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Lambchops' Top 100 Alternative Albums Since 1990: # 20 - # 11Jun 05 '07 (Updated Jun 13 '07) Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line Stay tuned for the 100 best alternative albums since 1990. This is the ninth entry. We are in the top twenty!
You have entered the Top Twenty of the Top 100 Alternative Albums since 1990. At this point I will admit to noticing something about the selections. The irony is that despite them being all "alternative" (whatever that is) the titles are more popular as we near the top. They have sold more, had more videos on MTV, and are generally better respected. This is not a purposeful thing--it is just how it all came together. Alternative is much more than a handful of examples and adjectives. It extends into the farthest reaches of rock and roll and goes places that may or may not be comfortable or familiar to you. If something sounds interesting, don't be afraid. This is alternative music--anything goes. Sometimes it is soft, sometimes it is loud. Sometimes there are guitars and sometimes there may be a harmonica. Heck--there are sometimes when there are no guitars or traditional percussion. Prepare yourself for the unexpected. Join me for another ten of the 100 most entertaining albums in alternative music from 1990 through today. Your favorite artist may not be listed, but there is is a wide variety of choices. Like it or not, these are recordings that are not willing to go away. The rules to qualify were simple--I must actually "like" the album, it must have had some effect on the industry, and it must have been after 1990. To narrow down bands I chose to not include industrial acts (though they do in many ways qualify as "alternative") and did not include bands that were mostly rock and roll (though "grunge" does appear). Finally, there are no greatest hits or best of compilations included despite my desire to include a few titles (Violent Femmes and James). Last but not least, these are all mainstream titles. You won't find indie titles--these are all widely available from whatever shopping outlet you choose. This isn't to say that there aren't excellent independent alternative albums from this era, it is just to say that I don't believe the ones I am familiar with to be as great as those listed. I'd love to hear what you have to say about this list. I want to read comments about this topic especially considering that nobody should agree with me on every level. And without further ado, here are the # 20 - # 11 top alternative albums. 20. Odelay - Beck (1996) http://www.epinions.com/content_154998771332 Prior to Odelay's release in 1996, Beck's music was already known to alt-rock fans. Everybody knew he was weird and creative, but nobody predicted the impact that Odelay would have. Beck is not afraid of change and variety. He is an artist who gets pleasure out of surprising fans and critics alike. On this CD he blended hip hop with electronica, folk rock, alt-country, and pop. The result is a perfect, free-spirited album that is just as effective whether heard on the whole or split up into singles. Where It's At, Devil's Haircut, Jack-Ass, The New Pollution, Hotwax, Sissyneck, Lord Only Knows, and High 5 (Rock the Catskills) are impressive on every level. Each song brings a little something different to the overall effort. If Odelay is any indication (and I think it is), Beck can do no wrong. This is creative and intelligent material. 19. Little Earthquakes - Tori Amos (1992) Tori Amos has done so many wonderful things in her fifteen year career. Her music and persona will both be remembered for decades to come. As of late I've grown tired of her pretentious tendencies, but throughout the 1990s her coy vocals, haunting arrangements, and piano driven melodies were pure gold. Even today they resonate with a gentle grace. On Little Earthquakes she does all the things she has come to be known for. There are some very introspective words and some religious outbursts, but at the center of the album are a sophisticated, literate, sensual, and provocative twelve songs. I challenge any listener to not be moved by her words even if you can't relate. Me and a Gun is so stark and blunt in addressing her real-life rape it is disturbing. I'm also struck in a positive way by Crucify, Silent All These Years, Winter, China, and Precious Things. Amos did equal the power of her debut in subsequent releases but it is this one that really set the stage for so many other female singer-songwriters. 18. Dog Man Star - Suede (1994) http://www.epinions.com/content_71164595844 The hype surrounding Suede in the early 1990s was ridiculous. British media pimped them as the "next big thing" and the band did manage to deliver some really excellent music during that era. Their debut was very popular, but it is 1994's Dog Man Star that is their creative high point. Featuring the vocals of Brett Anderson, Bernard Butler's guitar, Mat Osman's bass, and Simon Gilbert's percussion the sound they created are theatrical and rich. The lyrics on the other hand are very heavily influenced by Anderson's drug use and the volatile sound is probably due to his continuing arguments with Butler. All these problems somehow managed to mesh and the resulting Dog Man Star is a masterpiece. It is easily the best thing Suede ever released and is among the most notable of Brit-pop. Heroine, New Generation, This Hollywood Life, The Wild Ones, and The 2 of Us are only the start. This is a CD you have to hear to believe. 