Top 100 Greatest Music Albums
by 
Purplepash 
This is a combination of my favourite albums that I have been obsessed with at some stage and will still happily listen to at any time and recent albums that I love right now.
I have been listening to albums for over 35 years now so nostalgia plays a large part in this list but I love new fresh music as well. For a more accurate representation of my current varied musical tastes please check out my recent yearly charts.
I usually don't have a lot to say - the music does the talking, but I will endeavour to slowly add comments as time goes on.
- Chart updated: 04/21/2025 01:45
- (Created: 12/02/2016 06:18).
- Chart size: 100 albums.
There are 34 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 100 Greatest Music Albums has an average rating of 90 out of 100 (from 88 votes). Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.
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"With your feet in the air and your head on the ground"
My desert island disc. If I had only one album I could listen to ever again I would choose this. After over 25 years of listening to this album I still regularly play it and love it every time with no sign of ever tiring of it. My favourite band ever...I even have a Pixies tattoo.
Vamos is my beloved track, closely followed by Where Is My Mind?. Gigantic is a classic, Cactus is a favourite, and the 1-2 punch of Bone Machine and Break My Body is an awesome start to the album. [First added to this chart: 03/29/2017]
My desert island disc. If I had only one album I could listen to ever again I would choose this. After over 25 years of listening to this album I still regularly play it and love it every time with no sign of ever tiring of it. My favourite band ever...I even have a Pixies tattoo.
Vamos is my beloved track, closely followed by Where Is My Mind?. Gigantic is a classic, Cactus is a favourite, and the 1-2 punch of Bone Machine and Break My Body is an awesome start to the album. [First added to this chart: 03/29/2017]
Year of Release:
1988
Appears in:
Rank Score:
12,064
Rank in 1988:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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"When I was an alien
Cultures weren't opinions"
Best album ever! Too good for anything I can say about it. I am just so appreciative I was there at the time (Bleach was already a favourite), and seeing the rest of the world catch on.
Favourite song: whichever one I am listening to at the time - they are all that good to me. [First added to this chart: 03/29/2017]
Cultures weren't opinions"
Best album ever! Too good for anything I can say about it. I am just so appreciative I was there at the time (Bleach was already a favourite), and seeing the rest of the world catch on.
Favourite song: whichever one I am listening to at the time - they are all that good to me. [First added to this chart: 03/29/2017]
Year of Release:
1991
Appears in:
Rank Score:
37,902
Rank in 1991:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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"I'm gonna live the life I love
I'm gonna love the life I live"
Such a trippy album that you don't need the drugs - this album is the drug! When it first came out I thought this was a decent album but after a few listens, halfway through Higher Than The Sun, came a moment I'll never forget when something just clicked and I totally got this album. I became totally absorbed and lost in the music. After over 25 years this album never fails to transport me to another world, where the music is everything. The vocal performance in Damaged is the best singing Bobby Gillespie has ever done and the way he sounds so sad as he sings the line "I've never felt so happy" is something special that moves me every time.
I once had the privilege of seeing them perform this album live and it was mind blowing unlike anything I've ever experienced. One of my favourite live music experiences ever.
Too many 10/10 songs to mention but my favourites are Damaged, Higher Than The Sun, and Loaded. [First added to this chart: 03/29/2017]
I'm gonna love the life I live"
Such a trippy album that you don't need the drugs - this album is the drug! When it first came out I thought this was a decent album but after a few listens, halfway through Higher Than The Sun, came a moment I'll never forget when something just clicked and I totally got this album. I became totally absorbed and lost in the music. After over 25 years this album never fails to transport me to another world, where the music is everything. The vocal performance in Damaged is the best singing Bobby Gillespie has ever done and the way he sounds so sad as he sings the line "I've never felt so happy" is something special that moves me every time.
I once had the privilege of seeing them perform this album live and it was mind blowing unlike anything I've ever experienced. One of my favourite live music experiences ever.
Too many 10/10 songs to mention but my favourites are Damaged, Higher Than The Sun, and Loaded. [First added to this chart: 03/29/2017]
Year of Release:
1991
Appears in:
Rank Score:
5,235
Rank in 1991:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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"I was trying so hard to please myself,
I was turning into somebody else.
I was trying so hard to be myself
I was turning into somebody else."
This is one of those records that I just don't get how everyone doesn't see it's greatness. It is powerful and passionate, with fantastic emotive vocals and interesting post punky but accessible music. The songs are all constructed so well and the album flows like a story. Speaking of which there is a story being told here on both a personal and a political level, and if you get the chance to see the music videos that were made for every song on this album, in order, it all becomes so clear. It is a mixed media masterpiece. (music, video, short movies, long film). Great lyrics throughout.
10/10 songs: Seriously the first six songs are all perfect. [First added to this chart: 03/29/2017]
I was turning into somebody else.
I was trying so hard to be myself
I was turning into somebody else."
This is one of those records that I just don't get how everyone doesn't see it's greatness. It is powerful and passionate, with fantastic emotive vocals and interesting post punky but accessible music. The songs are all constructed so well and the album flows like a story. Speaking of which there is a story being told here on both a personal and a political level, and if you get the chance to see the music videos that were made for every song on this album, in order, it all becomes so clear. It is a mixed media masterpiece. (music, video, short movies, long film). Great lyrics throughout.
10/10 songs: Seriously the first six songs are all perfect. [First added to this chart: 03/29/2017]
Year of Release:
1986
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,029
Rank in 1986:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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"I hope you know that this will go down
On your permanent record"
A near perfect collection of teenage angst songs that are honest and relatable but a whole lot of fun at the same time. I was a teenager in the eighties when I first started listening to this sing along album and it always left me in a great mood.
Favourite tracks: Literally all of them, however I've seen them live a few times, and the first time in the early nineties they finished their show with Good Feeling and that was a perfect way to finish and one of my most memorable live musical moments ever. [First added to this chart: 03/29/2017]
On your permanent record"
A near perfect collection of teenage angst songs that are honest and relatable but a whole lot of fun at the same time. I was a teenager in the eighties when I first started listening to this sing along album and it always left me in a great mood.
Favourite tracks: Literally all of them, however I've seen them live a few times, and the first time in the early nineties they finished their show with Good Feeling and that was a perfect way to finish and one of my most memorable live musical moments ever. [First added to this chart: 03/29/2017]
Year of Release:
1983
Appears in:
Rank Score:
8,080
Rank in 1983:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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"You have no right to be depressed,
You haven't tried hard enough to like it"
I knew I had just listened to something special when I first heard this album, a feeling I haven't had since Nevermind. I listened to this album obsessively for a few months and I still haven't stopped listening to it regularly. It has most of the features of music I love, like full of emotion, great lyrics, great song writing, and passionate vocals.
10/10 songs: Drunk Drivers/Killer Whales, Vincent, Fill In The Blank, (Joe Gets Kicked out of School for Using) Drugs with Friends (But Says This Isn't a Problem), The Ballad Of The Costa Concordia, & 1937 State Park [First added to this chart: 03/29/2017]
You haven't tried hard enough to like it"
I knew I had just listened to something special when I first heard this album, a feeling I haven't had since Nevermind. I listened to this album obsessively for a few months and I still haven't stopped listening to it regularly. It has most of the features of music I love, like full of emotion, great lyrics, great song writing, and passionate vocals.
10/10 songs: Drunk Drivers/Killer Whales, Vincent, Fill In The Blank, (Joe Gets Kicked out of School for Using) Drugs with Friends (But Says This Isn't a Problem), The Ballad Of The Costa Concordia, & 1937 State Park [First added to this chart: 03/29/2017]
Year of Release:
2016
Appears in:
Rank Score:
7,138
Rank in 2016:
Rank in 2010s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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"And if the dam breaks open many years too soon
And if there is no room upon the hill
And if your head explodes with dark forebodings too
I'll see you on the dark side of the moon"
I had 2 best friends in my teenage years and the three of us explored and discovered a lot of music together. One of them was a huge Pink Floyd fan and even though I only got into Piper at the Gates of Dawn he used to play all their other albums a lot. Eventually familiarity bred affection and I now love a lot of Pink Floyd, mainly the Roger Waters era. Anyway he passed away at an early age and ever since this album provokes an emotional response and fond memories and will forever hold a special place in my heart. I hope he is enjoying the great gig in the sky and one day I will see him again on the dark side of the moon.
Special songs: Brain Damage, Eclipse, The Great Gig In The Sky [First added to this chart: 05/18/2017]
And if there is no room upon the hill
And if your head explodes with dark forebodings too
I'll see you on the dark side of the moon"
I had 2 best friends in my teenage years and the three of us explored and discovered a lot of music together. One of them was a huge Pink Floyd fan and even though I only got into Piper at the Gates of Dawn he used to play all their other albums a lot. Eventually familiarity bred affection and I now love a lot of Pink Floyd, mainly the Roger Waters era. Anyway he passed away at an early age and ever since this album provokes an emotional response and fond memories and will forever hold a special place in my heart. I hope he is enjoying the great gig in the sky and one day I will see him again on the dark side of the moon.
Special songs: Brain Damage, Eclipse, The Great Gig In The Sky [First added to this chart: 05/18/2017]
Year of Release:
1973
Appears in:
Rank Score:
60,293
Rank in 1973:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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"I am tired, I am weary
I could sleep for a thousand years
A thousand dreams that would awake me
Different colors made of tears"
One of the most influential albums in setting my music taste from first listening to this as a 17-18 year old, especially an appreciation of dissonance.
10/10 songs: Heroin, Venus In Furs, Femme Fatale, All Tomorrow's Parties & I'm Waiting For The Man. [First added to this chart: 03/29/2017]
I could sleep for a thousand years
A thousand dreams that would awake me
Different colors made of tears"
One of the most influential albums in setting my music taste from first listening to this as a 17-18 year old, especially an appreciation of dissonance.
10/10 songs: Heroin, Venus In Furs, Femme Fatale, All Tomorrow's Parties & I'm Waiting For The Man. [First added to this chart: 03/29/2017]
Year of Release:
1967
Appears in:
Rank Score:
40,103
Rank in 1967:
Rank in 1960s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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"Got me a movie
I want you to know
Slicing up eyeballs
I want you to know
Girlie so groovy
I want you to know
Don't know about you
But I am un chien andalusia"
Quality album from beginning to end. I remember the summer of 89/90 my mate copied this album and Surfer Rosa on each side of a tape. I hardly listened to anything else that summer and played to everyone who would listen.
10/10"songs: A third of the album! Hey, Debaser, Wave of Mutilation, Tame, and Monkey Gone To Heaven [First added to this chart: 03/29/2017]
I want you to know
Slicing up eyeballs
I want you to know
Girlie so groovy
I want you to know
Don't know about you
But I am un chien andalusia"
Quality album from beginning to end. I remember the summer of 89/90 my mate copied this album and Surfer Rosa on each side of a tape. I hardly listened to anything else that summer and played to everyone who would listen.
10/10"songs: A third of the album! Hey, Debaser, Wave of Mutilation, Tame, and Monkey Gone To Heaven [First added to this chart: 03/29/2017]
Year of Release:
1989
Appears in:
Rank Score:
31,677
Rank in 1989:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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"My thoughts were so loud, I couldn't hear my mouth"
I love great lyrics and there are so many on this album. I could choose favourite lyrics from every song. Well everyone with lyrics that is. This was the album that started my obsession with Modest Mouse. I love Isaac Brock's vocal delivery. His timing, emphasis, etc is top quality. The music is also fantastic and enough variety that I will never get bored of listening to this album. For me they are the best band of the 2000s without a doubt.
Favourite songs: The World At Large, Bukowski, Float On, Ocean Breathes Salty, The View [First added to this chart: 03/29/2017]
I love great lyrics and there are so many on this album. I could choose favourite lyrics from every song. Well everyone with lyrics that is. This was the album that started my obsession with Modest Mouse. I love Isaac Brock's vocal delivery. His timing, emphasis, etc is top quality. The music is also fantastic and enough variety that I will never get bored of listening to this album. For me they are the best band of the 2000s without a doubt.
