Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by 
JulianR 
Hey!
I am quite excited to discuss literally anything about music ("literal" used in the literal, not figurative sense). I don't really know anyone that listens to the breadth and depth of music that I do. So if you disagree with something I say, or just want to talk about music, totally message me. Also if you want recommendations, or have some for me, totally message me or comment. Thank you!
Just as a heads up, the descriptions for these albums could have been written yesterday, or 18 months ago. They may not be totally reflective of my opinions on them now, though they were at one point at least.
Chart of the Day: 2/21/18, 4/23/19
Questions, comments, concerns, and especially recommendations are all heavily encouraged
Thanks
- Julian
- Chart updated: 02/07/2020 06:45
- (Created: 12/14/2016 01:31).
- Chart size: 100 albums.
There are 72 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 100 Greatest Music Albums has an average rating of 92 out of 100 (from 106 votes). Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.
View the complete list of 53,000 charts on BestEverAlbums.com from The Charts page.
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Lo-Fi • Folk-Rock
90/100
Cover Art: 6/10
"They know
My warm blood flows still"
This record represents a very important part of my musical journey (probably the same spot that Velvet Underground & Nico occupies for many others). It made me realize fully that music could be extremely messy, sounding almost intentionally so, and yet be equally amazing. This album, like TVU+N and others, just sometimes sounds bad. Sounds combine in ways that just don't go together, that don't seem remotely musical. Lou's weezy, monotone vocals or Phil's boyish croon. And yet, we as humans are able to appreciate these sounds, for whatever reason. For the longest time, it was maybe the only album that I failed to articulate why I loved it so much, but I think I may have finally put my finger on it: This is an album makes an art out of imperfection. I'm not sure how else to describe it than by saying that while much of art is the attempt to achieve perfection, this is the attempt and subsequent success of achieving imperfection. There is no part of this album that feels like it is secure. When listening to it, one most come to terms with the fact that it can, and sometimes does, fall apart when you least expect it. Rhythms flow in and out of existence, barely stable enough to carry the music along, even in their most stable forms. The melodies are fragile, timid, but beautiful. His voice may be boyish, you may hear his voice crack, but you can tell that he believes every word he is singing and that these words come from a place deep inside him. Yet, once you get past the initial appearances of this album, the overt and overwhelming organic compositions and they way it feels like the music just flows forth from him, you realize how meticulously constructed it is. Every bit of imperfection is placed carefully (dare I say perfectly?) next to its neighbors, to create a glorious patchwork. Phil truly is a masterful composer, but has equally masterful skills in hiding that fact under layers of imperfection and frailty.
Best Moment:
Title track, (2:30): "My bloooooooooooooooooooooooooooooood flows harshly"
Map: The intro builds up very powerfully [First added to this chart: 06/16/2017]
90/100
Cover Art: 6/10
"They know
My warm blood flows still"
This record represents a very important part of my musical journey (probably the same spot that Velvet Underground & Nico occupies for many others). It made me realize fully that music could be extremely messy, sounding almost intentionally so, and yet be equally amazing. This album, like TVU+N and others, just sometimes sounds bad. Sounds combine in ways that just don't go together, that don't seem remotely musical. Lou's weezy, monotone vocals or Phil's boyish croon. And yet, we as humans are able to appreciate these sounds, for whatever reason. For the longest time, it was maybe the only album that I failed to articulate why I loved it so much, but I think I may have finally put my finger on it: This is an album makes an art out of imperfection. I'm not sure how else to describe it than by saying that while much of art is the attempt to achieve perfection, this is the attempt and subsequent success of achieving imperfection. There is no part of this album that feels like it is secure. When listening to it, one most come to terms with the fact that it can, and sometimes does, fall apart when you least expect it. Rhythms flow in and out of existence, barely stable enough to carry the music along, even in their most stable forms. The melodies are fragile, timid, but beautiful. His voice may be boyish, you may hear his voice crack, but you can tell that he believes every word he is singing and that these words come from a place deep inside him. Yet, once you get past the initial appearances of this album, the overt and overwhelming organic compositions and they way it feels like the music just flows forth from him, you realize how meticulously constructed it is. Every bit of imperfection is placed carefully (dare I say perfectly?) next to its neighbors, to create a glorious patchwork. Phil truly is a masterful composer, but has equally masterful skills in hiding that fact under layers of imperfection and frailty.
