The top 200

1. LCD Soundsystem (USA) - Sound of Silver
2. Radiohead (UK) - In Rainbows
3. The Arcade Fire (Canada) - Neon Bible
4. M.I.A. (Sri Lanka) - Kala
5. Panda Bear (USA) - Person Pitch
6. The National (USA) - Boxer
7. Battles (USA) - Mirrored
8. Justice (France) - Cross
9. Amy Winehouse (UK) - Back to Black [2006]
10. Feist (Canada) - The Reminder
11. PJ Harvey (UK) - White Chalk
12. Wilco (USA) - Sky Blue Sky
13. Burial (UK) - Untrue
14. Spoon (USA) - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
15. The White Stripes (USA) - Icky Thump
16. Animal Collective (USA) - Strawberry Jam
17. Kanye West (USA) - Graduation
18. The Hold Steady (USA) - Boys and Girls in America [2006]
19. The Arctic Monkeys (UK) - Favourite Worst Nightmare
20. Klaxons (UK) - Myths of the Near Future
21. The Good, the Bad and the Queen (UK) - The Good, the Bad and the Queen
22. The Shins (USA) - Wincing the Night Away
23. Of Montreal (USA) - Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?
24. Grinderman (Australia) - Grinderman
25. Robert Plant & Alison Krauss (UK/USA) - Raising Sand
26. Band of Horses (USA) - Cease to Begin
27. Kings of Leon (USA) - Because of the Times
28. Modest Mouse (USA) - We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank
29. Iron & Wine (USA) - The Shepherd's Dog
30. Bruce Springsteen (USA) - Magic
31. Beirut (USA) - The Flying Club Cup
32. Okkervil River (USA) - The Stage Names
33. Jens Lekman (Sweden) - Night Falls over Kortedala
34. Lily Allen (UK) - Alright, Still [2006]
35. Blonde Redhead (USA) - 23
36. Interpol (USA) - Our Love to Admire
37. Bright Eyes (USA) - Cassadaga
38. The Field (Sweden) - From Here We Go Sublime
39. Robert Wyatt (UK) - Comicopera
40. Rufus Wainwright (USA) - Release the Stars
41. Bloc Party (UK) - A Weekend in the City
42. Caribou (Canada) - Andorra
43. Björk (Iceland) - Volta
44. Rilo Kiley (USA) - Under the Blacklight
45. !!! (USA) - Myth Takes
46. Peter Bjorn and John (Sweden) - Writer's Block [2006]
47. Tinariwen (Mali) - Aman Iman: Water is Life
48. Babyshambles (UK) - Shotter's Nation
49. Miranda Lambert (USA) - Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
50. Patrick Wolf (UK) - The Magic Position
51. Queens of the Stone Age (USA) - Era Vulgaris
52. Liars (USA) - Liars
53. Simian Mobile Disco (UK) - Attack Decay Sustain Release
54. Jamie T (UK) - Panic Prevention
55. Jay-Z (USA) - American Gangster
56. Editors (UK) - An End Has a Start
57. Foo Fighters (USA) - Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace
58. Les Savy Fav (USA) - Let's Stay Friends
59. Andrew Bird (USA) - Armchair Apocrypha
60. Cold War Kids (USA) - Robbers & Cowards [2006]
61. Tocotronic (Germany) - Kapitulation
62. Deerhoof (USA) - Friend Opportunity
63. Low (USA) - Drums and Guns
64. Maximo Park (UK) - Our Earthly Pleasures
65. Deerhunter (USA) - Cryptograms
66. Against Me! (USA) - New Wave
67. The Twilight Sad (UK) - Fourteen Autumns and Fifteen Winters
68. Ryan Adams (USA) - Easy Tiger
69. Von Südenfed (UK) - Tromatic Reflexxions
70. Patrick Watson (USA) - Close to Paradise [2006]
71. El-P (USA) - I'll Sleep When You're Dead
72. Richard Hawley (UK) - Lady's Bridge
73. Dinosaur Jr. (USA) - Beyond
74. Devendra Banhart (USA) - Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon
75. Stars Of The Lid (USA) - And The Refinement Of Their Decline
76. Mavis Staples (USA) - We'll Never Turn Back
77. Menomena (USA) - Friend and Foe
78. The New Pornographers (Canada) - Challengers
79. The Besnard Lakes (Canada) - The Besnard Lakes Are the Dark Horse
80. Studio (Sweden) - West Coast [2006]/Yearbook 1
81. Matthew Dear (USA) - Asa Breed
82. Dizzee Rascal (UK) - Maths + English
83. Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings (USA) - 100 Days, 100 Nights
84. Future of the Left (UK) - Curses
85. The Dillinger Escape Plan (USA) - Ire Works
86. Andy Palacio & The Garfuna Collective (Belize) - Wátina
87. Supersilent (Norway) - 8
88. The Coral (UK) - Roots & Echoes
89. Manu Chao (France) - La Radiolina
90. High on Fire (USA) - Death Is a Communion
91. No Age (USA) - Weirdo Rippers
92. Róisín Murphy (Ireland) - Overpowered
93. Thurston Moore (USA) - Trees Outside the Academy
94. Josh Ritter (USA) - The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter
95. Digitalism (Germany) - Idealism
96. Bat for Lashes (UK) - Fur and Gold [2006]
97. Biffy Clyro (UK) - Puzzle
98. Dirty Projectors (USA) - Rise Above
99. Electrelane (UK) - No Shouts No Calls
100. St. Vincent (USA) - Marry Me
