Top 71 Greatest Music Albums by 
indieshins 
UPDATE 2022: Slowly going through the process of updating this chart - I thought I'd do that rather than create an entirely new one. This new chart will hopefully give a more complete picture of my musical tastes and the development of it since I first made this chart. I hope to have a good variety of eras and genres, and a good mix of objective and subjective picks.
I have two sides to my musical identity: first, left-field, experimental, artsy, alternative, cerebral. Second, accessible, catchy, fun, possibly mainstream (though not necessarily). Often, a favourite album will have elements of both. In any case, I intend to represent both sides amply here.
Notes will be added gradually over time.
- Chart updated: 04/12/2024 07:15
- (Created: 06/08/2017 04:40).
- Chart size: 71 albums.
There are 3 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 71 Greatest Music Albums has an average rating of 89 out of 100 (from 14 votes). Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.
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Again, just great fun! Spinal Meningitis is probably one of the most darkly comical songs ever written. There are other examples of Gene and Dean's twisted humour here, but the most stunning moments are often those that forego humour - the elegiac instrumental Tear For Eddie, the gorgeous soul pastiche Freedom of '76, or the melancholic nonsense of What Deaner Was Talking About. Every song is memorable here, and that's why it makes this list.
[First added to this chart: 06/09/2017]
Year of Release:
1994
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,394
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12
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There was a time when my chart wouldn't have had a Beatles album, but that was in my "they're overrated" days. Now, they're just as close to my heart as ever. This is my favourite. I loved how they came out of their psychedelic period still able to write weird and wonderful songs, popping with witty instrumental parts and characteristically catchy melodies. It doesn't hurt that it's their longest album. As with most doubles, there's some filler here, but somehow, the lesser songs become a part of a larger experience that is absolutely irresistible. I love this album to death, and it's still what I put when I need a Beatles fix.
[First added to this chart: 06/09/2017]
Year of Release:
1968
Appears in:
Rank Score:
43,061
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Another long double (triple!) album. I fell in love with Joanna after buying Ys on a whim, and quickly decided to complete my collection. While Ys could easily be here instead, I've picked this one because I love the sound, and the songs are able to hold my attention a bit more (not as long!). The first disc is near flawless, featuring Easy, Good Intentions Paving Company (what a title!), '81 and the title track. While I never had a problem with her pre-surgery voice, there's no denying it did her good, as her voice here is stunning in a way it didn't reach on her past efforts. While the album is long, and hard to sit through all at once, taken a disk at a time, it's an incredible experience that reinforces her place as one of the most original musicians working today.
[First added to this chart: 06/09/2017]
Year of Release:
2010
Appears in:
Rank Score:
4,916
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One word: Gorgeous. I'd been a fan of Julia Holter before the release of this album, but here, she released her most incredible album to date. The string arrangements are incredible, and add a romantic, cinematic quality to the album. "How Long" sounds like a German art film in sound, Betsy on the Roof builds to one of the most tear-jerking climaxes I've ever heard, and Feel You is one of my pop songs of the decade. Special mention has to be made of the incredible saxophone solo in Sea Calls Me Home, which feels like an injection of liquid gold straight through the centre of the dreamy fog of the song. It, like so many other small details here, elevates the song to a new level. I feel like as the years go by, this will be regarded as a modern classic. Is it her masterpiece? Wait and see.
[First added to this chart: 06/09/2017]
Year of Release:
2015
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,962
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There's so much talent coming out of my little island home right now. These guys are amazing, blending neo-soul with a bunch of other experimental elements, not least the "8-bit" synths that characterise video game music. The instrumental ingenuity here is what really sets it apart though. Brilliant drumming in particular, and pretty impressive guitar playing too, considering Nai is singing at the same time as playing syncopated lines. My favourite tracks include Breathing Underwater and Molasses, but there's so much fun to be had here. I want to see these guys live, but for a band that's based in my hometown, they're surprisingly hard to catch. In the meantime, this album should keep me happy for a long time
[First added to this chart: 06/09/2017]
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Their most dynamic and interesting album. The title track is legendary with a great lyric and delivery from Morrissey and some crazy guitar work from Marr. Then Frankly Mr Shankly and I Know Its Over complete a perfect opening trifecta. Elsewhere there's Cemetry Gates and There Is A Light, the latter arguably their single finest song. Just a great album.
