I see TIME has a breath-takingly stupid list that pupports to be "the greatest and most influential records ever."
Not one non-English-language record. Not one record from continental Europe. Not one from Africa. Not one from South America. Not one from Asia (I don't think the Plastic Ono Band counts). Australia/Pacific gets one for AC/DC. Only four non-US artists in the last twenty years? Only one album vaguely related to dance music?
When I listen to the radio, 50% or more of the material has a Kraftwerk infulence. On the list? Nope.
I suppose "the greatest and most influential English-language records that made it to America" doesn't have the same zing.
I think my personal list for the greatest albums of all time would be headed by the double compilation album of the Staple Singer's early material, for 50s and 60s material. Plus Computer World. Plus Sunny Ade's Synchro System.
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Ummm... yeah. Nothing by The Stooges on the list. Makes it completely void.
where the heck is floyd on here? at least 2 of their albums should have made it, wall and dark side. please!
>> I suppose "the greatest and most influential English-language records that made it to America" doesn't have the same zing.
CLASSIC! :D
I think what this comes down to is pretty straight forward: Marketing and the difficulty that exists in mass marketing more than one list.
Of course the simple fact that being listed on the "Top 100" list is going to generate sales is going to play HEAVILY into the weighting applied to this same list, in my own opinion.
The whole point of a "top something-or-other" list is to generate discussion and/or letters to the editor. It aint' the academy awards, after all.
That being said, the list is missing a lot of trend-setting and/or influential albums.
Hmm...maybe all "top lists" should come with a big, bold, upper-case disclaimer: "IN OUR OPINION". And how a US magazine could have the gall to be US-centered is beyond me.