Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by sageamagoo

Hey you—make more time for music in your life! It is a great gift of our universe that we have ready access to all the audio art in history. Take advantage of the internet, it's all out there: leagues of fine specimens just waiting for you to discover.

I spend every day exploring our planet's music. Here, I've boiled down 3000 albums from all corners of the world into 100 perfect records I couldn't live without.

Follow me on Rate Your Music: https://rateyourmusic.com/~sageamagoo and write something cool for me to listen to in the comments below!

Oh, and here's 100 more: http://www.besteveralbums.com/thechart.php?c=31951

There are 99 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 100 Greatest Music Albums has an average rating of 90 out of 100 (from 137 votes). Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.

View the complete list of 53,000 charts on BestEverAlbums.com from The Charts page.

Share this chart
Share | |
Collector's summaryLog in or register to discover the great albums that are missing from your music collection!
Sort by
Buy album United States
  • Amazon
  • eBay
  • iTunes
  • Spotify
  • #Sponsored
The progenitor. April 1970, France.

Magma were paying attention to the burgeoning musical revolution happening in jazz and popular music, soon to be the Canterbury Scene. Zappa, Soft Machine, and King Crimson broke the ice for new musical possibilities, and from another direction Miles, Herbie & John had just created brand-new sounds with Jazz Fusion. But Magma did what no one ever dreamed possible before.

Magma's debut is the most daring, forward-thinking album of 1970. It's the final form of the evolution experimental music took from all these influences into fine art of the highest order. It is the most important album ever made for how it fused these styles with aspects of modern classical and is completely brilliant over 4 epic sides. This album was the bleeding edge of novel music that immediately preceeded the advancements Faust, Can, Gong and Henry Cow made in 1971.

Magma led the way to the outer bounds of our imagination at the most crucial year in music history. The story of Kobians fleeing the tyranny of their home planet only to instate fascism on the planet they invade speaks volumes about horrors humanity has only begun to experience without one word being spoken in a discernable language (naturally it's all in Kobian).

Here in 1970 was the first pioneering use of heavy technical complexity that inspired King Crimson's Larks' Tongues in Aspic, at the very cusp of the birth of metal itself.

Magma had an ear to the ground on so many fronts and with complete artistic integrity and full use of the studio crafted this groundbreaking mindmelting piece of audio history and pointed the way for decades of music to come.
[First added to this chart: 10/09/2023]
Year of Release:
1970
Appears in:
Rank Score:
172
Rank in 1970:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
  • Amazon
  • eBay
  • iTunes
  • Spotify
  • #Sponsored
An epic tome of mighty heroes on an absurdist quest where work and play, worry and wonder intertwine. Every sound swirls like ancient magic, quantum particles in bizarre flux, screaming thoughts in a world that demands your attention. Every wrong note is placed just right in this bizarre and complex reality of conflicting impulses and overlapping desires. A profound creation that sets free my deepest soul, I live in awe of Sing To God. [First added to this chart: 09/14/2015]
Year of Release:
1996
Appears in:
Rank Score:
686
Rank in 1996:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
  • Amazon
  • eBay
  • iTunes
  • Spotify
  • #Sponsored
Joni's most touching, profound lyricism drifts on winds of fluid currents with the freedom of pure expression. This form of jazz fusion profoundly conjures the natural world and follows each of Joni's whims to its most artistic conclusion in intense layers of rhyme and metaphor. [First added to this chart: 01/15/2024]
Year of Release:
1976
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,720
Rank in 1976:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
  • Amazon
  • eBay
  • iTunes
  • Spotify
  • #Sponsored
Fantastic, demented, groovy cartoon jams. Consciousness twists and warps around colourful tunnels at breakneck speed. Boatloads of singalong hooks, insane morphing electronics, maximum-vibe stand-up bass riffs, and drum-and-bass rhythms carry life's essense through every bend and turn, an eclectic trip of true cosmic proportions. [First added to this chart: 03/20/2013]
Year of Release:
1998
Appears in:
Rank Score:
212
Rank in 1998:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
  • Amazon
  • eBay
  • iTunes
  • Spotify
  • #Sponsored
Plastic Beach - "it's like wonderland." An impossible spectacle of gigantic synths, layers of waves all pulsing with the dance beat of the century. An ode to the unstoppable excess of mass consumption and desolation of the modern spirit. [First added to this chart: 10/31/2012]
Year of Release:
2010
Appears in:
Rank Score:
7,026
Rank in 2010:
Rank in 2010s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
  • Amazon
  • eBay
  • iTunes
  • Spotify
  • #Sponsored
The beam of a searchlight finds a crushed soul lost in the pit of its own darkness. Through the blinding force of love and sheer strength of will all effort is expended to turn this soul back around. To hold up a light, and reclaim a glimmer of hope in our messy existence for someone who's lost to see.

