SPIN Magazine don't know shit

 I know how much leeway one must give when these "greatest [however many] [whatever the subject matter]" lists are presented. There are many opinions on the matter and many of us who consider ourselves knucklehead music nerds all have something negative to say about 90% of the choices made. But this list goes beyond the borders of musical pretension.

Now, the naming of obscure references will always be a part of the music writer's toolbox. The good music writers want to educate and expose readers to something that is historical, influential, brand new or just plain good. The bad music writers either try to make readers feel inadequate about their music taste or the reveal just how stupid they are.

Enter SPIN magazine. On May 3, 2012, SPIN released their list of the 100 Greatest guitarists of all time.


Along with naming guitarists that even the snobbiest of elitist writers wouldn't select to put on this list, including sentimental favourites (God love Dimebag Darrell and Kurt Cobain, but really?), SPIN put two non-guitar players on the list: Skrillex and Jam Master Jay. Those dubious selections are not like other choices that were thought to be outside the lines -- like Rolling Stone magazine naming 1979's London Calling  as the most important record of the 80s, or placing Public Enemy on a list of important American rock bands -- because this a list of men and women who play a specific musical instrument that has six (sometimes four, eight or twelve) strings.

Thankfully, SPIN got some of it right by putting Polly Jean Harvey (photo below), Prince, Neil Young, Thurston Moore and Lee Renaldo, Tony Iommi, Tom Verlaine and Richard Lloyd

While some would argue that Clapton, Beck, Page, Malmsteen Van Halen or [insert name of cliche white British blues saviour or hair-metal shredder] should be on this list, the only name not to be on this list that really should be on it is Jimi Hendrix. I would hazard a guess that 80% of the guitarists on this list wouldn't be on it if not for being influenced by Hendrix or by someone who grew up listening to Hendrix.

 http://www.spin.com/articles/spins-100-greatest-guitarists-all-time