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: 5 days ago
- (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 86 out of 100 (from 34 votes). Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.
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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:
4,108
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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:
16,777
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Having recorded two monster albums since Frusciante’s return, by the time it came to record their next album, the Red Hot Chili Peppers must have felt confident in their abilities as musicians, which might be why they decided to record a sprawling, double LP.
And while Frusciante stepped into a Brian Wilson-esque role while making By the Way, who he was inspired by on that record, on Stadium Arcadium the process was much more democratic, and everyone felt like their voices were heard.
That’s not to say Frusciante’s influence isn’t equally present on this record, which it is.
With each record, the sound tends to dramatically shift, depending on what Frusciante and the guys are inspired by at the time. For example, for Stadium Arcadium, Frusciante was inspired by classic rock and metal guitarists like Eddie Van Halen and Jimi Hendrix, a drastic departure from his previous, minimalistic guitar work on Californication and By the Way.
However, for many old-school fans, the album must have felt like a welcome return to the sound of their two breakthrough albums, Mother’s Milk and Blood Sugar Sex Magik, that were classic rock and metal-inspired, and like Stadium Arcadium, saw Frusciante again as a guitar virtuoso. However, what makes Stadium Arcadium so infinitely great is that its sound is the perfect bridge between their old sound and the new soundscapes carved by Frusciante during the making of 2002’s By the Way.
And like Californication and By the Way, Stadium Arcadium was a monster hit, and proved to be Frusciante last album with the band until his return in 2019. [First added to this chart: 01/23/2025]
And while Frusciante stepped into a Brian Wilson-esque role while making By the Way, who he was inspired by on that record, on Stadium Arcadium the process was much more democratic, and everyone felt like their voices were heard.
That’s not to say Frusciante’s influence isn’t equally present on this record, which it is.
With each record, the sound tends to dramatically shift, depending on what Frusciante and the guys are inspired by at the time. For example, for Stadium Arcadium, Frusciante was inspired by classic rock and metal guitarists like Eddie Van Halen and Jimi Hendrix, a drastic departure from his previous, minimalistic guitar work on Californication and By the Way.
However, for many old-school fans, the album must have felt like a welcome return to the sound of their two breakthrough albums, Mother’s Milk and Blood Sugar Sex Magik, that were classic rock and metal-inspired, and like Stadium Arcadium, saw Frusciante again as a guitar virtuoso. However, what makes Stadium Arcadium so infinitely great is that its sound is the perfect bridge between their old sound and the new soundscapes carved by Frusciante during the making of 2002’s By the Way.
And like Californication and By the Way, Stadium Arcadium was a monster hit, and proved to be Frusciante last album with the band until his return in 2019. [First added to this chart: 01/23/2025]
Year of Release:
2006
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,970
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Although he got his start as a producer, working for big names like Jay Z, more than anything he wanted to be an artist. And fuelled by an intense belief in himself, at a time when few people believed in his vision, West overcome all odds, including a car accident that left him with his jaw wired shut, to create what I consider to be the greatest Hip hop album ever made. With an innovative production style, and a powerful social voice, West was able to reach every plateau, with a Hip hop record that introduced the world to the most influential artist of the 21st century.
[First added to this chart: 01/23/2025]
Year of Release:
2004
Appears in:
Rank Score:
8,355
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Sun Kil Moon's debut record is also Mark Kozelek's magnum opus. Following the disbandment of his celebrated rock band, Red House Painters two years prior, Kozelek and his bandmates Koutsos, Vessel, and Carney decided to continue performing under the name Sun Kil Moon, which would later become a vehicle for Kozelek's future solo efforts, like 2014's acclaimed Benji.
Sun Kil Moon's debut, Ghosts of the Great Highway, combines all the strengths of Kozelek and his bandmates from previous Red House Painters records like Ocean Beach and Songs for a Blue Guitar, which had a similar bare, folk sound, into Kozelek and Co's most powerful statement, a statement that features lush arrangements, gorgeous melodies, long-form epics like Duk Koo Kim, and perhaps Kozelek's greatest song, Carry Me Ohio. [First added to this chart: 01/24/2025]
Sun Kil Moon's debut, Ghosts of the Great Highway, combines all the strengths of Kozelek and his bandmates from previous Red House Painters records like Ocean Beach and Songs for a Blue Guitar, which had a similar bare, folk sound, into Kozelek and Co's most powerful statement, a statement that features lush arrangements, gorgeous melodies, long-form epics like Duk Koo Kim, and perhaps Kozelek's greatest song, Carry Me Ohio. [First added to this chart: 01/24/2025]
Year of Release:
2003
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,305
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If any album ever sounded like an extension of the natural world, it would be Björk's Vespertine, with its rich soundscapes mimicking the natural sounds of mother nature. An album so intimate, the listener feels close to the artist, as each of Björk's vocal breaths become part of her musical world.
