Listmania

January 20, 2001

So VH1 is doing another one of those lists again. This time it’s the 100 Greatest Albums of Rock and Roll. I’m really beginning to hate these lists. They just don’t make any sense anymore. As much as I love Nirvana’s Nevermind or Lauryn Hill’s Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, their places on this list (#2 and #37) are a bit ridiculous. The low rankings of Murmur (R.E.M.) and My Aim is True (Elvis Costello) are equally silly. Miles Davis shows up with with two albums that aren’t remotely close to being “rock and roll.”

The only time I dig these shows are when they show off artists that have been a bit forgotten or were overlooked by their contemporary audiences but loved by other artists. People like Patti Smith, Cheap Trick, Television, Tom Waits and numerous others. They should do a show about artists like that.

If you really need a list of albums to go out to the store and buy, I’d recommend Elvis Costello’s 500 Albums You Need. Even he’s missing a few, but at least the list is by one single voice. It makes much more sense that way. Ignore the fact that Destiny’s Child is on it.

Posted in From Blown Speakers