Topic: Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums (Read 16374 times)

Thrillho · « **on:** 22 Mar 2009, 06:37 »

Okay, obviously lists like this are usually bollocks by most people's standards and this one is quite out of date - but just out of curiosity, I looked it up and I own 74 of Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums Ever.

How many do you own?

And more importantly, how does that make you feel?

Retrospectre · « **Reply #1 on:** 22 Mar 2009, 06:54 »

Exactly one hundred with the Cream and Stevie Wonder I got a week or two ago.

The list itself ain't too good but most of the stuff listed is worth a listen.
It's the rankings that are suspect.

Caspian · « **Reply #2 on:** 22 Mar 2009, 06:57 »

I have a fairly large musical collection, and I only have 10 of their top 500. Maybe 20, max, if we're including illegal downloads.

If I had all of them, I wouldn't be too happy. A lot of suspect albums in there, but this is Rolling Stone. I'd argue that this list is even more rubbish then their top 100 guitarists.

Thrillho · « **Reply #3 on:** 22 Mar 2009, 08:27 »

Both of the aforementioned lists had Black Flag - that's enough for me.

Roffle.

But yeah I was including illegal downloads.

One slightly bemusing aspect of it - rankings aside - is that both With The Beatles and Meet The Beatles are in there. Heh?

Tehz · « **Reply #4 on:** 22 Mar 2009, 08:37 »

Around twenty, give or take.

A Shoggoth on the Roof · « **Reply #5 on:** 22 Mar 2009, 09:30 »

I have no clue, and I m not about to look through 500 albums just to find out either:
A) I have awesome taste in music
or
B) Rolling Stone has terrible taste in music

because I already know I'm pretty awesome in general.

KharBevNor · « **Reply #6 on:** 22 Mar 2009, 10:32 »

But he makes his guitar sound like a turntable omg so kewl better than hendrix

KharBevNor · « **Reply #7 on:** 22 Mar 2009, 10:34 »

Just had a peek at the list. The inclusion of Pet Sounds, Nevermind anda fucking Elvis Presley album in the top 20 already tells me this list is absolute dreck.

onewheelwizzard · « **Reply #8 on:** 22 Mar 2009, 10:41 »

Kyuss isn't on the list at all. These people have no clue what they're talking about.

kwami42 · « **Reply #9 on:** 22 Mar 2009, 12:09 »

25, only around 5 of which I really enjoy.

TheFuriousWombat · « **Reply #10 on:** 22 Mar 2009, 14:02 »

I have around 30 of the albums on the list. Overall it's pretty terrible. These albums are by no means the best, and in many cases not even "important" or "influention." Seriously, Outkast? Moby? Randy Newman...twice? Did Eminem really make two of the best albums ever? Should Madonna be on such a list more times than I care to count? And sure, I like the Beatles as much as the next guy but come on, this is just ridiculous. Are all those albums of theirs on the list really some of the best ever made? Same thing with Bob Dylan. He's a pretty brilliant guy but christ, put on one or two of his albums, not 6 or whatever the fuck is on here. And then there's odd things like not only including Radiohead (another band I like a lot but again, overkill here) three times, but putting The Bends, one of their more uninteresting releases and one rarely mentioned anywhere as their best, ahead of the others. The silly choices continue far beyond the aforementioned. KISS? Really? People still take those guys seriously? I thought everybody knew they were awful! George Michael? That pop doofus? I'll restrain myself but I could continue. The list attempts to do too much. The placement of most of the albums seems totally arbitrary. RS bit off more than they could chew here and the results are, to me, pretty laughable.

ThePianoMan · « **Reply #11 on:** 22 Mar 2009, 14:37 »

Geez - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band as the best album of all time? I mean, it's great, but as much for historical as musical reasons - and pretty inconsistent in terms of quality. And FOUR Beatles albums in the top ten? And none of them is Abbey Road? And...ah, screw it. There's too much to whine about.