The look on your face tells me everything - it's your link to the world. The Soft Bulletin is a constant display of your innermost thoughts for anyone looking to notice.
[First added to this chart: 10/29/2012]
Year of Release:
1999
Appears in:
Rank Score:
12,221
Rank in 1999:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
  • Amazon
  • eBay
  • iTunes
  • Spotify
  • #Sponsored
Take it from these gnomes: you've got to tune in to the vibes of the planet! Playful pixies use their jazz chops to invent intelligent pop music with the finesse and confidence to go anywhere and they do. A spectacular, mesmerizing journey through the cosmos. [First added to this chart: 08/29/2021]
Year of Release:
1973
Appears in:
Rank Score:
372
Rank in 1973:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
8. (=)
Buy album United States
  • Amazon
  • eBay
  • iTunes
  • Spotify
  • #Sponsored
We've got heads on sticks. I float down the levee. And now I'm listening to Kid A for the millionth time and discovering the floundering mindlessness we're all trained to endure is a waking nightmare that robs us all from a worthier existence. Turn and run. [First added to this chart: 12/11/2012]
Year of Release:
2000
Appears in:
Rank Score:
51,673
Rank in 2000:
Rank in 2000s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
  • Amazon
  • eBay
  • iTunes
  • Spotify
  • #Sponsored
Witty lyrics barked, belted, and howled by the grotesque man on the cover, a thrilling punk-prog blend to seethingly dance to. Very human tales of hate towards the cyclic mind-numbing events of the life you're supposed to live. REMEMBER—there is no future without PLASTIC, PLASTIC, PLASTIC. [First added to this chart: 03/31/2018]
Year of Release:
1993
Appears in:
Rank Score:
171
Rank in 1993:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
  • Amazon
  • eBay
  • iTunes
  • Spotify
  • #Sponsored
Totally wack Brazillian avant-prog. Join the inimatable Arrigo Barnabé and some far-out ladies on their weird and wild adventure. At the crossection of art and insanity with wonky humour and infectious personality. Ridiculous, crazy and fun. [First added to this chart: 07/20/2023]
Year of Release:
1980
Appears in:
Rank Score:
285
Rank in 1980:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 100. Page 1 of 10

Don't agree with this chart? Create your own from the My Charts page!

Top 100 Greatest Music Albums composition

Decade Albums %


1930s 0 0%
1940s 0 0%
1950s 0 0%
1960s 7 7%
1970s 24 24%
1980s 17 17%
1990s 32 32%
2000s 15 15%
2010s 2 2%
2020s 3 3%
Artist Albums %


Cardiacs 5 5%
NoMeansNo 4 4%
The Residents 4 4%
Mr. Bungle 3 3%
The Flaming Lips 2 2%
Ween 2 2%
Radiohead 2 2%
Show all
Country Albums %


United States 40 40%
United Kingdom 36 36%
Canada 6 6%
Germany 4 4%
Australia 3 3%
France 3 3%
Iceland 2 2%
Show all
Live? Albums %
No 99 99%
Yes 1 1%

Top 100 Greatest Music Albums chart changes

There have been no changes to this chart.

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


Not a member? Registering is quick, easy and FREE!


Why register?