[First added to this chart: 01/25/2025]
Year of Release:
2001
Appears in:
Rank Score:
9,304
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Rank in 2000s:
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Comments:
30. (=)
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The album that would be a game-changer in the indie rock scene and would go on to inspire subsequent stadium-rockers like Interpol, Arctic Monkeys, and The Killers, Is This It is a very special moment in time. Marked by its gritty, unpolished, anti-commercial sound, and singer Julian Casablancas' distorted vocals, Is This It is a triumphant gem and The Strokes sound just as raw, dirty, and sophisticated as The Velvet Underground did in the 60s.
[First added to this chart: 01/23/2025]
Year of Release:
2001
Appears in:
Rank Score:
27,657
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An album that spoke to the masses like no other, Demon Days is the virtual band's biggest and most iconic statement, one that features an eclectic group of collaborators and styles, culminating in one of the defining albums of the 2000s, with chart-topping singles, including the band's biggest hit, Feel Good Inc., Dare, Dirty Harry, El Mañana, and Kids With Guns. You had to be alive in 2005 to know just how massive and inescapable the record was.
[First added to this chart: 01/23/2025]
Year of Release:
2005
Appears in:
Rank Score:
9,489
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Although Parachutes was an impressive debut, Coldplay's second album, A Rush of Blood to the Head, remains their magnum opus, and is one of the most essential recordings of the 21st century, featuring some of the band's greatest songs, like In My Place, The Scientist, Clocks, and Warning Sign.
As affected by the tragedy of 9/11 as Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, A Rush of Blood to the Head signals an uncertain and shaken world, something echoed by the album's desolate soundscapes and urgency. [First added to this chart: 01/25/2025]
As affected by the tragedy of 9/11 as Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, A Rush of Blood to the Head signals an uncertain and shaken world, something echoed by the album's desolate soundscapes and urgency. [First added to this chart: 01/25/2025]
Year of Release:
2002
Appears in:
Rank Score:
11,833
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A departure from the sound of his breakthrough record, Kanye moved towards a more elaborate, orchestral style, in the process creating what I consider to be his most ambitious statement. Drawing inspiration from artists like Fiona Apple and Portishead, he experimented with string arrangement and with instruments not usually associated with Hip hop, as well as continuing to use his voice to criticise issues like institutional racism, health care, higher education, and the blood diamond trade, on the album’s best song, Diamonds from Sierra Leone.
[First added to this chart: 01/23/2025]
Year of Release:
2005
Appears in:
Rank Score:
5,511
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Total albums: 18. Page 1 of 2
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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 | 44 | 44% | |
| 2000s | 18 | 18% | |
| 2010s | 6 | 6% | |
| 2020s | 0 | 0% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| The Beatles | 8 | 8% | |
| Red Hot Chili Peppers | 4 | 4% | |
| Pearl Jam | 4 | 4% | |
| Nirvana | 3 | 3% | |
| Björk | 3 | 3% | |
| Gorillaz | 3 | 3% | |
| Bob Marley & The Wailers | 3 | 3% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums chart changes
| Biggest climbers |
|---|
| Up 8 from 96th to 88thPinback by Pinback |
| Up 1 from 100th to 99thRastaman Vibration by Bob Marley & The Wailers |
| Up 1 from 99th to 98thShooting Rubberbands At The Stars by Edie Brickell & New Bohemians |
| Biggest fallers |
|---|
| Down 4 from 90th to 94thPlastic Beach by Gorillaz |
| Down 2 from 89th to 91stStrange Days by The Doors |
| Down 2 from 98th to 100thPost by Björk |
| New entries |
|---|
| Fantastic Planet by Failure |
| Leavers |
|---|
| ...Like Clockwork by Queens Of The Stone Age |
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums similar charts
| Title | Source | Type | Published | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 1990s | SomethingSpecial | 1990s decade chart | 2026 | |
| 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 34 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04/01/2026 01:10 | OuttaKingsley | 3 | 93/100 | |
| 01/18/2026 18:14 | jhoe1994 | 3 | 87/100 | |
| 10/24/2025 20:12 |  MadhattanJack | 302 | 86/100 | |
| 10/07/2025 06:50 |  greatson | 904 | 80/100 | |
| 09/21/2025 20:44 |  awesomness425 | 248 | 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 85.6/100, a mean average of 85.6/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 85.6/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 6.4.
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums 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) | +3 votes (3 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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