Top 26 Greatest Music Albums
by stretchy 
This chart is very personal so I'm not just rating the albums on quality. When it comes to quality, I don't think I know what I'm talking about. I am the kind of person to fall in love with a certain sound for a while, archive the albums from that sound that I love the most, then move on. I use the timeless, influential bands as tools to broaden my tastes, kind of. The order of these will change more often than I have time to update this, as is the case with most of you.
- Chart updated: 10/05/2012 09:06
- (Created: 11/19/2011 00:11).
- Chart size: 26 albums.
There are 2 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 26 Greatest Music Albums has an average rating of 87 out of 100 (from 5 votes). Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.
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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I got into Siouxsie through Robert Smith, predictably. She is, to me, my favorite rock icon. This is, to me, the most underrated album on this site.
The more popular songs on here are Spellbound and Arabian Nights, but no one seems to pay attention to the second track RIGHT BETWEEN the "standouts." Into the Light may very well be my favorite song of all time with the greatest crescendo in anything Goth/punk that I've heard.
When you listen to it, pay close attention to the drum and bass combo in the first part of the song and compare it to the seemingly similar melodies at two and a half minutes into the song and about four minutes in. Notice how that melody sounds so empty at the beginning and so fulfilled at the end. Tears.
Also, that sinister guitar in the chorus. I wish someone could tell me what that effect is called and any songs that utilize it similarly.
If I could write more about this, I would. [First added to this chart: 11/18/2011]
The more popular songs on here are Spellbound and Arabian Nights, but no one seems to pay attention to the second track RIGHT BETWEEN the "standouts." Into the Light may very well be my favorite song of all time with the greatest crescendo in anything Goth/punk that I've heard.
When you listen to it, pay close attention to the drum and bass combo in the first part of the song and compare it to the seemingly similar melodies at two and a half minutes into the song and about four minutes in. Notice how that melody sounds so empty at the beginning and so fulfilled at the end. Tears.
Also, that sinister guitar in the chorus. I wish someone could tell me what that effect is called and any songs that utilize it similarly.
If I could write more about this, I would. [First added to this chart: 11/18/2011]
Year of Release:
1981
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,003
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Comments:
26
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I love Robert Smith and all of his compositions and side-projects. This is currently my favorite Cure album. My favorite seems to switch around a lot with them, but this has remained number one for the longest. It captures the essence of Winter better than any piece of seasonal poetry can.
[First added to this chart: 11/18/2011]
Year of Release:
1980
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,784
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This band is one of the few where I follow their entire body of work and observe the changes and phases shown during different periods of the band's career. While Precious is, by far, my favorite song of theirs, this holds up best as a complete album. I like the lasting impression Clean made, and I think it made for a nice closer. Blue Dress is my second favorite song about a dress, bested only by PJ Harvey's Dress. But I think that in terms of subject matter, Blue Dress wins because of the weird fetish references. I really like hearing that in music.
[First added to this chart: 11/18/2011]
Year of Release:
1990
Appears in:
Rank Score:
12,403
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MGMT is my favorite band since March of 2010, when they played Brian Eno on Saturday Night Live to promote this album. It doesn't matter if Oracular Spectacular is the better album or Time to Pretend isn't noticed enough. I'm keeping this to one album per artist and I'm including this because this is a big part of what brought my musical taste to where it is now.
[First added to this chart: 11/18/2011]
Year of Release:
2010
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,599
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I don't really understand why this isn't higher on this site. This a classic. Even the remix album is the best remix album I've heard, which may or not be be saying something based on my above-par collection of Acid Jazz. I love the whole world of the "hell" of modern society. I love being taken to that underground world of lust, drugs and inexplicably kinky sex through Trent Reznor's whispers. This is the only album that I listen to exclusively with headphones. It's the best way to enjoy the subtle tweaks in the mix. Remember the monologue where the only thing you can make out is "So much blood for such a tiny hole"? How does he make that solitary line more audible than the rest of the dialogue without making increasing the volume or lowering the volume of the surrounding tracks? I want him to teach me the way. This and Loveless are the two albums that taught me not only about music, but about sound.
[First added to this chart: 11/18/2011]
Year of Release:
1994
Appears in:
Rank Score:
9,558
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This is mesmerizing. I love the off-beat feminine falsetto sounds like St. Vincent, Cocteau Twins, Beach House, and Bjork. I just crave that quirkiness. So, when I'm in a mood for it, and I'm not feeling specific, this does the trick better than anything. And the cover art is so majestic.
[First added to this chart: 11/18/2011]
Year of Release:
1997
Appears in:
Rank Score:
13,637
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It's probably just the age I'm at, but this is a masterpiece.
