Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by 
btener11 
- Chart updated: 01/13/2024 21:15
- (Created: 10/07/2012 22:32).
- Chart size: 100 albums.
There are 58 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 100 Greatest Music Albums has an average rating of 90 out of 100 (from 95 votes). Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.
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[First added to this chart: 01/13/2024]
Year of Release:
1959
Appears in:
Rank Score:
25,032
Rank in 1959:
Rank in 1950s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
166
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"Then Richie, Richie said
'Hey man let's dress up like cops
Think of what we could do!'
But something, something
It said 'you better not.'" [First added to this chart: 10/07/2012]
'Hey man let's dress up like cops
Think of what we could do!'
But something, something
It said 'you better not.'" [First added to this chart: 10/07/2012]
Year of Release:
1977
Appears in:
Rank Score:
21,719
Rank in 1977:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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"Just for one moment - thought I'd found my way
Destiny unfolded - I watched it slip away..."
The Allmusic review for Closer describes it as a disjointed album that lacks the cohesiveness of its predecessor, yet from my first listen, the songs almost seemed to blend into each other. The mood doesn't change much along the way, hitting on various shades of depression, shifting from anger to paranoia, fear to despair. But while the mood changes little, Closer still takes the listener on a journey. The journey is marked by spikes in urgency ("A Means to an End," "Twenty-Four Hours"), the swelling and dying of restrained rage ("Colony"), and the fleeting presence of haunting specters ("Heart and Soul," "The Eternal"). Another crucial piece to the album's seamless flow is its being bookended by two of the greatest opening/closing tracks ever recorded ("Atrocity Exhibition"/"Decades"). Closer is loaded with classic Joy Division moments, yet it feels more like one grand opus than a collection of songs. [First added to this chart: 10/07/2012]
Destiny unfolded - I watched it slip away..."
The Allmusic review for Closer describes it as a disjointed album that lacks the cohesiveness of its predecessor, yet from my first listen, the songs almost seemed to blend into each other. The mood doesn't change much along the way, hitting on various shades of depression, shifting from anger to paranoia, fear to despair. But while the mood changes little, Closer still takes the listener on a journey. The journey is marked by spikes in urgency ("A Means to an End," "Twenty-Four Hours"), the swelling and dying of restrained rage ("Colony"), and the fleeting presence of haunting specters ("Heart and Soul," "The Eternal"). Another crucial piece to the album's seamless flow is its being bookended by two of the greatest opening/closing tracks ever recorded ("Atrocity Exhibition"/"Decades"). Closer is loaded with classic Joy Division moments, yet it feels more like one grand opus than a collection of songs. [First added to this chart: 10/07/2012]
Year of Release:
1980
Appears in:
Rank Score:
16,758
Rank in 1980:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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"Mother numb to and devout to
Reckon luck sees us the same"
Mark Hollis is a master of space & silence; and space & silence have never been employed on a (post) rock album as well as they are on Laughing Stock. But Laughing Stock is more like a symphony than a rock album; orchestration, not energy, is at the heart of each composition. Every sound serves a distinct purpose, has its own contextual meaning. Laughing Stock (like Spirit of Eden before it) produced no singles, and there was no tour following its release. As Mark Hollis explained, it would be impossible to duplicate on stage the sound they perfected in the studio - especially with so many musicians involved. Thus, Laughing Stock served as the conclusion to Hollis' brilliant two-part "fuck you" to the music industry. Well played, sir. Well played. [First added to this chart: 10/07/2012]
Reckon luck sees us the same"
Mark Hollis is a master of space & silence; and space & silence have never been employed on a (post) rock album as well as they are on Laughing Stock. But Laughing Stock is more like a symphony than a rock album; orchestration, not energy, is at the heart of each composition. Every sound serves a distinct purpose, has its own contextual meaning. Laughing Stock (like Spirit of Eden before it) produced no singles, and there was no tour following its release. As Mark Hollis explained, it would be impossible to duplicate on stage the sound they perfected in the studio - especially with so many musicians involved. Thus, Laughing Stock served as the conclusion to Hollis' brilliant two-part "fuck you" to the music industry. Well played, sir. Well played. [First added to this chart: 10/07/2012]
Year of Release:
1991
Appears in:
Rank Score:
9,263
Rank in 1991:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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"In my cowardice I became at once a man, and did what all we grown men do when face to face with suffering and injustice; I preferred not to see them”. - Marcel Proust, "Swann's Way"
Here, Tom Waits simultaneously acknowledges and rejects Proust's sentiment. Rain Dogs instantly transports the listener to another time and place. One where bizarre and dejected figures strike impressionistic poses in a dank and drunken haze. "Singapore" sets the tone from the first bar. Waits' genius is his ability to sympathize with these grotesque characters, to show the world their souls - their love and their pain. What's more is Waits' ability to draw the listeners in close, and make space for their empathy as well. Harrowing pieces like "Time," "Blind Love" and "Downtown Train" humanize those dejected and unwanted wretches whom we usually prefer not to see. And with the heart-wrenching closer, "Anywhere I Lay My Head," the journey feels both significant and worthwhile. Rain Dogs is more than a mere musical endeavor - it is a humanistic one. [First added to this chart: 10/07/2012]
