final initial thoughts on my list

As the list comes closer, I must admit there are serious holes and issues with my Top 200 Albums. In fact, such an endeavor is problematic to say the least. By finally deciding to leave it alone and quit reworking the list, I was left with the following quandaries, which have been left unsolved.

I realize there I have missed much of the 90's Hip Hop (such as NWA, Notorious B.I.G, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, NAS and Cypress Hill). Also, where is Erykah Badu? Where is Maxwell? Where is D'Angelo? I guess I am just too white. I know some should be on my list but I am powerless to honestly add them! In case you are wondering, there are 18 albums on the list that would be considered rap or soul (too little).

And yeah, Indy Rock Guy- Where is Buffalo Tom? Where is Grant Lee Buffalo (this kills me to leave them off)? How about Los Lobos, Modest Mouse, 16 Horsepower or the Violent Femmes (especially the blind leading the naked)?

How could I leave off Speakerboxx/ The Love Below when Outkast has 2 albums on the countdown?

If I love British pop so much, where are Echo and the Bunnymen (none of their albums where that great, even though they were wonderful), Jesus and the Mary Chain, the Stone Roses (no excuse- I am an idiot on this one), The Happy Mondays (especially Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches), The Sundays, Big Audio Dynamite and Squeeze?

Am I such a chauvinist that I refuse to include The Dixie Chicks, Sarah McLachlan and Alanis Morissette? Again, in case you are wondering female representation (lead singer, solo artist) is 23 on the list (embarrassing).

I call myself a Christian and leave off Kirk Franklin, Love Coma, Starflyer 59 (which album??), Undercover, Pedro the Lion and Daniel Amos?

I put Van Halen's 5150 on the list and left off 1984? WHAT?????- (call it emotional resonance, not dispassionate recollection).

Where is RUSH? Am I some Rolling Stone wannabe that does not acknowledge the greatness of the band? Actually I came to Moving Pictures a year too late and think nothing lives up to that standard. Signals was hard to leave off.

What about my guilty pleasures such as Chicago, Foreigner, Culture Club, Live, Hall and Oates, Billy Joel, Huey Lewis, Clint Black and the Thompson Twins. Many of these were good bands, but their best stuff was from before I listened.

I also hate the fact I left off World Party's Private Revolution, John Hiatt (especially Slow Turning and Bring the Family), Sixpence's Divine Discontent and This Beautiful Mess, Charlie Sexton's Under the Wishing Tree, At the Drive In's Relationship of Command or R.E.M.'s Green. I also wanted to include more obscure artists like Hezze, Tom Conlon and Chris Taylor.

So, the reasoning ends and the list begins...