So, in a desperate attempt to get people to remember to buy CDs (so cute!), the National Association of Record Manufacturers (NARM) has put together a list of the "Definitive 200" albums that you, yes you, should own if you want to call yourself a music fan. And because making lists is really, really hard, they have made complete fools of themselves.
Oh, sure, NARM put Sgt. Pepper’s at No. 1 (the Beatles, pictured, have five of the 200 albums, as do Led Zeppelin), and they placed the compulsory Pet Sounds shout-out a respectable 9th, but it doesn’t take long for the whole thing to go off the rails. Specifically, it goes off the rails at No. 13: Santana’s Supernatural. I mean, that Rob Thomas song was good and everything, but was that entire album better than No. 15, Born to Run? Or Nos. 23, 24, and 25 — Songs in the Key of Life, Rumours, and The Wall, respectively?
Only thing I can figure is, they’re trying to remind people thatcurrent music can be just as vital as those moldy oldies that everyonekeeps drooling all over. Sure, Rolling Stone magazine might think Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On is the 6th-best album of all time, but the NARM forces know better: It is, in fact, only the 38th best, and the Grease soundtrack can kick its ass! The Clash may have changed the life of music geeks with London Calling, but for us normal people at NARM, it belongs 96th, one spot below Creed’s Human Clay! What do you mean we don’t know what we’re talking about when it comes to good albums? We make the damn things! Sure, we don’t make the music that goes on them… but we invented the jewel case! We know stuff!
Anyhoo. Two more little quibbles with this list and then youguys can have the floor: The first rap album listed comes in at No. 28and is Eminem’s Marshall Mathers LP, and the first country album on the chart is Shania Twain’s Come On Overat No. 21. Best as I can tell, this list was ghostwritten by the interns atVH1′s Video Countdown. So c’mon, PopWatchers! Let’s teach these kidsa lesson. Which glaring flaw in their list-making logic infuriates youthe most?
Supernatural has no place in the Top 20,000, let alone 200. i’m sure i’ll pick this list apart, bit by bit…
Metallica’s selt-titled sell out ahead of Appetite for Destruction?
Can’t believe that Oasis is rated below Creed… in fact i don’t know why creed is there…
I think Coldplay’s parachute also deserved a spot, but is clear that the task of putting together the 200 greatest albums of all times and of all genres is totally impossible…
Something is definitely off with this list–why is Linkin Park higher rated than OK Computer?!
This list is beyond tragic. Johnny Cash “At Folsom Prison” behind Faith Hill? My soul just died a little reading this list.
Whit, you said it all when you pointed out NARM put Creed ahead of The Clash. Ugh.
***SPOILER ALERT***
I was happier when the only thing I associated with NARM was “Six Feet Under”s Nate Fisher exclaiming “Numb arm…Narm!” before collapsing.
okay, one more comment and i’m forever done with this list:
no Cheap Trick, Replacements or
Motley Crue. yet we have entries from Creed, Matchbox Twenty, Kid Rock and Will Smith…
Seeing the name “Dixie Chicks” above the name “Miles Davis” makes me throw up a little in my mouth. And the fact that people like Shania Twain, Creed and Nelly even made this list makes me throw up a lot all over the place. And oh yeah, Kid Rock? Are you kidding me?
Any must-have album list that has no place for Todd Rundgren (or, as Whitney noted, Warren Zevon) but finds room for Bon Jovi…this may be the grossest, sickest thing I’ve ever read, and I’ve read “American Psycho.”
Bon Jovi is an amazing band though. One of the difinitive bands of the 80s. They DO deserve a spot on this list…
How could anything be rated higher than OK Computer? And who thinks Hysteria is a better album than Pyromania?
I take issue with the Clash being there and the Specials not making the list. And while a lot of their album choices are really obvious (or albums that still hold their own years later), I take issue that Top Gun, Footloose and Linkin Park (soundtracks and albums that were overplayed and unfresh when they were NEW) would be anywhere near this list.
Maybe the writer had a thing for Kenny Loggins?
Also, agreed with some of the artists but not the albums. Band of Gypsies by Hendrix is MUCH better than Are you experienced; Santana’s got some 40 years + of rock yet his best was the most recent?
But then again, these idiots still refer to themselves as “record” manufacturers when no non-dj’s bought a new lp at a record store in nearly a decade…
This list is the opposite of one of those music elitist lists filled with little known/unknown music and artists chosen because no one’s heard of them and/or no one likes them.
I appreciate this is a list of opinions. But this is a PC collection of music.
Shania Twain, Dixie Chicks, Nelly, Kid Rock, Janet Jackson are enjoyable — but MUST have CDs?
OK the one entry by Madonna is Like a Virgin and it falls below Xtina’s debut? Give me Immaculate Collection and at least put it in the top 100
How did they fail to include Sublime’s “Sublime?”
Yawn. I couldn’t even make it past number 25, it was just THAT exciting. It’s clear they put a lot of these “artists” on the list simply because they sold a good number of albums when new. With the likes of Creed, Shania and Faith stinking up the list, it’s apparent true artistry was not a factor in the decision making.