What is the distinctions between “rock” albums and “other forms of pop” albums on this site?

[Alena_03]

I want to listen to the all timer album lists, but all I know is Rock and Classical and I want to know what albums are not considered rock.

[Fido]

Here, all styles derived directly from the first form of rock and roll music are considered forms of rock music. That encompasses most popular music from the second half of the 20th century, except that derived from country, jazz, and more traditional pop (which is where there's a lot of discussion as the line is kinda arbitrary). I assume you refer to the main Greatest Rock Albums list, since we don't have one for all genres.

[pauldrach]

Here, all styles derived directly from the first form of rock and roll music are considered forms of rock music. That encompasses most popular music from the second half of the 20th century, except that derived from country, jazz, and more traditional pop (which is where there's a lot of discussion as the line is kinda arbitrary). I assume you refer to the main Greatest Rock Albums list, since we don't have one for all genres.

Rock & Roll here is seen as a style that evolved mainly out of the jump blues of the 1940s and came into its own at some time in the late 1940s with artists such as Roy Brown, Wynonie Harris and Amos Milburn. It encompasses music as diverse as soul, funk, disco, hip-hop, ska, reggae, metal, punk, new wave, EDM and alternative pop/rock. Apart from the genres Fido mentioned (country, jazz, traditional pop), blues, folk, avant-garde and the so-called "world music" would be other relevant post-1950 genres that do not generally fall under the rock umbrella even though there are certain rock styles that are also strongly influenced by one or even more of these non-rock genres. For some styles the exact distinction between rock and non-rock is not always easy to decide (folky singer-songwriters, americana, jazz-funk, soul-blues, adult contemporary, ...).

[neroni881]

On this site, "rock" covers anything rooted in the original rock & roll style, including offshoots like soul, funk, punk, metal, and more. Non-rock tends to include genres like jazz, country, traditional pop, and blues, though the lines can blur with crossover styles.