Background, Context, and Assumptions
Of course people can judge music by whatever criteria you want. How do you judge good music (don't just say you just like it!). For instance you can judge music by these criteria:
- How hard it is to play. For me this is not an important criteria. I guess if you play an instrument, you could enjoy a solo artist really push themselves. Craftsman ship is important. But at the end of the day, you can punch notes into a computer, and a computer could replace Eddie Van Halen's finger, but I hope it could not replace his best lyrics. Lavish craftsmanship looses most all of its appeal when not used to support an important truth. 
 
- How innovative it is. Creativity is a great way to decorate music, but you have to have the substance of good music, and a good melody. I have read some great criticisms of experimental a-tonal college music. 
 
- Good songs can just be songs that capture a feeling really well, but in order for a song to be considered great, you would think that you would rank everything a 10... There is nothing wrong with listening to OK songs, but when listing the best songs, you should only include songs that have great lyrics with good meanings, good message, a great melody, etc...
 
Rolling Stone's list of Best Songs of all time is a good one
Best reasons to disagree: -
- I would like a list of best albums that totally ignored cover art. I propose that albums should not be judged by cover art, which Rolling Stones mentions many times praising Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. 
 
- I would like to see a list of the best music, that does not reward musicians for trying to be too clever. It seems like that kind of stuff comes and goes, but you can't listen to it very often, because it gets old. Lyrics should not be obscure. People are too afraid to live life, and so they hide any meaning by trying to be clever. Musicians need to learn the importance of being Ernest. 
 
- Good music is music from cool people saying important things in a sincere and beautiful way. Cool people are not people who suck at life. Good music is not music written by self-obsessed losers at the middle of the night, when they can't get their life together after their girl-friend broke up with them. Its not music telling people how cool they are. It is not music from someone you don't respect saying something stupid. It is written by people you can respect, who have lived a good life and have something to say. You shouldn't be allowed to write music when your a teenager. You don't have anything to say. 
 
- Music shouldn't be important because it created the hippy movement, or got girls to stop wearing bras for a few years... The music should be important if it had messages that successful people are able to believe for hundreds of years. 
 
# of reasons to agree: +0
 
# of reasons to disagree: -4
 
# of reasons to agree with reasons to agree: +0
 
# of reasons to agree with reasons to disagree: -0
 
 
 
Rolling Stone's list of Best Songs of all time, with reasons to agree or disagree that they are "great" songs
1 Bob Dylan Like A Rolling Stone
Best reasons to disagree: -
- This song is just some immature looser experiencing schadenfreude when a girl falls. We all know people like this. They are called jerks. It is stupid that some guy going on about how awesome it is is when someone is having a hard time is considered the best our culture has to offer. 
 
