To me, one of the most perplexing of all human traits is the need for ranking things…Like the idea for the “Best Of” category for music.
Certainly there is a “very good bunch” of artists and groups for a certain genre…But what is with our constant need to search the best? For example, many people think that Jimi Hendrix was “the best” guitarist ever. His influence on other musicians, musical instrument + amplifier manufacturers and popular culture was profound. It will be an influence for hundrerds of years. But was he “the best”? Compare him to say Paco DeLucia or Pat Metheny or Steve Cropper or Pete Seeger. In magazines, there’s a need for “Best Film” or “Best Actress”….its all a beauty contest……Is it possible that there are artists out there, known only to their local community, that would be a profound contribution to music if they were only “found out about”?