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| Ten Thousand Motels |
'The Definitive' list ranks top 200 albums
By David Hinckley
New York Daily News
Mar. 7, 2007 09:38 AM
At a time when CD sales are wobbling like Britney Spears, the National Association of Record Manufacturers and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame have fought back with a celebration of the greatest albums ever.
The two organizations Tuesday released "The Definitive 200," a list of 200 albums they think every popular-music fan should own. To no one's shock, Nos. 1, 2 and 3 are the Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper," Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" and Michael Jackson's "Thriller."
Like any best-of list, its first goal is to start arguments. Me, I saw that the list doesn't include either Bob Dylan's "Blonde on Blonde" or James Brown's "Live at the Apollo," and muttered, "This is ridiculous."
That part of the plan works.
What works less well is the list's more ambitious goal: persuading us that in the downloading age, the CD/album is still the basic unit of popular music.
The idea has warm, nostalgic resonance for millions and millions of people who own or remember albums and CDs.
It just isn't true.
Albums aren't the basic unit of popular music. They are a means of packaging the basic unit, which is the single.
Songs. Individual songs. That's where it starts.
Sure, most of us can name a handful of albums where every note is right. I'd say that about Dylan's "Highway 61 Revisited," "Warren Zevon," "Kate and Anna McGarrigle," the Stones' "Beggars Banquet," Springsteen's "Seeger Sessions" and "My Fair Lady."
But there are many more albums I love that include cuts I don't really care about. Skip them and give me "Oh Girl" by the Chi-Lites or "Double Shot" by the Swingin' Medallions or "Gimme the Light" by Sean Paul, all by themselves.
For most of human history, that's how music has spread: one song at a time. It was true before recorded music and remained true all through the golden age of American popular standards into the early years of rock n' roll.
Then the album packagers moved in, and there's no doubt the album age produced some wonderful music, as the "Definitive 200" list confirms.
But when today's downloaders pick their music one song at a time, it's hardly a revolution. It's more a return to the natural order - one to which, we can be reasonably certain, marketers will adjust.
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Top 200 albums of all time:
1 BEATLES, SGT. PEPPER'S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND 1967 Rock
2 PINK FLOYD, DARK SIDE OF THE MOON 1973 Rock
3 MICHAEL JACKSON, THRILLER 1982 Pop
4 LED ZEPPELIN, LED ZEPPELIN IV 1971 Rock
5 U2, THE JOSHUA TREE 1987 Rock
6 ROLLING STONES, EXILE ON MAIN STREET 1972 Rock
