From the Guardian:
The greatest British album of all time was recorded by four young men from the north-west of England, armed with the rock'n'roll rudiments of guitar, bass and drums and an ear for an unforgettable refrain.
Yes, as those of us on this side of the pond would have expected.
But it was not by the Beatles. Nor Oasis. The honour goes to the Stone Roses.
The outcome of a poll carried out for today's Observer Music Monthly shows a departure from traditional 'best album' lists.
Ozzy Osbourne, Emma Bunton, Morrissey, Brian May and the Darkness's Justin Hawkins are among 100 musicians and industry experts who selected their 10 favourite British albums. The results were used to compile the definitive list of the 100 Greatest British Albums.
The Beatles' Revolver was pushed into second place by the Roses, Oasis's first album Definitely Maybe languishes at No 19 and John Lydon's rock group PIL beat the Sex Pistols to the top 10.
Well.
Ozzy Osbourne? Emma Bunton? My God, I really don't give a shit who may have pushed or pulled the execrable Sex Pistols out of whatever place (or from under whatever rock) they may have wished to inhabit, but shoving aside The Beatles, who released at least three examples of what could arguably have been the greatest British album of all time? Who are these "critics?" Ozzy Osbourne was, as far as I know, still lucid in 1966, when Revolver was released, but when his votes were cast for this list? And had Emma Bunton even been born?
In all fairness, most of what's on the list deserves to be there, even if I might quibble about where it's placed. The Clash (who always outclassed The Sex Pistols) appear twice, with their two best efforts. The Beatles do appear a gratifying number of times, and The Rolling Stones' run of excellent albums in their fecund mid-period (as praised by Steve Van Zandt) is there, too.
The full list and (mumble, grumble) worthwhile commentary may be read here.
(Hat tip: Hit and Run)
Posted by Craig Ceely at June 27, 2004 09:51 PMI am distrustful of any list that bills itself as "definitive" just on general principles.
At least "Revolver" finished ahead of "Sgt Pepper's," as it should have, though I think the gap could have been quite a bit larger.
Posted by: CGHill at June 28, 2004 07:57 PM