Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by PeterSmith

I've been listening to lots of albums new to me over the last few years having grown up to late 70's and 80's soundtrack. I had foolishly chucked learning new music as we entered the 90's thinking I had my bands and albums that I would need. I missed so much excellent stuff.
I recall liking a lot of stuff I was hearing on the radio as we moved into the 2000's but didn't follow up with who they were - I have since found many of these songs on albums that I have since listened to.
Takes a wee bit to shift the albums and artists you've grown up with and loved for years, but slowly working through many classic albums and some more obscure stuff getting highlighted on this web site - loving the journey and some of it is shifting my old favourites for sure.

Grew up with Pink Floyd, Bowie, Queen, Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, U2, Bob Marley.
Loving the Rap and Hip Hop of NWA, Kanye West, Public Enemy & Jay Z.
Loving the Alt Rock, Indie Rock , Space and Electronic Rock of the likes of Grandaddy, Interpol, The Killers, White Stripes, REM, MGMT, Muse, Franz Ferdinand amongst others.
Loving the more ambient and folky sound of Bon Iver, Fleet Foxes, Grandaddy, Sigur Ros, Air.
Loving the more punky sound of Greenday, Pixies, Jane's Addiction and Modest Mouse

And finding some old classics with The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Carole King.

Also finding that familiarity does play a big part - don't often love albums straight away and need to give them half dozen listens before I start to get it.
I have revamped the results and removed the 2 artist max and just went for my favourites. Meant it has pushed out artists like Paul Weller, Garbage, Bob Marley, Elliot Smith, The Cure, The National, Beck, Foo Fighters, Beatles, Bob Dylan, Adele, The Band, Leftfield and Akon to name but a few - sorry folks.

There are 24 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 100 Greatest Music Albums has an average rating of 88 out of 100 (from 38 votes). Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.

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Buy album United States
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Pop Rock - Soft Rock
I had Tango in the Night way back in the day, but saw this suggested as their best album in 2016. They weren't wrong. See all the stories about the personal mayhem within the band which was obviously an influence on lyrics throughout.
[First added to this chart: 02/17/2018]
Year of Release:
1977
Appears in:
Rank Score:
34,090
Rank in 1977:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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Indie Rock - Garage Rock Revival - Post-Punk Revival
Think I picked this up via NME Chart in 2017 and recognised a couple of the songs - love the Lou Reed and Velvets vibe. Heard criticism that it was nothing new - and replicated in future albums - but sometimes you get people improving the old formula.
[First added to this chart: 02/17/2018]
Year of Release:
2001
Appears in:
Rank Score:
33,236
Rank in 2001:
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Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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Psychedelic Rock
Although I knew the vast majority of these songs I actually only listened to this album in 2020 and it is a beauty. Yeah it's a bit of a compliation I guess but still recognised as an album in its own right.
[First added to this chart: 08/13/2020]
Year of Release:
1967
Appears in:
Rank Score:
16,063
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Rank in 1960s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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Celtic punk, folk punk, Celtic rock, folk rock
Really only knew them for the best Xmas record EVER - but delved into this album just in 2019 and love their mix of Celtic and Punk.
Love the rendition of Dirty Old Town, but the closing track really blew me away - The Band Played Waltzing Matilda. Fantastic lyrics and story there - great homage to the Great War
[First added to this chart: 05/06/2019]
Year of Release:
1985
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,983
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Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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Pop Punk - Alternative Rock - Punk Rock
Love the enthusiasm on this album. Punk with a cheeky grin.
[First added to this chart: 02/22/2018]
Year of Release:
2004
Appears in:
Rank Score:
10,097
Rank in 2004:
Rank in 2000s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
46. (=)
Australia Jet
Buy album United States
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Garage Rock - Hard Rock - Alternative Rock
Only got this album Now 18 and immediately loved it. I see that they get a few negative views on this site as being unoriginal but I see their nods to master of old whilst giving them a fresh and lively updating.
[First added to this chart: 01/01/2019]
Year of Release:
2003
Appears in:
Rank Score:
603
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Overall Rank:
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Comments:
Buy album United States
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Rock
An oldie but a classic - so much more gritty and better than the pop of McCartney in my view. Would have been real interesting to have heard the direction he went in if not for the untimely death.
[First added to this chart: 02/22/2018]
Year of Release:
1971
Appears in:
Rank Score:
5,204
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Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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Neo-psychedelia - Indie Electronic - Psychedelic Rock
Heard the singles in passing without catching who they were - got the album in 2017 after spotting it appearing in a chart and wondering who they were - recognised the singles and thought the album was superb.
Saw them live in 2018 in a small discreet venue which was superb.
[First added to this chart: 02/22/2018]
Year of Release:
2007
Appears in:
Rank Score:
5,539
Rank in 2007:
Rank in 2000s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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Chamber pop - Art Rock
Missed them at the time but another band I saw on a chart in 2017, first internet search brought them up with Bowie doing some live material - I was hooked. Love this and their other albums. Caught them live in 2018 and they were immense.
I loved this coming of age in suburbia / north america (including Canada - yes) - with the confusions of that age but with a guarded hope to a better future full of promise and mystery
[First added to this chart: 02/22/2018]
Year of Release:
2004
Appears in:
Rank Score:
41,803
Rank in 2004:
Rank in 2000s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
50. (=)
Buy album United States
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Rock - Art Rock
Although I love Transformer I just love this album more as all the songs are super. Second half is not for the faint hearted or if you getting ready for a night out...
[First added to this chart: 02/22/2018]
Year of Release:
1973
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,244
Rank in 1973:
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Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 100. Page 5 of 10

