Top 64 Greatest Music Albums by 
ForegroundNoise 
My old tutor sits opposite me, the wrinkled contours of his face and erratic white wisps of hair blurring the boundaries between him and the old mahogany office surrounding us. Before he speaks, he seems for a moment to be no less a part of the furniture than the armchair he sits in. He starts suddenly, a thought occurring to him.
“Do you remember that first classics society meeting, right when you first got here? Where you had to bring a poem or painting or something and talk to us all about it?” The words break the silence in a flurry, as if he’s afraid someone is about to catch him in the act.
“Yes.” My tone betrays my anticipation.
“Well, I bet no-one ever told you what that whole thing was really all about did they?” He is leaning in now, the smile plastered across his face so infectious it starts to illuminate the dark room.
“You see the problem is, is that everyone is looking the art. There, ha!” he nods to himself; a finger points upwards. “That’s your first mistake.” I raise an eyebrow in response, but he is submerged in thought, eyes cast down to the carpet.
“Some people are worried about the art. They want the right bit of art not the wrong bit; they want to show off how clever they are that they know this bit of art and you don’t. Some aren’t so fussed about it; they just pick whatever they like. Some even take a look at it all and think ‘No not for me, I don’t think so’, and try and take the whole thing apart. Show us a scrap of paper with a scribble on it. ‘I’m not playing your game’ - oh yes you are! See what they don’t know, is that as soon as they were invited to play they were playing it. All of us were. The art was never the important bit, I was never looking at the art, I was looking at YOU.”
With the final word his eyes move back to me. The finger points forward.
“Yes, you, there! Whatever you picked, whatever you did, you can't help but give us a reflection of yourself. That's what I was looking for. Not the art. I wasn’t looking at what you were saying about it. I was looking at what it was saying about you.”
***
I've fallen out of love with this chart in recent times, probably because there's something a little too overwhelming in having to represent my favourites out of every album ever. The problem that arises with these colossal, era-spanning anthologies is that they find it hard to strike a balance between acknowledging the cultural context and subsequent limitations of some of these records, and just eulogising the past.
Lately I've found it much more rewarding to focus on my decade and year charts so this one might be left to gather dust for a while. As of 2021/05/13 I've given up trying to order these from best to bestest, and instead have decided to list out some favourites ordered (roughly) by genre; this is NOT in order of favourite to 64th favourite. More extensive decade lists to follow as soon as I can.
Much love,
FN xx
- Chart updated: 08/11/2024 11:15
- (Created: 09/28/2017 14:21).
- Chart size: 64 albums.
There are 47 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 64 Greatest Music Albums has an average rating of 93 out of 100 (from 87 votes). Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.
View the complete list of 56,000 charts on BestEverAlbums.com from The Charts page.
