The Beatles paradox - I know they're very good at what they do; I still don't get it (no matter how much I listen).

The Abba paradox - Abba didn't do a bad single; as far as pop music to dance to goes, they are among the 'best'. Still, kiddies who like their guitars don't like them.

It's all pie in the sky really. I'm listening to Villa Lobos, and enjoying it a lot.

I especially enjoyed that bit about Rob's secretary.

Repped ;)

Yeah, this always seems to be a major point of confrontation when it comes to music discussion between different fans. Like metalheads who see "good" as pure technical skill, us more "music as art" see good in innovation and expression, pop fans prefer surface pleasure, etc. Does skill necesitate quality? Skill in what sense? Quality in what sense?

When I think about the "Best" albums i kind of do it with oversimplified detachment, so i might list some things I know very little about. Just a human animal, it's hard to feel too authoritative on the subject, so i attempt to paint a picture of what I want to discover in years ahead, not what i already know :)_

Yes, I can.

Exactly. I don't care about people saying '"Best" is different from "favourite".'
Bull shit, my favourites are the best, the best are my favourites. I find the best records are the ones I have the most emotional attachment to, anyway.
For example, GY!BE's Yanqui U.X.O.: I bought it on a whim, not even knowing what it was (at all), but it had an awesome cover. I was with my best friend for almost all of my life (now I never see him) when I bought it and first listened to it, and it quickly became one of my favourites of all-time, ie. one of the best of all-time. Still is, always will be. Plus, it got ime into constellation records, one of my favourite (and the best) record labels out there.

*** Reading through most of the thread, now, I've noticed that best is almost exclusively the public opinion of someone's "best"... bullshit. Best is personal, no matter what the public thinks.

Word.

Hmm, it's an interesting distinction, but one that gives me a headache if I think about it too much. I can't answer this question.