Best Moment:
Title track, (2:30): "My bloooooooooooooooooooooooooooooood flows harshly"
Map: The intro builds up very powerfully [First added to this chart: 06/16/2017]
Year of Release:
2001
Appears in:
Rank Score:
8,496
Rank in 2001:
Rank in 2000s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
58
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Shoegaze • Dream-pop
90/100
CA: 6/10
A beautiful and ethereal album. Much less heavy than what I would traditionally call shoegaze but it has enough very shoegaze-y moments to qualify it. Though songs like Sing are much more dream-pop-y.
Overall, a surprisingly gorgeous album. [First added to this chart: 07/13/2017]
90/100
CA: 6/10
A beautiful and ethereal album. Much less heavy than what I would traditionally call shoegaze but it has enough very shoegaze-y moments to qualify it. Though songs like Sing are much more dream-pop-y.
Overall, a surprisingly gorgeous album. [First added to this chart: 07/13/2017]
Year of Release:
1993
Appears in:
Rank Score:
12,293
Rank in 1993:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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Math Rock • Post-Hardcore
90/100
CA: 4/10
This is probably one of the more intense picks I have on my chart right now (Pixies excluded). This is because this album is intense in the right way. Lots of "heavy" albums try too hard to be heavy. Lots of black metal is like this; they have to have someone scream nonsensically over the top of it in order to feel scary enough. But 95% of the time it doesn't work. 5% of the time it does, and this is one of those times. It doesn't feel like they're trying to be too math-y or abrasive, that's just how they are. Their music couldn't be any other way.
Math rock usually makes me feel tired. Worn out is a better description actually. I never feel that way with spiderland, and not often with this. Other stuff, like Unwound, I usually have to do in smaller doses. [First added to this chart: 10/07/2017]
90/100
CA: 4/10
This is probably one of the more intense picks I have on my chart right now (Pixies excluded). This is because this album is intense in the right way. Lots of "heavy" albums try too hard to be heavy. Lots of black metal is like this; they have to have someone scream nonsensically over the top of it in order to feel scary enough. But 95% of the time it doesn't work. 5% of the time it does, and this is one of those times. It doesn't feel like they're trying to be too math-y or abrasive, that's just how they are. Their music couldn't be any other way.
Math rock usually makes me feel tired. Worn out is a better description actually. I never feel that way with spiderland, and not often with this. Other stuff, like Unwound, I usually have to do in smaller doses. [First added to this chart: 10/07/2017]
Year of Release:
1994
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,129
Rank in 1994:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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Experimental Rock • Neo-Psychedelic • Electronic, mild
90/100
Cover Art: 9/10
"Is it wrong to think it's love
When it tries the way it does"
Warmth. That is what comes to mind when I think of this album. Not just the warm colors on the cover art, but the warmth of every texture and every note on this album. The bassline to "One More Robot/Sympathy 3000-21", the fluctuating single guitar note that serves as the backbone of "Summertime", the layered and jangly "Do You Realize", all are warm. It's a combination of the cover art, the music, and also Wayne Coyne's wholesome, optimistic, psychedelic lyrics. Tell me listening to the words of "Do You Realize" doesn't make you want to hug everyone you know.
By only issue with the album would be the closing track. It may have won a grammy, but I think it's the worst on there. Or it could have at least been put somewhere else, I feel like it kinda removes from the slightly calmer vibe of the second side. Idk, its still a pretty good song.