101. Vic Chesnutt (USA) - North Star Deserter
102. Los Planetas (Spain) - La Leyenda del Espacio
103. Ricardo Villalobos (Germany) - Fabric 36
104. Art Brut (UK) - It's a Bit Complicated
105. Black Lips (USA) - Good Bad Not Evil
106. Gui Boratto (Brazil) - Chromophobia
107. Jesu (UK) - Conqueror
108. Ted Leo & The Pharmacists (USA) - Living with the Living
109. Nick Lowe (USA) - At My Age
110. Lil Wayne (USA) - Da Drought 3
111. Neil Young (Canada) - Chrome Dreams II
112. Down (USA) - III: Over the Under
113. Pantha Du Prince (Germany) - This Bliss
114. Säkert! (Sweden) - Säkert!
115. The Fratellis (UK) - Costello Music [2006]
116. The Avett Brothers (USA) - Emotionalism
117. UGK (USA) - Underground Kings
118. Bettye LaVette (USA) - The Scene of the Crime
119. The Go! Team (UK) - Proof of Youth
120. Explosions in the Sky (USA) - All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone
121. Gogol Bordello (USA) - Super Taranta!
122. Maps (UK) - We Can Create
123. Mark Ronson (UK) - Version
124. Triángulo de Amor Bizarro (Spain) - Triángulo de Amor Bizarro
125. The Cribs (UK) - Men's Needs, Women's Needs, Whatever
126. Stars (Canada) - In Our Bedroom After the War
127. Yeasayer (USA) - All Hour Cymbals
128. Mika (Lebanon) - Life in Cartoon Motion
129. Kate Nash (Ireland) - Made of Bricks
130. Gravenhurst (UK) - The Western Lands
131. Shout Out Louds (Sweden) - Our Ill Wills
132. Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba (Mali) - Segu Blue
133. Pharoahe Monch (USA) - Desire
134. Skull Disco / Shackleton / Appleblim (UK) - Soundboy Punishments
135. Common (USA) - Finding Forever
136. Aesop Rock (USA) - None Shall Pass
137. Super Furry Animals (UK) - Hey Venus!
138. The Cinematic Orchestra (UK) - Ma Fleur
139. Patti Griffin (USA) - Children Running Through
140. The Clientele (UK) - God Save The Clientele
141. Lucinda Williams (USA) - West
142. The Maccabees (UK) - Colour It In
143. The Decemberists (USA) - The Crane Wife [2006]
144. Chloé (France) - The Waiting Room
145. Eluvium (USA) - Copia
146. Loney, Dear (Sweden) - Loney, Noir [2005]
147. Nine Inch Nails (USA) - Year Zero
148. dälek (USA) - Abandoned Language
149. Machine Head (USA) - The Blackening
150. Kevin Drew (Canada) - Spirit If…
151. Apparat (Germany) - Walls
152. Cherry Ghost (UK) - Thirst for Romance
153. Strategy (USA) - Future Rock
154. Efterklang (Denmark) - Parades
155. DeepChord Presents: Echospace (USA) - The Coldest Season
156. Akron/Family (USA) - Love Is Simple
157. Tunng (UK) - Good Arrows
158. Thrice (USA) - The Alchemy Index, Vol. 1 & 2
159. The Chemical Brothers (UK) - We Are the Night
160. Good Shoes (UK) - Think Before You Speak
161. Tracey Thorn (UK) - Out of the Woods
162. José González (Sweden) - In Our Nature
163. Phosphorescent (USA) - Pride
164. Manic Street Preachers (UK) - Send Away the Tigers
165. Bill Callahan (USA) - Woke on a Whaleheart
166. Do Make Say Think (Canada) - You, You're A History In Rust
167. The Wu-Tang Clan (USA) - 8 Diagrams
168. Field Music (UK) - Tones of Town
169. Devastations (Australia) - Yes, U
170. Sunset Rubdown (Canada) - Random Spirit Lover
171. Holy Fuck (Canada) - Holy Fuck LP
172. Hard-Fi (UK) - Once Upon a Time in the West
173. Jens Friebe (Germany) - Das mit dem Auto ist egal, hauptsache dir ist nichts passiert
174. Shape of Broad Minds (USA) - Craft of the Lost Art
175. Om (USA) - Pilgrimage
176. Britney Spears (USA) - Blackout
177. Orchestra Baobab (Senegal) - Made in Dakar
178. Teatro degli Orrori (Italy) - Dell'Impero delle Tenebre
179. The Weakerthans (Canada) - Reunion Tour
180. Richard Thompson (UK) - Sweet Warrior
181. 1990s (UK) - Cookies
182. Love of Lesbian (Spain) - Cuentos Chinos para Niños del Japón
183. Kaiser Chiefs (UK) - Yours Truly, Angry Mob
184. Múm (Iceland) - Go Go Smear the Poison Ivy
185. Ian Hunter (UK) - Shrunken Heads
186. Colleen (France) - Les Ondes Silencieuses
187. Youssou N'Dour (Senegal) - Rokku Mi Rokka
188. Rahsaan Patterson (USA) - Wines & Spirits
189. The Felice Brothers (USA) - Tonight at the Arizona
190. Pole (Germany) - Steingarten
191. Silverchair (Australia) - Young Modern
192. Lagartija Nick (Spain) - El Shock de Leia
193. Throbbing Gristle (UK) - Part Two - The Endless Not
194. Linda Thompson (UK) - Versatile Heart
195. Tegan and Sara (Canada) - The Con
196. Joni Mitchell (Canada) - Shine
197. The Gossip (USA) - Standing in the Way of Control [2006]
198. Neurosis (USA) - Given to the Rising
199. Dan Deacon (USA) - Spiderman of the Rings
200. Madee (Spain) - L'Antartica