7 CAROLE KING, TAPESTRY 1971 Adult Contemporary
8 BOB DYLAN, HIGHWAY 61 REVISITED 1965 Rock
9 BEACH BOYS, PET SOUNDS 1966 Rock
10 NIRVANA, NEVERMIND 1991 Rock
11 PEARL JAM, TEN 1991 Rock
12 BEATLES, ABBEY ROAD 1969 Rock
13 SANTANA, SUPERNATURAL 1999 Rock
14 METALLICA, METALLICA 1991 Rock
15 BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, BORN TO RUN 1975 Rock
16 PRINCE, PURPLE RAIN 1984 Pop
17 AC/DC, BACK IN BLACK 1980 Rock
18 ROLLING STONES, LET IT BLEED 1969 Rock
19 DOORS, THE DOORS 1967 Rock
20 GRATEFUL DEAD, AMERICAN BEAUTY 1970 Rock
21 SHANIA TWAIN, COME ON OVER 1997 Country
22 WHO, WHO'S NEXT 1971 Rock
23 STEVIE WONDER, SONGS IN THE KEY OF LIFE 1976 R&B
24 FLEETWOOD MAC, RUMOURS 1977 Pop
25 PINK FLOYD, THE WALL 1979 Rock
26 ALANIS MORISSETTE, JAGGED LITTLE PILL 1995 Pop
27 NORAH JONES, COME AWAY WITH ME 2002 Pop
28 EMINEM, THE MARSHALL MATHERS LP 2000 Rap
29 OUTKAST, SPEAKERBOXX-LOVE BELOW 2003 R&B
30 DR. DRE, THE CHRONIC 1992 Rap
31 BEASTIE BOYS, LICENSED TO ILL 1986 Rap
32 GUNS N' ROSES, APPETITE FOR DESTRUCTION 1987 Rock
33 DIXIE CHICKS, WIDE OPEN SPACES 1998 Country
34 MILES DAVIS, KIND OF BLUE 1959 Jazz
35 EAGLES, HOTEL CALIFORNIA 1976 Rock
36 DEF LEPPARD, HYSTERIA 1987 Rock
37 SOUNDTRACK: GREASE 1978 Soundtrack
38 MARVIN GAYE, WHAT'S GOING ON 1971 R&B
39 BEATLES, THE WHITE ALBUM 1968 Rock
40 SOUNDTRACK: SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER 1977 Soundtrack
41 JIMI HENDRIX, ARE YOU EXPERIENCED? 1967 Rock
42 BEATLES, REVOLVER 1966 Rock
43 BOSTON, BOSTON 1976 Rock
44 BON JOVI, SLIPPERY WHEN WET 1986 Rock
45 U2, ACHTUNG BABY 1991 Rock
46 WHITNEY HOUSTO, WHITNEY HOUSTON 1985 R&B
47 LED ZEPPELIN, LED ZEPPELIN II 1969 Rock
48 DAVE MATTHEWS BAND, CRASH 1996 Rock
49 ROLLING STONES, STICKY FINGERS 1971 Rock
50 GREEN DAY, DOOKIE 1994 Rock
51 LED ZEPPELIN, HOUSES OF THE HOLY 1973 Rock
52 JONI MITCHELL, BLUE 1971 Rock
53 ELVIS PRESLEY, ELVIS PRESLEY AT SUN 2004 Rock
54 AEROSMITH, TOYS IN THE ATTIC 1975 Rock
55 LAURYN HILL, THE MISEDUCATION OF LAURYN HILL 1998 R&B
56 BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, BORN IN THE U.S.A. 1984 Rock
57 50 CENT, GET RICH OR DIE TRYIN' 2003 Rap
58 AC/DC, HIGHWAY TO HELL 1979 Rock
59 NOTORIOUS B.I.G., LIFE AFTER DEATH 1997 Rap
60 VAN HALEN, VAN HALEN 1978 Rock
61 GREEN DAY, AMERICAN IDIOT 2004 Rock
62 BLACK SABBATH, PARANOID 1971 Rock
63 EMINEM, THE EMINEM SHOW 2002 Rap
64 JEWEL, PIECES OF YOU 1995 Pop
65 COLDPLAY, A RUSH OF BLOOD TO THE HEAD 2002 Pop
66 MEAT LOAF, BAT OUT OF HELL 1977 Rock
67 USHER, CONFESSIONS 2004 R&B
68 KID ROCK, DEVIL WITHOUT A CAUSE 1998 Rock
69 GEORGE HARRISON, ALL THINGS MUST PASS 1970 Pop
70 BILLY JOEL, THE STRANGER 1977 Pop
71 EAGLES, HELL FREEZES OVER 1994 Rock
72 VAN MORRISON, MOONDANCE 1970 Rock
73 R.E.M., AUTOMATIC FOR THE PEOPLE 1992 Pop
74 PHIL COLLINS, NO JACKET REQUIRED 1985 Pop
75 METALLICA, MASTER OF PUPPETS 1986 Rock