2 Rolling Stones Satisfaction
3 John Lennon Imagine
Best reasons to disagree: -
- Communalism does not work 
 
4 Marvin Gaye What's Going On 
5 Aretha Franklin Respect 
6 Beach Boys Good Vibrations 
7 Chuck Berry Johnny B. Goode 
8 Beatles Hey Jude 
9 Nirvana Smells Like Teen Spirit 
10 Ray Charles What'd I Say (Live Berlin) 1962 
11 Who My Generation 
12 Sam Cooke A Change Is Gonna Come 
13 Beatles Yesterday 
14 Bob Dylan Blowin' in The Wind 
15 The Clash London Calling 
16 Beatles I Want To Hold Your Hand 
17 Jimi Hendrix Purple Haze 
18 Chuck Berry Maybellene 
19 Elvis Presley Hound Dog 
20 Beatles Let It Be 
21 Bruce Springsteen Born To Run 
22 The Ronettes Be My Baby 
23 Beatles In My Life 
24 The Impressions People Get Ready 
25 Beach Boys God Only Knows 
26 Otis Redding (Sitting On) The Dock Of The Bay 
27 Derek And The Dominos Layla 
28 Beatles A Day In The Life 
29 Beatles Help 
30 Johnny Cash I Walk The Line 
31 Led Zeppelin Stairway To Heaven 
32 Rolling Stones Sympathy For The Devil 
33 Tina Turner River Deep, Mountain High 
34 The Righteous Brothers You've Lost That Loving Feeling 
35 The Doors Light My Fire 
36 U2 One 
37 Bob Marley No Woman No Cry 
38 Rolling Stones Gimme Shelter 
39 Buddy Holly That'll Be The Day 
40 Martha And The Vandellas Dancing In The Streets 
41 Band The Weight 
42 Kinks Waterloo Sunset 
43 Little Richard Tutti Frutti 
44 Ray Charles Georgia On My Mind 
45 Elvis Presley Heartbreak Hotel 
46 David Bowie Heroes 
47 Jimi Hendrix All Along The Watchtower 
48 Simon And Garfunkel Bridge Over Troubled Water 
49 The Eagles Hotel California 
50 Smokey Robinson The Tracks Of My Tears 
51 Grandmaster Flash The Message 
52 Prince When Doves Cry 
53 Percy Sledge When A Man Loves A Woman 
54 The Kingsmen Louie Louie 
55 Little Richard Long Tall Sally 
56 Sex Pistols Anarchy In The U K 
57 Procol Harum A Whiter Shade Of Pale 
58 Michael Jackson Billie Jean 
59 Bob Dylan The Times They Are A-changin' 
60 Al Green Let's Stay Together 
61 Jerry Lee Lewis Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On 
62 Bo Diddley Bo Diddley 
63 Buffalo Springfield For What It's Worth 
64 Beatles She Loves You 
65 Cream Sunshine Of Your Love 
66 Bob Marley Redemption Song 
67 Elvis Presley Jailhouse Rock 
68 Bob Dylan Tangled Up In Blue 
69 Roy Orbison Crying 
70 Dionne Warwick Walk On By 
71 James Brown Papa's Got A Brand New Bag, Pt.1 
72 Beach Boys California Girls 
73 Stevie Wonder Superstition 
74 Cochran Eddie Summertime Blues 
75 Led Zeppelin Whole Lotta Love 
76 Beatles Strawberry Fields Forever 
77 Elvis Presley Mystery Train 
78 James Brown I Feel Good 
79 The Byrds Mr. Tambourine Man 
80 Kinks You Really Got Me 
81 Marvin Gaye I Heard It Through The Grapevine 
82 Fats Domino Blueberry Hill 
83 Beatles Norwegian Wood (this Bird Has Flown) 
84 The Police Every Breath You Take 
85 Patsy Cline Crazy 
86 Bruce Springsteen Thunder Road 
87 Johnny Cash Ring Of Fire 
88 Temptations My Girl 
89 The Mamas & The Papas California Dreamin' 
90 The Five Satins In The Still Of The Night 
91 Elvis Presley Suspicious Minds 
92 The Ramones Blitzkrieg Bop 
93 U2 I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For 
94 Little Richard Good Golly Miss Molly 
95 Carl Perkins Blue Suede Shoes 
96 Jerry Lee Lewis Great Balls Of Fire 
97 Chuck Berry Roll Over Beethoven 
98 Al Green Love And Happiness 
99 Creedence Clearwater Revival Fortunate Son 
100 Gnarls Barkley Crazy 
Rolling Stone's list of Best Albums of all time is a good one
Find reasons to agree or disagree that the albums below deserve their spot.
1 Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band The Beatles 1967 
Best reasons to disagree: -
- The first song on the album "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" has no meaning. It is nonsense  We are a stupid species if we are still playing it, outside of a history lesson, for personal enjoyment, 200 years from now. The words could be in a language that you don't understand, and the song would be better for you because they wouldn't distract you. Lyrics should make you think. It might be fine for them to set up the album with an alternative band, so they could do whatever they wanted, but they didn't have to subject us to it, and we shouldn't keep playing it, as if it is still important or insightful. You shouldn't be nostalgic over stupid things. If this song means anything to you, you are stupid. 
 