For the 2006 albums that are included in many 2007 EOY lists, last year's EOY listings have been added.
For 2006 albums with only a few 2007 EOY listings (The Decemberists and The Gossip), last year's EOY listings have not been added.

And now, time for discussion!

Happy New Year, everyone!!

I'm quite surprised that Neon Bible lost 2 places, but Sound of Silver #1, that's the best way to finish the year !
I'm glad to see Battles on the top 10 too, and I guess many people will feel the same about the National.
But why is Justice ranked so high ?

With Panda Bear at #5 you are not lonesome anymore

Weird noisy stuff is one of the only kinds of music equally reviewed in the US, UK, and Europe.

Country and folk albums get knocked down because they only get attention in the US, britpop doesn't get US critics and lofi indie doesn't get UK critics. 'World' music only gets attention in the countries around the one it came from.

But electronica and artsy rock get reviewed equally everywhere.

That's a really good breakdown BillAdama and I totally agree with you. I really think as good as some of these albums are, for the most part these will not be the albums considered "greatest of all time" 10-15 years from now let alone 30 years.

Maybe I'm wrong, and the internet has made indie or underground music more accessible. I don't think so though. Time seems to be partial to mainstream music. Then again, maybe I don't have a firm enough grasp on what was considered mainstream back in the 70's and 80's.

John,

You are touching on a point that I tried to raise before in a post that didn't get much of a response. I'm interested in the question how contemparary critiques of music compare to historical critiques of the same music.

For instance, how does the 1968 critical view of 1968 music compare to the 1978 or 2008 critical view of 1968 musi?

I would suspect that contemporary critiques are more swayed by fashion. They would also lack the benefit of hindsight that allows an historical critic to see how innovative albums started new trends. I would love to see some kind of statistical analysis of the movement of the amount of acclaim given to certain recordings over time. The bottom line question: What kind of albums look better with age and what kind of albums look worse.

It might explain the Rolling Stone discrepancy mentioned in the other thread. And it might help contemporary critiques put aside (somewhat) considerations of fashion.

