The Best Albums of All Time (Paul Dent version)
Since iTunes can export to an Excel file, determining the Best Albums of All Time was fairly easy. I've been wanting to do this ever since I started rating songs, and finally got around to it in March 2009. The technique is: count the 5 star songs on each album that contains at least one, divide that by the number of songs on the album, and then rank the albums by 5 star percentage.
I arbitraily established the cutoff point at 20%. Anything over this is very solid. Anything over 30% is a work of art, and probably a hell of a lot of fun too. I'm pretty tough with my ratings. (My 5 star criterion is that I can never get sick of the song no matter how many times I hear it.) A more precise method might be to divide the total time of 5 star songs into the total time of the album. This would rank, say, Autobahn as better than The Man Machine, which it is. Next time...
It will come as no surprise to their fans that the Necks have the 2 best albums of all time :-) Seriously, though, of course albums with fewer songs may have an advantage over those with many, so in the case of ties, the albums are further ranked by number of songs. Many hip-hop albums have a lot of throwaway songs and "skits", so they are underrepresented here. Also, I tried to base this on the originally released version of the album; if it has been re-released with bonus songs, those are excluded also. This probably also works to the advantage of older, shorter albums.
Compilation albums and greatest hits packages are not allowed, except in rare occasions (e.g. Stereolab's Refried Ectoplasm) where that is the way the songs were first made available in album format, or (Ramones, X) the albums listed are essentially repackaging of the originals. Of course, a huge proportion of my collection is compilations, so many of my favorite artists don't show up on this list.
The list is obviously weighted towards past decades. More albums from recent years will gradually creep onto it as they take on the same role in my life that these do. For a 2000s album to make the list is an achievement. It's unlikely that I'll update this anytime soon, though. It took longer than I expected...
The method produced some quirks; still, I'm pretty satisfied with the results. I personally guarantee that every one of these is worth a listen! And the Eno album probably really is my favorite. If you disagree with my faves, well, that's what it's all about!
Statistical notes: There are 187 albums in this list, which is approximately 14% of my total collection of 1369 (although that total includes those compilations, singles, etc.)
| Artist | Album | # 5 Star | # Songs | Percent | Genre | Year |
| The Necks | Drive By | 1 | 1 | 100.00% | Avant-Jazz | 2003 |
| The Necks | Sex | 1 | 1 | 100.00% | Avant-Jazz | 1989 |
| Brian Eno | Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy) | 7 | 10 | 70.00% | Art Rock | 1974 |
| Echo & the Bunnymen | Echo & the Bunnymen | 8 | 12 | 66.67% | Melancholia | 1987 |
| The Modern Lovers | The Modern Lovers | 8 | 12 | 66.67% | Art Rock | 1976 |
| Roxy Music | Siren | 6 | 9 | 66.67% | Romantica | 1975 |
| Led Zeppelin | Led Zeppelin IV | 5 | 8 | 62.50% | Classic Rock | 1971 |
| Roxy Music | Roxy Music | 6 | 10 | 60.00% | Glam | 1972 |