Favourite songs: The World At Large, Bukowski, Float On, Ocean Breathes Salty, The View [First added to this chart: 03/29/2017]
Year of Release:
2004
Appears in:
Rank Score:
4,203
Rank in 2004:
Rank in 2000s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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 | 5 | 5% | |
| 1970s | 9 | 9% | |
| 1980s | 29 | 29% | |
| 1990s | 35 | 35% | |
| 2000s | 6 | 6% | |
| 2010s | 16 | 16% | |
| 2020s | 0 | 0% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| The Smiths | 5 | 5% | |
| Pixies | 4 | 4% | |
| Nirvana | 4 | 4% | |
| Sonic Youth | 3 | 3% | |
| R.E.M. | 3 | 3% | |
| Pink Floyd | 3 | 3% | |
| Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds | 2 | 2% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums chart changes
| Biggest climbers |
|---|
| Up 2 from 100th to 98th Sound Of Silver by LCD Soundsystem |
| Biggest fallers |
|---|
| Down 2 from 98th to 100th Nonagon Infinity by King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard |
| New entries |
|---|
| More Scared Of You Than You Are Of Me by The Smith Street Band |
| Leavers |
|---|
| Light Up Gold by Parquet Courts |
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums similar charts
| Title | Source | Type | Published | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 1990s | Purplepash | 1990s decade chart | 2025 | |
| Top 99 Greatest Music Albums | LimpLimbs | Overall chart | 2017 |  |
| Scrobbles Don't Lie | Purplepash | Custom chart | 2025 | |
| Top 95 Greatest Music Albums | khj11 | Overall chart | 2018 |  |
| Top 100 Greatest Music Albums | KILLALLHIPPIES | Overall chart | 2014 |  |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s | Purplepash | 1980s decade chart | 2025 | |
| Top 90.3 Listener Voted Albums | KEXP | Overall chart | 2008 | |
| Top 100 Greatest Music Albums | pdapperens | Overall chart | 2015 |  |
| Top 100 Greatest Music Albums | NamibiaStarr | Overall chart | 2015 |  |
| Top 100 Greatest Music Albums | Kettwig | Overall chart | 2025 |  |
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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 5 ratings for this chart. | Show all 88 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ! | 04/27/2025 04:27 | matterhornrider | 95 | 93/100 |
| ! | 03/28/2025 12:08 |  Bach | 956 | 78/100 |
| ! | 02/06/2025 12:43 |  pedro1976 | 107 | 85/100 |
| ! | 01/09/2025 16:16 | DrewHamster | 317 | 79/100 |
| ! | 08/11/2023 09:11 | KineticEchoes02 | 111 | 88/100 |
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 2% of all charts on BestEverAlbums.com. This chart has a Bayesian average rating of 90.3/100, a mean average of 90.5/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 90.9/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 7.2.
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums favourites
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums comments
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From 
CharlieBarley 05/23/2022 12:18 | #285644
CharlieBarley 05/23/2022 12:18 | #285644
Great chart
Similar 80s/90s influences
Like your notes
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
Strangel 10/16/2021 09:29 | #275087
Strangel 10/16/2021 09:29 | #275087
Pleasantly surprised to see Jebediah (in a slightly odd way). Leading the pack for the Aussie connection. Love your write-ups. Not a fan of The Smiths so that holds me back a bit from gushing over your chart ?.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From cronadigallina 03/08/2021 17:19 | #267097
That's an awesome list with surprisingly high ranked Ought and The The. Nice to see Stiff Little Fingers or a few australian bands which I do not know. Great!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
EyeKanFly 09/10/2020 22:44 | #258028
EyeKanFly 09/10/2020 22:44 | #258028
Awesome chart, a little heavy on the 90s for my taste but the music you have from the 2010s (KG&tLW, Car Seat Headrest, Parquet Courts) are favorites of mine.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From BraddlesHendo 09/10/2020 11:48 | #258003
This is great I really love The The Infected as well.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
DommeDamian 05/20/2020 19:29 | #251762
DommeDamian 05/20/2020 19:29 | #251762
Nothing but love for your fascinating chart!
ICU digging that alternative/noisy sound. Absolute recommend you check out The Replacements and early Captain Beefheart
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From Purplepash 12/16/2019 10:45 | #245716
Purplepash 12/16/2019 10:45 | #245716
@doubleA: Thanks for the well considered recs. Sound Of Silver, and all of the LCD Soundsystem albums, are already favourites. Ege Bamyasi was great. Loved Feels and Strawberry Jam...not so much Sung Tongs. Still got to get around to Dungen and Ghost but I'm sure I will sometime.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
kynes 12/06/2019 10:31 | #245407
kynes 12/06/2019 10:31 | #245407
Solid, if a bit devoid of genre diversity. It's always nice to see CSH appreciated.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
Jameth 09/27/2019 18:54 | #243120
Jameth 09/27/2019 18:54 | #243120
I love you're chart Purple, even if it leans heavily on 80's and 90's alternative and punk. You've gone further down that path than I've been down any. You introduced me to some very good albums that might have taken me years to try, otherwise. I'll be back for more; I need to carry on with Spacemen 3, for sure.
I have to disagree with Nevermind over In Utero, though, even if that is the first CD I ever bought for myself. : P
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From LankyLen 09/26/2019 13:18 | #243090
Great chart! Putting the Pixies on top is a good call!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
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