Top 100 Greatest Music Albums
by mrmcrook 
A best album for me is an album in which every song is an absolute gem (with the exception of maybe one mediocre track). An album of brilliance and enjoyment from start to finish.
Not ones with a half dozen epic tracks, the other half nothing but filler.
I am starting to ween the compilations out of my list if I find a superior studio album. There are some compilations that will stay as the collection of songs are supreme and I like those artists to be represented if they don't have any studio album (that I've found) that's worthy of a top 100 ranking.
Any footnotes are just personal ramblings for my own entertainment.
And to remind me of the joy the music brings before all memory is erased.
- Chart updated: 07/08/2026 03:45
- (Created: 08/27/2020 03:09).
- Chart size: 100 albums.
There are 16 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 100 Greatest Music Albums has an average rating of 90 out of 100 (from 34 votes). Please log in or create an account to leave a comment or assign a rating.
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99.50 It was my older brothers record collection which gave me my first taste of music from a very young age. This was in it and one I used to sneak listens to when I could. Shows how timeless and fantastic it is as I still get the same joy out of it now as I did when I was 5. All hail the Floyd 08/24
Favorite track: Brain Damage/Eclipse [First added to this chart: 09/18/2020]
Favorite track: Brain Damage/Eclipse [First added to this chart: 09/18/2020]
Year of Release:
1973
Appears in:
Rank Score:
56,551
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99.12* If you were explaining the definition of NWOBHM to someone, this is the album that perfectly summarizes it. Absolute fucking perfection. Favorite Maiden album.
[First added to this chart: 09/18/2020]
Year of Release:
1982
Appears in:
Rank Score:
6,071
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98.33* Blown away when I heard this. Being very 'metal' at the time, I had no idea punk could be this good. Opened me up to a whole new range of bands
[First added to this chart: 09/18/2020]
Year of Release:
1977
Appears in:
Rank Score:
10,365
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98.20* This was the album a mate lent to me when it came out that introduced me to the musical leanings and way of life I was to become. Once heard, there was no turning back. Hooked forever into the world of hard rock and metal. It has held a place in my heart ever since hence will always remain a favorite. I've never gotten sick of it and love it every time I listen to it.
Favorite track: Touch To Much [First added to this chart: 09/18/2020]
Favorite track: Touch To Much [First added to this chart: 09/18/2020]
Year of Release:
1979
Appears in:
Rank Score:
4,005
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98.00* Best album of AC/DC (along with Highway to Hell). One of the greatest up tempo rock & roll albums of all time. This is when they were at there absolute prime. All killer, no filler. It really is one of the most under rated albums of all time.
[First added to this chart: 09/18/2020]
Year of Release:
1978
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,477
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96.920* When this came out, everyone had it and it was thrashed to death, specially 'Another Brick In The Wall'. So I chose not to like it as it was to commercial and I thought I was to cool to like what was popular. So it was only many years later when it had been forgotten that I had a decent listen to it and realized what the hype had been about. Now I love it to bits and listen to it often and those who thrashed it back in the day are over it. Ignorance can produce bliss. The best way to listen to this to fully gauge it's supremeness is in one sitting. A true masterpiece and the greatest concept album ever released. 12/25
[First added to this chart: 09/18/2020]
Year of Release:
1979
Appears in:
Rank Score:
23,564
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+96.00* Big fan of QOTSA. Heard this once when it first came out and thought it sounded good. At the megastore which sells CD's, 6 months after they're released you can get the newer releases for about half price. Being a cheap cunt I thought I'd wait. Sold out never to be restocked. Took years of looking before I finally found a copy. And it sounded better than I remembered. Hallelujah. 10/10.
[First added to this chart: 09/18/2020]
Year of Release:
2013
Appears in:
Rank Score:
7,091
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95.05* In the top 3 of my all time favorite bands. This just pips Plastic Surgery Disasters for being their best album. Fast, crisp perfection. One of my favorite Dead Kennedy albums. Not always but over time resonated more and more. Overall much faster paced than there other albums hence how they crammed 21 songs into it. Fantastic from start to finish. Short, fast, furious songs with the always present slap in the face lyrics. One of the most truth bearing bands on the planet but delivered in the happiest way. Love them.
[First added to this chart: 09/18/2020]
95.00 Most under rated of all the 'Big 4'. This album is among the best that any of them done. All killer, no filler. One of the greatest thrash albums ever released hands down. Every song is just pure brilliance.
