Top 100 songwriters of all time. Best guitar solos in history. 500 greatest songs.

Lists, lists, lists.

There have always been lists in music. The radio charts, album sales and top downloads are the easy ones. If you can count, you can make the list. And when it's questioned you have the numbers to back you up.

It's the more subjective lists that get me. How do you make a meaningful argument for why No. 472 is THAT much better than No. 473 on the list of the 1000 greatest songs with a cowbell in them?

The latest listing comes from across the pond. VH1 in the U.K. has no formulated the 100 favourite (well, that's how they spell it) song lyrics in recorded human history. Go to www.mtv.co.uk/vh1/ for the full list.

The top 10 is as follows:

1) U2 -- One
2) The Smiths -- How Soon Is Now
3) Nirvana -- Smells Like Teen Spirit
4) Bob Marley -- Redemption Song
5) Coldplay -- Yellow
6) Eminem -- Lose Yourself
7) Robbie Williams -- Angels
8) The Who -- My Generation
9) Radiohead -- Creep
10) Marvin Gaye -- What's Going On

That this is a list of favorites is my only consolation. The top 10 is not so horrific; they are all good songs. But why are Coldplay and Eminem on there and not the Beatles? The Fab Four don't show up until No. 33, behind Christina Aguilera, Kaiser Chiefs and Tupac.

How is it that Arctic Monkeys, whose album has been out for mere months, rank above Elvis, Stevie Wonder, Johnny Cash and James Brown?

But hey, it's the favorite lyrics. It's not necessarily about quality. There's no use debating on someone else's taste. "Baywatch" was the world's most-popular TV show there for a while. I rest my case.

These lists are fun though. They give the people voting for them and compiling them something fun to do. They also give someone like me something to write about.

You know, if this town isn't careful we might just become a place for regular concerts by strong acts.

This week we found out Naked Eyes, ABC and Tommy Tutone among others will be making their way to Montgomery. Throw in the Gretchen Wilson/Van Zant Brothers show from a few months ago with a dash of Bruce Hornsby last year and you've got an upward trend.

Then there's Ciara, Live and Dwight Yoakum on tap for Jubilee CityFest. Oh yeah.

Maybe once the Montgomery Civic Center is back up and running we can draw some arena acts to our town and give Birmingham a run for its money.

If you get a chance, check out youtube.com for the "Steady As She Goes" video by The Raconteurs. It's Jack White (The White Stripes) and friends with a very cool song.

Can't wait for the album.

Was killing a little time reading one of my fav sites --- http://blogs.usatoday.com/popcandy/ --- and learned Poison and Cinderella will be out on the raod this year. Checking Pollstar (www.pollstar.com) I see they will be in Pelham on Aug. 18.

I suppose I could say I'm really tempted to go...but I'm REALLY not.

It just occurred to me that right about this time in previous years I would be firming up my plans to go to Music Midtown.

But since the festival is currently dead, delayed, on hiatus or whatever the heck it is I suppose I get to save my money. That's probably a good thing, too. I got a little out of hand with the concerts last year.

It's no fun being responsible.

Currently enjoying "Rabbit Fur Coat" by Jenny Lewis and The Watson Twins. Just in case you don't know Jenny Lewis is the lead singer of Rilo Kiley. "Rise Up With Fists!" is a fav on the album. The video, which you can watch on www.jennylewis.com, is based on "Hee-Haw." I also like her cover of "Handle With Care" by the Travelling Wilburys.

Also getting a lot of my attention lately is "The Back Room" by Editors. I guess in my job I should like a band called Editors, but the music is what grabs me. They've been called the British Interpol, but there is also a "dark Coldplay" reference in there as well. If you are so inclined, try "Munich," "All Sparks" and "Bullets."