17. Dirt - Alice in Chains (1992) Tortured, nihilistic, and hostile Alice in Chains delivered outstanding alt-metal time and time again in the early 1990s. Led by the vocals of the late and troubled Layne Staley and the songwriting and guitars of Jerry Cantrell, the band hit their stride with 1992's Dirt. Staley's voice echoes with pain, despair, and self-loathing. He was in the throes of heroin addiction at the time and it is clearly reflected in everything the band did. Dirt is so dark it could be depressing to listeners, but because it is so honest and so real it is redeemed. Songs Rooster, Would?, Down in a Hole, Them Bones, Angry Chair, and Dirt are only the tip of the iceberg. Listen to it in full to get the complete impact of what Alice in Chains was suffering through at the time. 16. Blind Melon - Blind Melon (1992) http://www.epinions.com/content_48664055428 Speaking of tortured artists, one of the most troubled of the 1990s was the insanely talented Shannon Hoon. He had so much going for him. He had a daughter, possessed great musical talent, and wrote powerfully honest lyrics. Hoon also was addicted to drugs and alcohol--both habits which affected every aspect of his life including music. Blind Melon debuted in 1992 and soon earned the funky alt-rock band kudos for their quirky single No Rain. While I agree that this is an excellent song, it is Change that is easily my favorite song. It frequently gets put on repeat. Tones of Home, Dear Ol' Dad, Paper Snatcher, I Wonder, and Seed to a Tree also smack of genius. I'm once again reminded that great music transcends all boundaries. Blind Melon is great music. 15. Different Class - Pulp (1995) http://www.epinions.com/content_109840666244 Jarvis Cocker may not be known for his cheery demeanor, but the music he and Pulp made was nothing short of exuberant. Rollicking, swaggering, and very sexual Pulp came together perfectly for 1995's Different Class. This isn't to say that some of their other offerings like His 'n' Hers and This is Hardcore. By the way, steer clear of anything before His 'n' Hers if you want your respect for the band to remain intact. Different Class is reflective and elegant, sarcastic and theatrical. I love this CD and can't help but think that people who have not heard Pulp at their very best are missing out on something miraculous. If my mere words are not enough please listen to Mis-Shapes, Common People, Disco 2000, Pencil Skirt, Sorted or E's & Wizz and I Spy for guidance. This is an infinitely cool disc. 14. Ten - Pearl Jam (1991) I was quick to jump on the Pearl Jam train. I loved this cassette (yes, cassette tape) upon release. Of course it has since been upgraded to CD for maximum enjoyment. Eddie Vedder is among the most creative minds in music today, but he also has made it clear that it is about the music and not the fame. Of course in the case of Ten, fame came whether the band wanted it or not. They were firmly part of the birth of "grunge." They made brooding, urgent, and cathartic rock music with a tendency toward political topics. Regardless of ranting, the sound is what propelled them to the top of their industry in the early nineties. I don't recall which came first, but both Even Flow and Alive were early favorites. They continue to be outstanding offerings. I'm also still impressed by Jeremy, Black, Once, and Porch. If you own just one Pearl Jam CD it should be this one. Grunge rarely got better than this. 13. Dookie - Green Day (1994) Long before pop-punk when completely mainstream, Green Day happened. Nobody could have foreseen the success of Dookie. The California punk band had released two prior indie CDs. Dookie was their first major label effort and this improvement in production was really what pushed the music over the edge. Green Day were all about reviving the sound they were indebted to. What listeners ended up with is clearly punk, but it also wildly catchy and summery. Sure they are childish and they certainly possessed the requisite attitude but Dookie really is about the music. It so great that it spawned an entire new wave of punk. Don't believe me? Ask Blink-182. Longview is an incredible track and an easy choice for first single. Welcome to Paradise, Basket Case, Burnout, When I Come Around, and She are also personal favorites but the entire effort is remarkable. 12. Definitely Maybe - Oasis (1994) Oasis is one of three artists to appear on this list more than once. The Gallagher brothers crafted a British pop sound that remains among the best of the era. They set themselves apart with purposefully brash style and guitar-driven arrangements. However if it wasn't for Noel's songwriting to bolster Liam's snide voice Oasis would be nothing. As it stands their best albums are celebratory, wonderful, and theatrical. Their next release (What's the Story) Morning Glory? sold better stateside but it wouldn't have been possible without Definitely Maybe. Live Forever is a classic regardless of genre, but there are other excellent selections. Check out Rock 'N' Roll Star, Supersonic, Slide Away, Cigarettes and Alcohol, and Shakermaker. 11. Automatic for the People - R.E.M. (1992) R.E.M. really hit their stride in the eighties. They had a string of excellent albums and classic singles. The nineties also saw a number of impressive releases, but only Automatic for the People equaled the power of the earlier CDs. These are dark, melancholy song that deal with honesty rather than glossy pop. Whether or not you enjoy R.E.M. being so dour is unimportant. What matters is that this CD might be their best to date. It is atmospheric and really should be listened to from start to end for the full intended effect. Michael Stipe, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, and Bill Berry deliver with particular success on Nightswimming, Everybody Hurts, Man on the Moon, Drive, The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite, and Try Not to Breathe. Listen to those first and then put Automatic for the People in and listen to it repeatedly. It is so gorgeous it makes my heart flutter. ___________________________________ Stay tuned for all the upcoming installments of Lambchops' Top 100 Alternative Albums Since 1990. # 100 - # 91: Top Alternative Albums Since 1990 # 90 - # 81: Top Alternative Albums Since 1990 # 80 - # 71: Top Alternative Albums Since 1990 # 70 - # 61: Top Alternative Albums Since 1990 # 60 - # 51: Top Alternative Albums Since 1990 # 50 - # 41: Top Alternative Albums Since 1990 # 40 - # 31: Top Alternative Albums Since 1990 # 30 - # 21: Top Alternative Albums Since 1990 # 20 - # 11: Top Alternative Albums Since 1990 # 10 - # 1: Top Alternative Albums Since 1990  |
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