BM:
One More Robot/Sympathy 3000-21, (4:19): The beautiful instrumental at the end that serves as a perfect transition to the title track. Warmth, I tell you
The drumming on Are You A Hypnotist? [First added to this chart: 12/13/2016]
90/100
Cover Art: 9/10
"Is it wrong to think it's love
When it tries the way it does"
Warmth. That is what comes to mind when I think of this album. Not just the warm colors on the cover art, but the warmth of every texture and every note on this album. The bassline to "One More Robot/Sympathy 3000-21", the fluctuating single guitar note that serves as the backbone of "Summertime", the layered and jangly "Do You Realize", all are warm. It's a combination of the cover art, the music, and also Wayne Coyne's wholesome, optimistic, psychedelic lyrics. Tell me listening to the words of "Do You Realize" doesn't make you want to hug everyone you know.
By only issue with the album would be the closing track. It may have won a grammy, but I think it's the worst on there. Or it could have at least been put somewhere else, I feel like it kinda removes from the slightly calmer vibe of the second side. Idk, its still a pretty good song.
BM:
One More Robot/Sympathy 3000-21, (4:19): The beautiful instrumental at the end that serves as a perfect transition to the title track. Warmth, I tell you
The drumming on Are You A Hypnotist? [First added to this chart: 12/13/2016]
Year of Release:
2002
Appears in:
Rank Score:
12,097
Rank in 2002:
Rank in 2000s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
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Indie Rock • Orchestral Rock
90/100
CA: 8/10
"You're screaming and
cursing, and
angry, and
hurting me"
One of the most beautiful and well produced albums I've ever heard. Everything sounds like it's floating. The vocals take a bit to get used to but are really amazing once you do. I don't think of it as particularly sad, because sad albums make you cry, and only "A Crow Looked At Me" has done that. But is definitely hauntingly beautiful. The Antlers are great at creating atmosphere on this album.
BM:
Kettering: When the drums kick in [First added to this chart: 08/10/2017]
90/100
CA: 8/10
"You're screaming and
cursing, and
angry, and
hurting me"
One of the most beautiful and well produced albums I've ever heard. Everything sounds like it's floating. The vocals take a bit to get used to but are really amazing once you do. I don't think of it as particularly sad, because sad albums make you cry, and only "A Crow Looked At Me" has done that. But is definitely hauntingly beautiful. The Antlers are great at creating atmosphere on this album.
BM:
Kettering: When the drums kick in [First added to this chart: 08/10/2017]
Year of Release:
2009
Appears in:
Rank Score:
6,273
Rank in 2009:
Rank in 2000s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
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Noise Rock • Art Rock
90/100
CA: 6/10
"Ohhh but I haven't got the time time
She was a suckin on my ding-dong"
Embrace the distortion, and you will find one of your favorite records buried inside "White Light/White Heat." But this record also begs the question of what makes an album great; Sure the title track is amazing, Here she comes is beautiful, and Sister Ray is some of the best music ever recorded, but there is 8+ minutes of art-house storytelling in the middle of Side 1. How much does it detract from the album? I personally don't really like the track, and Lady Godiva is mediocre (...SWEETLY), but the rest is basically all my favorite VU songs. (Edit: It has been brought to my attention that some people think those two aforementioned tracks are the best on the album. I can't fathom how though).
And then weighing the blemishes against Sister Ray. The way I like to think about it is: everyone has their favorite songs right? And you could listen to all of them and totally love them. But if your favorite song is Sister Ray, you don't get 3 and a half minutes of awesome, you get 18 minutes of awesome. That's gotta be work something. It's like having 5 of your favorite songs back to back on an album. Framed like that, how is this not a masterpiece? And the answer to that rhetorical question is that it is, in fact, a masterpiece. [First added to this chart: 09/03/2017]
90/100
CA: 6/10
"Ohhh but I haven't got the time time
She was a suckin on my ding-dong"
Embrace the distortion, and you will find one of your favorite records buried inside "White Light/White Heat." But this record also begs the question of what makes an album great; Sure the title track is amazing, Here she comes is beautiful, and Sister Ray is some of the best music ever recorded, but there is 8+ minutes of art-house storytelling in the middle of Side 1. How much does it detract from the album? I personally don't really like the track, and Lady Godiva is mediocre (...SWEETLY), but the rest is basically all my favorite VU songs. (Edit: It has been brought to my attention that some people think those two aforementioned tracks are the best on the album. I can't fathom how though).
