Top 100 Greatest Music Albums
by steve_o_619 
Recently changed to just 1 album per artist
- Chart updated: 03/28/2014 21:03
- (Created: 08/14/2011 19:43).
- Chart size: 100 albums.
There are 37 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 100 Greatest Music Albums has an average rating of 89 out of 100 (from 64 votes). Please log in or create an account to leave a comment or assign a rating.
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The entries in this chart have a zero rank score because the chart has not been updated within the last ten years (points from overall charts are decayed over a ten year period).
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Written in the wake of Jeff Magnum's experience reading Anne Frank's diary, she is a reoccurring theme throughout the album. Bizarrely, this is often from the viewpoint of a narrator who is seemingly in love with her.
When Anne isn't mentioned, Jeff tells tales of two headed boys and cars careening from clouds. All this is then backed with a seriously strange array of instruments, leaving In the Aeroplane Over the Sea unlike anything else i've ever heard.
With that being said, this album is by no means a novelty choice for being different. Beyond all the superficial obscurities, In The Aeroplane Over The Sea is somehow heartrendingly honest. In fact, it is the single saddest thing i have ever listened too.
While it is far from everybody's cup or tea, and certainly isn't an easy listen, for me and many others this is simply the most beautiful record ever written. [First added to this chart: 08/14/2011]
When Anne isn't mentioned, Jeff tells tales of two headed boys and cars careening from clouds. All this is then backed with a seriously strange array of instruments, leaving In the Aeroplane Over the Sea unlike anything else i've ever heard.
With that being said, this album is by no means a novelty choice for being different. Beyond all the superficial obscurities, In The Aeroplane Over The Sea is somehow heartrendingly honest. In fact, it is the single saddest thing i have ever listened too.
While it is far from everybody's cup or tea, and certainly isn't an easy listen, for me and many others this is simply the most beautiful record ever written. [First added to this chart: 08/14/2011]
Year of Release:
1998
Appears in:
Rank Score:
29,645
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Available from
By the release of Spirit of Eden in 1988, Talk Talk were unrecognisable from the pop sound that make them famous. They had been building to produced this, Spirit of Eden. A commercial failure but ambient masterpiece. Sweeping and ethereal, the album reaches its pinnacle "I Believe in You," which easily wins my choice for best song of the 80s.
Alan McGee of the Guardian described Spirit of Eden as "The sound of an artist being given the keys to the kingdom and returning with art."
I couldn't say it any better myself.
[First added to this chart: 07/10/2013]
Alan McGee of the Guardian described Spirit of Eden as "The sound of an artist being given the keys to the kingdom and returning with art."
I couldn't say it any better myself.
[First added to this chart: 07/10/2013]
Year of Release:
1988
Appears in:
Rank Score:
10,254
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Available from
While Disorder remains my favorite song, I would go as far as to say the middle 4 tracks are the best 4 track run on any record, ever.
Released just 11 months before Ian Curtis' death, Joy Division's debut is unsurprisingly both more accessible and less dark than Closer. All four members are on absolute top form for the entire album.
To put it very briefly, Unknown Pleasures is the best debut you will ever hear. [First added to this chart: 11/22/2012]
Released just 11 months before Ian Curtis' death, Joy Division's debut is unsurprisingly both more accessible and less dark than Closer. All four members are on absolute top form for the entire album.
To put it very briefly, Unknown Pleasures is the best debut you will ever hear. [First added to this chart: 11/22/2012]
Year of Release:
1979
Appears in:
Rank Score:
20,339
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Pure pop perfection. Clever lyrics and catchy chorus's throughout, here is what every pop band should aspire to.
[First added to this chart: 08/14/2011]
[First added to this chart: 08/14/2011]
Year of Release:
1996
Appears in:
Rank Score:
9,447
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Available from
As ludicrously ambitious as the title suggests! "Mellon Collie and the Infinite sadness" is an absolute monster of an album. (It is twice the length of the next longest on my chart!)
From Slow ballads to hard rock, what really impresses here is the diversity. Never before nor since has a concept album been so jam packed with stand-alone great tracks without detracting from the concept as a whole.
