Top 71 Greatest Music Albums
by indieshins

UPDATE 2022: Slowly going through the process of updating this chart - I thought I'd do that rather than create an entirely new one. This new chart will hopefully give a more complete picture of my musical tastes and the development of it since I first made this chart. I hope to have a good variety of eras and genres, and a good mix of objective and subjective picks.

I have two sides to my musical identity: first, left-field, experimental, artsy, alternative, cerebral. Second, accessible, catchy, fun, possibly mainstream (though not necessarily). Often, a favourite album will have elements of both. In any case, I intend to represent both sides amply here.

Notes will be added gradually over time.

• Chart updated: 04/12/2024 07:15
• (Created: 06/08/2017 04:40).
• Chart size: 71 albums.

• Summary
• Composition
• Ratings
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• Comments
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1. (=)

In Rainbows 

 Radiohead

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I tend to tell people this is my favourite album. It's probably Radiohead's most beautiful album (AMSP cuts it close), with the various guitar effects and the influences of dub coming to the fore beautifully. I love the way that many of the songs are based around a recurring motif which is then layered upon, creating a hypnotic, spacious and relaxing atmosphere. Additionally, Thom's vocals are exquisite on this album. They sound very much as if he is in the room with you, confessing his deepest feelings - but in a way that implies he is understanding of your own feelings. An album I can put on at any time and cheer up. Masterful.

Honourable Mentions: The Bends, OK Computer, Kid A [First added to this chart: 06/09/2017]

Year of Release:

2007

Appears in:

2,917 charts

Rank Score:

44,065

Rank in 2007:

1

Rank in 2000s:

1

Overall Rank:

6

Average Rating:

 90 (3,943 votes)

Comments:

395

2. (=)

Imperial Bedroom 

 Elvis Costello And The Attractions

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Often considered Costello's masterpiece, and with good reason. It's an absolute masterclass in writing sophisticated pop from beginning to end. The snake-like groove on opener Beyond Belief accompanies one of the man's best lyrics, rich with metaphor and wordplay. To boot, the song's melody is completely through composed, never quite repeating. Further delights abound - the accordion led "novelette" The Long Honeymoon, the wonderfully eccentric ... And In Every Home, Human Hands (my personal favourite), and the eerie closer "The Town Cryer." This is near perfect from start to finish, and really rewards close listening. A masterpiece of baroque pop.

Honourable Mentions: Really any of his previous albums; King of America, Blood and Chocolate [First added to this chart: 06/09/2017]

Year of Release:

1982

Appears in:

298 charts

Rank Score:

2,139

Rank in 1982:

13

Rank in 1980s:

120

Overall Rank:

802

Average Rating:

 78 (388 votes)

Comments:

26

3. (=)

Brian Wilson Presents Smile 

 Brian Wilson

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... Speaking of baroque pop, it doesn't get much better than this. I am absolutely convinced that had this been released in 1967 as intended, history would have turned very differently, with The Beach Boys emerging as the true competitors to The Beatles. To me, it trumps Sgt Pepper's (good as that album is) in nearly every way. The suite like structure of the album, with tracks flowing into one another; the dazzling, kalaidoscopic arrrangements, unlike anything in pop. This is a truly mind-blowing musical experience, even with Brian's voice not being what it was. [First added to this chart: 06/09/2017]

Year of Release:

2004

Appears in:

361 charts

Rank Score:

2,375

Rank in 2004:

13

Rank in 2000s:

115

Overall Rank:

731

Average Rating:

 79 (503 votes)

Comments:

23

4. (=)

Because The Internet 

 Childish Gambino

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Underrated, underrated, underrated. My favourite hip-hop album, period. I don't know why exactly it speaks to me so deeply, but every time I put this album on, I struggle to find fault with it. Gone are the silly punchlines of Gambino's previous efforts, replaced with pointed social commentary on the numbing effects of the internet in the modern world. A silver-spoon concept, sure, but that's Gambino. The screenplay that accompanied the album really added to my experience, explaining the reason the album felt like one of two halfs - the more hard hitting, party ready first half, and the incredibly abstract, moody second half. In any case, it flows beautifully, and is an absolute treat no matter how many times I hear it. In fact, excuse me while I go give it a spin. It's been a while!

Honourable Mention: Awaken, My Love! [First added to this chart: 06/09/2017]

Year of Release:

2013

Appears in:

172 charts

Rank Score:

1,289

Rank in 2013:

25

Rank in 2010s:

205

Overall Rank:

1,334

Average Rating:

 72 (317 votes)

Comments:

16

5. (=)

Countdown To Ecstasy 

 Steely Dan

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To me, the tightest and best album of the Dan's initial run (though I haven't heard Aja and Gaucho yet). It features many of my favourite Steely Dan songs, including Razor Boy, My Old School and Your Gold Teeth. As usual, the songwriting and playing are fantastic, but I feel it has a bit more of an overt edge than some of their later work, particularly through "Skunk" Baxter's guitar solos. I enjoy every moment on this album. It's wonderful. [First added to this chart: 06/09/2017]

Year of Release:

1973

Appears in:

316 charts

Rank Score:

2,088

Rank in 1973:

24

Rank in 1970s:

177

Overall Rank:

827

Average Rating:

 80 (435 votes)

Comments:

22

6. (=)

Kind Of Blue 

 Miles Davis

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The most popular jazz album of all time for a reason. Just absolutely gorgeous. It's so relaxing in it's harmonic simplicity and sense of space, the focus being more on melody and emotion than on technicality. This was one of the core philosophical innovations that Miles was partially responsible for in jazz, along with Coltrane and others, and this is one of the defining examples of it. [First added to this chart: 06/09/2017]

Year of Release:

1959

Appears in:

1,645 charts

Rank Score:

22,162

Rank in 1959:

1

Rank in 1950s:

1

Overall Rank:

37

Average Rating:

 89 (2,278 votes)

Comments:

169

7. (=)

Madvillainy 

 Madvillain

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Brilliant beats, brilliant rhymes. I remember the first time I heard "Accordion." It was that beat that drew me in - so blisteringly original and hypnotic. Then DOOM's instantly recognizable flow blended so perfectly with the instrumental. I was hooked. It's quite an experimental album, but with time, it reveals itself as being incredibly entertaining and layered, both lyrically and musically. This is another of my favourite hip-hop albums. I can put it on and discover something new each time, or I can simply groove to it in the background. An album for all occasions. [First added to this chart: 06/09/2017]

Year of Release:

2004

Appears in:

1,073 charts

Rank Score:

14,406

Rank in 2004:

2

Rank in 2000s:

8

Overall Rank:

86

Average Rating:

 86 (1,212 votes)

Comments:

94

8. (=)

Lonerism 

 Tame Impala

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No other album makes me feel like this. It's scarily isolating. It blocks out the world around it in the most blissful way possible, but it can be a bit disturbing for the same reason if you're in the wrong mood. However, in the right mood, there's nothing like it. It's absolutely brilliant, and strangely catchy in a more oblique way than it's still solid, but more uneven follow up. Aussie psych rock at it's best. [First added to this chart: 06/09/2017]

Year of Release:

2012

Appears in:

1,411 charts

Rank Score:

14,629

Rank in 2012:

2

Rank in 2010s:

7

Overall Rank:

85

Average Rating:

 85 (1,886 votes)

Comments:

187

9. (=)

Rain Dogs 

 Tom Waits

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Just majestic. Every song is interesting and oddly beautiful, backed by that compelling wreck of a voice and some of the most insane guitar work I've ever heard by the fabulous Marc Ribot. Downtown Train does feel a little out of place as the most conventional sounding song here, but that's part the magic of this album - the normal becomes abnormal because of what surrounds it. Amazing! [First added to this chart: 12/03/2023]

Year of Release:

1985

Appears in:

1,139 charts

Rank Score:

11,667

Rank in 1985:

2

Rank in 1980s:

14

Overall Rank:

112

Average Rating:

 84 (1,338 votes)

Comments:

87

10. (=)

Reveille 

 Deerhoof

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This album is all a blur - all I remember is that I really enjoyed it. It's messy, spontaneous, but most of all catchy. Maybe it's not Deerhoof's best, but it's the one I've gotten into the most so far. I've yet to check out their other albums, but I've heard good things. Anyway, this is here for being a brilliantly original and fun listening experience. [First added to this chart: 06/09/2017]

Year of Release:

2002

Appears in:

25 charts

Rank Score:

127

Rank in 2002:

187

Rank in 2000s:

1,664

Overall Rank:

9,428

Average Rating:

 75 (30 votes)

Comments:

1

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Total albums: 71. Page 1 of 8

Top 71 Greatest Music Albums composition

Country	Albums	%
	45	63%
	16	23%
	4	6%
	2	3%
	2	3%
	1	1%
	1	1%

Top 71 Greatest Music Albums chart changes

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Top 71 Greatest Music Albums similarity to your chart(s)

Top 71 Greatest Music Albums ratings

Showing latest 5 ratings for this chart. | Show all 15 ratings for this chart.

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Rating	Date updated	Member	Chart ratings	Avg. chart rating
100/100  !	01/15/2025 17:38	Exist-en-ciel	125	99/100
80/100  !	03/18/2023 22:49	Moondance	476	85/100
95/100  !	03/18/2023 15:12	AAL2014	163	92/100
100/100  !	09/11/2022 02:06	HoldenM	479	95/100
95/100  !	10/20/2021 22:19	Rhyner	1,454	99/100

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 3% of all charts on BestEverAlbums.com. This chart has a Bayesian average rating of 89.6/100, a mean average of 92.0/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 91.9/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 9.6.

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Top 71 Greatest Music Albums favourites

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AAL2014

Top 71 Greatest Music Albums comments

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Rating:  

80/100

From Moondance 03/18/2023 22:51 | #295157

Cool chart - cool comments. Continue to enjoy your adventure through the amazing albums of the past 60+ years. Looking forward to seeing you complete a top 100.

Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

From Johnnyo 04/15/2018 06:41 | #212904

This is a very good chart and I particularly like the time that you have dedicated to explaining why each album qualifies.

Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

Rating:  

100/100

From ForegroundNoise 10/24/2017 08:19 | #200011

Love the unique picks with the comments to justify them, what I look for in a great chart!!

Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

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