Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by Exist-en-ciel 
In order to give this list balance, diversity and coherence, I imposed certain rules on myself in its development:
- One album per artist with one exception
- A maximum of 10 albums from the BEA top 100
- A maximum of 25 albums from the BEA top 1000
- A maximum of 50 albums from the BEA top 2000
- A maximum of 5 compilations
- A maximum of 5 live albums
- A maximum of 5 EPs
- A maximum of 20 albums per decade
- A minimum of 10 albums per decade (60s-10s)
- A minimum of 15 countries represented
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Ranks 1 to 23: top 23
Ranks 24 to 100: chronology 1963-2024
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23 best ever songs:
• Symphony No. 9 in D minor - 4th movement (Presto) - Ludwig van Beethoven (1824)
• Boléro - Maurice Ravel (1928)
• Echoes - Pink Floyd (1971)
• The Musical Box - Genesis (1971)
• Supper's Ready - Genesis (1972)
• Firth of Fifth - Genesis (1973)
• The Cinema Show - Genesis (1973)
• In the Cage - Genesis (1974)
• Comme un sage - Harmonium (1976)
• Disorder - Joy Division (1979)
• Duke's Travels - Genesis (1980)
• Once in a Lifetime - Taking Heads (1980)
• Lorelei - Cocteau Twins (1984)
• Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God) - Kate Bush (1985)
• Bizarre Love Triangle - New Order (1986)
• It's Alright - Pet Shop Boys (1988)
• Digging in the Dirt - Peter Gabriel (1992)
• Unison - Björk (2001)
• J'erre - Dumas (2003)
• Where I End and You Begin - Radiohead (2003)
• Olympians - Fuck Buttons (2009)
• Afterlife - Arcade Fire (2013)
• Over and Over - Beach House (2022)
- Chart updated: 03/04/2025 23:15
- (Created: 08/24/2022 18:20).
- Chart size: 100 albums.
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Art Rock
8.8/10
Track selection: Secret World (live)
‐----------‐----------------------------------------------------------
1. Red Rain 9
2. More Than This 8.5
3. Secret World 9.5
4. Games Without Frontiers 9
5. Mercy Street 8.5
6. Darkness 8.5
7. Digging in the Dirt 9.5
8. Don't Give Up 8.5
9. The Tower That Ate People 8.5
10. Growing Up 8.5
11. San Jacinto 8.5
12. Solsbury Hill 9
13. Sledgehammer 8.5
14. Signal to Noise 9
15. In Your Eyes 9
16. Come Talk to Me 8.5
17. Shock the Monkey 8.5
18. Biko 9 [First added to this chart: 08/24/2022]
8.8/10
Track selection: Secret World (live)
‐----------‐----------------------------------------------------------
1. Red Rain 9
2. More Than This 8.5
3. Secret World 9.5
4. Games Without Frontiers 9
5. Mercy Street 8.5
6. Darkness 8.5
7. Digging in the Dirt 9.5
8. Don't Give Up 8.5
9. The Tower That Ate People 8.5
10. Growing Up 8.5
11. San Jacinto 8.5
12. Solsbury Hill 9
13. Sledgehammer 8.5
14. Signal to Noise 9
15. In Your Eyes 9
16. Come Talk to Me 8.5
17. Shock the Monkey 8.5
18. Biko 9 [First added to this chart: 08/24/2022]
0
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Chamber Folk
8.6/10
Track selection: Sawdust & Diamonds
‐----------‐----------------------------------------------------------
1. Emily 8.5
2. Monkey & Bear 8.5
3. Sawdust & Diamonds 9
4. Only Skin 8.5
5. Cosmia 8.5 [First added to this chart: 09/13/2022]
8.6/10
Track selection: Sawdust & Diamonds
‐----------‐----------------------------------------------------------
1. Emily 8.5
2. Monkey & Bear 8.5
3. Sawdust & Diamonds 9
4. Only Skin 8.5
5. Cosmia 8.5 [First added to this chart: 09/13/2022]
Year of Release:
2006
Appears in:
Rank Score:
8,833
