Top 100 Greatest Music Albums
by Chris15789 
These records have all had an impact on me in one way or another, many of them at times feeling like they personally defined the most emotional and unforgettable moments of my life. Anyway, this is a list I just came out with so I will continue adding descriptions and records day-by-day.
- Chart updated: 11/06/2025 03:45
- (Created: 02/11/2020 19:35).
- Chart size: 100 albums.
There are 11 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 100 Greatest Music Albums has an average rating of 91 out of 100 (from 26 votes). Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.
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This chart is currently filtered to only show albums from Big Thief. (Remove this filter)
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What did you tell me Mary
When you were there so sweet and very
Full of field and stars
You carried all of time
Oh and, heavens, when you looked at me
Your eyes were like machinery
Your hands were making artifacts in the corner of my mind
What a marvel of a record. For me, the folk-indie genre doesn't get any better than this. The lyrics themselves are some of the best I've ever heard, on any album. The instrumentals, especially the raving guitar at the beginning of Shark Smile, accompany the dark reminiscent moodiness perfectly. So, while the album is sonically perfect for easy listening and a short car ride through the sticks, the depth and candor with which the songs are sung are amazing and thoroughly engaging. I found this album honestly just because I was struck by the cover (Big Thief were not so big yet, no pun intended). And, in many ways, I think the album cover perfectly encapsulates the emotion and nature of the album in general, moreso than the other BT albums. The stark, pointed glare that the subject gives you while carefully holding a baby is perfect beyond belief for Capacity, and it was (and is, to this day) one of the most surprising, random finds I've ever had that completely took me off my feet from beginning to end. Other albums they've come out with are more popular and critically acclaimed, but I really think it's this one that is their masterpiece. [First added to this chart: 02/11/2020]
When you were there so sweet and very
Full of field and stars
You carried all of time
Oh and, heavens, when you looked at me
Your eyes were like machinery
Your hands were making artifacts in the corner of my mind
What a marvel of a record. For me, the folk-indie genre doesn't get any better than this. The lyrics themselves are some of the best I've ever heard, on any album. The instrumentals, especially the raving guitar at the beginning of Shark Smile, accompany the dark reminiscent moodiness perfectly. So, while the album is sonically perfect for easy listening and a short car ride through the sticks, the depth and candor with which the songs are sung are amazing and thoroughly engaging. I found this album honestly just because I was struck by the cover (Big Thief were not so big yet, no pun intended). And, in many ways, I think the album cover perfectly encapsulates the emotion and nature of the album in general, moreso than the other BT albums. The stark, pointed glare that the subject gives you while carefully holding a baby is perfect beyond belief for Capacity, and it was (and is, to this day) one of the most surprising, random finds I've ever had that completely took me off my feet from beginning to end. Other albums they've come out with are more popular and critically acclaimed, but I really think it's this one that is their masterpiece. [First added to this chart: 02/11/2020]
Year of Release:
2017
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,027
Rank in 2017:
Rank in 2010s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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- #Sponsored
[First added to this chart: 02/21/2023]
Year of Release:
2022
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,113
Rank in 2022:
Rank in 2020s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 2. Page 1 of 1
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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 | 13 | 13% | |
| 1980s | 7 | 7% | |
| 1990s | 16 | 16% | |
| 2000s | 20 | 20% | |
| 2010s | 22 | 22% | |
| 2020s | 14 | 14% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| Pink Floyd | 4 | 4% | |
| Radiohead | 3 | 3% | |
| King Crimson | 2 | 2% | |
| Kendrick Lamar | 2 | 2% | |
| The Beatles | 2 | 2% | |
| Black Country, New Road | 2 | 2% | |
| Big Thief | 2 | 2% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums chart changes
| Biggest climbers |
|---|
| Up 3 from 23rd to 20th Tell Me About The Long Dark Path Home by The Newfound Interest In Connecticut |
| Up 3 from 22nd to 19th London Calling by The Clash |
| Up 3 from 21st to 18th You Forgot It In People by Broken Social Scene |
| Biggest fallers |
|---|
| Down 39 from 17th to 56th Perverts by Ethel Cain |
| Down 18 from 13th to 31st Enjoy Eternal Bliss by Yndi Halda |
| Down 15 from 18th to 33rd For The First Time by Black Country, New Road |
| New entries |
|---|
| Sunbather by Deafheaven |
| Leavers |
|---|
| Automatic For The People by R.E.M. |
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums ratings
Average Rating = (n ÷ (n + m)) × av + (m ÷ (n + m)) × AVwhere:
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 26 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ! | 4 days ago |  HoldenM | 480 | 95/100 |
| ! | 02/08/2025 07:25 |  SomethingSpecial | 1,105 | 85/100 |
| ! | 01/12/2025 10:54 |  NowhereMan | 292 | 82/100 |
| ! | 01/12/2025 09:26 |  DommeDamian | 1,003 | 89/100 |
| ! | 09/25/2023 17:43 |  EyeKanFly | 209 | 88/100 |
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 2% of all charts on BestEverAlbums.com. This chart has a Bayesian average rating of 90.7/100, a mean average of 92.5/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 92.5/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 7.5.