For me, this album moved the Pumpkins to a league well above the standard laid down by the likes of Nirvana and Pearl Jam, and cemented Billy Corgan as one of the great songwriters of the generation. [First added to this chart: 08/13/2012]
From Slow ballads to hard rock, what really impresses here is the diversity. Never before nor since has a concept album been so jam packed with stand-alone great tracks without detracting from the concept as a whole.
For me, this album moved the Pumpkins to a league well above the standard laid down by the likes of Nirvana and Pearl Jam, and cemented Billy Corgan as one of the great songwriters of the generation. [First added to this chart: 08/13/2012]
Year of Release:
1995
Appears in:
Rank Score:
14,280
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Guitar work at its finest. When combined with the assured vocals of Tom Verlaine, Marquee moon had all the ingredients of a classic.
[First added to this chart: 07/10/2013]
Year of Release:
1977
Appears in:
Rank Score:
18,504
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Available from
Just the happiest record ever written.
The ultimate summer soundtrack. [First added to this chart: 05/24/2013]
The ultimate summer soundtrack. [First added to this chart: 05/24/2013]
Year of Release:
1968
Appears in:
Rank Score:
13,172
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Available from
Morrissey-Marr were a songwriting duo anyone can appreciate, and The Queen is Dead is undoubtedly Their best work. Marr's Jangly hooks are catchier than ever, and Morrissey spans his most melancholy, funny and imaginative all within this record.
Look no further, for this is THE Brit-pop album. [First added to this chart: 08/14/2011]
Look no further, for this is THE Brit-pop album. [First added to this chart: 08/14/2011]
Year of Release:
1986
Appears in:
Rank Score:
31,179
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Available from
The sweeping orchestral movements that lace this rock classic elevate it to the realm of truly timeless. Very little from the 60's has aged this well!
[First added to this chart: 04/22/2013]
Year of Release:
1967
Appears in:
Rank Score:
14,809
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Available from
Often compared to Bob Dylan, I would go as far as to say this surpasses anything done by the great man himself.
More than any other, this would be the one album on my chart which I would recommend to absolutely anyone, regardless of their taste. I cannot imagine any person not disliking this! [First added to this chart: 01/04/2012]
More than any other, this would be the one album on my chart which I would recommend to absolutely anyone, regardless of their taste. I cannot imagine any person not disliking this! [First added to this chart: 01/04/2012]
Year of Release:
2010
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,326
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Total albums: 100. Page 1 of 10
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums composition
| Decade | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1940s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1950s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1960s | 14 | 14% | |
| 1970s | 22 | 22% | |
| 1980s | 21 | 21% | |
| 1990s | 23 | 23% | |
| 2000s | 16 | 16% | |
| 2010s | 4 | 4% | |
| 2020s | 0 | 0% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| Neil Young | 2 | 2% | |
| The Smiths | 1 | 1% | |
| Coldplay | 1 | 1% | |
| Jimi Hendrix | 1 | 1% | |
| Pavement | 1 | 1% | |
| Ride | 1 | 1% | |
| Dire Straits | 1 | 1% | |
| Show all | |||
| Country | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| |
47 | 47% | |
| |
42 | 42% | |
 |
3 | 3% | |
 |
2 | 2% | |
 |
1 | 1% | |
 |
1 | 1% | |
 |
1 | 1% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums chart changes
| Biggest climbers |
|---|
Up 19 from 26th to 7th |
Up 14 from 25th to 11th |
Up 13 from 99th to 86th |
| Biggest fallers |
|---|
Down 9 from 16th to 25th |
Down 5 from 22nd to 27th |
Down 4 from 5th to 9th |
| New entries |
|---|
| Leavers |
|---|
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| Top 100 Greatest Music Albums |  RFNAPLES | Overall chart | 2013 | |
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| Top 100 Greatest Music Albums |  1234567890 | Overall chart | 2011 |  |
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| Top 100 Greatest Music Albums | album guru joe | Overall chart | 2013 | |
| Alternative Top 100 (1 Album Per Artist) | TheSmiths82-87 | Custom chart | 2019 | |
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums similarity to your chart(s)
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums ratings
Average Rating = (n ÷ (n + m)) × av + (m ÷ (n + m)) × AVwhere:
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 3 ratings for this chart. | Show all 64 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ! | 01/15/2025 18:02 | Exist-en-ciel | 166 | 97/100 |
| ! | 01/02/2025 14:31 | DrewHamster | 314 | 79/100 |
| ! | 04/20/2017 19:29 |  sssvnnn | 2,881 | 83/100 |
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 6% of all charts on BestEverAlbums.com. This chart has a Bayesian average rating of 88.5/100, a mean average of 88.5/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 88.9/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 10.3.