This chart is currently filtered to only show albums from the 1990s. (Remove this filter)
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____________________________________________________________________________
neofolk
(Durtro, 55;27)
"I see the twinkling stars
I drop a photograph
I bend to pick it up
My heart leaps as I see your face
Stare up at me from the paper
As if still alive on this earth
When I return my eyes to the stars
They gather
They pucker
And are blind
And are blind"
____________________________________________________________________________ [First added to this chart: 05/19/2021]
neofolk
(Durtro, 55;27)
"I see the twinkling stars
I drop a photograph
I bend to pick it up
My heart leaps as I see your face
Stare up at me from the paper
As if still alive on this earth
When I return my eyes to the stars
They gather
They pucker
And are blind
And are blind"
____________________________________________________________________________ [First added to this chart: 05/19/2021]
4
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____________________________________________________________________________
indie folk • indie rock
(Merge, 39:51)
"And your mom would drink until she was no longer speaking
And dad would dream of all the different ways to die
Each one a little more than he could dare to try"
____________________________________________________________________________ [First added to this chart: 10/01/2017]
indie folk • indie rock
(Merge, 39:51)
"And your mom would drink until she was no longer speaking
And dad would dream of all the different ways to die
Each one a little more than he could dare to try"
____________________________________________________________________________ [First added to this chart: 10/01/2017]
Year of Release:
1998
Appears in:
Rank Score:
34,640
Rank in 1998:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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____________________________________________________________________________
indie rock
(City Slang, 54:12)
9/10
"Every thousand years
This metal sphere
Ten times the size of Jupiter
Floats just a few yards past the Earth
You climb on your roof
And take a swipe at it with a single feather
Hit it once every thousand years
Til you've worn it down
To the size of a pea
Yeah, I'd say that's a long time
But it's only half a blink
In the place you're gonna be"
____________________________________________________________________________ [First added to this chart: 03/21/2024]
indie rock
(City Slang, 54:12)
9/10
"Every thousand years
This metal sphere
Ten times the size of Jupiter
Floats just a few yards past the Earth
You climb on your roof
And take a swipe at it with a single feather
Hit it once every thousand years
Til you've worn it down
To the size of a pea
Yeah, I'd say that's a long time
But it's only half a blink
In the place you're gonna be"
____________________________________________________________________________ [First added to this chart: 03/21/2024]
Year of Release:
1997
Appears in:
Rank Score:
6,141
Rank in 1997:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
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____________________________________________________________________________
alternative rock • art rock
(EMI, 66:43)
"You'd love my bed,
You took the other instead"
____________________________________________________________________________ [First added to this chart: 10/14/2017]
alternative rock • art rock
(EMI, 66:43)
"You'd love my bed,
You took the other instead"
____________________________________________________________________________ [First added to this chart: 10/14/2017]
Year of Release:
1999
Appears in:
Rank Score:
4,148
Rank in 1999:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
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____________________________________________________________________________
dream pop • progressive pop • neo-psychedelia
(Polydor, 35:16)
"僕ら半分 夢の中" [We are half in a dream]
____________________________________________________________________________ [First added to this chart: 10/05/2017]
dream pop • progressive pop • neo-psychedelia
(Polydor, 35:16)
"僕ら半分 夢の中" [We are half in a dream]
____________________________________________________________________________ [First added to this chart: 10/05/2017]
Year of Release:
1996
Appears in:
Rank Score:
5,630
Rank in 1996:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
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____________________________________________________________________________
post-rock
(Smekkleysa, 72:09)
"Tjú"
____________________________________________________________________________ [First added to this chart: 10/01/2017]
post-rock
(Smekkleysa, 72:09)
"Tjú"
____________________________________________________________________________ [First added to this chart: 10/01/2017]
Year of Release:
1999
Appears in:
Rank Score:
15,602
Rank in 1999:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
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____________________________________________________________________________
post-rock
(Verve, 42:44)
"Shake my head
Turn my face to the floor
Dead to respect
To respect to be born
Lest we forget who lay"
For the longest time I've had Slint's Spiderland as my no#1 pick, but after a great deal of reflection I've come to realise that its more melancholic twin deserves the top spot.
Though their shared 6-track, 40-or-so minute format results in Spiderland and Laughing Stock being often lumped together under the umbrella label of 'post-rock', a quick venture into this album's opening 17 seconds of amplifier hiss tells you you're a million miles away from the bustling fairground of "Breadcrumb Trail". Instead we are alone in a quiet room with Mark Hollis as he contemplates his suicide by hanging. Right from the offset, the idea that the two albums are opposite sides of the same coin is clear: where Slint's guitars screech, Talk Talk's lull; where McMahan's voice screams, Hollis' quivers. Spirit of Eden is considered by many to be the culmination of Talk Talk's transformation from the new wave sound they first emerged with, and there's no denying the quality in tracks like "Eden" and "I Believe in You". But for me, their swansong Laughing Stock (1991) captures the manic brilliance of the band right at the moment of their dissolution.