Rank in 2006:
Rank in 2000s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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Progressive Rock
8.6/10
10 Genesis 1970-1975 favorite songs:
1. The Cinema Show (1973)
2. Supper's Ready (1972)
3. The Musical Box (1971)
4. Firth of Fifth (1973)
5. In the Cage (1974)
6. The Fountain of Salmacis (1971)
7. The Return of the Giant Hogweed (1971)
8. Carpet Crawlers (1974)
9. Watcher of the Skies (1972)
10. Stagnation (1970)
‐----------‐----------------------------------------------------------
• Trespass (1970) 8.6
1. Looking for Someone 8.5
2. White Mountain 8.5
3. Visions of Angels 8
4. Stagnation 9
5. Dusk 8.5
6. The Knife 9
• Nursery Cryme (1971) 8.8
7. The Musical Box 9.5
8. For Absent Friends 8
9. The Return of the Giant Hogweed 9.5
10. Seven Stones 8.5
11. Harold the Barrel 8.5
12. Harlequin 8.5
13. The Fountain of Salmacis 9.5
• Foxtrot (1972) 8.8
14. Watcher of the Skies 9.5
15. Time Table 8
16. Get 'Em Out by Friday 8.5
17. Can-utility and the Coastliners 9
18. Horizons 8.5
19. Supper's Ready 9.5
• Selling England by the Pound (1973) 8.8
20. Dancing With the Moonlit Knight 9
21. I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe) 8.5
22. Firth of Fifth 9.5
23. More Fool Me 8
24. The Battle of Epping Forest 9
25. After the Ordeal 8.5
26. The Cinema Show 9.5
27. Aisle of Plenty 9
• The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway (1974) 8.6
28. The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway 9
29. Fly on a Windshield 9
30. Broadway Melody of 1974 8.5
31. Cuckoo Cocoon 8.5
32. In the Cage 9.5
33. The Grand Parade of Lifeless Packaging 8.5
34. Back in N.Y.C. 9
35. Hairless Heart 8.5
36. Counting Out Time 8.5
37. Carpet Crawlers 9.5
38. The Chamber of 32 Doors 8.5
39. Lilywhite Lilith 8.5
40. The Waiting Room 9
41. Anyway 8.5
42. Here Comes the Supernatural Anaesthetist 8.5
43. The Lamia 8.5
44. Silent Sorrow in Empty Boats 8.5
45. The Colony of Slippermen 9
46. Ravine 8
47. The Light Dies Down on Broadway 8.5
48. Riding the Scree 8.5
49. In the Rapids 8.5
50. It 8.5
• Extra tracks 7.8
51. Happy the Man 8
52. Twilight Alehouse 8.5
53. Shepherd (BBC) 7.5
54. Pacidy (BBC) 7.5
55. Let Us Now Make Love (BBC) 7.5
56. Going Out to Get You (Demo) 7.5
57. Provocation (Demo) 8
58. Frustation (Demo) 8
59. Manipulation (Demo) 8
60. Resignation (Demo) 8 [First added to this chart: 08/27/2022]
8.6/10
10 Genesis 1970-1975 favorite songs:
1. The Cinema Show (1973)
2. Supper's Ready (1972)
3. The Musical Box (1971)
4. Firth of Fifth (1973)
5. In the Cage (1974)
6. The Fountain of Salmacis (1971)
7. The Return of the Giant Hogweed (1971)
8. Carpet Crawlers (1974)
9. Watcher of the Skies (1972)
10. Stagnation (1970)
‐----------‐----------------------------------------------------------
• Trespass (1970) 8.6
1. Looking for Someone 8.5
2. White Mountain 8.5
3. Visions of Angels 8
4. Stagnation 9
5. Dusk 8.5
6. The Knife 9
• Nursery Cryme (1971) 8.8
7. The Musical Box 9.5
8. For Absent Friends 8
9. The Return of the Giant Hogweed 9.5
10. Seven Stones 8.5
11. Harold the Barrel 8.5
12. Harlequin 8.5
13. The Fountain of Salmacis 9.5
• Foxtrot (1972) 8.8
14. Watcher of the Skies 9.5
15. Time Table 8
16. Get 'Em Out by Friday 8.5
17. Can-utility and the Coastliners 9
18. Horizons 8.5
19. Supper's Ready 9.5
• Selling England by the Pound (1973) 8.8
20. Dancing With the Moonlit Knight 9
21. I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe) 8.5
22. Firth of Fifth 9.5