76 FAITH HILL, BREATHE 1999 Country
77 JOHNNY CASH, AT FOLSOM PRISON 1968 Country
78 JOHN COLTRANE, A LOVE SUPREME 1964 Jazz
79 PINK FLOYD, WISH YOU WERE HERE 1975 Rock
80 MICHAEL JACKSON, OFF THE WALL 1979 Pop
81 MARVIN GAYE, LET'S GET IT ON 1973 R&B
82 BOB SEGER, NIGHT MOVES 1976 Rock
83 PAUL SIMON, GRACELAND 1986 Pop
84 LINKIN PARK, HYBRID THEORY 2000 Rock
85 PRINCE, 1999 1983 Pop
86 DEF LEPPARD, PYROMANIA 1983 Rock
87 JANET JACKSON, CONTROL 1986 R&B
88 RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, BLOOD SUGAR SEX MAGIK 1991 Rock
89 DIRE STRAITS, BROTHERS IN ARMS 1985 Rock
90 TUPAC, ALL EYEZ ON ME 1996 Rap
91 MATCHBOX TWENTY, YOURSELF OR SOMEONE LIKE YOU 1996 Pop
92 RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, CALIFORNICATION 1999 Rock
93 LED ZEPPELIN, PHYSICAL GRAFFITI 1975 Rock
94 NELLY, COUNTRY GRAMMAR 2000 Rap
95 CREED, HUMAN CLAY 1999 Rock
96 CLASH, LONDON CALLING 1979 Rock
97 CELINE DION, FALLING INTO YOU 1996 Adult Contemporary
98 NEIL YOUNG, HARVEST 1972 Rock
99 SOUNDTRACK: DIRTY DANCING 1987 Soundtrack
100 DIXIE CHICK,S HOME 2002 Country
101 TOM PETTY, FULL MOON FEVER 1989 Rock
102 VAN HALEN, 1984 1984 Rock
103 SOUNDTRACK: TITANIC 1997 Soundtrack
104 CROSBY STILLS & NASH, DEJA VU 1970 Rock
105 TLC, CRAZYSEXYCOOL 1999 R&B
106 BECK, ODELAY 1994 Rock
107 KENNY G, BREATHLESS 1992 Adult Contemporary
108 NWA, STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON 1989 Rap
109 SEX PISTOLS, NEVER MIND THE BOLLOCKS 1977 Rock
110 BEATLES, RUBBER SOUL 1965 Rock
111 RADIOHEAD, O.K. COMPUTER 1993 Rock
112 SIMON & GARFUNKEL, BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER 1970 Pop
113 DIXIE CHICKS, FLY 1999 Country
114 METALLICA, AND JUSTICE FOR ALL 1988 Rock
115 MICHAEL JACKSON, DANGEROUS 1992 Pop
116 MARIAH CAREY, DAYDREAM 1995 Pop
117 SOUNDTRACK: TOP GUN 1986 Soundtrack
118 ELTON JOHN, GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD 1973 Pop
119 POLICE, SYNCHRONICITY 1983 Rock
120 NO DOUBT, TRAGIC KINGDOM 1995 Pop
121 ROLLING STONES, BEGGARS BANQUET 1968 Rock
122 R KELLY, R 1998 R&B
123 TOOL, LATERALUS 2001 Rock
124 OASIS, WHAT'S THE STORY MORNING GLORY 1995 Rock
125 BOB MARLEY, EXODUS 1977 Reggae
126 JOURNEY, ESCAPE 1981 Rock
127 CHRISTINA AGUILERA, CHRISTINA AGUILERA 1999 Pop
128 JAY-Z, BLUEPRINT 2001 Rap
129 ALICIA KEYS, DIARY OF ALICIA KEYS 2003 R&B
130 SOUNDTRACK: O BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU? 2000 Soundtrack
131 CARS, THE CARS 1978 Pop
132 ENYA, DAY WITHOUT RAIN 2000 Adult Contemporary
133 NATALIE COLE, UNFORGETTABLE: WITH LOVE 1991 R&B
134 SOUNDTRACK: FOOTLOOSE 1984 Soundtrack
135 LIONEL RICHIE, CAN'T SLOW DOWN 1983 Pop
136 SARAH MCLACHLAN, SURFACING 1997 Adult Contemporar
137 BONNIE RAITT, NICK OF TIME 1989 Rock
138 METALLICA, RIDE THE LIGHTNING 1984 Rock
139 SHERYL CROW, TUESDAY NIGHT MUSIC CLUB 1993 Pop
140 FRANK SINATRA, IN THE WEE SMALL HOURS 1954 Standards