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums favourites
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums forum mentions
This chart has been referenced 5 times on the forums, Explore the wider forum discussion to see what members have said about it.
From 
BestEverAlbums 01/14/2015 09:00 in Chart of the day (#1184): By steve_o_619
BestEverAlbums 01/14/2015 09:00 in Chart of the day (#1184): By steve_o_619“Today's chart of the day Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by steve_o_619 () 1. In The Aeroplane Over The Sea by Neutral Milk Hotel (1998) 2. Spirit Of Eden by Talk Talk (1988) 3. Unknown Pleasures by Joy Division (1979) 4. If You're Feeling Sinister by Belle & Sebastian (1996) 5. Mellon Collie And The…”
View forum post →From BestEverAlbums 02/19/2014 09:00 in Chart of the day (#856): By steve_o_619
BestEverAlbums 02/19/2014 09:00 in Chart of the day (#856): By steve_o_619“Today's chart of the day Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by steve_o_619 () 1. In The Aeroplane Over The Sea by Neutral Milk Hotel (1998) 2. Spirit Of Eden by Talk Talk (1988) 3. Unknown Pleasures by Joy Division (1979) 4. If You're Feeling Sinister by Belle & Sebastian (1996) 5. Forever Changes by…”
View forum post →From BestEverAlbums 08/19/2013 08:00 in Chart of the day (#675): By steve_o_619
BestEverAlbums 08/19/2013 08:00 in Chart of the day (#675): By steve_o_619“Today's chart of the day Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by steve_o_619 () 1. In The Aeroplane Over The Sea by Neutral Milk Hotel (1998) 2. Spirit Of Eden by Talk Talk (1988) 3. Unknown Pleasures by Joy Division (1979) 4. If You're Feeling Sinister by Belle & Sebastian (1996) 5. Forever Changes by…”
View forum post →Top 100 Greatest Music Albums comments
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From
Mr November 02/18/2013 08:16 | #65397
19 albums and 23 bands in common, we clearly have similar taste and yet your number 1 is an album that has me perpetually scratching my head. Regarding the status of In The Aeroplane on BEA, I sometimes feel like the only member of a cult who doesn't find the leader to be charismatic ;)Besides that difference of opinion this is a really good chart.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 2
From
HazeyTwilight TOP 100 COMMENTER 10/12/2014 19:15 | #124243
HazeyTwilight TOP 100 COMMENTER 10/12/2014 19:15 | #124243
Our charts are actually a lot more similar than I thought. Many of your choices and artists resonate with me so much. Just going through this chart made me feel overjoyed. Everything just flows so well. It's now one of my favourite charts on this site.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 2
From
Mercury TOP 100 COMMENTER 07/13/2013 04:38 | #81323
Mercury TOP 100 COMMENTER 07/13/2013 04:38 | #81323
Your love for The Tallest Man In Earth makes me automatically respect you greatly and love your taste. The rest if the chart is also fabulous. Wow! I'm really glad I found this. I'm gonna get some recommendations from here. Starting with finally getting around to giving "Bee thousand " a good listen!
And giving the Field Mice a try.
And thanks for the comment on my chart! :)
Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 1
From
Mercury TOP 100 COMMENTER 06/23/2014 01:25 | #115045
Mercury TOP 100 COMMENTER 06/23/2014 01:25 | #115045
And IIIIIIIIIIIIII WILL ALWAAAAAAAAAYSSSS LOOOOOOOVE THIS CHAAAAAAAART!
Edit: but seriously, amazing chart that I love. I seem to hve more in common with this chart than any other user chart . And I love you having Rust Never Sleeps and The Wild Hunt and Beautiful Freak and etc etc etc, ... A gem.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 1
From
Johnnyo TOP 100 COMMENTER 08/13/2012 11:10 | #48390
Nice chart. Just doesn't grab me although a lot of my favourite bands in here. Maybe I'm having an "off day". Will revisit when feeling more generous 'cos I'm sure that this chart must deserve a better score than I've given it today. Confused? Me too!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 1
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