WTF??? Apple chose this as the best album of all time?

Apple Music's top pick on its 100 Best Albums list is surprising.

Author

Leander Kahney
May 22, 2024

Presented by

Apple Music has been slowly dribbling out its 100 Best Albums list, and finally revealed the top 10 Wednesday morning.

The No. 1 pick — while a great record — might make you choke on your cornflakes.

It’s certainly not what I’d pick, which would be something from Radiohead, The Clash, Talking Heads, Talk Talk — or maybe David Bowie, Burning Spear, Pink Floyd, Spiritualized or Echo & the Bunnymen.

Heck! It’s hard! I don’t know!!

My choice would likely change day to day, like most people’s.

But it probably would never be what Apple Music picked!

Also in today’s newsletter:

— Leander Kahney, EIC.

WTF??? Apple chose this as the best album of all time?

Apple Music's top 10 albums of all time -- the culmination of its 100 Best Albums list -- finally arrives. Will you love it or hate it?

Apple Music 100 best albums countdown completes: 1 to 100

Here’s the full list.

Why Apple should steal Microsoft's Flex keyboard design for iPad

Come along as we explore the idea of a wired and wireless iPad Magic Keyboard. Find out why it would enhance the functionality of the iPad.

A message from Incogni

Put an end to those pesky spam calls

Few things are more frustrating than rushing to answer your phone only to see "Potential Spam" on the caller ID for the third time today. To stop this annoyance and increase your personal information security, you have three options:

  • Throw your phone into the ocean.

  • Individually block each unknown caller.

  • Stop spammers from getting your number in the first place with Incogni.

We highly recommend the third option, and not just because electronic garbage is bad for aquatic life.

Incogni’s automated service removes your personal information from more than 175 data brokers and people search sites, reducing spam emails, lowering the risk of ID theft, and preventing fraudsters from buying your data. Protect yourself and up to four family members or friends. Plans start at $14 per month, and come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Marvel’s ‘What If…?’ VR/AR app comes to Vision Pro next week [Updated]

Explore the Marvel Multiverse like never before with "What If...? — An Immersive Story." This VR/AR experience is for Apple Vision Pro.

Gyllenhaal says 'I did not kill her' 12 times in ‘Presumed Innocent’ trailer

So yeah, judging by the first full trailer for "Presumed Innocent," Jake totally killed her. Or did he? It's a guessing game.

A message from the Cult of Mac Deals team

This transparent, magnetic power bank charges your iPhone on the go

Slim and MagSafe-compatible, this unusual-looking 5,000mAh battery pack charges with either USB-C or Lightning cables.

Apple's online Education Store gets a fresh new look

A design revamp makes it look similar to Apple’s main online store. Product pricing remains unchanged.

M4 iPad Pro vs. M2 iPad Pro comparison: What's different?

Own an M2 iPad Pro and wonder if you should upgrade to the new model? Our M4 iPad Pro vs. M2 iPad Pro comparison will help you decide.

Today in Apple history: Newton spins off as its own company

On May 22, 1997, Apple set up its Newton division as a separate company. The spinoff Newton Inc.'s first job? Selling the MessagePad 2000.

Flagship Bose headphones make a surprisingly rare appearance [Setups]

As great as Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones seem to be, we find they appear less often than other primo cans in computer setups.

Tweetz o’ the day

One more thing ...

❝

It’s often the same with any new, revolutionary thing. People get stuck as they get older. Our minds are sort of electrochemical computers. Your thoughts construct patterns like scaffolding in your mind. You are really etching chemical patterns.

In most cases, people get stuck in those patterns, just like grooves in a record, and they never get out of them. It’s a rare person who etches grooves that are other than a specific way of looking at things, a specific way of questioning things. It’s rare that you see an artist in his 30s or 40s able to really contribute something amazing.

— Steve Jobs, 1985.

Today’s poll

What do you think of Apple's top album pick?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

Results from yesterday’s poll: Is the StreamSaver bundle a good deal?

Best reader comments

Subscribe to The Weekender — Get the week's best Apple news, reviews and how-tos from Cult of Mac, every Saturday morning. Our readers say: "Thank you guys for always posting cool stuff" -- Vaughn Nevins. "Very informative" -- Kenly Xavier.

Reply

or to participate.