Take opening track "Myrrhman" for example: Hollis' obscure and muted lyrics punctuated by dissonant and shapeless instrumentation might seem baffling, or even over-indulgent at first; I certainly used to think so. But by the end of its delicate and pained string section it becomes clear that the reason Talk Talk disorientated you was just so they could pick you apart all the more easily.
____________________________________________________________________________ [First added to this chart: 10/01/2017]
post-rock
(Verve, 42:44)
"Shake my head
Turn my face to the floor
Dead to respect
To respect to be born
Lest we forget who lay"
For the longest time I've had Slint's Spiderland as my no#1 pick, but after a great deal of reflection I've come to realise that its more melancholic twin deserves the top spot.
Though their shared 6-track, 40-or-so minute format results in Spiderland and Laughing Stock being often lumped together under the umbrella label of 'post-rock', a quick venture into this album's opening 17 seconds of amplifier hiss tells you you're a million miles away from the bustling fairground of "Breadcrumb Trail". Instead we are alone in a quiet room with Mark Hollis as he contemplates his suicide by hanging. Right from the offset, the idea that the two albums are opposite sides of the same coin is clear: where Slint's guitars screech, Talk Talk's lull; where McMahan's voice screams, Hollis' quivers. Spirit of Eden is considered by many to be the culmination of Talk Talk's transformation from the new wave sound they first emerged with, and there's no denying the quality in tracks like "Eden" and "I Believe in You". But for me, their swansong Laughing Stock (1991) captures the manic brilliance of the band right at the moment of their dissolution.
Take opening track "Myrrhman" for example: Hollis' obscure and muted lyrics punctuated by dissonant and shapeless instrumentation might seem baffling, or even over-indulgent at first; I certainly used to think so. But by the end of its delicate and pained string section it becomes clear that the reason Talk Talk disorientated you was just so they could pick you apart all the more easily.
____________________________________________________________________________ [First added to this chart: 10/01/2017]
Year of Release:
1991
Appears in:
Rank Score:
8,980
Rank in 1991:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
____________________________________________________________________________
post-rock
(Circa, 51:11)
"You stand apart
With the sinking sunlight
I just came to watch you smile"
____________________________________________________________________________ [First added to this chart: 10/01/2017]
post-rock
(Circa, 51:11)
"You stand apart
With the sinking sunlight
I just came to watch you smile"
____________________________________________________________________________ [First added to this chart: 10/01/2017]
Year of Release:
1994
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,135
Rank in 1994:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
____________________________________________________________________________
post-rock
(Kranky, 63:27)
"I said, 'Kiss me, you're beautiful -
These are truly the last days'
You grabbed my hand
And we fell into it
Like a daydream
Or a fever"
____________________________________________________________________________ [First added to this chart: 02/07/2022]
post-rock
(Kranky, 63:27)
"I said, 'Kiss me, you're beautiful -
These are truly the last days'
You grabbed my hand
And we fell into it
Like a daydream
Or a fever"
____________________________________________________________________________ [First added to this chart: 02/07/2022]
Buy album
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____________________________________________________________________________
experimental rock • post-rock • experimental
(Young God, 141:37)
"Protect me from violence
Hold me in your cool lips
You'll drug me with kindness
So I can pretend I exist
Now you be the only child
I'll suck on your breast
You'll feed me with gasoline
I'll burn my name in your head"
____________________________________________________________________________ [First added to this chart: 05/19/2021]
experimental rock • post-rock • experimental
(Young God, 141:37)
"Protect me from violence
Hold me in your cool lips
You'll drug me with kindness
So I can pretend I exist
Now you be the only child
I'll suck on your breast
You'll feed me with gasoline
I'll burn my name in your head"
____________________________________________________________________________ [First added to this chart: 05/19/2021]
Year of Release:
1996
Appears in:
Rank Score:
4,097
Rank in 1996:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 15. Page 1 of 2
