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.

There are 3 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 71 Greatest Music Albums has an average rating of 89 out of 100 (from 14 votes). Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.

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12. (=)

The Beatles (The White Album) 

 The Beatles

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There was a time when my chart wouldn't have had a Beatles album, but that was in my "they're overrated" days. Now, they're just as close to my heart as ever. This is my favourite. I loved how they came out of their psychedelic period still able to write weird and wonderful songs, popping with witty instrumental parts and characteristically catchy melodies. It doesn't hurt that it's their longest album. As with most doubles, there's some filler here, but somehow, the lesser songs become a part of a larger experience that is absolutely irresistible. I love this album to death, and it's still what I put when I need a Beatles fix. [First added to this chart: 06/09/2017]

Year of Release:

1968

Appears in:

2,867 charts

Rank Score:

43,138

Rank in 1968:

1

Rank in 1960s:

6

Overall Rank:

13

Average Rating:

 89 (3,733 votes)

Comments:

337

18. (=)

Astral Weeks 

 Van Morrison

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This is my Mum's favourite album, and she tried a few times to get me into it. I guess I had to come back to it myself to understand. It's absolutely beautiful, and one of the most spontaneous sounding albums ever made - probably because it was. Recorded in just two days, the instrumentals are largely improvised from vague instructions given by Morrison. The lyrics sound stream of consciousness, and are vividly poetic. It's hard to put into words. Better just to listen to it. [First added to this chart: 06/09/2017]

Year of Release:

1968

Appears in:

1,481 charts

Rank Score:

17,691

Rank in 1968:

3

Rank in 1960s:

17

Overall Rank:

68

Average Rating:

 85 (1,664 votes)

Comments:

135

24. (=)

Odessey And Oracle 

 The Zombies

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Another underrated beauty, the finest psych-pop album contemporary to the genre's birth (at least in my opinion). Stunning harmonies, a jazzy harmonic sophistication, catchy melodies. I want This Will Be Our Year played at my wedding. Brilliant! [First added to this chart: 06/09/2017]

Year of Release:

1968

Appears in:

1,257 charts

Rank Score:

15,347

Rank in 1968:

4

Rank in 1960s:

21

Overall Rank:

87

Average Rating:

 85 (1,312 votes)

Comments:

118

29. (=)

Pet Sounds 

 The Beach Boys

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Quite clearly the Beach Boys crowning achievement. Every song is a gem, the arrangements are absolutely stunning, and the whole album drips with an emotion that is at times painful to listen to. While the band would go on to release some other solid albums, they never topped this, although not for lack of trying (see Smile). [First added to this chart: 06/09/2017]

Year of Release:

1966

Appears in:

2,779 charts

Rank Score:

45,039

Rank in 1966:

2

Rank in 1960s:

5

Overall Rank:

11

Average Rating:

 88 (3,197 votes)

Comments:

354

43. (=)

A Love Supreme 

 John Coltrane

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I love when jazz is textured like this - it's not about a flurry of notes (although that's here), it's about emotion. Coltrane takes what he'd learned playing with Miles and makes it his own, crafting one of the best jazz albums of all time. Also, Elvin Jones is a god! [First added to this chart: 04/08/2018]

Year of Release:

1965

Appears in:

1,286 charts

Rank Score:

17,063

Rank in 1965:

3

Rank in 1960s:

19

Overall Rank:

76

Average Rating:

 87 (1,453 votes)

Comments:

99

44. (=)

In The Court Of The Crimson King (An Observation By King Crimson) 

 King Crimson

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It took me ages to get around to listening to this because its not on streaming services. But when I did, I was greeted with a masterpiece. Every track here is epic, and beautifully atmospheric. Robert Fripp is a ridiculous guitarist - some of the most mind-bending solos I've ever heard. Love it! [First added to this chart: 04/08/2018]

Year of Release:

1969

Appears in:

1,986 charts

Rank Score:

31,584

Rank in 1969:

2

Rank in 1960s:

7

Overall Rank:

25

Average Rating:

 89 (2,352 votes)

Comments:

219

46. (=)

Freak Out! 

