Where, and why, did it begin? I’m sure all this has been asked before.

Does anyone else wonder what the point is of putting hundreds of different albums together to pick which is the best? I’ve never cared much about them and I’m not really sure why people make such a big fuss about them. It seems a bit of a negative way to enjoy music to me. And that there are so many different lists organised by a galaxy of websites and magazines dilutes the impact each of them have. Obviously choosing a personal favourite is totally different. Music publications seem to be the only type of media that do this as well. Film and TV magazines don’t do a list of the top 100 films and programmes of the year, because it’d be quite crap (probably not the official reason, but true nonetheless).

Is there anyone who anticipates end of year lists and really just cannot wait to see what Pitchgum has picked as its number one?