Here, Tom Waits simultaneously acknowledges and rejects Proust's sentiment. Rain Dogs instantly transports the listener to another time and place. One where bizarre and dejected figures strike impressionistic poses in a dank and drunken haze. "Singapore" sets the tone from the first bar. Waits' genius is his ability to sympathize with these grotesque characters, to show the world their souls - their love and their pain. What's more is Waits' ability to draw the listeners in close, and make space for their empathy as well. Harrowing pieces like "Time," "Blind Love" and "Downtown Train" humanize those dejected and unwanted wretches whom we usually prefer not to see. And with the heart-wrenching closer, "Anywhere I Lay My Head," the journey feels both significant and worthwhile. Rain Dogs is more than a mere musical endeavor - it is a humanistic one. [First added to this chart: 10/07/2012]
Year of Release:
1985
Appears in:
Rank Score:
13,087
Rank in 1985:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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"Oh no love, you're not alone
No matter what or who you've been
No matter when or where you've seen
All the knives seem to lacerate your brain
I've had my share, I'll help you with the pain
You're not alone" [First added to this chart: 10/07/2012]
No matter what or who you've been
No matter when or where you've seen
All the knives seem to lacerate your brain
I've had my share, I'll help you with the pain
You're not alone" [First added to this chart: 10/07/2012]
Year of Release:
1972
Appears in:
Rank Score:
50,098
Rank in 1972:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
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"You know I'd give you everything I've got
for a little peace of mind" [First added to this chart: 10/07/2012]
for a little peace of mind" [First added to this chart: 10/07/2012]
Year of Release:
1968
Appears in:
Rank Score:
43,236
Rank in 1968:
Rank in 1960s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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"Oh Mother, I can feel
The soil falling over my head
And as I climb into an empty bed
Oh well. Enough said." [First added to this chart: 10/07/2012]
The soil falling over my head
And as I climb into an empty bed
Oh well. Enough said." [First added to this chart: 10/07/2012]
Year of Release:
1986
Appears in:
Rank Score:
39,101
Rank in 1986:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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"Halelelelelelelelelelelalalalala-leleleleleleluwah"
[First added to this chart: 10/07/2012]
Year of Release:
1971
Appears in:
Rank Score:
10,200
Rank in 1971:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
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"Show me all your favorite things
Show you all mine too
Make a wish
I'll give it all to you" [First added to this chart: 10/07/2012]
Show you all mine too
Make a wish
I'll give it all to you" [First added to this chart: 10/07/2012]
Year of Release:
1991
Appears in:
Rank Score:
33,774
Rank in 1991:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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 | 3 | 3% | |
| 1960s | 8 | 8% | |
| 1970s | 25 | 25% | |
| 1980s | 20 | 20% | |
| 1990s | 20 | 20% | |
| 2000s | 19 | 19% | |
| 2010s | 5 | 5% | |
| 2020s | 0 | 0% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
 |
|
|
| The Beatles | 3 | 3% | |
| Radiohead | 2 | 2% | |
| Nirvana | 2 | 2% | |
| Opeth | 2 | 2% | |
| Joy Division | 2 | 2% | |
| Talk Talk | 2 | 2% | |
| Katatonia | 2 | 2% | |
| Show all | |||
| Country | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
53 | 53% | |
 |
28 | 28% | |
 |
4 | 4% | |
 |
3 | 3% | |
 |
3 | 3% | |
 |
3 | 3% | |
 |
3 | 3% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums chart changes
| Biggest climbers |
|---|
| Up 2 from 40th to 38th New York Dolls by New York Dolls |
| Up 2 from 37th to 35th Disintegration by The Cure |
| Up 2 from 34th to 32nd Ege Bamyası by Can |
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums ratings
90/100 (from 95 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 95 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 100/100  | 02/24/2023 03:30 |  AAL2014 | | 92/100 |
| 95/100 | 02/04/2022 10:58 |  IlMala | | 95/100 |
| 95/100 | 11/19/2021 05:10 |  foxytreeko | | 81/100 |
| 95/100 | 11/18/2021 15:03 |  Cytoma | | 90/100 |
| 95/100 | 08/22/2019 15:00 |  DommeDamian | | 90/100 |
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 90.0/100, a mean average of 90.5/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 90.5/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 8.0.
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums comments
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100/100
From 
jdenny2018 05/29/2018 00:49
jdenny2018 05/29/2018 00:49
Outstanding chart
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
90/100
From 
elo269megv 05/28/2018 23:46
elo269megv 05/28/2018 23:46
Jazz, punk, metal, pop, classic rock, new wave, prog, rap... can’t help but love this chart! Great top 20 choices as well. Not a big fan of your 80-100 selections outside of Ghostface, Tool and Soft Machine but that’s okay (I don’t think I even like my own haha)!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
90/100
From 
ForegroundNoise 05/28/2018 12:05
ForegroundNoise 05/28/2018 12:05
I feel so conflicted about this chart - so many underground classics I adore (you top 7 is fucking first class) interwoven with records I think are so-so. Love the notes you've done so far, keep em coming and I'll be sure to up my rating :)
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
95/100
From Ulf 05/28/2018 09:12
Really nice chart
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
85/100
From Jaymantheman 01/21/2018 08:08
Interesting list. Makes me re-think my Tool and Metallica years and how I've forgotten how I loved them, but have little time for that type of music nowadays...
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
90/100
From 
JulianR 09/11/2017 05:05
JulianR 09/11/2017 05:05
love it!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
100/100
From badger 09/04/2017 14:58
may be my favourite top 10 on this site
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
100/100
From 
LedZep 02/15/2017 19:11
LedZep 02/15/2017 19:11
And you have Morphine, love it
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
100/100
From LedZep 02/15/2017 19:09
LedZep 02/15/2017 19:09
SO diverse, really great. I never had the nerve to rate popular music (pop, rock, metal albums) in the same chart as jazz and classical, but you've found great compromise. The only thing that makes it 95 instead of 100 - I've listened to only 4 of your top 10 albums. My bad
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
80/100
From vancevisuals 12/10/2016 01:46
like Bitches Brew, good to see some Sabbath and Yes
The White Album is my #1 album
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
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