| Pink Floyd | Wish You Were Here | 3 | 5 | 60.00% | Classic Rock | 1975 |
| Blondie | Eat To The Beat | 7 | 12 | 58.33% | New Wave | 1979 |
| Elastica | Elastica | 9 | 16 | 56.25% | Pop Punk | 1995 |
| Liz Phair | Exile in Guyville | 10 | 18 | 55.56% | Alternative | 1993 |
| The B-52's | The B-52's | 5 | 9 | 55.56% | New Wave | 1979 |
| Brian Eno And David Byrne | My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts | 6 | 11 | 54.55% | Art Rock | 1981 |
| Leftfield | Leftism | 6 | 11 | 54.55% | Electronica | 1995 |
| New York Dolls | New York Dolls | 6 | 11 | 54.55% | Punk | 1973 |
| Steely Dan | Pretzel Logic | 6 | 11 | 54.55% | Classic Rock | 1974 |
| Talking Heads | Talking Heads: 77 | 6 | 11 | 54.55% | New Wave | 1977 |
| The Primitives | Lovely | 8 | 15 | 53.33% | Pop Punk | 1988 |
| Elvis Costello & The Attractions | Get Happy!! | 13 | 25 | 52.00% | New Wave | 1980 |
| Robyn Hitchcock & the Egyptians | Fegmania! | 7 | 14 | 50.00% | Psychedelica | 1985 |
| Spoon | Kill the Moonlight | 6 | 12 | 50.00% | Art Rock | 2002 |
| The Beta Band | The Three E.P.'s | 6 | 12 | 50.00% | Art Rock | 1998 |
| The Von Bondies | Pawn Shoppe Heart | 6 | 12 | 50.00% | Classic Rock | 2004 |
| Cheap Trick | In Color | 5 | 10 | 50.00% | Classic Rock | 1977 |
| Luna | Bewitched | 5 | 10 | 50.00% | Romantica | 1994 |
| Orbital | Orbital 2 | 5 | 10 | 50.00% | Electronica | 1992 |
| The Rolling Stones | Sticky Fingers | 5 | 10 | 50.00% | Classic Rock | 1971 |
| The Soft Boys | Underwater Moonlight | 5 | 10 | 50.00% | Psychedelica | 1980 |
| Roxy Music | Stranded | 4 | 8 | 50.00% | Art Rock | 1973 |
| David Bowie | Station To Station | 3 | 6 | 50.00% | Art Rock | 1976 |
| Kraftwerk | The Man Machine | 3 | 6 | 50.00% | Krautrock | 1978 |
| Kraftwerk | Ralf and Florian | 3 | 6 | 50.00% | Krautrock | 1973 |
| Pink Floyd | Meddle | 3 | 6 | 50.00% | Psychedelica | 1971 |
| Can | Future Days | 2 | 4 | 50.00% | Krautrock | 1973 |
| La Dusseldorf | La Dusseldorf | 2 | 4 | 50.00% | Krautrock | 1976 |
| Gorillaz | Gorillaz | 8 | 17 | 47.06% | Art Rock | 2001 |
| The White Stripes | The White Stripes | 8 | 17 | 47.06% | Alternative | 1999 |
| The Ramones | All the Stuff (And More), Vol. 2 | 14 | 30 | 46.67% | Pop Punk | 1978 |
| The Beatles | Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band | 6 | 13 | 46.15% | Psychedelica | 1967 |
| The Dandy Warhols | Thirteen Tales From Urban Bohemia | 6 | 13 | 46.15% | Psychedelica | 2000 |
| The White Stripes | De Stijl | 6 | 13 | 46.15% | Alternative | 2000 |
| David Bowie | Ziggy Stardust | 5 | 11 | 45.45% | Glam | 1972 |
| Pink Floyd | The Piper at the Gates of Dawn | 5 | 11 | 45.45% | Psychedelica | 1967 |
| LCD Soundsystem | Sound of Silver | 4 | 9 | 44.44% | Art Rock | 2007 |
| Talking Heads | Speaking In Tongues | 4 | 9 | 44.44% | Art Rock | 1983 |
| Wire | Pink Flag | 9 | 21 | 42.86% | Punk | 1977 |
| The Beatles | Rubber Soul | 6 | 14 | 42.86% | Classic Rock | 1965 |
| The Specials | The Specials | 6 | 14 | 42.86% | Ska | 1979 |
| Can | Ege Bamyasi | 3 | 7 | 42.86% | Krautrock | 1972 |
| The Ramones | All the Stuff (And More), Vol. 1 | 14 | 33 | 42.42% | Punk | 1977 |
| David Bowie | Pin Ups | 5 | 12 | 41.67% | Glam | 1973 |
| Devo | Duty Now For The Future | 5 | 12 | 41.67% | Post-Punk | 1979 |
