The NME's 500 greatest albums of all time?

When buying the NME one can almost assume that there will be some sort of list, describing what are the ten best drum solos of all time, the 25 greatest sound engineers, or the 100 greatest gigs of all time. This week's edition was no different, with the magazine boldly claiming to have selected a 'definitive' list of 500 greatest albums of all time. Although the magazine, to it's credit, didn't show any major bias to the NME's favoured artists, it lacked any real surprises and was quite easy to predict.

I mean, it's not without reason that The Stone Roses, Revolver, or Nevermind make the top ten of almost every list of this sort, because they are excellent albums. But many albums, arguably greater than those above, were omitted or left well out of the top two or three hundred. But in the NME's defence, the method of devising the list was near genius, as it yielded a diverse list of 500 good album. However, it left the top 50 almost forgone. I mean, who wouldn't put The Velvet Underground and Nico in their top ten when asked to give what they believe to be the fifty greatest albums of all time?

There were some Biblically great albums that missed out on a spot as high as they deserve (in my humble opinion), and some bands' albums were in a wrong sort of order (Closer is above Unknown Pleasures). I think the following really deserved higher than they were given;

Goo - Sonic Youth (426th)
Sonic Youth's masterful sixth album was their first released on a major record label, and the record after (41st placed) Daydream Nation. Goo is far greater than all the preceding Sonics albums, as its their only record that can be described as all killer, no filler. It is not only more poignant than Daydream Nation, but more lyrically and musically intricate. The album's highlights include Kim and Thurston's tribute to Karen Carpenter, Tunic, and Kool Thing, which features Public Enemy's Chuck D on backing vocals.

Diamond Dogs - David Bowie (447th)
David Bowie was the most successful artist in the list, scoring albums at numbers 3 and 10, as well as having eight other LPs appear throughout the list. Of these ten albu ms listed, Diamond Dogs was lowest ranked, and quite unjustly so. Bowie's stunning 8th album was one of, if not, his greatest albums. With the exclusion of shaky title track, Diamond Dogs is flawless from almost the start. Sweet Thing is not only features the lowest recorded vocals on a Bowie song, but possibly the greatest, and lyrics to match. Lead single Rebel Rebel is Bowie's finest pop moment, and Big Brother is one of Bowie's greatest songs of the seventies. Diamond Dogs is ever so overlooked as one of Bowie's masterpieces, and it's almost a travesty that it's 400 places lower than Young Americans in the list.

In Utero - Nirvana (35th)
Thirty fifth is brilliant, don't get me wrong, but below Nevermind? Are you off your heads, NME? In Utero is 49 minutes of unadulterated bliss, as Kurt Cobain gives the music industry one last FUCK YOU. Songs like Tourette's and Rape Me are a two fingered salute to the authorities, whereas Scentless Aprentice and Radio Friendly Unit Shifter are career highlights of grunge's greatest protagonists. Although Nevermind has The Hits, it lacks the fury of In Utero, and it lacks the honest heartfelt emotions Cobain coveys in the band's third album. In Utero deserves to be way, way above Nevermind in any list.

Nowhere - Ride (Unlisted)
Bell and Gardener- The Lennon and McCartney of shoegaze's sophomore album made NME's list, but their debut missed out. But why? Nowhere is an almost faultless record, with  a mix of eerie haunting songs (Paralysed), visceral shoegazing classics (Kaleidoscope, Polar Bear), and of course the stunning closer, Vapour Trail. Ride's debut may have lacked the bright, almost summery, sound of Going Blank Again, but their first effort is greater, more haunting, and more unforgettable. Nowhere was the album that made people take note of the shoegaze movement. It, alongside Loveless and Slowdive's Souvlaki, was shoegaze's greatest triumph. Nowhere, on the other hand, is far less dated than the other two stated albums, and the britpop it preceded.

OK Computer - Radiohead (20th)
In all  honesty, a top 5 finish was to be expected for OK Computer, as it's unarguably Radiohead's finest record. OK Computer redefined what a guitar band could do, with notable highlights including "modern day Bohemian Rhapsody", Paranoid Android and minimalist inspired Let Down. OK Computer is arguably the greatest album of the 90's, and deserves much better than to be placed ten places behind a shaky Oasis album.

Any more I/NME have missed? Feel free to comment.