Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by bonnequestion

A few things to know about my charts:

1. My choices are based on my personal taste first. I'm not trying to make an objective list of the best albums of all-time, but rather a list of the best albums I've ever heard.

2. If I rate an album and/or add it to my charts, it means I've listened to it more than once. I don't rate an album based on only one listen on Spotify. I own my albums and I listen to them many times before judging them.

3. For me, an album isn't just a collection of songs. It isn't just the sum of its individual tracks. There's something more than that in an album, there's the flow, the concept, the cohesiveness, the general feel, the magic. My best-rated albums have that, they are not simply the albums in which I like the most individual tracks.

4. There are no live albums and no best-of/compilation in my charts, just studio albums.

5. This list will always change, and that's very important. If it didn't, it would mean that I'm not discovering anything new, and that would be the worst thing that could happen. Not only will there always be new music coming out, but I will always be moved by different music. And I intend to keep it that way. I don't want to be one of those guys that has his musical taste fixed forever.

That's it for now, I hope you enjoy this chart!

There are 21 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 100 Greatest Music Albums has an average rating of 89 out of 100 (from 30 votes). Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.

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Collector's summary (filtered)Log in or register to discover the great albums that are missing from your music collection!

This chart is currently filtered to only show albums from the 2010s. (Remove this filter)

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Buy album United States
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Mutemath is my favorite band right now and "Odd Soul" represents the epitome of what this band is. A succession of amazing songs, a level of energy almost unmatched, a drummer out of this world and a very creative and amazing production. On top of that, you can add a very talented bassist and a singer-songwriter in Paul Meany that has a once-in-a-generation talent. Then you get "Odd Soul", my favorite and most influential album of all-time. [First added to this chart: 07/25/2018]
Year of Release:
2011
Appears in:
Rank Score:
251
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Buy album United States
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I know this a very obscure album to be no.4 on my all-time list, but I can't help it, it's just too good. I really hope they make another record soon, because right now, Kiev only has one album and it's the freaking bomb! Great music, great production, awesome piece of art. [First added to this chart: 07/25/2018]
Year of Release:
2013
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Rank Score:
150
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Buy album United States
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Every time I listen to this album, I can't help but feel completely overwhelmed by the quality of the musicianship. As an upright bassist myself, I just can't believe how good Edgar Meyer is. And you can say the same thing about any of these 4 masters of their instruments. I'm still having a hard time believing that these 4 geniuses have made an album together.

As for the album, it is a pure delight. 11 songs of pure composition skills and incredible musicianship, including 2 songs with amazing vocals by Chris Thile and Aoife O'Donovan. The pacing is tasty and well-balanced, each and every song has a purpose and a distinct quality, which is really hard to achieve in an instrumental album.

The highlights for me are "Here And Heaven", "Franz And The Eagle" (with Edgar Meyer on the piano!) and "Goat Rodeo".
[First added to this chart: 05/19/2019]
Year of Release:
2011
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Rank Score:
136
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Buy album United States
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My 2nd favorite Radiohead album and probably their most underrated. I just absolutely love this album. It is just so well done. Only 8 songs, but 8 amazing songs. Half of them are near perfect (Morning Mr Magpie, Lotus Flower, Codex, Separator). [First added to this chart: 07/25/2018]
Year of Release:
2011
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Rank Score:
5,042
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Buy album United States
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I first heard this album when I was in a record store, as it was playing in the store's sound system. I didn't know the band, but I immediately knew I had to buy this album.

Neil Cowley Trio is a really unique ensemble that plays jazz, but not really. You know what I mean? These guys know their shit, they are masters of their instruments and they have a solid background in music theory. But when you listen to their music, you are taken aback by how easy it is to listen and how the energy they display is more "rock" than "jazz".

What I'm trying to say is that this band is not just another jazz band. They are an ensemble that plays amazing instrumental music using a jazz combo (piano, upright bass, drums). And I love all of their albums. "Radio Silence" is the first I heard from them, so maybe that's why it is my favorite, but it could have easily been "Displaced", "Loud Louder Stop" or "The Face Of Mount Molehill" too.

9/10
[First added to this chart: 07/25/2018]
Year of Release:
2010
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Rank Score:
113
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Buy album United States
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This album has had a huge influence on me as a musician/composer. It's really hard to explain why (especially in English, which is not my first language), but this album moves me in ways very few instrumental albums do.

Two tracks particularly stand out for me: "Seven Minute Mind" and the masterfully incredible and amazing "In Stitches". This track is a 14-minutes long build-up that plays with tension and resolution, but in a way that very few people can sustain. It becomes physical, it's almost cringy, it's a hard listen, but so rewarding, kind of like "Providence" by King Crimson.
[First added to this chart: 07/25/2018]
Year of Release:
2012
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Rank Score:
127
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Buy album United States
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Spoon is another one of my favorite bands. Every album they've recorded so far has been either good, great or simply majestic. I also think they are a band that ages really well, they have maintained a level of quality throughout their career that is comparable to Radiohead and Sloan in my mind.

