Krurze wrote: ↑Tue Mar 16, 2021 11:32 am
hero wrote: ↑Tue Mar 16, 2021 8:47 am
I could do one list with my favorite albums of all time and one with what I think are the best albums of all time and the lists would not look the same at all.
I find this view very interesting, as I always try to be as subjective as possible with my lists and I wish that music journalists would be, too. I just value authenticity and sincerity very high, especially when asking the question which journalist to trust for recommendations.
So how exactly do you objectively measure good music? This is an honest question, by the way. I hope it doesn't come across as some kind of offence
Not at all, fair question.
All measurements are subjective in my opinion. There are a few publications trying to have a scoring model and rates e.g. lyrics, innovation, melodies etc individually and calculate the different variables into the final score. But in the end, it is the feeling you get when listening to a song or an album that is the most important measurement, doesn't matter if it's because of the lyrics, the melody, the beat or whatever.
Anyway... for me is just trying to be as objective as I can be, taking away my personal attachments to that song. Do i like Two Princes with Spin Doctors because it's a great song or because a girl went down on me for the first time while that tune was playing in the background?
I was a huge Britpop fan in the 90's. Listening exclusively to bands like Oasis, Blur, Suede, Pulp etc. It will of course have an effect on my taste in music later on and what kind of music I will discover. But if I were to put down a list of my
favorite albums, it would be very heavily leaning towards Britpop music from the 90's with all of the memories, parties, heartache and whatever feeling those songs bring up. If I were to choose the
best albums it wouldn't be a Britpop list at all, even though I might have more than others because of my background, but not necessarily.
So to sum up, it's impossible to be totally objective I think, your individual taste in music will effect your list of the best albums/songs there is. But you can try to put your emotions aside, especially if it's your job. Putting four The National albums in the top five of all time (The National is probably my favorite band right now) should disqualify you for even being a music journalist. And if it was my magazine, she'd be fired before having an opportunity to explain herself
Edit: When raring the best albums you could also include other variables then your personal taste, like impact, inspiring other musicians, innovation, effects etc