I own 17 of the albums, 18 if you count Bookends, which my dad bought at one point but which is now basically mine, and there are a bunch that I've been meaning to buy, such as the Bowie albums. Terrible list, though.

SilentJ · « **Reply #12 on:** 22 Mar 2009, 14:40 »

I was kinda weird about which albums I counted as mine- I get some of my music from my brother and my dad, so albums they own that I've copied to my computer, I counted. Using that system I got 49.

I think I remember reading somewhere that this list was based upon the opinions of like 300 musicians that they interviewed, asking for their top 25 albums, and then weighted the submissions somehow and came up with this list, or something like that. So it's not necessarily just Rolling Stone, apparently other people in the music biz are pretty retarded as well. (Three Eminem albums? Really?)

Brian Majestic · « **Reply #13 on:** 22 Mar 2009, 18:00 »

I have 87 of those albums listed. Looking through the list about 20 of those were cassettes and cds I bought during the early 90s alternative boom.

There's lots of crap listed to be sure, but there's Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry (though a best of? Really), James Brown, Stooges, etc etc etc as ell.

Caspian · « **Reply #14 on:** 22 Mar 2009, 18:09 »

The fact that Ride the Lightning and MoP aren't on there is as good a reason as any to declare it a bullshit list.

Alex C · « **Reply #15 on:** 22 Mar 2009, 18:42 »

Quote from: TheFuriousWombat on 22 Mar 2009, 14:02

Seriously, Outkast?

Stankonia was a really damn good album. Gasoline Dreams is straight forward angry rap, So Fresh, So Clean was spare and funky in a chilled out sorta way while B.O.B. was a deliciously warped drum 'n' bass explosion; they did a ridiculously good job of varying their sound while still being instantly recognizeable. I mean, I feel like I have to ask if you just don't believe rap has musical legitimacy in the first place or something. I won't argue that Outkast should have an album in the top ten or anything, but putting Stankonia the bottom half of a list of 500 albums isn't really that absurd, particularly compared to many of the other choices present in the list. Hell, I'd argue you could probably sneak Aquemini in there somewhere as well.

Be My Head · « **Reply #16 on:** 22 Mar 2009, 22:23 »

I already know Pleasure To Kill isn't on there, so I'm not going to even bother looking at the list.

look out! Ninjas! · « **Reply #17 on:** 23 Mar 2009, 00:28 »

I am constantly amazed at how many lists of so-called "best albums ever" don't feature Tom Waits in any capacity.

Zingoleb · « **Reply #18 on:** 23 Mar 2009, 00:36 »

Quote from: look out! Ninjas! on 23 Mar 2009, 00:28

I am constantly amazed at how many lists of so-called "best albums ever" don't feature Tom Waits in any capacity.

This.

Only been turned onto him very recently, and after having a laughing fit at his voice did I realize how amazing the man really is.

Spluff · « **Reply #19 on:** 23 Mar 2009, 00:38 »

There is only one valid musical taste, and it is mine. This list is all wrong!

pwhodges · « **Reply #20 on:** 23 Mar 2009, 00:40 »

The truth is that there are too many amazing things in the world to fit into lists.

Cire27 · « **Reply #21 on:** 23 Mar 2009, 00:42 »

Quote from: DynamiteKid on 22 Mar 2009, 08:27

Both of the aforementioned lists had Black Flag - that's enough for me.

Greg Ginn was a damn good guitarist. I don't know about one of the best, but he was very good. I don't see what's funny.

Inlander · « **Reply #22 on:** 23 Mar 2009, 01:31 »

This list is old and boring news. Let's talk about the Guardian's "1000 songs everyone must hear" instead!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/series/1000-songs-everyone-must-hear

Zingoleb · « **Reply #23 on:** 23 Mar 2009, 02:49 »

Quote from: Cire27 on 23 Mar 2009, 00:42

Quote from: DynamiteKid on 22 Mar 2009, 08:27
Both of the aforementioned lists had Black Flag - that's enough for me.

