A gaping hole in Apple Music's list of best albums of all time

As a Spotify user, I still have to give Apple Music props for attempting the impossible – objectively ranking the top 100 music albums of all time. After a 10-day countdown, Apple Music released its full list on May 22. 

You can find the full list at 100best.music.apple.com/us.

I wouldn't consider myself a music critic, but I was pleased as I made my way through the list. However, there was one album that was noticeably missing. 

• "Hotel California" by the Eagles and "ASTROWORLD" by Travis Scott brought up the rear at No. 99 and 98 respectively. 
• Lana Del Rey's "Norman F*****g Rockwell!" at No. 79 just seemed so out of place beside "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" by Elton John at No. 78. I couldn't help but chuckle.  
• I thought "Illmatic" by Nas at No. 39 should've been lower. The album is still considered one of the best hip-hop albums ever.   
• I was pleased to see Pink Floyd's "The Dark Side of the Moon" at No. 28, but I would've preferred to see the band's "Wish You Were Here" at that spot or lower. 
• I was pleased to see "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" by Kanye West at No. 26. 
• Taylor Swift's "1989" at No. 18 was expected but not unfair. 
• "OK Computer" by Radiohead deserved its No. 12 spot, but I would've preferred their "In Rainbows."
• I was pleased to see "Nevermind" by Nirvana and Kendrick Lamar's "good kid m.A.A.d city (Deluxe Version)," both in the bottom 10 – at No. 9 and 7, respectively.
• "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" by Lauryn Hill as the No. 1 ranked best music album of all time was a pleasant surprise. Admittedly, the placement caught me off guard, but the five-time Grammy-winning album – the acclaimed eclectic blend of R&B, reggae and rap –   sits well on the pedestal. 

Obviously, I skimmed through the list briefly. There are many more classic albums on that list that I love. However, there is one album I did not mention, one that was snubbed. Sadly, it did not reach the rankings, which I otherwise approved.

The missing album transformed the classic rock genre in the 70s, pioneering a subgenre known as "Southern Rock," which is a fusion of rock-and-roll and blues. It was released in 1973 as a small band's debut album and became certified gold just a year later. In 1987, it went double platinum. 

Interestingly enough, the band rehearsed its hit songs in a shack along Peters Creek here in Clay County. The shack was so sweltering and humid it was dubbed "Hell House." But the hard work paid off. When the band recorded the album in the studio, the producers and sound designers were impressed with the band's technical ability. 

If you haven't guessed, I am referring to "(Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd)" by Lynyrd Skynyrd. The album is a tremendous cultural endeavor from our county and an immortalized rock album that continues to influence generations of musicians of all genres. 

As someone from "Gen Z," I am pleased to report "Free Bird" is still a hit among the youth. It is an ongoing gag to heckle bands to "play Free Bird" during the downtime in the middle of their sets. I've heard "Free Bird" on the radio, on YouTube, Vine and TikTok. And that's just one of the many timeless songs off the record. 

Go ahead and swap "Pronounced" with "WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?" at No. 30.