I think (but don't know for sure) that happened in the 60's as well. Of course, there were a lot fewer albums produced back then so it might be completely impossible to compare the present with the past. There really wasn't much of an alternative scene. But, when you look at the 80's and 90's, even those don't compare with the critical favorites of today. Mainstream albums just don't get acclaim for the most part.

But when you think about it, it most likely is an internet phenomenon. With so many bands, so many albums and so many outlets, it's impossible for mainstream artists to keep up with trends and even more impossible for labels to find the trends, promote the trends and sell records. The labels have always had the edge of finding talent in the past but now they might be the last people involved in finding new artists. That's a little off the point, but it probably explains a little bit how the alternative has in some kind of way become the mainstream.

Where is Miranda Lambert on the U.S. list? She's probably top 15-20?? It's too bad country has no real presence out the U.S.

5 Spanish albums, great! It could be fantastic that the last Planetas album could reach the AM Top 100. It’s a very original one, the band tried to immerse the album songs into the lyrical themes and song structures of Andalucia popular poetry and flamenco but (and that’s the originality) without losing its indie-based sound.

Nice seeing Back to Black in the top 10.

And so much for the ACCLAIMED Blackout album. Of course, mega Spears fans would like to believe it was such a critical sensation- but, year-end listings show otherwise. May have been *her* best album, but that ain't sayin' much, is it?

Both Whinehouse and Spears are uber hot messes, but this shows there's no predjudice in separating an act's lifestyle and the quality of their work!

BillAdama and John, what you're pointing out is very interesting.
electronica and artsy rock get reviewed equally everywhere
It is very true when you look at the list. What person would reasonably think that Panda Bear will be considered as the 5th album of 2007 in 15 years ? who will remember Battles ?

It is very intersting and I think it is worth a study.
So, let us start with the facts : this list.
First question : 1) is this list representative of all the eoy lists of did we forget some ?
2) If it is, then there is a problem with the critics. There is, like John supposed, a difference between contemporary and historical critics. and, to complicate things, even historical critics are influenced by fashion. I mean all time critics now would favor Joy Division for instance.

JR - What is your obsession with Britney? Let it go.

I don't know anyone who liked Neon Bible more than Funeral so it would have felt like an inferior year to 2004 if Neon Bible came out on top. Top 10 seems a bit too purposely obscure but it's good to see Blonde Redhead shoot up a few notches.

I think culturally the last five years have been reminiscent of the 80's, where it was all about image and style, not so much content. That's why flashy but forgettable albums are topping critics lists. The 80's were musically also about separating into different camps. If you liked indie music you didn't like pop music or heavy rock or classic rock. It was up to Nirvana to unite all the cliques.

This also makes sense when adopting the theory that musical trends move in cycles of about 15-20 years, which means in the next couple years we should see our next Nirvana.

Jonmarck,
I agree with what you say about the cliques and the 20 years cycle.
But I'm afraid Internet and the end of the cd won't help unite the cliques.

Well I don't really see National, Battles or Panda Bear like bands or artists about image and style ! They are quite discrete artists.
Maybe the last Radiohead album has won a lot thanks to hype, but even if LCD or Arcade Fire are trendy, I guess their music will stand through this trend ; I mean weren't Nirvana, Led Zeppelin or Hendrix (i.e) very hyped too ?

Led Zeppelin was hated by critics until sometime in the 1990's, when they began to change their minds.

It's true time is partial to mainstream, but I'm not sure how partial it will be to current mainstream. In the 90's mainstream was still driven by real instruments. Now it's driven by pretty faces singing over synthed dance loops.

Time's partial to mainstream, but only good mainstream. For every 60's mainstream group that gets more acclaim now, there are twenty that have been totally forgotten.

And Velvet Underground is way more popular now than when it first came out. Same with the Pixies, Joy Division.

I would speculate that out of the top ten, the top three, The National, Amy Winehouse, and Feist will probably remain popular, but all the weird noisy stuff propped up by Pitchfork probably won't. (After all, who still cares about The Rapture, their 2003 #1?) M.I.A. could go either way. Once people lose interest in her being the daughter of a former terrorist, I'm not sure whether they'll still be interested in her music.

C'mon, Arcade Fire are pretty tuneful!

I know what you're saying though. Most of these cult hits don't even have a cult.

Nicolas, you're probably right about the continuing fragmentation of the industry. By the end of all this I expect it to look more like the novel industry, which has a couple stars but a heck of a lot of middle-class writers (all still talented and worthhile), each with their own fanbase, rather than the film industry that everyone seems so keen to compare the music industry to. That's actually been a major problem with many people's approach to music is they treat it like a spectacle. A concert is a spectacle. Albums are introspective. Sure sometimes they're good for parties and joyrides but most folks listen to music to pass the time while doing something else.

Historical lists tend to take into account an entire body of work as well. If an artist or band has a huge catalog their best work will be remembered as a classic and some of their lesser works might sneak onto lists mainly on name recognition. I see an artist like Kanye West doing well in the future.

All of the rest of the artists who are appearing on lists for the first time will have to keep putting out decent albums to be remembered down the road. It would have to be an undisputed classic album for a band with one or two albums to be remembered on future lists.

I have to disagree somewhat with time being partial to the mainstream. Looking at the acclaimed charts here a lot of artists who in there day were rarely played on rock radio let alone top 40 have slowly taken over spots formerly held by mainstream artists.
As Billadama said above The Velvet Underground is a prime example along with artists like Captain Beefheart, Can, Neu!, Robert Wyatt, Nick Drake, Sonic Youth, etc. A lot of these groups would fall into the "artsy" or "noisy" category as mentioned above so maybe there is hope for some of this years albums yet.

Good point John. A prime example of this would be Radiohead. In 1995 The Bends was rarely mentioned on top lists and Pazz and Jop didn't even have it in there top 40. Then Ok Computer hit and acclaim for the Bends began until it is now sitting at number 2 here. Though I happen to think it deserves it

Some geographical breakdowns.

German critics
1. Tocotronic (Germany) - Kapitulation
2. M.I.A. (Sri Lanka) - Kala
3. The Arcade Fire (Canada) - Neon Bible
4. Justice (France) - Cross
5. Radiohead (UK) - In Rainbows
6. The Good, the Bad and the Queen (UK) - The Good, the Bad and the Queen
7. LCD Soundsystem (USA) - Sound of Silver
8. Maximo Park (UK) - Our Earthly Pleasures
9. Feist (Canada) - The Reminder
10. Queens of the Stone Age (USA) - Era Vulgaris
11. Amy Winehouse (UK) - Back to Black [2006]
12. Kings of Leon (USA) - Because of the Times
13. Animal Collective (USA) - Strawberry Jam
14. Wilco (USA) - Sky Blue Sky
15. Interpol (USA) - Our Love to Admire

French critics
1. LCD Soundsystem (USA) - Sound of Silver
2. Animal Collective (USA) - Strawberry Jam
3. Justice (France) - Cross
4. PJ Harvey (UK) - White Chalk
5. Klaxons (UK) - Myths of the Near Future
6. The Arcade Fire (Canada) - Neon Bible
7. Burial (UK) - Untrue
8. The Shins (USA) - Wincing the Night Away
9. The National (USA) - Boxer
10. Amy Winehouse (UK) - Back to Black [2006]
11. Radiohead (UK) - In Rainbows
12. Simian Mobile Disco (UK) - Attack Decay Sustain Release
13. Panda Bear (USA) - Person Pitch
14. Patrick Watson (USA) - Close to Paradise [2006]
15. Of Montreal (USA) - Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?

Italian critics
1. Battles (USA) - Mirrored
2. Radiohead (UK) - In Rainbows
3. The Arcade Fire (Canada) - Neon Bible
4. Wilco (USA) - Sky Blue Sky
5. M.I.A. (Sri Lanka) - Kala
6. Vic Chesnutt (USA) - North Star Deserter
7. LCD Soundsystem (USA) - Sound of Silver
8. The Good, the Bad and the Queen (UK) - The Good, the Bad and the Queen
9. Teatro degli Orrori (Italy) - Dell'Impero delle Tenebre
10. Burial (UK) - Untrue
11. Throbbing Gristle (UK) - Part Two - The Endless Not
12. Grinderman (Australia) - Grinderman
13. Warlocks (USA) - Heavy Deavy Skull Lover
14. The National (USA) - Boxer
15. Jens Lekman (Sweden) - Night Falls over Kortedala

Dutch critics
1. The Arctic Monkeys (UK) - Favourite Worst Nightmare
2. LCD Soundsystem (USA) - Sound of Silver
3. Amy Winehouse (UK) - Back to Black [2006]
4. Battles (USA) - Mirrored
5. Justice (France) - Cross
6. Radiohead (UK) - In Rainbows
7. The Arcade Fire (Canada) - Neon Bible
8. Editors (UK) - An End Has a Start
9. Interpol (USA) - Our Love to Admire
10. Grinderman (Australia) - Grinderman
11. Wilco (USA) - Sky Blue Sky
12. Burial (UK) - Untrue
13. Robert Plant & Alison Krauss (UK/USA) - Raising Sand
14. Patrick Watson (USA) - Close to Paradise [2006]
15. Lucky Fonz III (Netherlands) - Life Is Short

Norwegian critics
1. The Arcade Fire (Canada) - Neon Bible
2. Robert Plant & Alison Krauss (UK/USA) - Raising Sand
3. Iron & Wine (USA) - The Shepherd's Dog
4. Band of Horses (USA) - Cease to Begin
5. Radiohead (UK) - In Rainbows
6. Thurston Moore (USA) - Trees Outside the Academy
7. Mark Olson (USA) - Salvation Blues
8. Justice (France) - Cross
9. Rufus Wainwright (USA) - Release the Stars
10. Wilco (USA) - Sky Blue Sky
11. Babyshambles (UK) - Shotter's Nation
12. Magnet (Norway) - The Simple Life
13. My Midnight Creeps (Norway) - Histamin
14. The White Stripes (USA) - Icky Thump
15. The National (USA) - Boxer

Swedish critics
1. Feist (Canada) - The Reminder
2. Säkert! (Sweden) - Säkert!
3. LCD Soundsystem (USA) - Sound of Silver
4. M.I.A. (Sri Lanka) - Kala
5. The Arcade Fire (Canada) - Neon Bible
6. Babyshambles (UK) - Shotter's Nation
7. Panda Bear (USA) - Person Pitch
8. Jens Lekman (Sweden) - Night Falls over Kortedala
9. Robert Plant & Alison Krauss (UK/USA) - Raising Sand
10. Justice (France) - Cross
11. Burial (UK) - Untrue
12. Band of Horses (USA) - Cease to Begin
13. Of Montreal (USA) - Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?
14. Studio (Sweden) - West Coast [2006]/Yearbook 1
15. Laakso (Sweden) - Mother Am I Good Looking?

Portuguese and Spanish critics
1. LCD Soundsystem (USA) - Sound of Silver
2. The Arcade Fire (Canada) - Neon Bible
3. Los Planetas (Spain) - La Leyenda del Espacio
4. The National (USA) - Boxer
5. Triángulo de Amor Bizarro (Spain) - Triángulo de Amor Bizarro
6. Panda Bear (USA) - Person Pitch
7. M.I.A. (Sri Lanka) - Kala
8. PJ Harvey (UK) - White Chalk
9. Radiohead (UK) - In Rainbows
10. Battles (USA) - Mirrored
11. Love of Lesbian (Spain) - Cuentos Chinos para Niños del Japón
12. Lagartija Nick (Spain) - El Shock de Leia
13. Animal Collective (USA) - Strawberry Jam
14. The Shins (USA) - Wincing the Night Away
15. Madee (Spain) - L'Antartica

That's what happened with Modest Mouse's Moon and Antartica only it became more acclaimed that Good News probably because Good News went mainstream.

as Amy W says. :)

It's just very intriguing how some mega fans of Spears like to think that Blackout is some critical wonder, one of the best recordings of the year- when it clearly isn't. That's all.

I do admit, though, that this whole past year has been entertaining, with all the messes that girl has gotten herself into. Of course, I hope she cleans up her act and doesn't completely self-destruct.

Look people, the name of this site says it all. These are compiled lists of the most acclaimed albums and songs, no more, no less. Add to that that the list reflects the most current update, that lists come from all corners of the world, and that what is acclaimed today, or yesterday for that matter, may or may not change tomorrow, and what you have is a snapshot of a moment in time.

Although regional success stories will be found either down the lists or not on them at all, these lists are still pretty terrific. And you can always dig a little deeper into the pages for more info if you are so inclined.

I'm from Canada, which is pretty small market compared to the US and UK, which pretty much dominate the lists, but I'm still pretty satisfied that most of our greats are well represented here. Sure there are artists that most Canadian love that may not receive much recognition outside of Canada, but I'm pretty sure there are more greats from other parts of the world that I will have to work harder to find as well, but that's what makes music geekdom so much fun - right?!

Worst year for some time.

New update (link on the main site). The top 3 in new order (again).

Thanks, Henrik. The critics just don't seem to able to figure it out with the top 3 ...

Very interesting to see Beirut on 1 in the top 10 of the Dutch / Belgian critics. A nice and pleasant album.