Honourable Mentions: Self-Titled, Meat is Murder [First added to this chart: 12/03/2023]
Honourable Mentions: Self-Titled, Meat is Murder [First added to this chart: 12/03/2023]
Year of Release:
1986
Appears in:
Rank Score:
38,499
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The Shins started my musical awakening to bands beyond the Beatles. This is still my favourite of theirs, mostly because it's their weirdest, whilst still retaining the fantastic melodies and lyrics that I love them for. It contains one of my favourite Shins songs, Australia, as well as the excellent Sleeping Lessons, and Sea Legs, an easy contender for the weirdest song they ever recorded. James Mercer's Morrissey-esque vocals on the track are just wonderful, as is the hip-hop inspired instrumental. The whole thing rarely flags, and still remains the band's crowning achievement to me, though sadly underrated.
[First added to this chart: 06/09/2017]
Year of Release:
2007
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,521
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This is my Mum's favourite album, and she tried a few times to get me into it. I guess I had to come back to it myself to understand. It's absolutely beautiful, and one of the most spontaneous sounding albums ever made - probably because it was. Recorded in just two days, the instrumentals are largely improvised from vague instructions given by Morrison. The lyrics sound stream of consciousness, and are vividly poetic. It's hard to put into words. Better just to listen to it.
[First added to this chart: 06/09/2017]
Year of Release:
1968
Appears in:
Rank Score:
17,679
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Buy album
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I'm not sure anyone expected this. While Beck had shown a softer side before on his 1998 album Mutations, he still had not bared his heart in quite this fashion. Lumped in with the slacker scene of the '90's, he struggled to escape it. With this album, Beck showed himself to the be the serious songwriter he had always been deep down. Produced by Nigel Godrich, who had also worked on Mutations, the album is an absolute treat for the ears. Psychedelic strings swirl around Beck's wounded voice, accompanied by simple acoustic guitar patterns that are beautifully understated. This is arguably the greatest break-up album ever made, and an absolute essential for those looking to get into Beck's work.
[First added to this chart: 06/09/2017]
Year of Release:
2002
Appears in:
Rank Score:
5,323
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With Summerteeth, Wilco had moved away from their alt country origins and shown themselves to be far more ambitious. This was another leap forward. My Dad used to play songs from this when I was growing up, which explains the sense of nostalgia I instantly felt upon hearing this album. I love it to this day. From the strange, surreal I Am Trying to Break Your Heart, in which Jeff Tweedy's non sequitur couplets flash like city lights, to the elegiac classic Jesus, Etc., this album barely flags. That latter track may well be the emotional apex of the album - despite its predating of the September 11 attacks, it is inextricably linked to the devestation wrought that day. I was three years old in 2001, and don't remember the event, so it speaks to the songs power that it has that effect even on someone of my age. Just a brilliant track and album.
[First added to this chart: 06/09/2017]
Year of Release:
2002
Appears in:
Rank Score:
20,343
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Total albums: 71. Page 2 of 8
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Top 71 Greatest Music Albums composition
| Decade | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| 1930s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1940s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1950s | 2 | 3% | |
| 1960s | 9 | 13% | |
| 1970s | 14 | 20% | |
| 1980s | 10 | 14% | |
| 1990s | 10 | 14% | |
| 2000s | 16 | 23% | |
| 2010s | 10 | 14% | |
| 2020s | 0 | 0% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
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|
| Vampire Weekend | 1 | 1% | |
| Peter Gabriel | 1 | 1% | |
| Prince | 1 | 1% | |
| Ween | 1 | 1% | |
| John Coltrane | 1 | 1% | |
| Mr. Bungle | 1 | 1% | |
| My Bloody Valentine | 1 | 1% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 71 Greatest Music Albums chart changes
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Top 71 Greatest Music Albums ratings
89/100 (from 14 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 14 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 80/100  | 03/18/2023 22:49 | Moondance | | 85/100 |
| 95/100 | 03/18/2023 15:12 |  AAL2014 | | 92/100 |
| 100/100 | 09/11/2022 02:06 |  HoldenM | | 95/100 |
| 95/100 | 10/20/2021 22:19 |  Rhyner | | 99/100 |
| 100/100 | 10/20/2021 19:04 | gregthealien | | 87/100 |
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).
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This chart is rated in the top 4% of all charts on BestEverAlbums.com. This chart has a Bayesian average rating of 89.2/100, a mean average of 91.4/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 91.3/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 9.7.
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80/100
From Moondance 03/18/2023 22:51
Cool chart - cool comments. Continue to enjoy your adventure through the amazing albums of the past 60+ years. Looking forward to seeing you complete a top 100.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From Johnnyo 04/15/2018 06:41
This is a very good chart and I particularly like the time that you have dedicated to explaining why each album qualifies.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
100/100
From 
ForegroundNoise 10/24/2017 08:19
ForegroundNoise 10/24/2017 08:19
Love the unique picks with the comments to justify them, what I look for in a great chart!!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
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