Top 100 Greatest Music Albums
by 
SomethingSpecial 
A list of all my desert island discs. Whether I grew up listening to these artists or found them along the way, I love all of these albums with every fibre of my being. I also want to thank the webmaster and all of the members, without whom I would not have found so many amazing artists and albums, many of which are on my list.
- Chart updated: 10/13/2025 13:15
- (Created: 05/13/2024 20:36).
- Chart size: 100 albums.
There are 10 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 100 Greatest Music Albums has an average rating of 85 out of 100 (from 33 votes). Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.
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I can't recall ever living life not knowing about the Red Hot Chili Peppers. They were my first obsession, one that is as strong today as it was during my childhood years. And this was the album that sparked that obsession and captured my imagination. If I could only take one record on a desert island, it would be this one.
How John Frusciante was able to rise from the ashes and team up again with his bandmates to make what I consider to be the holy grail of all albums is beyond me. But he did it, and that was just the start, as the Chili Peppers conquered the world, and proved why they were not only the greatest live band in the world, but also great innovators in the studio. [First added to this chart: 01/23/2025]
How John Frusciante was able to rise from the ashes and team up again with his bandmates to make what I consider to be the holy grail of all albums is beyond me. But he did it, and that was just the start, as the Chili Peppers conquered the world, and proved why they were not only the greatest live band in the world, but also great innovators in the studio. [First added to this chart: 01/23/2025]
Year of Release:
1999
Appears in:
Rank Score:
7,271
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Comments:
2. (=)
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After Californication, the Red Hot Chili Peppers continued innovating and pushing boundaries and expectations on an album that became John Frusciante's passion project. Credited with writing most of the album's melodies, including backing vocal arrangements and bass lines, Frusciante used the studio as a canvas to create an album like no other, containing the richest harmonies and soundscapes ever put to record.
From the adrenaline-rusher of an opener By the Way to the closing opus Venice Queen, By the Way is the greatest listening experience I've ever had front to back. While Flea doesn't get to flex as the powerhouse bassist that he is, the music speaks for itself, and Anthony Kiedis has never poured his heart out as he does on this album. [First added to this chart: 01/23/2025]
From the adrenaline-rusher of an opener By the Way to the closing opus Venice Queen, By the Way is the greatest listening experience I've ever had front to back. While Flea doesn't get to flex as the powerhouse bassist that he is, the music speaks for itself, and Anthony Kiedis has never poured his heart out as he does on this album. [First added to this chart: 01/23/2025]
Year of Release:
2002
Appears in:
Rank Score:
4,138
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The Beatles’ magnum opus and most innovative work, one which sees The Beatles take the form of a fictional band, in the process creating their most complete and satisfying album, featuring some of their most emotionally potent work, in songs like She’s Leaving Home and perhaps the greatest Beatles song and closer, A Day in the Life. Learning everything they had learned in the studio and on stage, Sgt. Pepper combines all of The Beatles greatest strengths into a piece of work that will last until the end of time.
[First added to this chart: 01/23/2025]
Year of Release:
1967
Appears in:
Rank Score:
42,561
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When a band or artist peaks this early, it means that it was written in the stars that they were destined for greatness. It is clear that Eddie Vedder was always destined for greatness. The story of how they formed is a prime example of fate and destiny, with Vedder writing lyrics and recording vocals for the demo tape of a group of guys he had never met before, given to him by founding Chili Peppers drummer and later Pearl Jam drummer, Jack Irons.
With its mythological sound and a once-in-a-lifetime voice in singer Eddie Vedder, Ten is the ultimate example of a band who turned tragedy, with the death of their Mother Love Bone singer Andrew Wood, into something everlasting and pure. [First added to this chart: 01/23/2025]
With its mythological sound and a once-in-a-lifetime voice in singer Eddie Vedder, Ten is the ultimate example of a band who turned tragedy, with the death of their Mother Love Bone singer Andrew Wood, into something everlasting and pure. [First added to this chart: 01/23/2025]
Year of Release:
1991
Appears in:
Rank Score:
18,349
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I was first introduced to this album by my sister and have been under a spell ever since. Love herself admitted that she had a competitive songwriting streak with her then husband, Kurt Cobain, and it shows, as Love and her bandmates were able to create songs that demanded as much of the listener's attention as anything Nirvana had ever made. From the gorgeous rocker of an opener Violet to the also rocking closer Rock Star, Live Through This is an album that takes hold of the listener and doesn't let go until the end, and features themes about beauty, motherhood, anti-elitism and violence against women.