I don't think they have made perfect record yet, but if I have to identify my favorite Spoon album, I think it's "They Want My Soul". It's hard to say why, because every Spoon album is great and has something special to offer. I think "They Want My Soul" is the one that stands out for me because of its feel, of how the songs seamlessly follow each other and because of its hits (Outlier, Inside Out, Rainy Taxi and They Want My Soul are among my favorite Spoon tracks ever).
[First added to this chart: 07/25/2018]
Year of Release:
2014
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Rank Score:
2,593
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Buy album United States
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This album is a perfect follow-up to In Rainbows and The King Of Limbs. This series of three album is as solid as it can get, not that many bands have made three close-to-perfection albums in a row. I'm a huge fan of Radiohead, but mostly of their music from 2007 and on. This is where they went from great to legendary in my mind. And this album is a good example of what I love about this band.

A Moon Shaped Pool is a powerful album that you really have to listen to and experience. It cannot be described by words (well, I can't). And it ends up with the most devastating song ever, True Love Waits. This song will break you into pieces.

Amazing album.
[First added to this chart: 07/25/2018]
Year of Release:
2016
Appears in:
Rank Score:
17,153
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Buy album United States
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[First added to this chart: 07/25/2018]
Year of Release:
2012
Appears in:
Rank Score:
146
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Buy album United States
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It takes a few listen to get into it this album, but once you're there, wow, what a great album! I really like the lyrics too. The weird thing is that the first three songs are the weakest for me, but the rest is amazing. "I Go Hungry" and "Have It Out" are masterpieces, while "Alone and Sublime" is one of the finest closers you can find on any album. [First added to this chart: 07/24/2018]
Year of Release:
2014
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Rank Score:
82
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Total albums: 18. Page 1 of 2

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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums composition

Decade Albums %


1930s 0 0%
1940s 0 0%
1950s 0 0%
1960s 8 8%
1970s 30 30%
1980s 3 3%
1990s 14 14%
2000s 21 21%
2010s 18 18%
2020s 6 6%
Artist Albums %


Gentle Giant 6 6%
Spoon 4 4%
Mutemath 4 4%
Radiohead 4 4%
Sloan 4 4%
Death Cab For Cutie 3 3%
Red Hot Chili Peppers 3 3%
Show all
Country Albums %


United Kingdom 40 40%
United States 29 29%
Canada 20 20%
Italy 3 3%
Israel 3 3%
Sweden 2 2%
Norway 1 1%
Show all
Soundtrack? Albums %
No 98 98%
Yes 2 2%

Top 100 Greatest Music Albums chart changes

Biggest climbers
Climber Up 1 from 9th to 8th
Never Hear The End Of It
by Sloan
Biggest fallers
Faller Down 1 from 8th to 9th
Happiness...Is Not A Fish That You Can Catch
by Our Lady Peace

Top 100 Greatest Music Albums similarity to your chart(s)


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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums ratings

Average Rating: 
89/100 (from 30 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).
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02/04/2024 14:09 ThuramThugood  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 8187/100
  
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10/10/2023 19:29 adbrack1988  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 2697/100
  
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07/24/2023 14:07 manurock  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 22983/100

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 3% of all charts on BestEverAlbums.com. This chart has a Bayesian average rating of 89.5/100, a mean average of 90.7/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 90.6/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 6.9.

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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums comments

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Rating:  
100/100
From 02/04/2024 14:09
Interesting and exciting list.

Wheatfield Soul was my gateway to your list. As you say, it’s incredibly underrated.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
70/100
From 08/03/2023 12:14
Whilst I can be critical of the number of albums from a few artists (as others have noticed) this is not a bad chart. It is very personal, and it is good to see the notes, which I value very highly and have for several decades of reading music reviews.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 07/24/2023 14:57
Nice chart! Thanks for writing descriptions on so many of them
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
90/100
From 07/24/2023 12:47
The 80’s is my decade of music.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
85/100
From 01/24/2023 01:52
Apart from having too many albums from a handful of artists and only 1 album from south of the Equator, I did find this chart quite enjoyable. With only 4 albums in common, there were a good number of albums for me to check out ~ and a few that I have penciled in for a deeper listen and possible addition to my year chart.
The comments were also appreciated ~ always a good thing to know why albums resonate with BEA members, especially the less well known albums.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
90/100
From 02/02/2022 02:23
This is a great chart! A lot of similarities to my tastes. I love the prog rock choices - I admittedly need to get more into Gentle Giant. What I've heard from them so far is impressive. At least you have Dark Side in your top 10, so I forgive you for dismissing Floyd's other amazing albums :). Stoked to see Led Zep, Beatles and RHCP well represented here. Love your album descriptions and intro too. Great work!
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
95/100
From 02/01/2022 13:48
Great effort on this chart!
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
85/100
From 02/01/2022 10:50
Nice chart. Very personal. I subscribe all your current description at the top of the chart, but as I have not heard most of the albums in your top 10 (now I am curious to check them), I won't give you a rating yet.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
85/100
From 04/16/2021 21:54
Cool chart,
I like to see the 1st Supertramp album...
I have no idea why it`s so underrated.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
100/100
From 07/10/2020 21:44
There's something so innocent about this chart that I like a lot.
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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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