[First added to this chart: 09/22/2020]
Year of Release:
1987
Appears in:
Rank Score:
762
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94.87* This was the first Metallica I discovered. Still my favorite. The ultimate thrash metal album
[First added to this chart: 09/18/2020]
Year of Release:
1986
Appears in:
Rank Score:
12,154
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Total albums: 100. Page 1 of 10
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums composition
| Decade | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1940s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1950s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1960s | 7 | 7% | |
| 1970s | 36 | 36% | |
| 1980s | 19 | 19% | |
| 1990s | 19 | 19% | |
| 2000s | 15 | 15% | |
| 2010s | 3 | 3% | |
| 2020s | 1 | 1% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| Led Zeppelin | 6 | 6% | |
| Pink Floyd | 5 | 5% | |
| AC/DC | 5 | 5% | |
| Dead Kennedys | 4 | 4% | |
| Black Sabbath | 4 | 4% | |
| Alice Cooper | 4 | 4% | |
| Motörhead | 3 | 3% | |
| Show all | |||
| Country | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
 |
45 | 45% | |
 |
36 | 36% | |
 |
11 | 11% | |
| |
4 | 4% | |
 |
1 | 1% | |
 |
1 | 1% | |
 |
1 | 1% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums chart changes
There have been no changes to this chart.
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums similar charts
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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 34 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ! | 04/11/2026 15:45 | SethGunde | 1 | 90/100 |
| ! | 03/06/2026 22:11 | Musicbuff123 | 18 | 61/100 |
| ! | 09/17/2025 03:32 | Moondance | 476 | 85/100 |
| ! | 09/17/2025 02:44 |  RexHavoc | 1 | 90/100 |
| ! | 06/15/2025 20:24 | BorderFreeAndrew | 118 | 82/100 |
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 3% of all charts on BestEverAlbums.com. This chart has a Bayesian average rating of 89.6/100, a mean average of 90.7/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 90.7/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 7.1.
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums comments
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From
Musicbuff123 03/06/2026 22:12 | #313457
I like the style of albums you have chosen as if I haven't got in my collection, I've hesrd it.
There's a couple quirky choices which go against the rhythm of the chart, like the B52's and Moby, but that doesn't matter as they're in my collection as well and I like them.
Overall I would call this a 100 Great Rock Classics, and I listen to this genre of music mostly. (Edited)
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From
RexHavoc 09/17/2025 02:45 | #310939
RexHavoc 09/17/2025 02:45 | #310939
Nice list and thanks for being my first on my list. (Edited)
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From
matterhornrider 10/06/2024 02:42 | #305548
I love seeing the Dead Kennedys Albums. I saw them a couple of times at Mabuhay Gardens (long gone) on Broadway in the ‘80s. (Edited)
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From
chavaloricardin 04/08/2023 05:03 | #295858
Me gustan los charts que incluyen notas para justificar la inclusión de los álbumes.
No soy muy fan del Heavy Metal pero viendo tu chart, tomaré algunos de los álbumes que seleccionaste para darle una oportunidad al género
English review
I like charts that include notes to justify the inclusion of the albums.
I'm not a big fan of Heavy Metal but looking at your chart, I'll take some of the albums you selected hoping I'll like "metal" even a little (Edited)
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From
BraddlesHendo 03/21/2023 10:28 | #295260
Great seeing Alice Cooper and The Dead Kennedy’s
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From
uphill 01/05/2023 15:28 | #292521
You get only 90 instead of 100 cause you listed Rammstein... (Edited)
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From
Arthurknight 11/11/2022 02:26 | #291212
Arthurknight 11/11/2022 02:26 | #291212
I moved into Myles Heskett's (wolfmother) old rental some years back. Am no longer there but I used the bungalow that was his drum studio as my own sound design studio; cool guy and cool music. I love how personal this chart is too, including things like the bad seeds comp makes perfect sense when you rationalise it that way.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From
Moondance 09/18/2022 22:29 | #289785
Good to see the Aussie & NZ bands/albums get a mention - but then again, we would be inclined that way given our geographical position on the planet. I respect your musical preferences even though we have travelled down very different musical routes. Loved seeing Jethro Tull's 'Aqualung' squeeze into the top 100.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From
KineticEchoes02 02/09/2022 09:06 | #280998
Lovin some of those choices, fellow Aussie. Great writeups, and some of those albums - absolute bloody belters - I feel exactly the same way about!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From
rockbluesfolkjaz 10/25/2021 17:24 | #275378
rockbluesfolkjaz 10/25/2021 17:24 | #275378
Definitely a good chart. A lot of the same choices as mine. But I like the additions of The Dead Kennedys, Monster Magnet, QOTSA, and Lacuna Coil, among others.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
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