOP's concept is manipulation. Whether it's manipulation from substance abuse (title track), mental illness (Sanitarium), political leaders (Disposable Heroes) or fake religious evangelists (Leper Messiah), MOP doesn't shy away from the fact that we are all manipulated in some way or another. But there's a reason why Master of Puppets is seen as one of the greatest albums of all time. One of those reasons is that each member is on point, from James Hetfield's vocals and rhythm guitar to Kirk Hammett's blistering solos (especially the title track) and Lars Ulrich's drumming. But special attention should be paid to the legendary Cliff Burton. He truly shines on this album. And never is that more apparent than on the iconic instrumental Orion. It's one of those songs that has to be listened to with good ear phones because it's one of those songs that gets better with every listen. Unfortunately, it would be the last album to feature Burton. He would tragically die in a bus accident in Sweden six months after the album's release. But he left a legacy that will never be forgotten. And for those reasons (as well having my favorite Metallica song, Battery), Master of Puppets sits on the mountain as the greatest Heavy Metal album ever made as far as I can see. And thanks to Stranger Things, a new generation of fans are starting to figure out why this album is beloved." [First added to this chart: 01/19/2012]
Favorite Tracks
1. The Four Horsemen
2. Whiplash
3. Phantom Lord
4. Metal Militia
"July 25, 1983. Metallica put Thrash Metal on the map with their debut album, Kill 'Em All. It was not only Metallica's first album, but was also the first release for the label Megaforce Records. Originally the name of the album was going to be called Metal Up Your Ass, but the record distributors vetoed that name. It would be bassist Cliff Burton who came up with the album title. Kirk Hammett (originally from Exodus) joined the band in April 1983, replacing Dave Mustaine, right before they entered the studio to record the album. Quite simply, KEA is pure, unadulterated Thrash Metal from beginning to end. From the opening track Hit the Lights to the closing track Metal Militia, the album doesn't let up one bit. Even the bass instrumental (Anesthesia) Pulling Teeth is heavy as hell, a perfect introduction to the legendary Cliff Burton. Highlights include The Four Horsemen, Whiplash, and Seek and Destroy, songs that are still part of Metallica's set list to this day. Metallica would get more ambitious with their later albums, but Kill 'Em All is the one that started it all. And it's considered one of the greatest debut albums of all time." [First added to this chart: 07/03/2018]
Favorite Tracks
1. Something in the Water (Does Not Compute)
2. Little Red Corvette
3. D.M.S.R.
4. Automatic
"The 5th studio album from Prince, 1999 is the album that truly put Prince on the map. When you look at 1982, it's easy to see how prolific a year Prince had. Not only was he touring behind his previous album, Controversy, but he was writing a whole lot of songs. Many of which would appear years later on the 1999 deluxe box set. He was also writing and producing for other artists as well, particularly Vanity 6 and The Time (under the alias of Jaime Starr). And it feels like 1999 was the culmination of the year 1982. The album starts off with the title track, a perfect song about the end of the world. It then moves on Little Red Corvette, a perfect merger of Rock and Soul, followed by the 50s bop of Delirious. From there, the rulebook goes straight out the window, especially on the song Let's Pretend We're Married and the funk workout of D.M.S.R. The album is a perfect combination of Synth Wave (Something in the Water), pure funk jams (Lady Cab Driver), and ballads (International Lover). And then you have the Linn LM-1 drum machine, which is heard constantly throughout the album. The influence of 1999 is insurmountable. Don't believe me? Ask Stevie Nicks, whose hit Stand Back was influenced by Little Red Corvette (Prince would even play Synths on the song as well.) The success of 1999 would also allow Prince to be one of the first black artists to be played on MTV. Even though Purple Rain would be the album that many people view as his best, for me that honor goes to 1999." [First added to this chart: 07/31/2011]
Favorite Tracks
1. Vampira
2. All Hell Breaks Loose
3. 20 Eyes
4. Mommy, Can I Go Out and Kill Tonight?
"The Misfits are the godfathers of Horror Punk. That's not up for debate. And that fact is established thanks to their iconic debut album, Walk Among Us. Anyone who knows their history should know that originally, Static Age was suppose to be their debut, but would be shelved until the 1990s. So that honor goes to Walk Among Us. Everything about this album screams Horror Punk, from the cover art (which has been paid homage to many times) to the songs contained on this album. Glenn Danzig's vocals are on point, but then that's par for the course when it comes to GD. He's proof that you can be a Punk vocalist and have a great voice at the same time. Jerry Only's basslines are almost criminally underrated. Doyle's guitar riffs kicks ass all the way through. And then there's drummer Arthur Googy, who I also feel is underrated. The album clocks in at around 26 minutes, but that's more than enough time for The Misfits to get their point across in songs such as 20 Eyes, All Hell Breaks Loose, Vampira, Astro Zombies among others. When people ask me what's the definitive Punk album, I will say without hesitation, that it's Walk Among Us." [First added to this chart: 04/05/2020]