| The House of Love | The House of Love | 5 | 12 | 41.67% | Melancholia | 1990 |
| The Monkees | More of the Monkees | 5 | 12 | 41.67% | Pop | 1967 |
| The Sex Pistols | Never Mind the Bollocks Here's the Sex Pistols | 5 | 12 | 41.67% | Punk | 1977 |
| Andy Mackay | In Search of Eddie Riff | 4 | 10 | 40.00% | Instrumental | 1974 |
| Brian Eno & John Cale | Wrong Way Up | 4 | 10 | 40.00% | Art Rock | 1990 |
| David Johansen | David Johansen | 4 | 10 | 40.00% | Rawk | 1978 |
| Massive Attack | Protection | 4 | 10 | 40.00% | Trip Hop | 1994 |
| The Cure | Seventeen Seconds | 4 | 10 | 40.00% | Goth | 1980 |
| The Pretenders | Learning To Crawl | 4 | 10 | 40.00% | New Wave | 1982 |
| The Rolling Stones | Beggars Banquet | 4 | 10 | 40.00% | Classic Rock | 1968 |
| Kraftwerk | Autobahn | 2 | 5 | 40.00% | Krautrock | 1974 |
| Elvis Costello | My Aim Is True | 5 | 13 | 38.46% | New Wave | 1977 |
| Elvis Costello & The Attractions | Armed Forces | 5 | 13 | 38.46% | New Wave | 1979 |
| The Raveonettes | Chain Gang Of Love | 5 | 13 | 38.46% | Shoegazer | 2003 |
| Black Sabbath | Paranoid | 3 | 8 | 37.50% | Metal | 1971 |
| X | Los Angeles/Wild Gift | 8 | 22 | 36.36% | Punk | 1978 |
| Devo | Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! | 4 | 11 | 36.36% | Punk | 1978 |
| Primal Scream | Screamadelica | 4 | 11 | 36.36% | Psychedelica | 1991 |
| Talking Heads | Fear Of Music | 4 | 11 | 36.36% | Art Rock | 1979 |
| The Cars | Candy-O | 4 | 11 | 36.36% | New Wave | 1979 |
| The Beatles | Revolver | 5 | 14 | 35.71% | Classic Rock | 1966 |
| The Dandy Warhols | Come Down | 5 | 14 | 35.71% | Psychedelica | 1997 |
| The Jesus and Mary Chain | Psychocandy | 5 | 14 | 35.71% | Shoegazer | 1985 |
| The Smiths | Louder Than Bombs | 8 | 24 | 33.33% | New Wave | 1987 |
| Brian Eno | Music for Films | 6 | 18 | 33.33% | Ambient | 1978 |
| The Rolling Stones | Exile on Main St. | 6 | 18 | 33.33% | Classic Rock | 1972 |
| The Breeders | Last Splash | 5 | 15 | 33.33% | Alternative | 1993 |
| Michael Brook | Cobalt Blue | 4 | 12 | 33.33% | Ambient | 1992 |
| Primal Scream | XTRMNTR | 4 | 12 | 33.33% | Psychedelica | 2000 |
| The Ventures | The Fabulous Ventures | 4 | 12 | 33.33% | Surf | 1964 |
| Cluster & Eno | Cluster & Eno | 3 | 9 | 33.33% | Ambient | 1977 |
| Curtis Mayfield | Superfly | 3 | 9 | 33.33% | Soul | 1972 |
| Fujiya & Miyagi | Transparent Things | 3 | 9 | 33.33% | Art Rock | 2006 |
| Massive Attack | Blue Lines | 3 | 9 | 33.33% | Trip Hop | 1991 |
| Television | Adventure | 3 | 9 | 33.33% | Art Rock | 1978 |
| Harmonia | Deluxe | 2 | 6 | 33.33% | Krautrock | 1975 |
| Beastie Boys | Hello Nasty | 7 | 22 | 31.82% | Hip-Hop | 1998 |
| The Cramps | Psychedelic Jungle/Gravest Hits | 6 | 19 | 31.58% | Rockabilly | 1979 |
| The Dandy Warhols | Dandys Rule OK | 5 | 16 | 31.25% | Psychedelica | 1995 |
| The Fall | This Nation's Saving Grace | 5 | 16 | 31.25% | Post-Punk | 1985 |
| The White Stripes | White Blood Cells | 5 | 16 | 31.25% | Alternative | 2001 |
| Morphine | Good | 4 | 13 | 30.77% | Alternative | 1992 |
| Stereolab | Refried Ectoplasm: Switched On, Vol. 2 | 4 | 13 | 30.77% | Shoegazer | 1995 |
| Air | Moon Safari | 3 | 10 | 30.00% | Electronica | 1998 |
| Bob Marley | Exodus | 3 | 10 | 30.00% | Reggae | 1977 |
| Robyn Hitchcock & The Egyptians | Globe Of Frogs | 3 | 10 | 30.00% | Alternative | 1988 |
| Roxy Music | Country Life | 3 | 10 | 30.00% | Art Rock | 1974 |
| The B-52's | Wild Planet | 3 | 10 | 30.00% | New Wave | 1980 |
| The Velvet Underground | 1969 Velvet Underground Live Vol. 1 | 3 | 10 | 30.00% | Psychedelica | 1969 |
| Brian Eno | Another Green World | 4 | 14 | 28.57% | Art Rock | 1975 |
| David Bowie | Low | 4 | 14 | 28.57% | Art Rock | 1977 |
| Eden Ahbez | Eden's Island | 4 | 14 | 28.57% | Exotica | 1960 |
| Jon & the Nightriders | Surf Beat '80 | 4 | 14 | 28.57% | Surf | 1980 |
| Lionrock | City Delirious | 4 | 14 | 28.57% | Electronica | 1998 |
| Robyn Hitchcock & the Egyptians | Element of Light | 4 | 14 | 28.57% | Psychedelica | 1986 |
| The Beatles | Help | 4 | 14 | 28.57% | Classic Rock | 1965 |
| XTC | Skylarking | 4 | 14 | 28.57% | Art Rock | 1986 |
| Dave Brubeck Quartet | Time Out | 2 | 7 | 28.57% | Jazz | 1959 |
| Dexter Gordon | Doin' Allright | 2 | 7 | 28.57% | Jazz | 1961 |
| Kraftwerk | Trans-Europe Express | 2 | 7 | 28.57% | Krautrock | 1977 |
| Robyn Hitchcock | Invisible Hitchcock | 5 | 18 | 27.78% | Melancholia | 1986 |
| Bryan Ferry | Let's Stick Together | 3 | 11 | 27.27% | Glam | 1976 |
| Fatboy Slim | You've Come a Long Way, Baby | 3 | 11 | 27.27% | Electronica | 1998 |
| Fleetwood Mac | Rumours | 3 | 11 | 27.27% | Classic Rock | 1977 |
| Franz Ferdinand | Franz Ferdinand | 3 | 11 | 27.27% | Glam | 2004 |
| Massive Attack | Mezzanine | 3 | 11 | 27.27% | Trip Hop | 1998 |
| Primal Scream | Vanishing Point | 3 | 11 | 27.27% | Psychedelica | 1997 |
| Simon & Garfunkel | Bridge Over Troubled Water | 3 | 11 | 27.27% | Folk | 1970 |
| Spoon | Gimme Fiction | 3 | 11 | 27.27% | Art Rock | 2005 |
| The Strokes | Is This It | 3 | 11 | 27.27% | Art Rock | 2001 |
| U2 | The Joshua Tree | 3 | 11 | 27.27% | Classic Rock | 1987 |
| Beastie Boys | Paul's Boutique | 4 | 15 | 26.67% | Hip-Hop | 1989 |
| Madness | One Step Beyond... | 4 | 15 | 26.67% | Ska | 1979 |
| The Fall | The Wonderful and Frightening World of the Fall | 4 | 16 | 25.00% | Post-Punk | 1984 |
| Yo La Tengo | I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One | 4 | 16 | 25.00% | Psychedelica | 1997 |
| Belle & Sebastian | Dear Catastrophe Waitress | 3 | 12 | 25.00% | Twee Pop | 2003 |
| Brian Eno | Apollo: Atmospheres & Soundtracks | 3 | 12 | 25.00% | Ambient | 1983 |
| Doves | The Last Broadcast | 3 | 12 | 25.00% | Art Rock | 2000 |
| J.J. Cale | Naturally | 3 | 12 | 25.00% | Classic Rock | 1971 |
| Low | Long Division | 3 | 12 | 25.00% | Slo-Core | 1995 |
| Luna | Lunapark | 3 | 12 | 25.00% | Romantica | 1992 |
| MC 900 Ft. Jesus | Hell With the Lid Off | 3 | 12 | 25.00% | Electronica | 1990 |
| Quantic | The 5th Exotic | 3 | 12 | 25.00% | Electronica | 2001 |
| Radiohead | OK Computer | 3 | 12 | 25.00% | Art Rock | 1997 |
| Soft Machine | Seven | 3 | 12 | 25.00% | Progressive | 1974 |
| Spiritualized | Lazer Guided Melodies | 3 | 12 | 25.00% | Shoegazer | 1992 |
| The Cure | Disintegration | 3 | 12 | 25.00% | Goth | 1989 |
| Bruce Springsteen | Born To Run | 2 | 8 | 25.00% | Classic Rock | 1975 |
| Harmonia | Musik Von Harmonia | 2 | 8 | 25.00% | Krautrock | 1974 |
| Iggy & the Stooges | Raw Power | 2 | 8 | 25.00% | Punk | 1973 |
