Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by 
dihansse 
This list is based on scoring of individual tracks but with the adagium of one album per artist and no best ofs.
I have now also added at the end of each entry all the regular albums of the artist in question that would appear in my top 250 if I don't apply the one album per artist rule; to that I've added the year of issue, my personal score and all the tracks on the album with a score of 95 or 100 (roughly my top 1000 of favorite songs ever).
- Chart updated: 04/16/2024 19:45
- (Created: 10/30/2015 20:28).
- Chart size: 100 albums.
There are 53 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 100 Greatest Music Albums has an average rating of 90 out of 100 (from 96 votes). Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.
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Siamese Dreams" became one of my favorite albums ever and when I saw the Smashing Pumpkins at the Pukkelpop festival I was completely hooked. Especially "Disarm" and "Silverfuck" are really incredible.
After this album I kept following them and they issued some decent albums but none of them could even tip at this one.
Favorite tracks on this album (1993): Today, Disarm, Mayonnaise, Silverfuck
Favorite tracks on other albums:
Pisces Iscariot (1994): Starla [First added to this chart: 10/30/2015]
After this album I kept following them and they issued some decent albums but none of them could even tip at this one.
Favorite tracks on this album (1993): Today, Disarm, Mayonnaise, Silverfuck
Favorite tracks on other albums:
Pisces Iscariot (1994): Starla [First added to this chart: 10/30/2015]
Year of Release:
1993
Appears in:
Rank Score:
19,490
Rank in 1993:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
149
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I discovered this album and Pink Floyd (apart from "Money" from "Dark Side of the Moon" which was played on the radio) around 1977 when a friend of mine played a few songs of "Animals" (which is certainly not their best album) he had just bought and then let me listen to "Wish You Were Here" which indeed much better and even better than "Dark Side of the Moon"
Later I discovered where "Shine on You Crazy Diamond" came from, a dedication to Syd Barett who indeed had a great role in defining Pink Floyd in how it later became and introduced some weirdness in the band to prevented it to become to serious (although "The Wall” came close).
However "Shine on You..." and "Wish You Were Here" are fine examples of the more melancholic side of Pink Floyd where the guitar playing once again plays an outstanding role.
Favorite tracks on this this album (1975): Shine On You Crazy Diamonds parts I-IV, Wish You Were Here
Favorite tracks on other albums:
Meddle (1971): One Of These Days
The Dark Side Of The Moon (1973): Time
The Wall (1979): Comfortably Numb [First added to this chart: 10/30/2015]
Later I discovered where "Shine on You Crazy Diamond" came from, a dedication to Syd Barett who indeed had a great role in defining Pink Floyd in how it later became and introduced some weirdness in the band to prevented it to become to serious (although "The Wall” came close).
However "Shine on You..." and "Wish You Were Here" are fine examples of the more melancholic side of Pink Floyd where the guitar playing once again plays an outstanding role.
Favorite tracks on this this album (1975): Shine On You Crazy Diamonds parts I-IV, Wish You Were Here
Favorite tracks on other albums:
Meddle (1971): One Of These Days
The Dark Side Of The Moon (1973): Time
The Wall (1979): Comfortably Numb [First added to this chart: 10/30/2015]
Year of Release:
1975
Appears in:
Rank Score:
50,743
Rank in 1975:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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After the British Punk came the US CBGB’s punkrock with of course the Ramones, Patti Smith and Television but also Talking Heads.
I learned about Talking Heads first with "Psycho Killer", but after there came many good CD's I all really like but this one is the absolute top with nearly every track being a killer track, which is to say not only the well known "Once in a Lifetime" but also the lesser known songs like "Crosseyed and Painless".
Apart from this album, I also really love "Stop Making Sense", the soundtrack of the movie with the same name directed by Jonathan Demme. I think this is the only movie I saw three times in a movie theatre. I think it was also the only movie I saw where people where dancing on the stage in front of the screen.
Favorite tracks on this album (1980): Born Under The Punches, Crosseyed And Painless, The Great Curve, Once In A Lifetime
Favorite tracks on other albums:
Talking Heads '77 (1977): Psycho Killer
More Songs About Buildings And Food (1978): Found A Job
Fear Of Music (1979): I Zimbra, Life During Wartime, Heaven
Speaking In Tongues (1983): Girlfriend Is Better
Little Creatures (1985): Road To Nowhere [First added to this chart: 10/30/2015]
I learned about Talking Heads first with "Psycho Killer", but after there came many good CD's I all really like but this one is the absolute top with nearly every track being a killer track, which is to say not only the well known "Once in a Lifetime" but also the lesser known songs like "Crosseyed and Painless".