[First added to this chart: 01/23/2025]
Year of Release:
1994
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,677
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While A Hard Day's Night was The Beatles' first masterpiece, Rubber Soul marked the beginning of The Beatles as studio innovators, instead of simply masterful songwriters. Containing the innovative sound that later albums followed, and the direct emotional pop sound of the early days, Rubber Soul is a perfect bridge between who they were and who they would become as artists.
[First added to this chart: 01/23/2025]
Year of Release:
1965
Appears in:
Rank Score:
26,335
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Along with Californication, the Red Hot Chili Peppers' first breakthrough album, Blood Sugar Sex Magik, was my other early obsession. With the help of producer Rick Rubin, the Chili Peppers were able to capture one of the greatest musical moments in time, on an album that sounded nothing like the mainstream rock music of its time. And to many, Under the Bridge remains the band's finest musical moment.
[First added to this chart: 01/23/2025]
Year of Release:
1991
Appears in:
Rank Score:
8,226
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Recorded at the end of the 70s, this is The Clash's masterpiece, now considered to be one of the most iconic albums of all time. Although a double album of 19 songs, every cut is essential and spectacular, and featuring a variety of styles, from lounge jazz to reggae.
An album made for the everyman, the lyrics dealing with themes such as unemployment, social displacement, racial conflict, drug use, and the responsibilities of adulthood. An album that every music lover needs to listen to and experience. [First added to this chart: 01/23/2025]
An album made for the everyman, the lyrics dealing with themes such as unemployment, social displacement, racial conflict, drug use, and the responsibilities of adulthood. An album that every music lover needs to listen to and experience. [First added to this chart: 01/23/2025]
Year of Release:
1979
Appears in:
Rank Score:
30,303
Rank in 1979:
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No album captured the feeling of distress caused by the September 11 attacks as powerfully as Wilco's 2002 masterpiece, entitled Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. Ever since I watched Wilco's documentary on the making of this album and saw what the band mates went through to get this record made, I have held this album in the highest regard.
Yankee Hotel Foxtrot is like the gift that keeps on giving - it's easy to find oneself lost in the rich soundscapes, layers, melodies, chord changes, Tweedy's heartbreaking, honest vocals, and by the towering drum sound, reminiscent of Ringo Starr's drumming on The Beatles Tomorrow Never Knows. [First added to this chart: 01/23/2025]
Yankee Hotel Foxtrot is like the gift that keeps on giving - it's easy to find oneself lost in the rich soundscapes, layers, melodies, chord changes, Tweedy's heartbreaking, honest vocals, and by the towering drum sound, reminiscent of Ringo Starr's drumming on The Beatles Tomorrow Never Knows. [First added to this chart: 01/23/2025]
Year of Release:
2002
Appears in:
Rank Score:
16,956
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The Killing Moon is a strong contender for the greatest song of all time, so it's not that unusual for this album to be in my top 10, when every other song is so enchanting and otherworldly. Containing one of the best opening and closing songs, in Silver and Ocean Rain, this album is an experience like no other, made possible by Pete De Freitas' hypnotic drumming style, Will Sergeant's masterful guitar work, and Ian McCulloch's breathtaking baritone vocals and commanding stage presence.
[First added to this chart: 01/23/2025]
Year of Release:
1984
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,812
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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 | 12 | 12% | |
| 1970s | 11 | 11% | |
| 1980s | 9 | 9% | |
| 1990s | 43 | 43% | |
| 2000s | 18 | 18% | |
| 2010s | 7 | 7% | |
| 2020s | 0 | 0% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| The Beatles | 8 | 8% | |
| Red Hot Chili Peppers | 4 | 4% | |
| Pearl Jam | 4 | 4% | |
| Built To Spill | 3 | 3% | |
| Red House Painters | 3 | 3% | |
| Nirvana | 3 | 3% | |
| Björk | 3 | 3% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums chart changes
| Biggest fallers |
|---|
| Down 1 from 43rd to 44thPinkerton by Weezer |
| Down 1 from 44th to 45thLet England Shake by PJ Harvey |
| Down 1 from 45th to 46thSuperunknown by Soundgarden |
| Leavers |
|---|
| Carnavas by Silversun Pickups |
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums similar charts
| Title | Source | Type | Published | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 1990s | SomethingSpecial | 1990s decade chart | 2025 | |
| Top 100 Greatest Music Albums | jwalsh97 | Overall chart | 2026 |  |
| Top 100 Greatest Music Albums | chriskarman | Overall chart | 2021 | |
| Top Alternative Pop/Rock Albums | nas062080 | Custom chart | 2013 |  |
| Overall Top 100 Ranked Correctly |  Mother Nature's Son | Custom chart | 2014 |  |
| Top 100 Greatest Music Albums |  dmercado | Overall chart | 2024 | |
| BEA's Top 100 re-ranked |  EyeKanFly | Custom chart | 2020 | |
| Overall for yours truly |  RoundTheBend | Custom chart | 2020 | |
| BEA's Top 100 - The Correct Order |  babyBlueSedan | Custom chart | 2020 | |
| BEA top 100 reranked - 2020 |  LedZep | Custom chart | 2023 |  |
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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 33 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01/18/2026 18:14 | jhoe1994 | 3 | 87/100 | |
| 10/24/2025 20:12 |  MadhattanJack | 283 | 86/100 | |
| 10/07/2025 06:50 |  greatson | 904 | 80/100 | |
| 09/21/2025 20:44 |  awesomness425 | 248 | 91/100 | |
| 09/19/2025 16:05 |  seb7 | 114 | 91/100 |
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 has a Bayesian average rating of 85.4/100, a mean average of 85.3/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 85.3/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 6.3.