Favorite Tracks
1. Cherub Rock
2. Geek U.S.A.
3. Hummer
4. Today
"The sophomore album from the Smashing Pumpkins, Siamese Dream is the album that put them on the map. And it was an album that was born from crisis. After the underground success of their debut album Gish, the Pumpkins knew their follow up had to deliver. But soon after, SP head Billy Corgan hit a severe case of writer's block. But from that writer's block came some of the best songs the Pumpkins had ever created, including two standout songs: Today and Disarm. Siamese Dream is a perfect merger of Alternative, Grunge, Metal and Goth all wrapped in one awesome package. Besides the aforementioned songs, other highlights include Cherub Rock (a straight up diss aimed at the elitist underground scene), Hummer, and especially Geek USA. The latter is a perfect example of how talented a drummer Jimmy Chamberlain really is. Although the Pumpkins would hit it big with Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, Siamese Dream is the album that really got the ball rolling." [First added to this chart: 07/31/2011]
Favorite Tracks
1. Holy Wars...The Punishment Due
2. Take No Prisoners
3. Hangar 18
4. Tornado of Souls
"Former Megadeth bassist David Ellefson once described their fourth album, Rust in Peace, as the rebuilding of the beast called Megadeth. I would have to say that's a perfect description of this landmark Thrash masterpiece. Once again, Megadeth went through a major lineup change, adding drummer Nick Menza and lead guitarist Marty Friedman to their ranks. This lineup would last nearly a decade, with some considering this as their best lineup. The album is ferocious as hell, with the opening track Holy Wars...The Punishment Due setting the tone perfectly. Other highlights include Hangar 18, Take No Prisoners, and of particular note, Tornado of Souls (which features one of my all time favorite solos). After everything Megadeth had gone through in the two years since their last release, Rust in Peace showed that they weren't done yet. It's considered by many to be best their best album, rivaling 1986's Peace Sells. While that is a matter of opinion, there's no denying that Rust in Peace should be in any metalhead's collection." [First added to this chart: 01/28/2019]
Favorite Tracks
1. Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos
2. Louder Than A Bomb
3. Rebel Without A Pause
4. Bring the Noise
"When Public Enemy released their sophomore album in 1988, group leader Chuck D said they wanted to make the Hip Hop equivalent to Marvin Gaye's What's Going On. Well it's safe to say they achieved that goal. Like What's Going On, It Takes a Nation is just as relevant not as it was upon its release. That's both a positive thing and and a negative thing. The positive being that it's considered one of the greatest albums in Hip Hop history. The negative being that some of the same problems that plagued us back in day are still being felt to this day. Chuck D is pretty much like a sportscaster in that he tells what you need to hear. And he raps in a powerful voice that demands attention and respect. Flavor Flav is a well needed contrast compared to Chuck D, and they both blend well together. Terminator X is very underrated as a DJ, and his scratching works well all throughout the album. With signature songs such as Don't Believe the Hype, Bring The Noise, and Rebel Without a Pause, It Takes a Nation is the definitive Hip Hop album that needs to be heard. It's not rhyming for the sake of riddling." [First added to this chart: 07/31/2011]
Favorite Tracks
1. One
2. Blackened
3. ...And Justice For All
4. To Live Is To Die
"The 4th Album from Metallica, AJFA was the first album following the tragic death of Cliff Burton. It was also the first to feature Jason Newsted (despite some controversy over the bass). You would think that suffering such a tragic loss would turn the album into a downer. That's not the case at all. In fact, I can honestly say it's Metallica's angriest album to date (and yes, that includes St. Anger). You can feel the anger on tracks such as Blackened, Harvester of Sorrow, and especially closing track Dyer's Eve. AJFA is also very progressive thrash, with songs going well past the 5 minute mark. The longest track belongs to the heartfelt instrumental To Live Is to Die. However it's the song One that's definitely the highlight. Based on the novel/film Johnny Got His Gone, One would also be the first song to have a music video behind it. One of the biggest controversies surrounding this album is how low the bass is in the mix. But in all honesty, I've never really cared about that because the album kicks ass regardless of the bass issue. The Black Album may have been my first Metallica album, but it was AJFA that made me a fan of Thrash Metal." [First added to this chart: 06/03/2018]
Favorite Tracks
1. It's So Easy
2. Welcome To The Jungle
3. Rocket Queen
4. Paradise City