Apart from this album, I also really love "Stop Making Sense", the soundtrack of the movie with the same name directed by Jonathan Demme. I think this is the only movie I saw three times in a movie theatre. I think it was also the only movie I saw where people where dancing on the stage in front of the screen.
Favorite tracks on this album (1980): Born Under The Punches, Crosseyed And Painless, The Great Curve, Once In A Lifetime
Favorite tracks on other albums:
Talking Heads '77 (1977): Psycho Killer
More Songs About Buildings And Food (1978): Found A Job
Fear Of Music (1979): I Zimbra, Life During Wartime, Heaven
Speaking In Tongues (1983): Girlfriend Is Better
Little Creatures (1985): Road To Nowhere [First added to this chart: 10/30/2015]
Year of Release:
1980
Appears in:
Rank Score:
30,557
Rank in 1980:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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Being mainly an Indie music fan I still love bands like Dire Straits because I simply love the craftmanship of Mark Knopfler's song writing and vintage guitar playing.
I haven't even chosen the first albums of this band which were a bit more simple and guitar based (with many of my favorite tracks like of course "Sultans of Swing" which remains a guitar music standard) but one of the more intricate latter albums featuring very long tracks like "Telegraph Road" and of course "Private Investigations".
Favorite tracks on this album (1982): Telegraph Road, Private Investigations, Love Over Gold
Favorite tracks on other albums:
Dire Straits (1978): Sultans Of Swing
Communiqué (1979): Once Upon A Time In the West, Where Do You Think You're Going, Lady Writer
Making Movies (1980): Tunnel Of Love
On Every Street (1991): On Every Street [First added to this chart: 10/30/2015]
I haven't even chosen the first albums of this band which were a bit more simple and guitar based (with many of my favorite tracks like of course "Sultans of Swing" which remains a guitar music standard) but one of the more intricate latter albums featuring very long tracks like "Telegraph Road" and of course "Private Investigations".
Favorite tracks on this album (1982): Telegraph Road, Private Investigations, Love Over Gold
Favorite tracks on other albums:
Dire Straits (1978): Sultans Of Swing
Communiqué (1979): Once Upon A Time In the West, Where Do You Think You're Going, Lady Writer
Making Movies (1980): Tunnel Of Love
On Every Street (1991): On Every Street [First added to this chart: 10/30/2015]
Year of Release:
1982
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,926
Rank in 1982:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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Albums like this are not made anymore: the moment I bought "Troublegum" it grabbed me by the throat by its sheer energy and it has continued to do so since then.
This album doesn't contain one lesser song and the combination of the voice of Andy Cairns, the guitar playing and the songwriting makes this album a stand-out. Also live Therapy? emits the same energy.
Favorite tracks on this album (1994): Knives, Sceamager, Stop It You're Killing Me, Nowhere, Die Laughing, Trigger Inside
Favorite tracks on other albums:
Infernal Love (1995): Stories [First added to this chart: 11/02/2015]
This album doesn't contain one lesser song and the combination of the voice of Andy Cairns, the guitar playing and the songwriting makes this album a stand-out. Also live Therapy? emits the same energy.
Favorite tracks on this album (1994): Knives, Sceamager, Stop It You're Killing Me, Nowhere, Die Laughing, Trigger Inside
Favorite tracks on other albums:
Infernal Love (1995): Stories [First added to this chart: 11/02/2015]
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Although in general, I don't like the hardrock bands which are too theatrical, Iron Maiden is the exception and although near all albums feature some excellent songs, this one is a standout not in the least because of its title song and of course also "Run to the Hills".
Favorite tracks on this album (1982): Number Of The Beast, Run To The Hills, Hallowed Be Thy Name
Favorite tracks on other albums:
Powerslave (1984): Aces High
Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son (1988): The Evil That Men Do, The Clairvoyant [First added to this chart: 10/31/2015]
Favorite tracks on this album (1982): Number Of The Beast, Run To The Hills, Hallowed Be Thy Name
Favorite tracks on other albums:
Powerslave (1984): Aces High
Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son (1988): The Evil That Men Do, The Clairvoyant [First added to this chart: 10/31/2015]
Year of Release:
1982
Appears in:
Rank Score:
6,488
Rank in 1982:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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This band is so underrated. Both this album and BeatSongs are to me absolute highlights in rock history. I don't know what draws me into them because the singing is a bit like Lou Reed, ie some kind of parlando, but the songs are just amazing and really make me happy when I hear them.