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums favourites
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums comments
Showing all 10 comments |
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From SomethingSpecial 10/24/2025 22:31 | #311465
SomethingSpecial 10/24/2025 22:31 | #311465
Hey MadhattanJack, To Record Only Water for Ten Days is a synthpop album but I guess I know what you mean :)
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From MadhattanJack 10/24/2025 20:11 | #311462
MadhattanJack 10/24/2025 20:11 | #311462
Honestly, if I were stuck on a desert island, I probably wouldn't want to hear any synthpop either.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From SomethingSpecial 09/21/2025 21:18 | #311005
SomethingSpecial 09/21/2025 21:18 | #311005
Thanks for checking out my chart awesomness425! Titanic Rising is one of my favourite albums and used to be in my top 100, and that Black Country record is pretty spectacular. Thanks for recommending the Common album. I might have to have another listen.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From awesomness425 09/21/2025 20:46 | #311004
awesomness425 09/21/2025 20:46 | #311004
I saw you rated my chart back ( i never check this thing and really should update mine). Anyways, you seem really linked to arists as opposed to albums, which I can understand. Not a whole lot of 2010s-2020's albums. I would reccomend Titanic Rising by Weyes Blood and Ants From Up There by Black Country, New Road per your tastes. For hip-hop, I'd argue you'd really like Be By Common considering the early kanye picks.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From mikepen 03/22/2025 05:18 | #308143
Superb chart with helpful explanatory comments. I shall use you chart to help me better explore music of the '90's and '00's. Regards
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From AbsurdCheesecake 02/17/2025 00:24 | #307626
Don't completely agree with your list, (I see some RHCP bias there, but I do like them) but I see no issue with it. Your explanations for these albums are worded perfectly and further go to show how great this music is. Great picks.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
sageamagoo 01/29/2025 12:53 | #307306
sageamagoo 01/29/2025 12:53 | #307306
John Frusciante looks interesting! I've heard a lot of this chart, for a big Beatles/psychedelia fan you may like Gilberto Gil (1968), Small Faces - Ogden's Nut Gone Flake, and Family - Music in a Doll's House. Since you like Pearl Jam and Chili Peppers, check out Live - Throwing Copper. For some super psychedelic dub, check out Augustus Pablo - King Tubbys Meets Rockers Uptown
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From Johnnyo 01/26/2025 23:22 | #307249
Very nice chart.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
NowhereMan 01/25/2025 14:30 | #307203
NowhereMan 01/25/2025 14:30 | #307203
Nice!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From mrmcrook 11/02/2024 22:23 | #305855
It'll be fascinating seeing your list once expanded out to top 100 when a few other bands are added
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
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| Best Artists of the 2000s | |
|---|---|
| 1. Radiohead | |
| 2. Arcade Fire | |
| 3. The Strokes | |
| 4. Coldplay | |
| 5. Sufjan Stevens | |
| 6. Muse | |
| 7. Arctic Monkeys | |
| 8. Wilco | |
| 9. The White Stripes | |
| 10. Animal Collective | |
| 11. Kanye West | |
| 12. Phil Elverum | |
| 13. Interpol | |
| 14. Modest Mouse | |
| 15. Queens Of The Stone Age | |
| 16. Madvillain | |
| 17. LCD Soundsystem | |
| 18. Godspeed You! Black Emperor | |
| 19. The National | |
| 20. The Flaming Lips |
