Top 97 Greatest Music Albums
by 
Button001 
- Chart updated: 12/15/2023 22:45
- (Created: 01/13/2013 02:10).
- Chart size: 97 albums.
There are 57 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 97 Greatest Music Albums has an average rating of 88 out of 100 (from 94 votes). Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.
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It is an insult to have to put this album in a chart with at least 95 albums here. Simply the most beautiful piece of music ever written. I was put off buying this album for many a year after mistakenly thinking this would sound like all their surf pop hits from the radio. This album changed my attitude to life. It really makes you appreciate all the love that surrounds us in the world. Importantly it reminds that no man is an island. The sound here is symphonic, as the layered arrangements provide the most effecting compositions ever put to record. The harmonies calm the listener into a reflective yet peaceful state of mind. Starting off the album is the most well known and loved song of their career Wouldn't It Be Nice, simple at face value, complex underneath; frustrations of youth and romance. God Only Knows and Don't Talk will choke any listener as desperate feelings of love are expressed in a fractured relationship. I Just Wasn't Made For These Times reflects on the difficulities of growing up. Sloop John B is the most divisive song here,but I like how it breaks the album up and is just a magnificent slice of upbeat pop fun that you will hum with a smile all day. Caroline No ends the album on a subdued note with the most beautiful ballad about the effects of time on loved ones. The intricate attention to detail of each song and sheer scale of what is going on here cannot be overstated. It is a pity that this eventually led to the breakdown of Brian Wilson in his striving for perfection in later albums. He needn't have bothered as it was all here already - the perfect record.
[First added to this chart: 01/12/2013]
Year of Release:
1966
Appears in:
Rank Score:
39,178
Rank in 1966:
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Radiohead returned here from The Bends with an introverted, paranoid, frustrated epic that stopped Brit Pop dead in its tracks. This is miserable, frustrated and bitter. Matched perfectly to Thom Yorke's increasingly bleak vocal delivery. Paranoid Android is the standout at least 4 songs in one - a modern Bohemian Rhapsody with its guitars that creep and shift through the gears, break out and back again whilst Yorke sounds like he is going insane as his confused misery swings a number of times. The instant shift from the sadness of Exit Music to the lifting tune of Let down raises goosebumps. Karma Police is a stand up to the man political brute without a chorus; led by it's haunting piano chords. Climbing Up Walls overwhelms and hits you in the gut with the level of pain in it's distorted vocals. Whilst No Surprises does surprise as it's calming glockenspiel lullaby tune repeats through the song providing a commercial masterstroke.
[First added to this chart: 01/12/2013]
Year of Release:
1997
Appears in:
Rank Score:
63,644
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My first non Compilation or Ace of Base CD; this is where it all started for me so I have a lot of bias towards this album. I can understand how they never totally cracked USA; this is full of anthems as a gift for the working class UK. Ok, the lyrics are non sensical and the music has been 'borrowed' from their influences, but this album is all about rock and roll attitude. Liam Gallagher for me is in the top 10 front men ever;arrogance,presence,convincing-an icon. His sneering distinctive vocals drive these songs. The classic Live Forever and the sincere gem Slide Away show heart. Shakermaker,Supersonic and Cigarettes & Alcohol are ageless anthems sung in pubs for years to come. The jewels in the crown here though are Columbia and Bring It On Down, dare to breath, relentless statements, with one finger up.
[First added to this chart: 01/12/2013]
Year of Release:
1994
Appears in:
Rank Score:
11,240
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[First added to this chart: 04/12/2013]
Year of Release:
1980
Appears in:
Rank Score:
15,236
Rank in 1980:
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The most complete and consistent album ever made. A songwriting masterclass of pop songs underpinned by a number of mood shifting stories about life and love. It is all here from the Psychedilic indian beats on Tomorrow Never Knows/Love You To. The upbeat Good Day Sunshine, the fun Ringo lead vocal Yellow Submarine, the love song Here There and Everywhere, the sombre McCartney ballad Elenor Rigby, guitar rock The Taxman/And Your Bird Can Sing, the hazy Lennon sound on Im only Sleeping. Hard to split with the more progressive record Sgt Pepper; the difference being that Revolver gives out whereas Sgt Pepper takes you in.
