----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Michael Bennett" <mrhonorama@ameritech.net>
> As for my generation -- those three work, certainly
> based on their pervasive success.  I guess Madonna,
> Ramones and Prince didn't make the cut.

With every passing year, it's more obvious that THRILLER was more of a 
socio-cultural phenomenon than it was an Important Record.  It's a 
great album, but it's a fluke on the level of the Rubik's Cube. 
Although I generally prefer Prince myself, I would argue that Madonna 
is the one who belongs on that list:  unlike Michael, who flamed out 
artistically starting with the Jacksons' VICTORY album, Madonna 
remained musically and culturally relevant up through 1998's RAY OF 
LIGHT, and it's only been with the last couple of albums that she's 
turned into an embarrassing has-been trying to recapture past glories.

Nirvana, I have the same qualms some other folks have raised, but I'm 
willing to buy the argument.  U2, I would grant simply because they 
were trying so very hard for the Spokemen Of Their Generation mantle.

S