23. More Fool Me 8
24. The Battle of Epping Forest 9
25. After the Ordeal 8.5
26. The Cinema Show 9.5
27. Aisle of Plenty 9
• The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway (1974) 8.6
28. The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway 9
29. Fly on a Windshield 9
30. Broadway Melody of 1974 8.5
31. Cuckoo Cocoon 8.5
32. In the Cage 9.5
33. The Grand Parade of Lifeless Packaging 8.5
34. Back in N.Y.C. 9
35. Hairless Heart 8.5
36. Counting Out Time 8.5
37. Carpet Crawlers 9.5
38. The Chamber of 32 Doors 8.5
39. Lilywhite Lilith 8.5
40. The Waiting Room 9
41. Anyway 8.5
42. Here Comes the Supernatural Anaesthetist 8.5
43. The Lamia 8.5
44. Silent Sorrow in Empty Boats 8.5
45. The Colony of Slippermen 9
46. Ravine 8
47. The Light Dies Down on Broadway 8.5
48. Riding the Scree 8.5
49. In the Rapids 8.5
50. It 8.5
• Extra tracks 7.8
51. Happy the Man 8
52. Twilight Alehouse 8.5
53. Shepherd (BBC) 7.5
54. Pacidy (BBC) 7.5
55. Let Us Now Make Love (BBC) 7.5
56. Going Out to Get You (Demo) 7.5
57. Provocation (Demo) 8
58. Frustation (Demo) 8
59. Manipulation (Demo) 8
60. Resignation (Demo) 8 [First added to this chart: 08/27/2022]
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New Weird America
8.1/10
Track selection: Alvin Row
‐----------‐----------------------------------------------------------
1. Spirit They've Vanished 8
2. April and the Phantom 8.5
3. [untitled] 8
4. Penny Dreadfuls 8
5. Chocolate Girl 8.5
6. Everyone Whistling 7.5
7. La Rapet 8
8. Bat You'll Fly 8
9. Someday I'll Grow to Be As Tall As the Giant 8
10. Alvin Row 8.5 [First added to this chart: 01/07/2025]
8.1/10
Track selection: Alvin Row
‐----------‐----------------------------------------------------------
1. Spirit They've Vanished 8
2. April and the Phantom 8.5
3. [untitled] 8
4. Penny Dreadfuls 8
5. Chocolate Girl 8.5
6. Everyone Whistling 7.5
7. La Rapet 8
8. Bat You'll Fly 8
9. Someday I'll Grow to Be As Tall As the Giant 8
10. Alvin Row 8.5 [First added to this chart: 01/07/2025]
Year of Release:
2000
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,422
Rank in 2000:
Rank in 2000s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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IDM
8.4/10
Track selection: Kid for Today
‐----------‐----------------------------------------------------------
1. Kid for Today 8.5
2. Amo Bishop Roden 8.5
3. In a Beautiful Place Out in the Country 8.5
4. Zoetrope 8 [First added to this chart: 01/07/2025]
8.4/10
Track selection: Kid for Today
‐----------‐----------------------------------------------------------
1. Kid for Today 8.5
2. Amo Bishop Roden 8.5
3. In a Beautiful Place Out in the Country 8.5
4. Zoetrope 8 [First added to this chart: 01/07/2025]
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Art Pop
8.4/10
Track selection: Unison
‐----------‐----------------------------------------------------------
1. Hidden Place 8.5
2. Cocoon 8.5
3. It's Not Up to You 8.5
4. Undo 8.5
5. Pagan Poetry 8.5
6. Frosti 8
7. Aurora 8.5
8. An Echo, a Stain 8
9. Sun in My Mouth 8
10. Heirloom 8.5
11. Harm of Will 8
12. Unison 9.5 [First added to this chart: 08/25/2022]
8.4/10
Track selection: Unison
‐----------‐----------------------------------------------------------
1. Hidden Place 8.5
2. Cocoon 8.5
3. It's Not Up to You 8.5
4. Undo 8.5
5. Pagan Poetry 8.5
6. Frosti 8
7. Aurora 8.5
8. An Echo, a Stain 8
9. Sun in My Mouth 8
10. Heirloom 8.5
11. Harm of Will 8
12. Unison 9.5 [First added to this chart: 08/25/2022]
