So, I just read an article about Led Zeppelin IV which revealed that it ranked 58th on Rolling Stone Magazine's 2023 list of the top 500 albums of all time.
Now, I know lists are subjective. I know this list throws a wide net - it's not "best rock albums" or "best albums by an English band," but still. 58th? Holy crap, we're talking about the preeminent album from history's mightiest band here! The one that contains not just great songs, but timeless masterpieces of actual rock & roll foundations and maybe the greatest song ever in "Stairway to Heaven." I haven't read the list, but I'm having a hard time imagining even ten better albums. WTF?
Here, I'll try. I'm going to type out all the albums that I think could be considered better, or at least worthy of an argument. Please help me add to the list:
Pink Floyd, Dark Side of the Moon?
The Beatles, [Pick one; I don't know. Maybe you could say Abbey Road or The White Album?]
Michael Jackson, Thriller?
The Rolling Stones, [again, pick one. Not sure any is better than LZIV.]
Led Zeppelin's own Physical Graffitti[/i]?
I mean, I'm thinking about all the albums I own, which I rank really highly, and none are comparable in terms of "best ever:" Moving Pictures, Rumours, Hotel California, Fantastic Planet, Siamese Dream...
...I'm sure there are other genres that must be piling on.
James Brown, Live at the Apollo?
MIles Davis, Bitches' Brew?
Hey fellow Old Bastards :
Here's the 'reality' of things : In a few years we'll see music like 'K Pop' etc supplant our Musical Favourites as being the 'Greatest Ever'.
Sad, but inevitable ; It's how it goes, Fellas
PS : I've written this several times now ; if you are even remotely into Led Zep, you need to check out the ' Becoming Led Zeppelin ' movie.
I absolutely hate The Beatles, but the fact Rolling Stone put D'Angelo ahead of The White Album shows what kind of kooks wrote that list.
Van Halen, Van Halen?
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Rolling Stone magazine.
They were relevant back in the 70's.
Now... not at all.
I remember them having a top guitar player list.
SRV and Jeff Beck weren't anywhere near the top.
We have our favorites in our own collections.
That's what matters.
We don't need them to tell us what, or who's the best.
Bitches' Brew.
Some wicked guitar work on that piece of Miles perfection.
Started looking at the list and saw Marvin Gaye #1 and nirvana in top ten. Even understanding my music bias, cannot take that list serious now.
It's rage bait. That's what Rolling Stone does with there lists. Trying to be edgy lol
It’s casting such a wide net that it’s almost (or really is) a fool’s errand to even try to make a list like this.
I’m not a Beach Boys fan so the second album on the list starts my real disagreement. I understand that it was/is influential, and that some believe it to be genius, but it’s just not something that I could hit Play and enjoy from start to finish. Heck, there’s plenty of albums in the top 50 that I have never knowingly listened to and couldn’t name a single song on. That doesn’t mean that they aren’t great - to somebody.
I will say that the first Crosby, Stills, & Nash album not being in the top 20 should be a serious crime…….!
I remember a few years where the Journey guy won "guitarist of the year" over and over, it seemed. All while there were some absolute artists out there barely getting mentioned.
Bogus drivel.
As Joey said, RS's guitarist ratings are a fucking joke. Albums? What are they using as data? A poll? I don't know and have no intention of looking into it. There is some objective data that could help in determining popularity. Album sales. Not dollars but unit sales. It has Zep IV in 11th place. The list also has Meat Loaf, Bat Out Of Hell, in 9th place. WTF? So yeah, album sales is not the be all end all. Just a component. I couldn't name one Meat Loaf song from any album. Unit sales is also unfair to artists in the 30's or 40's. There just wasn't as many people then.
Album sales list:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_albums
Are you sure that was Rolling Stone? It doesn’t look like he’s in their top 50 now.
You lost me at Rolling Stone Magazine.
That and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame are both worthless IMO.
Well, if I didn't consider Rolling Stone worthless already, now I do for sure.
It really is subjective, but imo most of the list is a joke.
Personally I couldn’t pick what my favorite album is. It’s easy’r for me to pick bands. In no particular order….,.. Led Zepplin , Lynyrd Skynyrd, Fleetwood Mac, Robin Trower, Bad Company, Pearl Jam, Alice In Chains, Stone Temple Pilots, Soundgarden, The Beatles, The B-52s, Pink Floyd, AC/DC, The Rolling Stones, Steely Dan, Prince, Pat Benatar, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Elton John, Neil Diamond, The Who, The Guess Who, The Fixx, Duran Duran , Heart, INXS, The Cars, Audioslave, The Eagles, Van Halen, Jefferson Starship and so many more.
What? No Aerosmith? You just lost me 🤣
I lost interest in RS when PJ O'Rourke left.
Rolling Stone is a sad and pathetic POS and is in not even 1/100th as significant as it once was.
Sad; but, True!
Their last worthy writer is gone…long gone…he’s definitively independent and has one of the best Sub-Stacks available.
As for Rock & Roll and the compete misuse of its meaning?
That requires too much writing for this thread. 🤣
Pit Row
Love me some Siamese dream but the melancholy double album is very underrated.
People still read that rag? I thought it went under years ago.
Irrelevant.
Rolling Stone has sucked since the 1980s...
Pulling up one of my CD books, with Jeff Beck, Zep, and others.
There's a remastered house's of the holy CD that has a companion CD, remixed without Plant's vocals on most cuts.
It really allows you to hear the mastery of Page, as well as Jones and Bonham without the powering vocals.
Worth adding to your collections.
On a related note, anyone remember when Jethro Tull beat out Metallica for best new heavy metal band?😂😂
I do, that was horrible 😂 the video for One is one of the greatest works of art in music history. Although not as good as Master of Puppets in my opinion, still up there in greats.
Right? I think everyone, especially Lars was like WTF! 😆
No, I'm not sure.
Someone used to do guitarist of the year, I just assumed it was RS, but didn't care enough about whoever it was opinion.
I said “and so many more”! “Don’t taze me Bro!” 😆
And Tull actually accepted the award.😂
Surprised Ian didn’t has his flute with him!😂
I very easily could listen to your play list. Just having a bit of fun 😁
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