And then weighing the blemishes against Sister Ray. The way I like to think about it is: everyone has their favorite songs right? And you could listen to all of them and totally love them. But if your favorite song is Sister Ray, you don't get 3 and a half minutes of awesome, you get 18 minutes of awesome. That's gotta be work something. It's like having 5 of your favorite songs back to back on an album. Framed like that, how is this not a masterpiece? And the answer to that rhetorical question is that it is, in fact, a masterpiece. [First added to this chart: 09/03/2017]
Year of Release:
1968
Appears in:
Rank Score:
9,957
Rank in 1968:
Rank in 1960s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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Indie Rock • Orchestral Rock
90/100
CA: 6/10
"We forgot all the names that-
The names we used to know. "
Awesome songs, though there are definitely some songs that a would consider just mediocre. But this is of course made up for by some of Arcade Fire's best material, such as neighborhoods #1, 3, and 4, along with Wake Up and Crown of Love.
BM:
The chorus' of Neighborhood #1 and Wake Up [First added to this chart: 08/10/2017]
90/100
CA: 6/10
"We forgot all the names that-
The names we used to know. "
Awesome songs, though there are definitely some songs that a would consider just mediocre. But this is of course made up for by some of Arcade Fire's best material, such as neighborhoods #1, 3, and 4, along with Wake Up and Crown of Love.
BM:
The chorus' of Neighborhood #1 and Wake Up [First added to this chart: 08/10/2017]
Year of Release:
2004
Appears in:
Rank Score:
41,731
Rank in 2004:
Rank in 2000s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
90/100
[First added to this chart: 07/10/2017]
Year of Release:
2003
Appears in:
Rank Score:
4,484
Rank in 2003:
Rank in 2000s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
90/100
[First added to this chart: 11/07/2017]
Year of Release:
1995
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,793
Rank in 1995:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
90/100
[First added to this chart: 02/05/2019]
Year of Release:
1997
Appears in:
Rank Score:
7,198
Rank in 1997:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 100. Page 7 of 10
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums composition
| Decade | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|
|
| 1930s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1940s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1950s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1960s | 13 | 13% | |
| 1970s | 12 | 12% | |
| 1980s | 8 | 8% | |
| 1990s | 25 | 25% | |
| 2000s | 21 | 21% | |
| 2010s | 21 | 21% | |
| 2020s | 0 | 0% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
 |
|
|
| The Flaming Lips | 5 | 5% | |
| Pink Floyd | 4 | 4% | |
| Kendrick Lamar | 3 | 3% | |
| Kanye West | 3 | 3% | |
| Talk Talk | 3 | 3% | |
| Radiohead | 3 | 3% | |
| Bob Dylan | 3 | 3% | |
| Show all | |||
| Country | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
58 | 58% | |
 |
26 | 26% | |
 |
5 | 5% | |
 |
5 | 5% | |
 |
2 | 2% | |
 |
1 | 1% | |
 |
1 | 1% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums chart changes
| Biggest fallers |
|---|
| Down 1 from 60th to 61st The Glow Pt. 2 by The Microphones |
| Down 1 from 61st to 62nd Souvlaki by Slowdive |
| Down 1 from 62nd to 63rd Yank Crime by Drive Like Jehu |
| New entries |
|---|
 Turn On The Bright Lightsby Interpol |
| In The Flat Field by Bauhaus |
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums ratings
92/100 (from 106 votes)
where:
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 106 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
100/100  | 01/22/2023 22:16 | Rm12398 | | 89/100 |
80/100 | 07/13/2022 22:08 |  Applerill | | 75/100 |
85/100 | 12/10/2020 00:38 | ars2458 | | 78/100 |
100/100 | 06/14/2020 12:47 | BraddlesHendo | | 91/100 |
90/100 | 03/30/2020 09:20 | RomanRelic | | 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).