Favorite tracks on this album (1990): Weightless, The Applicant, Cat-Scan Hist'ry
Favorite tracks on other albums:
Beat Songs (1991): Huh, Yr Own World, My Hurricane [First added to this chart: 02/11/2017]
Favorite tracks on this album (1990): Weightless, The Applicant, Cat-Scan Hist'ry
Favorite tracks on other albums:
Beat Songs (1991): Huh, Yr Own World, My Hurricane [First added to this chart: 02/11/2017]
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I'm maybe a bit cheating by including and Hüsker Dü and Sugar and Bob Mould in this top chart but they just deserve it and the music by the three is in fact very different. Bob Mould solo can really rock as well on some of his albums but on this he shows his personal side in very heartfelt songs which somehow seem to be connected to the break up to Hüsker Dü (and certainly also Grant Hart).
Favorite tracks on this album (1996): Anymore Time Between, I Hate Alternative Rock, Next Time That You Leave, Hair Stew, Art Crisis, Roll Over And Die
Favorite tracks on other albums:
Workbook (1989): See A Little Light, Poison Years
Black Sheets Of Rain (1990): Sacrifice/Let Their Be Peace [First added to this chart: 02/11/2017]
Favorite tracks on this album (1996): Anymore Time Between, I Hate Alternative Rock, Next Time That You Leave, Hair Stew, Art Crisis, Roll Over And Die
Favorite tracks on other albums:
Workbook (1989): See A Little Light, Poison Years
Black Sheets Of Rain (1990): Sacrifice/Let Their Be Peace [First added to this chart: 02/11/2017]
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Although "Help!" comes early in their career after their great but not fantastic earlier albums like "A Hard Day's Night", I think it really stands out especially since the harmonics between Lennon and McCartney never sounded better than here.
Apart from "Help!" itself I really liked and like their countryish songs like "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away" and "You're Gonna Lose That Girl", and there's of course also "Yesterday".
The Beatles are still one of my favorite bands and "Help!"still my favorite Beatles albums even with close contest from Abbey Road and Revolver.
Although I'm a really big fan of the Rolling Stones, they can't compete with the Beatles.
Also albums from projects after the Beatles of the Beatles' member don't appear in the rest of the to 100 although I'm a big fan of George Harrison, John Lennon, the Wings, etc as well.
Favorite tracks on this album (1965): Help!, You've Got To Hide Your Love Away, You're Going To Lose that Girl, Ticket To Ride, I've Just Seen A Face, Yesterday
Favorite tracks on other albums:
Rubber Soul (1965): Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown), Nowhere Man, Michelle, Girl, In My Life
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967): She's Leaving Home, A Day In The Life
A Hard Day's Night (1964): If I Fell
Revolver (1966): Eleanor Rigby, Here There And Everywhere,
Magical Mistery Tour (1967): Fool On The Hill
Abbey Road (1969): Something
The Beatles (White Album)(1968): Blackbird
Let It Be (1970): Across The Universe
Past Masters: Hey Jude, Paperback Writer [First added to this chart: 10/30/2015]
Apart from "Help!" itself I really liked and like their countryish songs like "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away" and "You're Gonna Lose That Girl", and there's of course also "Yesterday".
The Beatles are still one of my favorite bands and "Help!"still my favorite Beatles albums even with close contest from Abbey Road and Revolver.
Although I'm a really big fan of the Rolling Stones, they can't compete with the Beatles.
Also albums from projects after the Beatles of the Beatles' member don't appear in the rest of the to 100 although I'm a big fan of George Harrison, John Lennon, the Wings, etc as well.
Favorite tracks on this album (1965): Help!, You've Got To Hide Your Love Away, You're Going To Lose that Girl, Ticket To Ride, I've Just Seen A Face, Yesterday
Favorite tracks on other albums:
Rubber Soul (1965): Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown), Nowhere Man, Michelle, Girl, In My Life
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967): She's Leaving Home, A Day In The Life
A Hard Day's Night (1964): If I Fell
Revolver (1966): Eleanor Rigby, Here There And Everywhere,
Magical Mistery Tour (1967): Fool On The Hill
Abbey Road (1969): Something
The Beatles (White Album)(1968): Blackbird
Let It Be (1970): Across The Universe
Past Masters: Hey Jude, Paperback Writer [First added to this chart: 10/30/2015]
Year of Release:
1965
Appears in:
Rank Score:
7,293
Rank in 1965:
Rank in 1960s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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Soul Mining is just a good album with nearly all very fine songs by Matt Johnson or The The and at first view are fairly simple songs but just stick under your skin.