| Roxy Music | For Your Pleasure | 2 | 8 | 25.00% | Glam | 1973 |
| Magnetic Fields | 69 Love Songs | 17 | 69 | 24.64% | Romantica | 1999 |
| 808 State | Ex:El | 3 | 13 | 23.08% | Electronica | 1991 |
| David Bowie | Diamond Dogs | 3 | 13 | 23.08% | Glam | 1974 |
| Green Day | American Idiot | 3 | 13 | 23.08% | Pop Punk | 2004 |
| Lily Allen | Alright, Still | 3 | 13 | 23.08% | Britpop | 2006 |
| Low | The Great Destroyer | 3 | 13 | 23.08% | Indie | 2005 |
| Spacemen 3 | Recurring | 3 | 13 | 23.08% | Shoegazer | 1991 |
| The Raybeats | Guitar Beat | 3 | 13 | 23.08% | Surf | 1981 |
| Bryan Ferry | Boys and Girls | 2 | 9 | 22.22% | Romantica | 1985 |
| Death in Vegas | The Contino Sessions | 2 | 9 | 22.22% | Electronica | 1999 |
| Jane's Addiction | Ritual de lo Habitual | 2 | 9 | 22.22% | Alternative | 1990 |
| Mott the Hoople | All The Young Dudes | 2 | 9 | 22.22% | Glam | 1972 |
| Mott The Hoople | Mott | 2 | 9 | 22.22% | Glam | 1973 |
| Santana | Santana III | 2 | 9 | 22.22% | Classic Rock | 1971 |
| Steely Dan | The Royal Scam | 2 | 9 | 22.22% | Classic Rock | 1976 |
| The Art of Noise | Who's Afraid Of The Art Of Noise? | 2 | 9 | 22.22% | New Wave | 1984 |
| The Rolling Stones | Let It Bleed | 2 | 9 | 22.22% | Classic Rock | 1969 |
| The Velvet Underground | 1969 Velvet Underground Live Vol. 2 | 2 | 9 | 22.22% | Art Rock | 1969 |
| David Byrne | The Catherine Wheel | 5 | 23 | 21.74% | Art Rock | 1981 |
| African Head Charge | Songs of Praise | 3 | 14 | 21.43% | World | 1991 |
| Lou Reed | New York | 3 | 14 | 21.43% | Art Rock | 1989 |
| My Chemical Romance | The Black Parade | 3 | 14 | 21.43% | Pop Punk | 2006 |
| The Offspring | Smash | 3 | 14 | 21.43% | Punk | 1994 |
| Zero 7 | Simple Things | 3 | 14 | 21.43% | Electronica | 2001 |
| Man or Astro-man? | Project Infinity | 3 | 15 | 20.00% | Surf | 1995 |
| Stereolab | Mars Audiac Quintet | 3 | 15 | 20.00% | Shoegazer | 1994 |
| The Rezillos | Can't Stand the Rezillos | 3 | 15 | 20.00% | Pop Punk | 1978 |
| Emerson, Lake & Palmer | Trilogy | 2 | 10 | 20.00% | Progressive | 1972 |
| Gang Of Four | Solid Gold | 2 | 10 | 20.00% | Post-Punk | 1981 |
| Happy Mondays | Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches | 2 | 10 | 20.00% | Manchester | 1990 |
| Jethro Tull | Stand Up | 2 | 10 | 20.00% | Classic Rock | 1969 |
| Love and Rockets | Love and Rockets | 2 | 10 | 20.00% | Shoegazer | 1989 |
| Mazzy Star | So Tonight That I Might See | 2 | 10 | 20.00% | Psychedelica | 1993 |
| Nine Inch Nails | Pretty Hate Machine | 2 | 10 | 20.00% | Alternative | 1989 |
| Social Distortion | Social Distortion | 2 | 10 | 20.00% | Pop Punk | 1990 |
| Steely Dan | Katy Lied | 2 | 10 | 20.00% | Classic Rock | 1975 |
| Stereolab | Transient Random-Noise Bursts With Announcements | 2 | 10 | 20.00% | Shoegazer | 1993 |
| The Feelies | Time for a Witness | 2 | 10 | 20.00% | Psychedelica | 1991 |
| The Go! Team | Thunder, Lightning, Strike | 2 | 10 | 20.00% | Electronica | 2005 |
| The Shins | Chutes Too Narrow | 2 | 10 | 20.00% | Twee Pop | 2003 |
| The Velvet Underground | The Velvet Underground | 2 | 10 | 20.00% | Art Rock | 1969 |
| XTC | Black Sea | 2 | 10 | 20.00% | New Wave | 1980 |
| Fripp & Eno | Evening Star | 1 | 5 | 20.00% | Ambient | 1975 |