"When music fans mention the Greatest debut albums of all time, one of those albums that has to be mentioned is GNR's debut album. When Appetite was released in 1987, it gave rock the kick in ass that it needed. It painted a dark, vulgar picture of the reality of life on the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles, showing that they were substance over flash, unlike their Hair Metal peers. Of course all 5 members of the band play their part to a T, from Axl Rose's vocals, to Slash and Izzy's razor-sharp riffs, and the rhythm section of Duff McKagan and Steven Adler. And with classics such as Welcome to the Jungle and Sweet Child O' Mine, Appetite for Destruction is an album that sounds just as kick ass now as it was back in 1987." [First added to this chart: 10/10/2012]
Favorite Tracks
1. Inner City Blues
2. What's Going On
3. Mercy Mercy Me
4. Right On
"When Marvin Gaye released What's Going On in 1971, he didn't just changed R&B music, he changed music completely. He proved that R&B music didn't just have to be about love songs. It could also be about social issues. Influenced by the Vietnam War as well as other social issues at the time, Marvin wanted to make an album to let listeners know about what was going in the world. Surprisingly enough, Motown head Berry Gordy hated it and called it the worst thing he had ever heard. But Marvin stuck to his guns and swore to never record anything for Motown unless What's Going On was released. Marvin eventually got his way and the end result is an album that resonates just as much now as it did back in 1971." [First added to this chart: 07/31/2011]
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums composition
Decade | Albums | % | |
---|---|---|---|
1930s | 0 | 0% | |
1940s | 0 | 0% | |
1950s | 0 | 0% | |
1960s | 7 | 7% | |
1970s | 18 | 18% | |
1980s | 47 | 47% | |
1990s | 23 | 23% | |
2000s | 2 | 2% | |
2010s | 3 | 3% | |
2020s | 0 | 0% |
Artist | Albums | % | |
---|---|---|---|
|
|||
The Cure | 6 | 6% | |
Metallica | 5 | 5% | |
David Bowie | 4 | 4% | |
Depeche Mode | 4 | 4% | |
Megadeth | 4 | 4% | |
The Smiths | 3 | 3% | |
Misfits | 3 | 3% | |
Show all |
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums chart changes
Biggest climbers |
---|
Up 13 from 38th to 25th Achtung Baby by U2 |
Up 4 from 45th to 41st The Chronic by Dr. Dre |
Up 2 from 40th to 38th Floodland by The Sisters Of Mercy |
Biggest fallers |
---|
Down 8 from 62nd to 70th The Suburbs by Arcade Fire |
Down 3 from 23rd to 26th Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols by Sex Pistols |
Down 3 from 32nd to 35th Sticky Fingers by The Rolling Stones |
New entries |
---|
Phantasmagoria by The Damned |
Leavers |
---|
Thriller by Michael Jackson |
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums ratings
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Showing latest 5 ratings for this chart. | Show all 96 ratings for this chart.
Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
---|---|---|---|---|
08/03/2023 10:12 | Fade2Black | 10 | 85/100 | |
04/07/2023 13:48 | melisandre | 59 | 88/100 | |
04/07/2023 11:32 | Tamthebam | 552 | 85/100 | |
04/07/2023 11:20 | Johnnyo | 2,014 | 80/100 | |
04/07/2023 09:00 | Moondance | 455 | 84/100 |
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 has a Bayesian average rating of 85.7/100, a mean average of 84.6/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 85.7/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 11.4.
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Nice list. Love your attention to detail. Well done.
Ace chart.
It is clear where your tastes lie. For me, I didn't find this chart all that exciting or adventurous - nothing at all from outside the USA/Canada/UK/Ireland bubble or hidden album gems from your preferred musical genre. Appreciated the 'love' for The Cure ~ if a bit over the top with 6 entries (and not a 'Bloodflowers' in sight).
good work on here
Fantastic chart. Love how you've labelled your favorite 4 songs off each. Original concept
“Foreground Noise” has it quite right that there is very little unpredictable about this chart: it entirely lacks artists unfamiliar to readers of the most standard rock criticism.
It is true that vis-à-vis such charts as those of ‘Rolling Stone’ and ‘New Musical Express’ there is a greater emphasis upon heavy metal – refreshing and a positive given the important impact heavy metal has undoubtedly had on Western culture since the late 1970s. However, even this positive is diluted by being confined to metal from before the middle 1990s, a period when the genre diverged and developed numerous new forms equally or more underground than beforehand.
Sweet Chart
excellent chart, friend
Fantastic chart, I love it!
There are many great albums here but I feel little of your own personality or love of music comes through (something that the few well placed notes or a chart bio might help remedy). Only four of your 100 albums sit outside the overall BEA top 1000 and all but one are only ranked low because they are picks from artists who already have a number of entries in your chart. I don't mean to be rude when I say this but I feel like you are yet to carve out your own taste yet, try avoiding the classics and look off the beaten path - who knows you might find something you love that's a little different!!
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