[First added to this chart: 12/22/2011]
Year of Release:
1986
Appears in:
Rank Score:
34,764
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8. (13) 
5
5
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This guy's voice does things for me. It's the most depressing music I have, not for lyrics or tone, but instead because I have a terrible fear that I'll never be able to create art this moving. But, all told, I think I was only able to get as into this as I am without listening to White Pony first, and falling in love with it.
[First added to this chart: 10/05/2012]
Year of Release:
1997
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,386
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[First added to this chart: 10/05/2012]
Year of Release:
1992
Appears in:
Rank Score:
7,449
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Comments:
10. (27) 17
17
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[First added to this chart: 10/05/2012]
Year of Release:
2011
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,561
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Total albums: 26. Page 1 of 3
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Top 26 Greatest Music Albums composition
| Decade | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
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|
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| 1930s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1940s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1950s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1960s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1970s | 2 | 8% | |
| 1980s | 5 | 19% | |
| 1990s | 12 | 46% | |
| 2000s | 2 | 8% | |
| 2010s | 5 | 19% | |
| 2020s | 0 | 0% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
 |
|
|
| Sonic Youth | 1 | 4% | |
| Siouxsie And The Banshees | 1 | 4% | |
| My Bloody Valentine | 1 | 4% | |
| Cocteau Twins | 1 | 4% | |
| The Cure | 1 | 4% | |
| Circa Survive | 1 | 4% | |
| Beach House | 1 | 4% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 26 Greatest Music Albums chart changes
| Biggest climbers |
|---|
| Up 17 from 27th to 10th Yuck by Yuck |
| Up 12 from 26th to 14th Team Sleep by Team Sleep |
| Up 9 from 12th to 3rd Violator by Depeche Mode |
| Biggest fallers |
|---|
| Down 11 from 6th to 17th Transformer by Lou Reed |
| Down 10 from 9th to 19th Horses by Patti Smith |
| Down 8 from 4th to 12th Loveless by My Bloody Valentine |
| Leavers |
|---|
 Toxicityby System Of A Down |
Top 26 Greatest Music Albums similar charts
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| Top 26 Music Albums of the 1980s | Saxonjulin | 1980s decade chart | 2018 | |
| Top 20 Greatest Music Albums | Krines.Jan | Overall chart | 2010 | |
| Top 20 Greatest Music Albums |  45rpm | Overall chart | 2010 | |
| Top 22 Greatest Music Albums | hamon-kair | Overall chart | 2011 | |
| Top 16 Greatest Music Albums | chevi1989 | Overall chart | 2010 | |
| Top 26 Music Albums of the 1990s |  FlorianJones | 1990s decade chart | 2020 | |
| Top 20 Greatest Music Albums | KevinTurvey | Overall chart | 2010 | |
| Top 20 Greatest Music Albums | Colton8er | Overall chart | 2012 | |
| Top 18 Greatest Music Albums | mnkuhman | Overall chart | 2010 | |
Top 26 Greatest Music Albums similarity to your chart(s)
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Top 26 Greatest Music Albums ratings
87/100 (from 5 votes)
where:
av = trimmed mean average rating an item has currently received.
n = number of ratings an item has currently received.
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N.B. The average rating for this chart will not be reliable as it has been rated very few times.
Showing all 5 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
95/100  | 03/08/2018 20:27 |  LedZep | | 84/100 |
95/100 | 11/20/2014 14:48 | BraddlesHendo | | 91/100 |
 80/100 | 11/19/2011 21:47 | LoungeAct27 | | 80/100 |
| 85/100 | 11/18/2011 22:54 |  Bach | | 78/100 |
| 85/100 | 11/18/2011 19:15 |  Triple Seis | | 79/100 |
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Top 26 Greatest Music Albums comments
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95/100
From LedZep 03/08/2018 20:28
LedZep 03/08/2018 20:28
The coolest chart around. Love the pick, especially english alternative 80s stuff. Would love to see top 100, with some kickass 70s choices as well!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
95/100
From BraddlesHendo 11/20/2014 14:49
Your list is amazing
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
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| Best Artists of the 1970s | |
|---|---|
| 1. Pink Floyd | |
| 2. David Bowie | |
| 3. Led Zeppelin | |
| 4. Neil Young | |
| 5. The Rolling Stones | |
| 6. The Clash | |
| 7. Black Sabbath | |
| 8. Fleetwood Mac | |
| 9. Stevie Wonder | |
| 10. The Who | |
| 11. Genesis | |
| 12. Brian Eno | |
| 13. Joni Mitchell | |
| 14. Paul McCartney | |
| 15. Yes | |
| 16. Bob Dylan | |
| 17. Bob Marley | |
| 18. Bruce Springsteen | |
| 19. Nick Drake | |
| 20. Marvin Gaye |