141 EARTH WIND & FIRE, GRATITUDE 1975 R&B
142 ZZ TOP, ELIMINATOR 1983 Rock
143 WILLIE NELSON, RED HEADED STRANGER 1975 Country
144 JOHN LENNON, IMAGINE 1971 Rock
145 TONI BRAXTON, TONI BRAXTON 1993 R&B
146 ETTA JAMES, AT LAST 1961 Blues
147 ELVIS PRESLEY, ELVIS PRESLEY 1956 Rock
148 CAT STEVENS, TEA FOR THE TILLERMAN 1970 Pop
149 SMASHING PUMPKINS, MELLON COLLIE & THE INFINITE SADNESS 1995 Rock
150 DAVE BRUBECK, TIME OUT 1959 Jazz
151 JANET JACKSON, JANET 1993 R&B
152 QUEEN, A NIGHT AT THE OPERA 1975 Rock
153 OZZY OSBOURNE, BLIZZARD OF OZZ 1980 Rock
154 WILL SMITH, BIG WILLIE STYLE 1997 Rap
155 PRINCE, SIGN O' THE TIMES 1987 Pop
156 PUBLIC ENEMY, IT TAKES A NATION OF MILLIONS TO HOLD US BACK 1988 Rap
157 BOB DYLAN, BLOOD ON THE TRACKS 1975 Rock
158 GEORGE MICHAE,L FAITH 1987 Pop
159 BOYZ II MEN, COOLEYHIGHHARMONY 1993 R&B
160 DESTINY'S CHILD, WRITING'S ON THE WALL 1999 R&B
161 JAY-Z, THE BLACK ALBUM 2003 Rap
162 AVRIL LAVIGNE, LET GO 2002 Pop
163 FUGEES, THE SCORE 1996 R&B
164 MADONNA, LIKE A VIRGIN 1984 Pop
165 LED ZEPPELIN, LED ZEPPELIN 1969 Rock
166 STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN, TEXAS FLOOD 1983 R&B
167 STONE TEMPLE PILOTS, CORE 1992 Rock
168 ORIGINAL CAST: PHANTOM OF THE OPERA 1988 Cast Album
169 JETHRO TULL, AQUALUNG 1971 Rock
170 TUPAC, ME AGAINST THE WORLD 1995 Rap
171 DAVID BOWIE, THE RISE AND FALL OF ZIGGY STARDUST 1972 Rock
172 SHAKIRA, LAUNDRY SERVICE 1998 Pop
173 SOUNDTRACK: FORREST GUMP 1994 Soundtrack
174 AL GREEN, CALL ME 1973 R&B
175 CURTIS MAYFIELD, SUPERFLY 1972 R&B
176 LIVE, THROWING COPPER 1994 Rock
177 GEORGE BENSON, BREEZIN' 1976 Jazz
178 WHITE STRIPES, WHITE BLOOD CELLS 2001 Rock
179 LYNYRD SKYNYRD, PRONOUNCED LEH-NERD SKIN-ERD 1973 Rock
180 SADE, DIAMOND LIFE 1984 Adult Contemporary
181 FLEETWOOD MAC, FLEETWOOD MAC 1975 Pop
182 PAUL MCCARTNEY & WINGS, BAND ON THE RUN 1973 Rock
183 BEYONCE, DANGEROUSLY IN LOVE 2003 R&B
184 ANITA, BAKER RAPTURE 1986 R&B
185 NAS, ILLMATIC 1994 Rap
186 BARBRA STREISAND, A STAR IS BORN 1976 Soundtrack
187 EARTH WIND & FIRE, THAT'S THE WAY OF THE WORLD 1975 R&B
188 ANITA BAKER, RHYTHM OF LOVE 1994 R&B
189 JAY-Z, IN MY LIFETIME VOL. 1 1997 Rap
190 LL COOL J, MAMA SAID KNOCK YOU OUT 1990 Rap
191 STEELY DAN, AJA 1977 Rock
192 WILLIE NELSON, STARDUST 1978 Country
193 ARETHA FRANKLIN, SPARKLE 1976 R&B
194 ANDREA BOCELLI, ANDREA 2004 Classical
195 BOB DYLAN, BRINGING IT ALL BACK HOME 1965 Rock
196 LUTHER VANDROSS, NEVER TOO MUCH 1981 R&B
197 U2, ALL THAT YOU CAN'T LEAVE BEHIND 2000 Rock
198 RUSH, 2112 1976 Rock
199 OUTKAST, AQUEMINI 1998 R&B
200 GRAND FUNK RAILROAD, WE'RE AN AMERICAN BAND 1973 Rock
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[Edited by Ten Thousand Motels] |
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| Joey |
I have no problem with this list except that " Revolver " is ranked at 42 .
