Top 10 Reasons To Like Lists

No, I'm not really going to do a top 10 list about top 10 lists. For one thing, I can't think of 10 good reasons to do these lists. But I can think of one: I know they're silly, but music lists serve the same purpose as sports lists - they get the conversation going. Part of the fun of being a sports fan is arguing over the 10 best lefthanded pitchers, the 5 strangest batting stances, or the top 50 steroid abusers. It's the same thing with music, and if you don't believe me, go to any online music list and check the comments page and you'll find dozens of impassioned replies from aggrieved fans wanting to know why their favorite musician wasn't on the list of the Best Songs About Soup or Most Flame Retardant Hair Styles.

It's a Pavlovian thing. Make a list, post it, and people will immediately start thinking of all the stuff you left off the list, you ignorant, misguided slut.

Tell us: do you find music lists provocative? Or just lazy journalism?
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