Greg Ginn was a damn good guitarist. I don't know about one of the best, but he was very good. I don't see what's funny.

...Your avatar, it speaks to me.

I've written "This Machine Kills Fascists" in large letters on my guitar.

BeoPuppy · « **Reply #24 on:** 23 Mar 2009, 02:50 »

15. Which was more than I expected. Somehow ... annoys me that it's that many.

Thrillho · « **Reply #25 on:** 23 Mar 2009, 03:42 »

Quote from: Cire27 on 23 Mar 2009, 00:42

Quote from: DynamiteKid on 22 Mar 2009, 08:27
Both of the aforementioned lists had Black Flag - that's enough for me.

Greg Ginn was a damn good guitarist. I don't know about one of the best, but he was very good. I don't see what's funny.

Who's being funny? I love Black Flag, that's what I'm saying. If the list has Greg Ginn on it, then it's legit as far as I'm concerned.

And also, I wanted to write the 'Fascists' line on my guitar as well, but I decided against putting it on there since it is just basically copying someone.

Caspian · « **Reply #26 on:** 23 Mar 2009, 08:30 »

Quote from: Inlander on 23 Mar 2009, 01:31

This list is old and boring news. Let's talk about the Guardian's "1000 songs everyone must hear" instead!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/series/1000-songs-everyone-must-hear

Wow, that list is awful! I quite like the idea of a "100 worst lists of all time" list. Of course, where would you start?

Quote from: the guardian

No Scrubs was a masterpiece of misandry, the song that single-handedly ignited modern R&B’s golden age.

Alex C · « **Reply #27 on:** 23 Mar 2009, 11:37 »

Quote from: the guardian

No Scrubs was a masterpiece of misandry, the song that single-handedly ignited modern R&B’s golden age.

Wut?

Did they just decided that Mariah Carey, Boyz II Men and other tremendously popular R&B acts of the '90s didn't exist or something? I mean, shit, I'm pretty sure Carey's third album pushed more units than all of TLC's albums combined. Granted, popularity doesn't equal quality, but it still points out that No Scrubs didn't exactly happen in a vacuum.

KickThatBathProf · « **Reply #28 on:** 23 Mar 2009, 11:41 »

Quote from: Caspian on 23 Mar 2009, 08:30

Wow, that list is awful! I quite like the idea of a "100 worst lists of all time" list. Of course, where would you start?

Well, you could probably put all lists made by RS on there by default

JD · « **Reply #29 on:** 23 Mar 2009, 12:02 »

I have 2. Is that good or bad?

Hat · « **Reply #30 on:** 23 Mar 2009, 15:20 »

Quote from: Inlander on 23 Mar 2009, 01:31

This list is old and boring news. Let's talk about the Guardian's "1000 songs everyone must hear" instead!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/series/1000-songs-everyone-must-hear

This whole "<multiple of 10> <nouns> you must <verb> before you die" thing that's popped up in the last 5 years or so is basically turning culture into one big checklist approved by men with beards who say words like "ennui" and "liminal" a lot.

Inlander · « **Reply #31 on:** 23 Mar 2009, 15:55 »

The fact that the Guardian's pollsters neglected to include Kate and Anna McGarrigle's "Heart Like a Wheel" on their list of the best heart-break songs indicates that something is very wrong with their judgement indeed.

Cadeonehalf · « **Reply #32 on:** 23 Mar 2009, 22:42 »

I think they get points for having Badly Drawn Boy as required listening, though.

The long line of early Beatles hits, however, seems a little redundant.

Inlander · « **Reply #33 on:** 24 Mar 2009, 03:41 »

To their credit, unlike our friends at Rolling Stone you certainly can't accuse the Guardian folks of only going for the obvious choices.

Durin · « **Reply #34 on:** 24 Mar 2009, 15:39 »

I own 15 (was kind of surprised) and saw quite a few that I thought, "Oh I should eventually get this."