********** WTF ?! ***************
Why ?!
'kins !
...
[Edited by Joey] |
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| jb |
Total BS as usual.....Pink Floyd has to be the most overrated band ever...and Joshua Tree ahead of Exile!!!! Give me a fucking break; what adults(gainfully employed) listen to LZ, PF, Michael Jackson!!!! I expected the Beatles, after all, they are a fucking Pop band that people still jizz over, but U2 and by and large the others, complete cunts........top albums as follows:
1)Exile
2)Sticky Fingers
3)Let it Bleed
4)Beggars
5)GHS
6)Some Girls
7)IORR
8)Tattoo You
9)Between the Buttons
10)Decembers Children
[Edited by jb] |
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| ComeAsYouAre |
Sgt Pepper's at #1? Puke... |
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| gimmekeef |
Grand Funk Railroad????......no Some Girls or Ya Ya's.....Where do they get the dimwhits that make these lists?
Plus hip hop...but not any blues to be found??? Ya mean Muddy/Howlin/BB King cant beat out any of this crap??
[Edited by gimmekeef] |
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| The Wick |
Exile beats the shit out of all of them but I'm actually quite shocked to see that it even made the top ten. Usually it plays second fiddle to shit music that suddenly is deemed sophisticated by a bunch of thick fans and critics alike. For example, when the hell did shit pop like Madonna ever sound good? Or other total crap like Beyonce Knowles and whatever the name of that shit band she was in. Or Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera. Oh hang on, Mick likes those two and invited them to join the Stones on stage- fucking disgrace. |
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| jb |
quote:
The Wick wrote:
Exile beats the shit out of all of them but I'm actually quite shocked to see that it even made the top ten. Usually it plays second fiddle to shit music that suddenly is deemed sophisticated by a bunch of thick fans and critics alike. For example, when the hell did shit pop like Madonna ever sound good? Or other total crap like Beyonce Knowles and whatever the name of that shit band she was in. Or Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera. Oh hang on, Mick likes those two and invited them to join the Stones on stage- fucking disgrace.
I like this post..... |
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| Paranoid_Android |
not one mention of the STONE ROSES...yeah...this list is such crap...OK Computer at 43? |
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| fireontheplatter |
my girlfriend just stole my best porno mag......fuck
everybody say ow |
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| glencar |
quote:
jb wrote:
Total BS as usual.....Pink Floyd has to be the most overrated band ever...and Joshua Tree ahead of Exile!!!! Give me a fucking break; what adults(gainfully employed) listen to LZ, PF, Michael Jackson!!!! I expected the Beatles, after all, they are a fucking Pop band that people still jizz over, but U2 and by and large the others, complete cunts........top albums as follows:
1)Exile
2)Sticky Fingers
3)Let it Bleed
4)Beggars
5)GHS
6)Some Girls
7)IORR
8)Tattoo You
9)Between the Buttons
10)Decembers Children
[Edited by jb]
Did I ever tell you you're my hero? Everything I've ever wanted to be? |
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| glencar |
quote:
gimmekeef wrote:
Grand Funk Railroad????......no Some Girls or Ya Ya's.....Where do they get the dimwhits that make these lists?
Plus hip hop...but not any blues to be found??? Ya mean Muddy/Howlin/BB King cant beat out any of this crap??