(*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 92.0/100, a mean average of 92.0/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 92.6/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 10.3.
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums comments
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100/100
From Rm12398 01/22/2023 22:17
What a chart!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
90/100
From Juneof44 04/29/2021 06:58
I really appreciate your effort, a solid chart and i love the rating to the cover
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From Foxforce5 02/05/2021 03:26
Thanks for the hard work. I came to your chart after reading your comments about Rubber Soul and Bringing It All Back Home being ‘transitional’ albums and thought to myself ‘there’s someone with a similar pair of ears’!
Anyhow, your comments inspired me to listen to the ‘transitional’ Bon Iver album, and I’ll give Lorde another go. I mean listening is what it’s all about, right?
In answer to your question on Mezzanine, Pet Sounds is better produced, so now you know.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
85/100
From ars2458 12/10/2020 00:38
Wow, I truly love FEFEA and Age of Adz, but I don't have the depth on older stuff. I am going to give those specific albums a chance. I have listened to Bowie and Pink Floyd, but not those albums, so maybe I will hear something different this time.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
100/100
From Vegetariat 02/03/2020 10:16
Great list with wonderful notes and recommendations. Your description of Loveless and Shoegaze is as touching as it is true. You're right about Touched, haha
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
80/100
From mianfei 12/16/2019 13:05
Although the list is really an odd mix of soul/hip of and progressive rock/post-rock (if I am not mistaken, I did see a similar combination somewhere else on this site on an earlier browse last autumn), there is not that much of real note in the chart.
However, the lack of really unusual albums and a grouping of genres that is merely on the “eccentric” side is certainly compensated for by some impressive notes, which substantially add to the rating.
Some albums you might not have heard that I could attempt to recommend based on your taste:
— ‘Yeti’ by Amon Düül II
— ‘H to He Who Am the Only One’ and ‘Pawn Hearts’ by Van der Graaf Generator
— ‘A Return to the Inner Experience’, ‘This Timeless Turning’ and ‘Moonbathing on Sleeping Leaves’ by Sky Cries Mary
— ‘Gala’ and ‘Spooky’ by Lush
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
95/100
From bonnequestion 12/04/2019 12:41
Very nice and unique chart, very inspiring! And also, good job on all those comments.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +3 votes (3 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
100/100
From Timooosterink 12/04/2019 10:20
Really nice chart, maybe you like Gorillaz?
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +3 votes (3 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
95/100
From 
kynes 12/04/2019 09:07
kynes 12/04/2019 09:07
the final cut getting some deserved appreciation is nice to see! i will always have respect for users who take the time to write significant blurbs for many of the records in their charts
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
90/100
From pctrooper 11/12/2019 23:34
Not a huge fan of all these albums, but I really like the chart with its descriptions and stuff.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
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| Best Artists of 1960 | |
|---|---|
| 1. John Coltrane | |
| 2. Miles Davis | |
| 3. Etta James | |
| 4. Charles Mingus | |
| 5. Elvis Presley | |
| 6. Joan Baez | |
| 7. Max Roach | |
| 8. The Everly Brothers | |
| 9. Muddy Waters | |
| 10. Wes Montgomery | |
| 11. Hank Mobley | |
| 12. Bill Evans | |
| 13. Bill Evans Trio | |
| 14. Ella Fitzgerald | |
| 15. Johnny Cash | |
| 16. John Lee Hooker | |
| 17. Eddie Cochran | |
| 18. Miriam Makeba | |
| 19. Bo Diddley | |
| 20. Olatunji |