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums comments
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From HoldenM 4 days ago | #312037
HoldenM 4 days ago | #312037
*chef's kiss*
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From EyeKanFly 09/25/2023 17:44 | #299237
EyeKanFly 09/25/2023 17:44 | #299237
Great chart, looking forward to seeing more of the comments when you get to it!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From Moondance 09/25/2023 08:33 | #299233
Love to see your personality shine through. Nice that Dylan just slip into your chart with an early 60's album that is exceptional but largely overlooked. Also nice to see Australia represented via Angus Stone - very cool!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From mrmcrook 03/16/2023 20:58 | #295073
Always love a chart with personal notes
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
ForegroundNoise 03/02/2023 10:58 | #294625
ForegroundNoise 03/02/2023 10:58 | #294625
Gorgeous chart with lovely descriptions, can't believe I'm only coming across it now! Lots of familiar picks, but arranged in a way that makes it clear you have a unique relationship to them.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
urmom22 02/21/2023 08:30 | #294278
urmom22 02/21/2023 08:30 | #294278
Love the descriptions
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
gidgidi 02/13/2021 13:55 | #266262
gidgidi 02/13/2021 13:55 | #266262
Great list! Full of personal picks and I like it! Would be even better if you added some notes like you did in the top 10
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From CompassCharlatan 11/07/2020 22:15 | #260345
Nice stuff on here.
I still need to get into Kendrick Lamar and Deerhunter. I see them on almost every list I check out.
Thanks for this list. Peace and Love
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
ExTeaSea 05/16/2020 10:57 | #251564
ExTeaSea 05/16/2020 10:57 | #251564
Really appreciate this chart and I think it is excellent! Weird that you have Antlers Burst Apart on here because while I was looking at this a song of theirs from the album was stuck in my head. Also a Perfume Genius song haha. Checked this out because of your comment on the new Perfume Genius and you already have it on your top hundred, that's really cool, it is very good.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
YEEZY 04/27/2020 13:40 | #250570
YEEZY 04/27/2020 13:40 | #250570
Awesome list, I love a lot of these albums.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
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We work very hard to ensure our site is as fast (and FREE!) as possible, and we respect your privacy.
| Best Ever Artists | |
|---|---|
| 1. The Beatles | |
| 2. Radiohead | |
| 3. Pink Floyd | |
| 4. David Bowie | |
| 5. Bob Dylan | |
| 6. Led Zeppelin | |
| 7. The Rolling Stones | |
| 8. Arcade Fire | |
| 9. Nirvana | |
| 10. The Velvet Underground | |
| 11. Neil Young | |
| 12. Kendrick Lamar | |
| 13. Miles Davis | |
| 14. The Smiths | |
| 15. The Beach Boys | |
| 16. R.E.M. | |
| 17. Kanye West | |
| 18. Pixies | |
| 19. Bruce Springsteen | |
| 20. Jimi Hendrix |