Favorite tracks on this album (1983): This Is The Day, Uncertain Smile [First added to this chart: 11/03/2015]
Favorite tracks on this album (1983): This Is The Day, Uncertain Smile [First added to this chart: 11/03/2015]
Year of Release:
1983
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,921
Rank in 1983:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 100. Page 2 of 10
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums composition
| Decade | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|
|
| 1930s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1940s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1950s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1960s | 4 | 4% | |
| 1970s | 16 | 16% | |
| 1980s | 21 | 21% | |
| 1990s | 40 | 40% | |
| 2000s | 9 | 9% | |
| 2010s | 8 | 8% | |
| 2020s | 2 | 2% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
 |
|
|
| The Smashing Pumpkins | 1 | 1% | |
| The Bevis Frond | 1 | 1% | |
| Queens Of The Stone Age | 1 | 1% | |
| Hole | 1 | 1% | |
| Radiohead | 1 | 1% | |
| Supertramp | 1 | 1% | |
| Joy Division | 1 | 1% | |
| Show all | |||
| Country | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
44 | 44% | |
 |
35 | 35% | |
 |
7 | 7% | |
 |
5 | 5% | |
 |
4 | 4% | |
| |
2 | 2% | |
 |
1 | 1% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums chart changes
| New entries |
|---|
 Tender Preyby Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds |
| Leavers |
|---|
 An End Has A Startby Editors |
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums similar charts
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- My Overall Top 1000: 1-100 by dihansse (2024)
- My History in Music by dihansse (2017)
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- Top 100 Music Albums of the 1990s by dihansse (2023)
- Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s by dihansse (2024)
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums ratings
90/100 (from 96 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 96 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 95/100  | 11/06/2023 22:10 | DaaN | | 86/100 |
| 100/100 | 04/16/2023 22:47 | jlinville | | 91/100 |
| 100/100 | 04/15/2023 10:07 |  melisandre | | 88/100 |
| 85/100 | 09/10/2022 16:23 | Thearei30ee | | 88/100 |
| 100/100 | 02/01/2022 01:03 |  Larcx13 | | 86/100 |
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 89.9/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 90.4/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 8.3.
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums comments
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95/100
From DaaN 11/06/2023 22:10
Great list and nice to read all the commentaries!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
100/100
From jlinville 04/16/2023 22:51
I LOVE your Top 100 chart. It is unabashedly a tribute to the 90's, yet you aren't afraid to throw in some classic rock just because it's good. AC/DC and Belle and Sebastian on the same chart? Brilliant! I own so many of these albums, and there are others I've never even heard of. Bravo.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
85/100
From RioBravo 06/28/2021 19:15
Nice personal chart that privileges a certain generation and rock scene, though there are many nice surprises. Love seeing love for The Saints. And any list with Zen Arcade at the top can't be bad.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
100/100
From Johnnyo 06/28/2021 09:30
Well, that's one hell of a chart. There are probably only 3 or 4 charts that have ever got 100 from me but you get it hands down. This is top notch. Love the variety and having Eleventh Dream Day's Prairie School Freakout @ 37 is a great pick. Stunning chart
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
90/100
From Juneof44 05/05/2021 06:26
Well done! Very nice chat with super descriptions. ( a little too focused on early '90s)
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
100/100
From 
Jbalbinolr 05/02/2021 23:37
Jbalbinolr 05/02/2021 23:37
Now we're talking! Some of the definitive music from the american underground scene right here
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
90/100
From 
ExTeaSea 10/13/2020 02:27
ExTeaSea 10/13/2020 02:27
Really cool chart! I appreciate how different it is. There's some early 90s stuff on here I need to check out because I'm not as familiar with late 80s and early 90s like I am with other years/decades.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
90/100
From 
junodog4 07/17/2020 16:42
junodog4 07/17/2020 16:42
Love it. Loads of fantastic indie rock pioneers.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
85/100
From 
StefanR10 05/27/2020 18:11
StefanR10 05/27/2020 18:11
I give you 85 points because i like some of your selection and others i don´t know but you have a good choice.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
75/100
From mianfei 05/15/2020 02:05
Interesting concept and very good wording. A few interesting choices, even with a lot that is very familiar and rather focused on 1980s and 1990s indie music.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
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