2
 Pet Sounds
 Beach Boys
 1966
3
 Revolver
 The Beatles
 1966
4
 Highway 61 Revisited
 Bob Dylan
 1965
5
 Rubber Soul
 The Beatles
 1965
6
 What's Going On
 Marvin Gaye
 1971
7
 Exile On Main St.
 Rolling Stones
 1972
8
 London Calling
 The Clash
 1979
9
 Blonde On Blonde
 Bob Dylan
 1966
10
 The Beatles (The White Album)
 The Beatles
 1968
 
 
11
 The Sun Sessions
 Elvis Presley
 1976
12
 Kind Of Blue
 Miles Davis
 1959
13
 Velvet Underground & Nico
 Velvet Underground
 1967
14
 Abbey Road
 The Beatles
 1969
15
 Are You Experienced?
 Jimi Hendrix Experience
 1967
16
 Blood On The Tracks
 Bob Dylan
 1975
17
 Nevermind
 Nirvana
 1991
18
 Born To Run
 Bruce Springsteen
 1975
19
 Astral Weeks
 Van Morrison
 1968
20
 Thriller
 Michael Jackson
 1982
 
 
21
 The Great Twenty-Eight
 Chuck Berry
 1982
22
 Plastic Ono Band
 John Lennon
 1970
23
 Innervisions
 Stevie Wonder
 1973
24
 Live At The Apollo
 James Brown
 1963
25
 Rumours
 Fleetwood Mac
 1977
26
 The Joshua Tree
 U2
 1987
27
 King Of The Delta Blues Singers, Vol. 1
 Robert Johnson
 1961
28
 Who's Next
 The Who
 1971
29
 Led Zeppelin I
 Led Zeppelin
 1969
30
 Blue
 Joni Mitchell
 1971
 
 
31
 Bringing It All Back Home
 Bob Dylan
 1965
32
 Let It Bleed
 Rolling Stones
 1969
33
 Ramones
 Ramones
 1976
34
 Music From Big Pink
 The Band
 1968
35
 The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars
 David Bowie
 1972
36
 Tapestry
 Carole King
 1971
37
 Hotel California
 The Eagles
 1976
38
 The Anthology, 1947 - 1972
 Muddy Waters
 2001
39
 Please Please Me
 The Beatles
 1963
40
 Forever Changes
 Love
 1968
 
 
41
 Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols
 Sex Pistols
 1977
42
 The Doors
 The Doors
 1967
43
 Dark Side Of The Moon
 Pink Floyd
 1973
44
 Horses
 Patti Smith
 1975
45
 The Band
 The Band
 1969
46
 Legend
 Bob Marley & The Wailers
 1984
47
 A Love Supreme
 John Coltrane
 1964
48
 It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
 Public Enemy
 1988
49
 At Fillmore East
 Allman Brothers Band
 1971
50
 Here's Little Richard
 Little Richard
 1957
 
 
51
 Bridge Over Troubled Water
 Simon & Garfunkel
 1970
52
 Greatest Hits
 Al Green
 1975
53
 The Birth of Soul: The Complete Atlantic Rhythm and Blues Recordings, 1952 - 1959
 Ray Charles
 1991
54
 Electric Ladyland
 Jimi Hendrix Experience
 1968
55
 Elvis Presley
 Elvis Presley
 1956
56
 Songs In The Key Of Life
 Stevie Wonder
 1976
57
 Beggars Banquet
 Rolling Stones
 1968
58
 Trout Mask Replica
 Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
 1969
59
 Meet The Beatles!
 The Beatles
 1964
60
 Greatest Hits
 Sly & The Family Stone
 1970
 