Zingoleb · « **Reply #35 on:** 24 Mar 2009, 18:54 »

Quote from: DynamiteKid on 23 Mar 2009, 03:42

And also, I wanted to write the 'Fascists' line on my guitar as well, but I decided against putting it on there since it is just basically copying someone.

Tell me when you have an original idea, and I'll direct the right people to sue you.

I'm rubbing mine off, anyways. I'm just going to leave my "Trogdor was here." sticker on it and the letter Z carved into the back.

Thrillho · « **Reply #36 on:** 25 Mar 2009, 09:12 »

I wasn't criticising you for doing it. Nor am I suggesting I have exclusively original ideas. I just felt personally - and this is not a criticism of anyone else doing it - that if I was to do that, it wasn't a homage, it was just doing exactly what he did.

skydivingninja · « **Reply #37 on:** 08 Apr 2009, 09:20 »

I have 28 out of all of those 500, since Rolling Stone loves Bob Dylan and Springsteen albums that aren't even among their best (Born to Run and Highway 61 I can understand, but Nebraska? Does anyone REMEMBER Nebraska?)

RedLion · « **Reply #38 on:** 08 Apr 2009, 10:51 »

Yes? Nebraska is a masterpiece. It's bleak, dark, and haunting. That was Springsteen's last 10/10 album. It went downhill from there.

Beren · « **Reply #39 on:** 08 Apr 2009, 11:28 »

Their top 500 songs list is a little better, albeit both lists are skewed heavily towards motown and similar. Which, you know, is wonderful and all, but there have been 40 years of music since.

[And by music I mean Journey]

KharBevNor · « **Reply #40 on:** 08 Apr 2009, 11:29 »

I'm still hoping that you guys all loving Bruce Springsteen is a joke or something.

Beren · « **Reply #41 on:** 08 Apr 2009, 11:36 »

No. Bruce Springsteen told people the American Dream is great and all, but you're probably not going to get it, and that's cool.
Bruce is awesome.

Dazed · « **Reply #42 on:** 08 Apr 2009, 11:45 »

I have no problem with Bruce Springsteen on a personal/political level. I think the guy is probably very cool, and I'd probably like him a lot if I met him.

But goddamn do I think his music sucks.

TheFuriousWombat · « **Reply #43 on:** 08 Apr 2009, 13:57 »

He also talks like his jaw is wired shut. Did anybody see him on the Daily Show? When John Stewart stopped fellating the man long enough for Springsteen to get a word in I couldn't help chuckling. He may not have a bad singing voice but hearing him speak reminds makes me think of someone with tetanus chatting away.

Thrillho · « **Reply #44 on:** 08 Apr 2009, 16:15 »

Quote from: KharBevNor on 08 Apr 2009, 11:29

I'm still hoping that you guys all loving Bruce Springsteen is a joke or something.

To be fair, I only like one of his albums, which isn't on this list. I don't 'love' the guy.

KharBevNor · « **Reply #45 on:** 08 Apr 2009, 20:06 »

Quote from: Beren on 08 Apr 2009, 11:36

No. Bruce Springsteen told people the American Dream is great and all, but you're probably not going to get it, and that's cool.

He sounds like a more boring Meatloaf.

Also, reading that guardian list, how the hell can they not have Ebeneezer Goode in the party songs list.

JimmyJazz · « **Reply #46 on:** 08 Apr 2009, 20:23 »

I'm pretty sure it's the other way around.

KharBevNor · « **Reply #47 on:** 08 Apr 2009, 20:40 »

Whichever way round it works Bruce Springsteen is boring as all hell.

Beren · « **Reply #48 on:** 09 Apr 2009, 09:46 »

You insulted both Bruce and Meatloaf in one post!

To death.

KickThatBathProf · « **Reply #49 on:** 09 Apr 2009, 19:50 »

Kill him Khar. Because it is so worth it.

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Author Topic: Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums (Read 16374 times)

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