Year of Release:
2001
Appears in:
Rank Score:
9,495
Rank in 2001:
Rank in 2000s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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Indietronica
8.1/10
Track selectiom: Let Go
‐----------‐----------------------------------------------------------
1. Let Go 8.5
2. Breathe In 8.5
3. It's Good to Be in Love 8
4. Must Be Dreaming 8.5
5. Psychobabble 8
6. Only Got One 8
7. Shh 8
8. Hear Me Out 8
9. Maddening Shroud 7.5
10. Flicks 8
11. The Dumbing Down of Love 8 [First added to this chart: 01/14/2025]
8.1/10
Track selectiom: Let Go
‐----------‐----------------------------------------------------------
1. Let Go 8.5
2. Breathe In 8.5
3. It's Good to Be in Love 8
4. Must Be Dreaming 8.5
5. Psychobabble 8
6. Only Got One 8
7. Shh 8
8. Hear Me Out 8
9. Maddening Shroud 7.5
10. Flicks 8
11. The Dumbing Down of Love 8 [First added to this chart: 01/14/2025]
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Post-Rock
8.1/10
Track selection: Motherfucker=Redeemer [part 1]
‐----------‐----------------------------------------------------------
1. 09-15-00 [part 1] 8
2. 09-15-00 [part 2] 8
3. Rockets Fall on Rocket Falls. 8
4. Motherfucker=Redeemer [part 1] 8.5
5. Motherfucker=Redeemer [part 2] 8 [First added to this chart: 01/07/2025]
8.1/10
Track selection: Motherfucker=Redeemer [part 1]
‐----------‐----------------------------------------------------------
1. 09-15-00 [part 1] 8
2. 09-15-00 [part 2] 8
3. Rockets Fall on Rocket Falls. 8
4. Motherfucker=Redeemer [part 1] 8.5
5. Motherfucker=Redeemer [part 2] 8 [First added to this chart: 01/07/2025]
Year of Release:
2002
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,252
Rank in 2002:
Rank in 2000s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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Indie Rock
8.3/10
Tracks selection: J'erre & Linoléum
‐----------‐----------------------------------------------------------
1. Hélium 8
2. Le cours des jours 8.5
3. Vénus 8
4. J'erre 9.5
5. Je ne sais pas 8
6. Arizona 8
7. Le désir comme tel 8
8. Vol en éclat 8.5
9. Vision pornographique 8
10. Avant l'aube 8
11. Linoléum 9
12. Outro 8 [First added to this chart: 08/29/2022]
8.3/10
Tracks selection: J'erre & Linoléum
‐----------‐----------------------------------------------------------
1. Hélium 8
2. Le cours des jours 8.5
3. Vénus 8
4. J'erre 9.5
5. Je ne sais pas 8
6. Arizona 8
7. Le désir comme tel 8
8. Vol en éclat 8.5
9. Vision pornographique 8
10. Avant l'aube 8
11. Linoléum 9
12. Outro 8 [First added to this chart: 08/29/2022]
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Alternative Rock
8.2/10
Track selection: Where I End and You Begin & There There
‐----------‐----------------------------------------------------------
1. 2 + 2 = 5 (The Lukewarm.) 8.5
2. Sit Down. Stand Up. (Snakes & Ladders.) 8.5
3. Sail to the Moon. (Brush the Cobwebs Out of the Sky.) 8
4. Backdrifts. (Honeymoon Is Over.) 8
5. Go to Sleep. (Little Man Being Erased.) 8
6. Where I End and You Begin. (The Sky Is Falling In.) 9.5
7. We Suck Young Blood. (Your Time Is Up.) 7.5
8. The Gloaming. (Softly Open Our Mouths in the Cold.) 8
9. There There. (The Boney King of Nowhere.) 9
10. I Will. (No Man's Land.) 8
11. A Punchup at a Wedding. (No No No No No No No No.) 8
12. Myxomatosis. (Judge, Jury & Executioner.) 8
13. Scatterbrain. (As Dead As Leaves.) 8
14. A Wolf at the Door. (It Girl. Rag Doll.) 8.5 [First added to this chart: 08/25/2022]