 
61
 Appetite For Destruction
 Guns N' Roses
 1987
62
 Achtung Baby
 U2
 1991
63
 Sticky Fingers
 Rolling Stones
 1971
64
 Phil Spector, Back to Mono (1958 - 1969)
 various artists
 1991
65
 Moondance
 Van Morrison
 1970
66
 Led Zeppelin IV
 Led Zeppelin
 1971
67
 The Stranger
 Billy Joel
 1977
68
 Off The Wall
 Michael Jackson
 1979
69
 Superfly
 Curtis Mayfield
 1972
70
 Physical Graffiti
 Led Zeppelin
 1975
 
 
71
 After The Gold Rush
 Neil Young
 1970
72
 Purple Rain
 Prince
 1984
73
 Back In Black
 AC/DC
 1980
74
 Otis Blue: Otis Redding Singles Soul
 Otis Redding
 1965
75
 Led Zeppelin II
 Led Zeppelin
 1969
76
 Imagine
 John Lennon
 1971
77
 The Clash
 The Clash
 1977
78
 Harvest
 Neil Young
 1972
79
 Star Time
 James Brown
 1991
80
 Odessey & Oracle
 The Zombies
 1968
 
 
81
 Graceland
 Paul Simon
 1986
82
 Axis: Bold As Love
 Jimi Hendrix Experience
 1968
83
 I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You
 Aretha Franklin
 1967
84
 Lady Soul
 Aretha Franklin
 1968
85
 Born In The U.S.A.
 Bruce Springsteen
 1984
86
 Let It Be
 The Beatles
 1970
87
 The Wall
 Pink Floyd
 1979
88
 Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison
 Johnny Cash
 1968
89
 Dusty In Memphis
 Dusty Springfield
 1968
90
 Talking Book
 Stevie Wonder
 1972
 
 
91
 Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
 Elton John
 1973
92
 20 Golden Greats
 Buddy Holly
 1978
93
 Sign O' The Times
 Prince
 1987
94
 Bitches Brew
 Miles Davis
 1970
95
 Green River
 Creedence Clearwater Revival
 1969
96
 Tommy
 The Who
 1969
97
 The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
 Bob Dylan
 1963
98
 This Year's Model
 Elvis Costello
 1978
99
 There's A Riot Goin' On
 Sly & The Family Stone
 1972
100
 In The Wee Small Hours
 Frank Sinatra
 1954
We can create a better list of really great songs than Rolling Stone Magazine(Songs that aren't afraid of having meaning)
Best reasons to agree: -
- Time by Pink Floyd is better than any of the top 10 songs on the Rolling Stone List. Your life would not be missing anything important if you never listened to "Like a Rolling Stone" by Bob Dillion. But I would feel a little bad for you if you have never really listened to Time by Pink floyed. 
Time has an important message that you should not let your life slip by. It doesn't really tell you what to do, but it much better than the other songs. 
- Cats in the Cradle by Harry Chapin has a great message. It tells you that you get out of a relationship what you put into it, and that you should sieze the day. These are important messsenges, and they are done well in the song.
 
- Forever Young is a good song, because it expresses a real emotion, that is productive to explore. Thinking about mortality is benificial unlike the way that Bob Dillion is just expressing his joy at someone who used to be Rich, getting their come-up-ins in his song "Like A Rolling Stone", that Rolling Stone was the highest achiviment of Western Music. 
 
- Hallelujah by Rufus Wainwright summerizes a lot of history and relationships in an insightful way.
 
- Just The Two Of Us by Will Smith allows people who are overly concerned with looking manley, see themselves as good dads. 
 
- You can disagree with Charlene but "I've Never Been To Me" makes her argument about what is important in life very well. 
 
- "Kiss An Angel Good Morning" by Charley Pride gives practical marriage advice. One by Creed is sort of Cheesy, but it is a great call for unity. 
 
- What A Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong has a great message of appreciation. Armstrongs voice is great.