YES! WE KNOW! SGT. PEPPER IS GREAT!

The Observer in London has just released a list of the 50 most influential albums. I found this out over at POPSURFING, a blog so exhausting, they make Mother Teresa seem dallying. Guess what made the list? That's right. The Beatles, Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, Beach Bo...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. (Oh, sorry.) You know what's more irritating? There will be endless debating over this list. "How can you not mention "Rubber Soul?" "KRAFTWERK made the list?!!!" "WHAT? No Coldplay?" Yeah yeah! Get a life.

Here's an idea. How about getting passionate over some recently released records? I don't mean the kind of passion that kids display for 15 minutes over buzz bands like Panic At The Disco. Or the kind of raving adults do when they think they've discovered something "cool" like Keane. I mean actually flipping your lid over some excellent, super-strong records like the recent ELVIS COSTELLO & ALLEN TOUSSAINT collaboration. Or those two amazing soul reissues "ATLANTIC UNEARTHED: SOUL BROTHERS & SISTERS?" Or BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN'S "SEEGER SESSIONS?"

I know. You're thinking, "What the hell is the difference?" The difference is that we rave and rave and rave about our current faves, and then a year later Duncan Sheik is cutting the ribbon at a new Ford dealership. Why don't we embrace solid new work from music veterans, the way we do new, soon-to-be-has-been artists?" Let's debate over which song is better, "The River In Reverse, " or "The Sharpest Thorn, " both from the Costello/Toussaint record? Let's debate over which CD has a stronger message, Bruce's "We Shall Overcome" or "Neil Young's "Living With War."

Why isn't the Billboard Top 10 filled with Neil Young, Elvis Costello & Allen Toussaint, Bruce Springsteen, Rosanne Cash (another brilliant release that disappeared as fast as you can say "Bright Eyes,") World Party, Cassandra Wilson, Bettye Lavette, and James Hunter?

Ok, put me in my place. I'm ready.