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Top 64 Greatest Music Albums composition
| Decade | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|
|
| 1930s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1940s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1950s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1960s | 5 | 8% | |
| 1970s | 19 | 30% | |
| 1980s | 8 | 13% | |
| 1990s | 15 | 23% | |
| 2000s | 13 | 20% | |
| 2010s | 4 | 6% | |
| 2020s | 0 | 0% |
| Country | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
 |
|
|
| |
32 | 50% | |
| |
19 | 30% | |
 |
3 | 5% | |
 |
3 | 5% | |
 |
2 | 3% | |
 |
2 | 3% | |
 |
1 | 2% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 64 Greatest Music Albums chart changes
There have been no changes to this chart.Top 64 Greatest Music Albums similar charts
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| AOTYs ranked | Onater | Custom chart | 2018 | |
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| Top 50 Greatest Music Albums | luis | Overall chart | 2014 |  |
| Top 50 Greatest Music Albums | The Tourist | Overall chart | 2010 | |
| Top 40 Greatest Music Albums | 112806 | Overall chart | 2023 | |
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Top 64 Greatest Music Albums ratings
93/100 (from 87 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 87 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
100/100  | 12/25/2024 18:33 | Exist-en-ciel | | 99/100 |
 85/100 | 01/06/2023 08:58 | Johnnyo | | 80/100 |
| 95/100 | 07/09/2022 03:54 | leniad | | 85/100 |
| 85/100 | 04/09/2022 08:31 |  Applerill | | 75/100 |
| 100/100 | 11/09/2021 18:39 |  seb7 | | 91/100 |
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 93.4/100, a mean average of 93.6/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 94.3/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 7.7.
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Top 64 Greatest Music Albums favourites
Showing latest 20 members who have added this chart as a favourite | Show all 22 members
Top 64 Greatest Music Albums comments
Showing latest 10 comments | Show all 47 comments |
Most Helpful First | Newest First | Maximum Rated First |
Longest Comments First
(Only showing comments with -2 votes or higher. You can alter this threshold from your profile page. Manage Profile)
From 
Hayden 02/17/2023 15:37
Hayden 02/17/2023 15:37
Thanks— hoping you find a couple gems in there (a lot suit your chart's taste— I think you'll find at least 4-5 records you'll really enjoy). I've been meaning to update that chart for quite some time. Needs a bit of a new coat of paint— maybe in a month or two. One of the main concepts for that chart was originally 'uniquely/weirdly made albums', but I like what it turned into. Bit of a different world going on with those cuts.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
85/100
From Johnnyo 01/06/2023 08:58
Really good chart
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
95/100
From leniad 07/09/2022 03:55
love your chart, some albums i like that never swa so high in others list
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
100/100
From seb7 11/09/2021 18:39
seb7 11/09/2021 18:39
Man, I love this chart.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
80/100
From sirps 05/29/2021 02:00
Very nice, lots of interesting stuff!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
95/100
From 
Jbalbinolr 05/02/2021 15:46
Jbalbinolr 05/02/2021 15:46
Amazing chart, I love the presentation and short descriptions
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
100/100
From HotZappsBoogaloo 04/26/2020 18:48
I could instantly tell I was going to give this chart 100
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
95/100
From 
urmom22 02/13/2020 10:08
urmom22 02/13/2020 10:08
Thanks for the chart comment. Love all the album notes too!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
95/100
From 
AMEIER 01/12/2020 22:16
AMEIER 01/12/2020 22:16
First of all, thank you so much for your comment in my page! I really was touched by your words.
About your chart here, I have to admit that I don't know 80% of this. The ones I do I know the value and know that they are great! Also, I feel like you are a powerhouse of music knowledge and would love to keep trading more information and passion for this! Last but not least, wish you to complete this with 100 albums. cheers!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +3 votes (3 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
100/100
From 
pa 10/30/2019 17:30
pa 10/30/2019 17:30
thanx mate :)
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | -1 votes (0 helpful | 1 unhelpful)
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