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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums composition

Decade Albums %


1930s 0 0%
1940s 0 0%
1950s 1 1%
1960s 5 5%
1970s 25 25%
1980s 16 16%
1990s 17 17%
2000s 25 25%
2010s 11 11%
2020s 0 0%
Artist Albums %


Arcade Fire 3 3%
U2 3 3%
Pink Floyd 2 2%
Kanye West 2 2%
Queen 2 2%
Stevie Wonder 2 2%
Neutral Milk Hotel 2 2%
Show all
Country Albums %


United Kingdom 51 51%
United States 34 34%
Canada 5 5%
Mixed Nationality 3 3%
Ireland 3 3%
France 2 2%
Iceland 1 1%
Show all
Soundtrack? Albums %
No 99 99%
Yes 1 1%

Top 100 Greatest Music Albums chart changes

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by Depeche Mode
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by alt-J

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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums ratings

Average Rating: 
88/100 (from 38 votes)
  Ratings distributionRatings distribution Average Rating = (n ÷ (n + m)) × av + (m ÷ (n + m)) × AV
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 38 ratings for this chart.

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90/100
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04/12/2023 17:47 chavaloricardin  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 1583/100
 
85/100
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09/04/2022 11:28 Thearei30ee  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 1888/100
 
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07/03/2022 18:38 ffudnebbuh  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 65391/100
 
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06/25/2022 23:42 Rm12398  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 9989/100
 
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01/17/2022 20:46 wizardalien  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 3188/100

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).
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This chart is rated in the top 12% of all charts on BestEverAlbums.com. This chart has a Bayesian average rating of 87.8/100, a mean average of 88.3/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 88.3/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 6.8.

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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums favourites

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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums comments

Showing latest 10 comments | Show all 24 comments |
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Rating:  
90/100
From 04/08/2023 05:49
Siempre es bueno ver "Hopes And Fears" incluido en los charts... Tenemos 18 álbumes en común y en general, me gustaron mucho tus elecciones. Hay un par de álbumes que no he escuchado todavía pero lo haré.

English review
It's always good to see "Hopes And Fears" included in the charts... We have 18 albums in common and overall, I really liked your choices. There are a couple of albums I haven't heard yet but I will.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
95/100
From 07/03/2022 18:40
Like your chart, am familiar with most of it and the artists that I am not, I will put on Pandora or Spotify. That is the only way that I can keep up with everything going on.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
100/100
From 01/17/2022 20:49
Very nice. It's actually very similar to mine despite us clearly being of different eras. There's still a lot of yours that I haven't even listened to, so I think I might have to listen to some of your top 100 as it seems we have similar tastes...

Got to love anyone's chart that also has Inform Educate Entertain, Seldom Seen Kid, An Awesome Wave and Sleeping with Ghosts - all four are underrated on this site overall.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
85/100
From 12/29/2021 09:59
Great chart mate. I used to have Wish You Were Here as my number one for years. It is my favourite album really but I like to mix it up.
You have a broad and eclectic taste in music.
All my peeps like Amy McDonald.
Good to see War of the Worlds. We did that at school too . Back in 85.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
85/100
From 12/28/2021 10:52
Nothing wrong with having Pink Floyd at number 1 and 2. Slightly too many in the 2000's for me, otherwise interesting chart.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
90/100
From 12/19/2021 20:57
Interesting list. I love seeing Floyd's Wish You Were Here at or close to the top. Having Dark Side beneath it is daring for sure. There's nothing wrong with being 2 of course, and personal taste is what individual lists are all about anyway.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
100/100
From 12/19/2021 16:32
Great albuns!!! Pink Floyd in first and second?
Fantastic👌
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 11/25/2021 05:03
Great comments. I love your chart. Got some leads off it to for my own listening, e.g. Amy McDonald.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
85/100
From 10/27/2020 08:23
Some really good picks. im not a big fan of kanye and coldplay. I really dont understand the appeal. To each their own..
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
85/100
From 05/04/2020 00:06
Have to say, many picks are a bit too hip for myself (if maybe that is the right word). Arcade Fire, Modest Mouse, Coldplay for example I usually can't be bothered with. Nevertheless, there is a good batch of mutually respected albums between you and I, and I appreciate all your words of describing music and sharing your perspective. I really like your #1 choice a lot.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

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Best Ever Albums
1. OK Computer by Radiohead
2. The Dark Side Of The Moon by Pink Floyd
3. Abbey Road by The Beatles
4. Revolver by The Beatles
5. Kid A by Radiohead
6. In Rainbows by Radiohead
7. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles
8. Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd
9. The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars by David Bowie
10. The Velvet Underground & Nico by The Velvet Underground & Nico
11. Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys
12. Untitled (Led Zeppelin IV) by Led Zeppelin
13. The Beatles (The White Album) by The Beatles
14. Nevermind by Nirvana
15. Funeral by Arcade Fire
16. In The Aeroplane Over The Sea by Neutral Milk Hotel
17. The Queen Is Dead by The Smiths
18. Doolittle by Pixies
19. To Pimp A Butterfly by Kendrick Lamar
20. London Calling by The Clash
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