 The Mothers Of Invention

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Not sure if I like the whole album - the second half is kind of forgettable. But the pop songs that populate the first record are hilarious - the doo-wop style is brilliantly sent up by Zappa's lyrics, which skewer the juvenile outlook on love that populates so much of those songs lyrics (Go Cry on Somebody Else's Shoulder being one great example). Elsewhere, he gets political, as on opener Hungry Freaks Daddy. THat first half is good enough that it makes up for the unnecessary second half, and so it makes this chart. [First added to this chart: 04/08/2018]

Year of Release:

1966

Appears in:

557 charts

Rank Score:

3,755

Rank in 1966:

6

Rank in 1960s:

61

Overall Rank:

478

Average Rating:

 80 (716 votes)

Comments:

44

47. (=)

Face To Face 

 The Kinks

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A pretty much perfect pop album. I love how the fragility of Ray Davies voice melds with the sometimes very rough sounding production (see, Rosy...). I also love the eclecticism of the styles - among classic pop-rock tunes like Party Line, the band experiments with Indian raga on Fancy, 20's "show-tune" on Little Miss Queen of Darkness and Sunny Afternoon, and the blues/folk hybrid of Rainy Day in June, which sounds like it takes similar cues to Led Zeppelin's later acoustic work. The best song here, though, is Too Much On My Mind, and absolutely stunning piece of baroque pop that sends shivers down my spine when the harmonies come in. Of the ones I've heard, the Kinks best. [First added to this chart: 04/08/2018]

Year of Release:

1966

Appears in:

404 charts

Rank Score:

2,104

Rank in 1966:

8

Rank in 1960s:

89

Overall Rank:

845

Average Rating:

 80 (480 votes)

Comments:

28

48. (=)

The Velvet Underground 

 The Velvet Underground

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This album fucking speaks to me - it's such an intimate record - it gives much the same feeling as I described in my entry on In Rainbows. The band is right there beside you, speaking comforting words. With the exception of The Murder Mystery, this really is an incredibly comforting album, like being hugged. Not many bands can do what this album does, let alone do it successfully after two albums of incredibly noisy, experimental music. That the Velvets inspired both Sonic Youth and Mazzy Star is a testament to their versatility. Genius! [First added to this chart: 06/06/2018]

Year of Release:

1969

Appears in:

1,192 charts

Rank Score:

13,758

Rank in 1969:

6

Rank in 1960s:

23

Overall Rank:

95

Average Rating:

 86 (1,590 votes)

Comments:

115

Total albums: 9. Page 1 of 1

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Top 71 Greatest Music Albums composition

Decade	Albums	%
1930s	0	0%
1940s	0	0%
1950s	2	3%
1960s	9	13%
1970s	14	20%
1980s	10	14%
1990s	10	14%
2000s	16	23%
2010s	10	14%
2020s	0	0%

Artist	Albums	%
Vampire Weekend	1	1%
Peter Gabriel	1	1%
Prince	1	1%
Ween	1	1%
John Coltrane	1	1%
Mr. Bungle	1	1%
My Bloody Valentine	1	1%
Show all

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

Top 71 Greatest Music Albums chart changes

New entries
Frenzy by Split Enz

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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 14 ratings for this chart.

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Rating	Date updated	Member	Chart ratings	Avg. chart rating
80/100	03/18/2023 22:49	Moondance	455	84/100
95/100	03/18/2023 15:12	AAL2014	163	92/100
100/100	09/11/2022 02:06	HoldenM	475	95/100
95/100	10/20/2021 22:19	Rhyner	1,382	99/100
100/100	10/20/2021 19:04	gregthealien	13	87/100

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 4% of all charts on BestEverAlbums.com. This chart has a Bayesian average rating of 89.2/100, a mean average of 91.4/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 91.3/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 9.7.

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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

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

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

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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