[First added to this chart: 02/23/2013]
Year of Release:
1966
Appears in:
Rank Score:
49,587
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Average Rating:
Comments:
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[First added to this chart: 02/23/2013]
Year of Release:
1995
Appears in:
Rank Score:
17,492
Rank in 1995:
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[First added to this chart: 01/12/2013]
Year of Release:
1986
Appears in:
Rank Score:
33,914
Rank in 1986:
Rank in 1980s:
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Average Rating:
Comments:
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[First added to this chart: 02/09/2013]
Year of Release:
1979
Appears in:
Rank Score:
21,829
Rank in 1979:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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[First added to this chart: 10/25/2013]
Year of Release:
1969
Appears in:
Rank Score:
17,157
Rank in 1969:
Rank in 1960s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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[First added to this chart: 01/12/2013]
Year of Release:
1995
Appears in:
Rank Score:
8,683
Rank in 1995:
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Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 97. Page 1 of 10
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Top 97 Greatest Music Albums composition
| Decade | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1940s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1950s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1960s | 19 | 20% | |
| 1970s | 29 | 30% | |
| 1980s | 16 | 16% | |
| 1990s | 17 | 18% | |
| 2000s | 15 | 15% | |
| 2010s | 1 | 1% | |
| 2020s | 0 | 0% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| The Beatles | 3 | 3% | |
| Radiohead | 3 | 3% | |
| Joy Division | 2 | 2% | |
| David Bowie | 2 | 2% | |
| Oasis | 2 | 2% | |
| The National | 1 | 1% | |
| The Zombies | 1 | 1% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 97 Greatest Music Albums chart changes
| Biggest climbers |
|---|
| Up 9 from 80th to 71st Juju by Siouxsie And The Banshees |
| Up 5 from 62nd to 57th Neu! by Neu! |
| Up 4 from 43rd to 39th Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon & Garfunkel |
| Biggest fallers |
|---|
| Down 13 from 60th to 73rd Bee Thousand by Guided By Voices |
| Down 6 from 72nd to 78th Real Life by Magazine |
| Down 5 from 37th to 42nd Boxer by The National |
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| Top 60 Greatest Music Albums | teacherman | Overall chart | 2011 | |
| Top 70 Greatest Music Albums | Alexlal | Overall chart | 2011 | |
| Top 95 Music Albums of the 1970s | sebfox | 1970s decade chart | 2019 | |
| Top 92 Greatest Music Albums | ross93 | Overall chart | 2017 | |
| Top 85 Greatest Music Albums | Nineburg | Overall chart | 2014 | |
| Top 74 Greatest Music Albums | acolabella | Overall chart | 2022 | |
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Top 97 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 94 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ! | 10/24/2023 16:55 |  Tamthebam | 645 | 85/100 |
| ! | 12/07/2022 06:53 | Johnnyo | 2,557 | 80/100 |
| ! | 12/06/2022 23:34 | Moondance | 476 | 85/100 |
| ! | 12/06/2022 13:08 |  DommeDamian | 1,004 | 89/100 |
| ! | 10/20/2020 19:03 | PeterSmith | 68 | 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 9% of all charts on BestEverAlbums.com. This chart has a Bayesian average rating of 88.1/100, a mean average of 87.9/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 88.4/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 8.0.
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Top 97 Greatest Music Albums comments
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From Johnnyo 12/07/2022 06:55 | #291812
Interesting chart. A little surprised that there are no albums from the last 12 years but I guess that’s the way you feel about more recent music.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From Moondance 12/06/2022 23:40 | #291809
Interesting chart that puts your heart on your sleeve at #1. I was surprised to see so few albums from 2000's & none from 2010's (especially given your age). I was also surprised to see that not a single Australian album made the cut.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From PeterSmith 10/20/2020 19:09 | #259492
I was drawn to your chart because I was listening to JJ72 and quite enjoying it's poppy indie rock. I then saw someone - you - had it in their top 100 so thought I'd take a look.
I know about half your albums with some others already earmarked for a listen. I like that half I know and understand why they would be in - with the exception of The Verve album. I loved their Urban Hymns and eventually got into A Northern Soul; but A Strom In Heaven passes me by.
I see others mention your comments - but I must have come late to the party as there are only a few comments although they are good and help understand why that pick. Give us more.
But what happened to you after the 90's - a few albums from 2000 but then nothing....?
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
salahshoori 12/10/2019 07:41 | #245494
salahshoori 12/10/2019 07:41 | #245494
Great notes on the albums! Pet Sounds as No.1 is totally respectful.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
C_Krug2009 12/04/2018 17:55 | #226193
C_Krug2009 12/04/2018 17:55 | #226193
Pet Sounds is a respectable number 1. Wicked good album
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
Julelios 12/04/2018 16:25 | #226189
Julelios 12/04/2018 16:25 | #226189
Interesting chart
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
ForegroundNoise 12/04/2018 09:40 | #226160
ForegroundNoise 12/04/2018 09:40 | #226160
I'd already left a rating on this chart but since it's chart of the day I'll leave a comment. Really love the notes you've put out; would be nice to see a bit of love for some hip hop, jazz or ambient :)
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
Boltzmann 02/12/2018 16:55 | #207863
Boltzmann 02/12/2018 16:55 | #207863
I really resonate with the top ten of this chart. From a distance the chart seems a bit too safe, but who am I to say these are not really your favorite albums.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From Ulf 02/12/2018 10:40 | #207841
Nice chart but would be nice to be able to read more text in the top ten :)
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
CharlieBarley 01/03/2017 15:52 | #181623
CharlieBarley 01/03/2017 15:52 | #181623
Great chart man. Some refreshing picks. I like your taste in music. 27 albums in common. I liked the notes as well. Good work.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
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| Best Ever Artists | |
|---|---|
| 1. The Beatles | |
| 2. Radiohead | |
| 3. Pink Floyd | |
| 4. David Bowie | |
| 5. Bob Dylan | |
| 6. Led Zeppelin | |
| 7. The Rolling Stones | |
| 8. Arcade Fire | |
| 9. Nirvana | |
| 10. Neil Young | |
| 11. The Velvet Underground | |
| 12. Kendrick Lamar | |
| 13. Miles Davis | |
| 14. The Smiths | |
| 15. The Beach Boys | |
| 16. R.E.M. | |
| 17. Kanye West | |
| 18. Pixies | |
| 19. Bruce Springsteen | |
| 20. Jimi Hendrix |