[Edited by gimmekeef]
I think the yin yans that made this list were trying to front & represent & forgot 'bout ole skool. Sad, no? |
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| Soldatti |
quote:
jb wrote:
Total BS as usual.....Pink Floyd has to be the most overrated band ever...and Joshua Tree ahead of Exile!!!! Give me a fucking break; what adults(gainfully employed) listen to LZ, PF, Michael Jackson!!!! I expected the Beatles, after all, they are a fucking Pop band that people still jizz over, but U2 and by and large the others, complete cunts........top albums as follows:
1)Exile
2)Sticky Fingers
3)Let it Bleed
4)Beggars
5)GHS
6)Some Girls
7)IORR
8)Tattoo You
9)Between the Buttons
10)Decembers Children
11)Emotional Rescue
99.999,999)GITD |
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| Flairville |
Whitney Houston (1985) ahead of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars. I can't believe people still bother to compile such crap. |
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| BILL PERKS |
I THOUGHT IT WAS FAIRLY ACCURATE |
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| tumbling dice |
It´s a bad list.Red Hot (californiacation)in 92,The Clash London Calling) in 96,Prince (sig´n of the Times) in 155,Beggars banquet in 129!!Where´s Bowie (low,Scary monsters)?Where is Some girls? Where is Tattoo You? They were both great and Top 1.Who are Shana Twain,Outkast,Bon Jovi??? |
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| texile |
puttling no doubt right above beggars is bad enough, but then i went down the list looking for sly and family stone...and unless i missed it,
he ain't on there.
that descredits the entire list to me...
i have a real problem with groups like no doubt or green day making the list when some girls is nowhere to be found...
they have NOT passed the test of time....
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| Lethargy |
Belatedly, Welcome Back JB! Love hearing someone else have the guts to say Sgt Pepper Sucks, b/c it does.
quote:
jb wrote:
Total BS as usual.....Pink Floyd has to be the most overrated band ever...and Joshua Tree ahead of Exile!!!! Give me a fucking break; what adults(gainfully employed) listen to LZ, PF, Michael Jackson!!!! I expected the Beatles, after all, they are a fucking Pop band that people still jizz over, but U2 and by and large the others, complete cunts........top albums as follows:
1)Exile
2)Sticky Fingers
3)Let it Bleed
4)Beggars
5)GHS
6)Some Girls
7)IORR
8)Tattoo You
9)Between the Buttons
10)Decembers Children
[Edited by jb]
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| glencar |
I always assumed Sgt. peppers was the God's all album until that 20 year anniversary celebration in 1987 & then I realized what a piece of shit it actually was. It's 20 yrs later & U, me & Joshy are voices in the wilderness. |
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| Sir Stonesalot |
Sgt. Pepper's isn't even The Beatles best album. In fact, it's not even in The Beatles Top 5!
Big Willy Style is better than London Calling?
BWAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
This list should be more accurately called:
"The Definitive Top 200 Albums As Compiled By Retards & Major Label Music Executives"
But hey, it was done by the RnRHOF, so I guess that was already implied.
[Edited by Sir Stonesalot] |
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| gimmekeef |
quote:
fireontheplatter wrote:
my girlfriend just stole my best porno mag......fuck
everybody say ow
They still make porno mags?....what was it "Icky Fingers"? |
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| glencar |
quote:
Sir Stonesalot wrote:
Sgt. Pepper's isn't even The Beatles best album. In fact, it's not even in The Beatles Top 5!
Big Willy Style is better than London Calling?
BWAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
This list should be more accurately called:
"The Definitive Top 200 Albums As Compiled By Retards & Major Label Music Executives"
But hey, it was done by the RnRHOF, so I guess that was already implied.
[Edited by Sir Stonesalot]Big Willy Style? LOL I missed that one. This list is the result of a committee affected by one eye on diversity.
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| egon |
No one should own thriller anymore.
that album did not stand the test of time at all!
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| Saint Sway |
#162 seems unjustly low on the list for Avril Lavigne. Not putting that record in the top 50 clearly demonstrates that they just dont understand the depth of her lyrics |
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| BILL PERKS |
quote:
Saint Sway wrote:
#162 seems unjustly low on the list for Avril Lavigne. Not putting that record in the top 50 clearly demonstrates that they just dont understand the depth of her lyrics
NIGGA PLEASE! |
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| Joey |
quote:
BILL PERKS wrote:
NIGGA PLEASE!
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| Saint Sway |
I just got the new Stooges album... |
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