8.2/10
Track selection: Where I End and You Begin & There There
‐----------‐----------------------------------------------------------
1. 2 + 2 = 5 (The Lukewarm.) 8.5
2. Sit Down. Stand Up. (Snakes & Ladders.) 8.5
3. Sail to the Moon. (Brush the Cobwebs Out of the Sky.) 8
4. Backdrifts. (Honeymoon Is Over.) 8
5. Go to Sleep. (Little Man Being Erased.) 8
6. Where I End and You Begin. (The Sky Is Falling In.) 9.5
7. We Suck Young Blood. (Your Time Is Up.) 7.5
8. The Gloaming. (Softly Open Our Mouths in the Cold.) 8
9. There There. (The Boney King of Nowhere.) 9
10. I Will. (No Man's Land.) 8
11. A Punchup at a Wedding. (No No No No No No No No.) 8
12. Myxomatosis. (Judge, Jury & Executioner.) 8
13. Scatterbrain. (As Dead As Leaves.) 8
14. A Wolf at the Door. (It Girl. Rag Doll.) 8.5 [First added to this chart: 08/25/2022]
Year of Release:
2003
Appears in:
Rank Score:
8,517
Rank in 2003:
Rank in 2000s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 20. Page 1 of 2
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums composition
| Decade | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|
|
| 1930s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1940s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1950s | 1 | 1% | |
| 1960s | 10 | 10% | |
| 1970s | 20 | 20% | |
| 1980s | 16 | 16% | |
| 1990s | 14 | 14% | |
| 2000s | 20 | 20% | |
| 2010s | 13 | 13% | |
| 2020s | 6 | 6% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
 |
|
|
| Genesis | 2 | 2% | |
| Peter Gabriel | 1 | 1% | |
| Brian Eno | 1 | 1% | |
| Frou Frou | 1 | 1% | |
| Alice Coltrane | 1 | 1% | |
| The Smiths | 1 | 1% | |
| Sigur Rós | 1 | 1% | |
| Show all | |||
| Country | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
32 | 32% | |
 |
32 | 32% | |
| |
15 | 15% | |
 |
3 | 3% | |
 |
2 | 2% | |
 |
2 | 2% | |
 |
2 | 2% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums chart changes
There have been no changes to this chart.Top 100 Greatest Music Albums similar charts
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top 99 Music Albums of the 1970s | Exist-en-ciel | 1970s decade chart | 2025 | |
| Top 100 Greatest Music Albums |  NJ | Overall chart | 2024 | |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 2000s | Exist-en-ciel | 2000s decade chart | 2025 | |
| Top 100 Greatest Music Albums |  LAF2 | Overall chart | 2018 | |
| My Personal Ranking of Rate Your Music's Top 100 |  Xxnu99etxX | Custom chart | 2020 |  |
| Top 100 Greatest Music Albums |  jomth | Overall chart | 2019 |  |
| PPV Overall Ranking | bea | Custom chart | 2021 | |
| Top 100 Greatest Music Albums | Lisandro | Overall chart | 2023 |  |
| Top 100 Greatest Music Albums | mjp11 | Overall chart | 2025 | |
| Best Albums(1 Per Artist) | dougcummings | Custom chart | 2022 | |
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums ratings
87/100 (from 3 votes)
where:
av = trimmed mean average rating an item has currently received.
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N.B. The average rating for this chart will not be reliable as it has been rated very few times.
Showing all 3 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 85/100  | 01/26/2025 12:16 | SomethingSpecial | | 85/100 |
| 95/100 | 01/16/2025 13:51 |  DommeDamian | | 89/100 |
| 95/100 | 01/15/2025 17:13 |  Joeingram | | 93/100 |
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We work very hard to ensure our site is as fast (and FREE!) as possible, and we respect your privacy.