I agree with many inclusions on the list, though many of the artists I've never heard of:
The Fiery Furnaces, The Magnetic Fields, Bright Eyes, Will Olham and Calexico.
I guess I gotta make a trip to my local record store and check out their records.
I'm very glad to see Wilco, and The Kings Of Leon on the list. They both deserve their spots, in my opinion.
But then I gotta say: What the fuck?? Christina Aguilera?! Pink??! Justin Timberlake??! Freaking Dolly Parton?! Maybe I'm missing somethng.. but for the exception of Parton, none of those three neither write songs or can play an instrument. Hell, maybe Parton doesn't write her own stuff either. And they may say that their instruments are their voices, but ARRGGGHHHHH, that's not enough. Maybe this critic believes that Aguilera, Pink and Timberlake are following on the footsteps of the likes of Madonaa.. but it takes time to make that point, and neither of those three have been around long enough. Ok.. enough about them.
Glad to see The White Stripes and The Strokes on their respective spots. Yeah, many people are sick of them. The hipsters may now hate them.. but I think they did something for rock music that was sorely needed in the past few years--going back to rock's roots and breaking the incestous cycle of over-produced rock music which took hold on the mid to late 90s, giving us nuisance musical genres like nu-metal and nu-punk.
Sadly, there's one aspect of this list I need to appreciate and that is the hip-hop music. I've never been a fan of rap, and I don't think I own a rap/hip-hop record for the exception of The Beastie Boys 'Hey Nasty'. But I've been hearing so much about The Roots and Outkast, that I just might get my first 'black hip-hop' CD very soon.. I think it might be Outkast's latest. I've seen the video for 'Hey Ya' a couple of times and I truly find it refreshing, humorous, unique and even a bit groundbreaking.
As for their number one: The Flaming Lips. Couldn't agree more. Their last two CDs have establish them as risk-taking, accomplished, talented musicians. The band and its music has a great vibe and emotional resonance. No. 1 indeed. :cool:
