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Entertainment Weekly is putting out lists of “New Classics” –  movies, books, music, cultural moments, etc of the last 25 years that will stand the test of time or deserve to be remembered or … yea, I don’t actually know what the lists are supposed to actually symbolize.  Other than blog fodder.

Since we’ve already established that I have the musical tastes of a white, suburban tween (currently loving Kate Perry), it should come as no surprise that the Top 100 albums, with its puzzling choices, don’t fill me with as much disgust as it does some others.

In some ways, the list is a nice goodbye to the album which is — thanks to iTunes — going the way of newspapers and watching porn in theatres.  Artists use to spend years crafting the perfect mix of songs that would stand apart and form a cohesive whole. This list basically charts the end of that trend.

And it is sort of curious that Ryan Adams scores higher than Britney Spears.   And Green Day ahead of Nirvana?  Speaking of which, where is Nevermind?  Why is Bruce Springsteen so far down?  What the hell is Coldplay doing on this list?  Do we need Destiny’s Child and Beyonce? Would there be a Destiny’s Child without Beyonce (that’s rhetorical because the answer is obviously no). And Guns N’ Roses behind Kelly Clarkson?  Really?  Do I need to remind anyone how freaking great every single song on Appetite for Destruction is (oh, those sweet high school memories)?

But there’s stuff I like too.  Johnny Cash and Emmylou and Mary J. Blige and even that Eminem album and U2 (before they got bombastic) and Madonna — ah Madonna.  I could go on.  But I won’t.

So here’s the list.  Feel free to discuss amongst yourselves.

1. Purple Rain: Prince and the Revolution (1984)
2. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill: Lauryn Hill (1998)
3. Achtung Baby: U2 (1991)
4. The College Dropout: Kanye West (2004)
5. Madonna: Madonna (1983)
6. American Idiot: Green Day (2004)
7. The Blueprint: Jay-Z (2001)
8. Graceland: Paul Simon (1986)
9. Back to Black: Amy Winehouse (2007)
10. In Rainbows: Radiohead (2007)
11. MTV Unplugged in New York: Nirvana (1994)
12. Stankonia: OutKast (2000)
13. You Are Free: Cat Power (2003)
14. Disintegration: The Cure (1989)
15. The Marshall Mathers LP: Eminem (2000)
16. Rain Dogs: Tom Waits (1985)
17. Odelay: Beck (1996)
18. People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm: A Tribe Called Quest (1990)
19. Dangerously in Love: Beyoncé (2003)
20. Tidal: Fiona Apple (1996)
21. The Emancipation of Mimi: Mariah Carey (2005)
22. 3 Feet High and Rising: De La Soul (1989)
23. The Soft Bulletin: The Flaming Lips (1999)
24. Come On Over: Shania Twain (1997)
25. Turn On the Bright Lights: Interpol (2002)
26. Time Out of Mind: Bob Dylan (1997)
27. Funeral: Arcade Fire (2004)
28. Illmatic: Nas (1994)
29. Breakaway: Kelly Clarkson (2004)
30. Appetite for Destruction: Guns N’ Roses (1987)
31. FutureSex/LoveSounds: Justin Timberlake (2006)
32. Life’s Rich Pageant: R.E.M. (1985)
33. As I Am: Alicia Keys (2007)
34. Is This It: The Strokes (2001)
35. Jagged Little Pill: Alanis Morissette (1995)
36. CrazySexyCool: TLC (1994)
37. The Moon & Antarctica: Modest Mouse (2000)
38. Raising Hell: Run-DMC (1986)
39. Sheryl Crow: Sheryl Crow (1996)
40. Ready to Die: The Notorious B.I.G. (1994)
41. Legend: Bob Marley and the Wailers (1984)
42. Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers): Wu-Tang Clan (1993)
43. Paul’s Boutique: Beastie Boys (1989)
44. Car Wheels on a Gravel Road: Lucinda Williams (1998)
45. If You’re Feeling Sinister: Belle and Sebastian (1996)
46. Homogenic: Björk (1997)
47. Exile in Guyville: Liz Phair (1993)
48. American IV: The Man Comes Around: Johnny Cash (2002)
49. A Rush of Blood to the Head: Coldplay (2002)
50. Sounds of Silver: LCD Soundsystem (2007)
51. The Score: Fugees (1996)
52. Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga: Spoon (2007)
53. King of America: Elvis Costello (1986)
54. Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1814: Janet Jackson (1989)
55. It Takes a Nation of Millions… : Public Enemy (1988)
56. Yankee Hotel Foxtrot: Wilco (2002)
57. Harvest Moon: Neil Young (1992)
58. Surfer Rosa: The Pixies (1988)
59. Ray of Light: Madonna (1998)
60. Crooked Rain Crooked Rain: Pavement (1994)
61. Paid in Full: Eric B. & Rakim (1987)
62. OK Computer: Radiohead (1997)
63. The Joshua Tree: U2 (1987)
64. Mama’s Gun: Erykah Badu (2000)
65. Elephant: The White Stripes (2003)
66. The Chronic: Dr. Dre (1992)
67. Metallica: Metallica (1991)
68. Wrecking Ball: Emmylou Harris (1995)
69. Give Up: The Postal Service (2003)
70. My Life: Mary J. Blige (1994)
71. Rock Steady: No Doubt (2001)
72. 1984: Van Halen (1984)
73. The Queen is Dead: Smiths (1986)
74. Play: Moby (1999)
75. Born in the U.S.A.: Bruce Springsteen (1984)
76. Heartbreaker: Ryan Adams (2000)
77. Dummy: Portishead (1994)
78. Vs.: Pearl Jam (1991)
79. Let It Be: The Replacements (1984)
80. Back to Basics: Christina Aguilera (2006)
81. The Downward Spiral: Nine Inch Nails (1994)
82. Grace: Jeff Buckley (1994)
83. Learning to Crawl: The Pretenders (1984)
84. Low-Life: New Order (1985)
85. Home: Dixie Chicks (2002)
86. Loveless: My Bloody Valentine (1991)
87. All Eyez on Me: 2Pac (1996)
88. So: Peter Gabriel (1986)
89. Bachelor No. 2: Aimee Mann (2000)
90. Toxicity: System of a Down (2001)
91. Siamese Dream: Smashing Pumpkins (1993)
92. The Writing’s on the Wall: Destiny’s Child (1999)
93. Either/Or: Elliott Smith (1997)
94. Synchronicity: The Police (1983)
95. Trap Muzik: T.I. (2003)
96. Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea: PJ Harvey (2000)
97. Britney: Britney Spears (2001)
98. Transatlanticism: Death Cab for Cutie (2003)
99. Live Through This: Hole (1994)
100. Faith: George Michael (1987)