Register now - it only takes a moment!

Top 100 Greatest Music Albums ratings

Average Rating: 
90/100 (from 137 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 137 ratings for this chart.

Sort ratings
RatingDate updatedMemberChart ratingsAvg. chart rating
  
80/100
 Report rating
11/21/2023 10:02 mianfei  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 14361/100
  
100/100
 Report rating
08/05/2022 01:49 Soencer  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 47100/100
  
100/100
 Report rating
03/28/2022 12:50 Larcx13  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 1,07286/100
  
100/100
 Report rating
11/29/2021 17:11 AvalancheGrips  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 12589/100
  
95/100
 Report rating
04/05/2021 04:09 Giant2015  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 10291/100

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 89.8/100, a mean average of 89.7/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 90.0/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 10.8.

Please log in or register if you want to be able to leave a rating

Top 100 Greatest Music Albums favourites

Showing latest 20 members who have added this chart as a favourite | Show all 21 members

Top 100 Greatest Music Albums comments

Showing latest 10 comments | Show all 99 comments |
Most Helpful First | Newest First | Maximum Rated First | Longest Comments First
(Only showing comments with -2 votes or higher. You can alter this threshold from your profile page. Manage Profile)

Rating:  
80/100
From 11/21/2023 10:02
This is one of the more impressive charts I have seen, although mostly completely different from my own. The write-ups are quite decent, and the chart is quite diverse although I would say there is — for an overall chart — a little too much focus on a few artists.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 11/15/2023 00:00
I always appreciate recommendations! They're all fantastic albums :) I have Third & Flying Teapot on vinyl
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
100/100
From 11/14/2023 09:27
Fantastic chart all around. For a proggy person I recommend to you:
Soft Machine - I, Third
Gong - Flying Teapot
Robert Wyatt - Rock Bottom.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
90/100
From 03/21/2022 06:06
liked this chart
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 03/16/2021 17:47
I really like this chart. thoughts on zaireeka ?
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
100/100
From 06/27/2020 15:00
I rarely rate other's people charts because I think it is kind of weird to judge people's taste. However, I don't hesitate to highly rate a chart such as this one, not because I agree with all of its choices, but because it is perfectly made.

This chart represent everything I'd like all charts to be: it is very personal, full of picks that are more obscure (I hate charts that look just like a reorganisation of the top-100 of this website) and there are tons of interesting comments explaining the choices. Good job!

As for the picks, I really like the inclusion of two Flaming Lips albums that are too often ignored: At War With The Mystics and Clouds Taste Metallic. Two wonderful albums by one of the greatest band of the last 30 years. Also, I'm glad to see Surf's Up here, what an underrated album! Crocodiles by Echo & The Bunnymen is another choice I really like. Not the typical E&TB we see on most chart, but I agree it's one of, if not their best. And what about See You On The Other Side by Mercury Rev! Bold choice, I like that you included this gem in here.

Your chart also convinced me to look into two bands I still haven't listened to enough : Gorillaz and NoMeansNo. Thanks and keep up your good work!
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +3 votes (3 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
95/100
From 05/10/2020 01:35
Update: I love Prefab Sprout now
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
95/100
From 03/21/2020 23:28
Thanks for showing your wonderful chart with all your lovely notes. I really like many of these fun albums, such as Spilt Milk, Wrong, and The Mollusk. I will give a try to Prefab Sprout now. :)
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
100/100
From 03/17/2020 07:51
What an absolutely gorgeous chart!!! The write-ups are as personal and special as the picks themselves. You manage to hit right in the special pleases with them!

Mind if I borrow the concept of grading how the album has grown? Really love the idea, it kinda gives another perspective on how the record relates to you.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
95/100
From 01/21/2020 14:47
I love plastic beach!
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

Please log in or register if you want to be able to add a comment

Your feedback for Top 100 Greatest Music Albums

Anonymous
Let us know what you think of this chart by adding a comment or assigning a rating below!
Log in or register to assign a rating or leave a comment for this chart.
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
Back to Top