Do You Agree With Apple's Greatest 100 Albums Of All Time?

Apple Music recently unveiled its "100 Best Albums of All Time" list, and the collective groan from music aficionados could probably be heard from space. While any attempt to rank artistic creations is inherently subjective, this list feels less like a celebration of musical excellence and more like a corporate attempt to pander to popular taste.

Sure, there are some undeniable classics sprinkled throughout, but the overall selection seems to prioritise commercial success and recent releases over ground-breaking albums that truly shaped the musical landscape. Where's the love for seminal rock/metal works like Pearl Jam's Ten or Linkin Park's Hybrid Theory or Deftones White Pony or Red Hot Chilli Peppers Californication? And while it's admirable to include contemporary artists, the overrepresentation of pop stars like Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish feels like a blatant attempt to appeal to a younger demographic.

The absence of certain genres is also glaring. Where's the punk rock? The heavy metal? The experimental electronica? It's as if Apple Music is trying to sanitise the rich and diverse tapestry of music history into a palatable playlist for mass consumption.

And let's not even get started on the glaring omissions. No Dookie by Green Day? No Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness by The Smashing Pumpkins? No Fat of the Land by The Prodigy? No Slippery When Wet by Bon Jovi? No Iowa by Slipknot? No Play by Moby? It's almost as if the curators of this list were intentionally trying to provoke outrage!

Now, we're not saying that the albums on this list are bad. Far from it. Many of them are undeniably enjoyable and have earned their place in the musical canon. But to call this the definitive list of the 100 best albums of all time is a stretch, to put it mildly.

Perhaps the most frustrating aspect of this list is its lack of boldness. It plays it safe, sticking to well-known artists and commercially successful albums. There's no sense of discovery, no hidden gems waiting to be unearthed. It's a list that feels more like a marketing tool than a genuine celebration of musical artistry.

So, do we agree with Apple Music's 100 Best Albums of All Time? Not really. It's a decent starting point for those new to music exploration, but for seasoned listeners, it's a bland and predictable list that fails to capture the true breadth and depth of musical expression.

If you're looking for a list that challenges your preconceptions and expands your musical horizons, you're better off looking elsewhere. Apple Music's offering is a safe and uninspired attempt to please everyone, and as a result, it pleases no one.

See if you agree or disagree with Apple's top 100 list:

1. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill - Lauryn Hill (1998)
2. Thriller - Michael Jackson (1982)
3. Abbey Road - The Beatles (1969)
4. Purple Rain - Prince & The Revolution (1984)
5. Blonde - Frank Ocean (2016)
6. Songs in the Key of Life - Stevie Wonder (1976)
7. Good Kid, M.A.A.D City - Kendrick Lamar (2012)
8. Back to Black - Amy Winehouse (2006)
9. Nevermind - Nirvana (1991)
10. Lemonade - Beyoncé (2016)
11. Rumours - Fleetwood Mac (1977)
12. OK Computer - Radiohead (1997)
13. The Blueprint - Jay-Z (2001)
14. Highway 61 Revisited - Bob Dylan (1965)
15. 21 - Adele (2011)
16. Blue - Joni Mitchell (1971)
17. What's Going On - Marvin Gaye (1971)
18. 1989 (Taylor's Version) - Taylor Swift (2023)
19. The Chronic - Dr. Dre (1992)
20. Pet Sounds - The Beach Boys (1966)
21. Revolver - The Beatles (1966)
22. Born to Run - Bruce Springsteen (1975)
23. Discovery - Daft Punk (2001)
24. The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars - David Bowie (1972)
25. Kind of Blue - Miles Davis (1959)
26. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy - Kanye West (2010)
27. Led Zeppelin II - Led Zeppelin (1969)
28. The Dark Side of the Moon - Pink Floyd (1973)
29. The Low End Theory - A Tribe Called Quest (1991)
30. When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? - Billie Eilish (2019)
31. Jagged Little Pill - Alanis Morissette (1995)
32. Ready to Die - Notorious B.I.G. (1994)
33. Kid A - Radiohead (2000)
34. It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back - Public Enemy (1989)
35. London Calling - The Clash (1979)
36. Beyoncé - Beyoncé (2013)
37. Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) - Wu-Tang Clan (1993)
38. Tapestry - Carole King (1971)
39. Illmatic - Nas (1994)
40. I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You - Aretha Franklin (1967)
41. Aquemini - OutKast (1998)
42. Control - Janet Jackson (1986)
43. Remain in Light - Talking Heads (1980)
44. Innervisions - Stevie Wonder (1973)
45. Homogenic - Björk (1997)
46. Exodus - Bob Marley & The Wailers (1977)
47. Take Care - Drake (2011)
48. Paul's Boutique - Beastie Boys (1989)
49. The Joshua Tree - U2 (1987)
50. Hounds of Love - Kate Bush (1985)
51. Sign o' the Times - Prince (1987)
52. Appetite for Destruction - Guns 'N Roses (1987)
53. Exile on Main Street - The Rolling Stones (1972)
54. A Love Supreme - John Coltrane (1965)
55. Anti - Rihanna (2016)
56. Disintegration - The Cure (1989)
57. Voodoo - D'Angelo (2000)
58. (What's the Story) Morning Glory? - Oasis (1995)
59. AM - Arctic Monkeys (2013)
60. The Velvet Underground and Nico - The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967)
61. Love Deluxe - Sade (1992)
62. All Eyez on Me - 2Pac (1996)
63. Are You Experienced - The Jimi Hendrix Experience (1967)
64. Baduizm - Erykah Badu (1997)
65. 3 Feet High and Rising - De La Soul (1989)
66. The Queen Is Dead - The Smiths (1986)
67. Dummy - Portishead (1994)
68. Is This It - The Strokes (2001)
69. Master of Puppets - Metallica (1986)
70. Straight Outta Compton - N.W.A (1988)
71. Trans-Europe Express - Kraftwerk (1977)
72. SOS - SZA (2022)
73. Aja - Steely Dan (1977)
74. The Downward Spiral - Nine Inch Nails (1994)
75. Supa Dupa Fly - Missy Elliott (1997)
76. Un Verano Sin Ti - Bad Bunny (2022)
77. Like a Prayer - Madonna (1989)
78. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - Elton John (1973)
79. Norman Fucking Rockwell! - Lana Del Rey (2019)
80. The Marshall Mathers LP - Eminem (2000)
81. After the Gold Rush - Neil Young (1970)
82. Get Rich or Die Tryin' - 50 Cent (2003)
83. Horses - Patti Smith (1975)
84. Doggystyle - Snoop Dogg (1993)
85. Golden Hour - Kacey Musgraves (2018)
86. My Life - Mary J. Blige (1994)
87. Blue Lines - Massive Attack (1991)
88. I Put a Spell on You - Nina Simone (1965)
89. The Fame Monster - Lady Gaga (2009)
90. Back in Black - AC/DC (1980)
91. Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 - George Michael (1990)
92. Flower Boy - Tyler, the Creator (2017)
93. A Seat at the Table - Solange (2016)
94. Untrue - Burial (2007)
95. Confessions - Usher (2004)
96. Pure Heroine - Lorde (2013)
97. Rage Against the Machine - Rage Against the Machine (1992)
98. Astroworld - Travis Scott (2018)
99. Hotel California - Eagles (1976)
100. Body Talk - Robyn (2010)

Rich Steve Beck is the creator and owner of Produce Mix Fix Conquer and producemixfix.com. As well as being a Mastering Engineer, Blogger, Podcast Interviewer and Community Leader, Rich has 20 years + experience in finance, insurance, account management and online marketing. This will be a regular blog supporting new up and coming audio engineers and producers as well as hopefully throwing around some fresh ideas to industry veterans to help assist sustainability. Cherry pick what is helpful, leave behind what you don't need. Good luck on your audio adventures!