I have always loved music. I can't keep up with music trends the way i did in my teens, 20's and early 30's but I am still a music fanatic in every since of the term. I love playing music, listening to music, recording music, the recording process, music gear, music theory. I graduated HS in 86, BS in 91, and Ph.D in 96. My most formitive years would be from 1983 - 2000 (Age 15-32). That 17 year span formed my impressions of music. My tastes generally are in the alternative rock genre but I like artists from many genres and eras. Below is my top 15 rated albums of the 17 year span from 1983-2000. My rules were no more than 2 albums from any 1 year and could not skip a gap of more than 2 years. Comments are welcomed.
The Order is simply Chronological.
1. Foo Fighters - The Colour and the Shape ('00) Dave Grohl proved he was much more than the drumm
er for Nirvana by leading the Foo Fighters into Rock and Roll Stardom. This album is known to be one of the more frustrative ones for the Foo Fighters to record because of the studio perfection mentality of the producers on this album. None the less, tracks like Everlong, My Hero, and Walking after You show that Grohl and company are a master of the mesa dual rectifier grind and powerful vocal and drum tracks.
2. Goo Goo Dolls - Dizzy up the Girl ('98) Jangly Pop at it's best. The Buffalo based band is a true
working class band. So many hits like Slide, Black Balloon, and Iris make this a great album. Saw them in Champaign before anyone really new them.
3. The Verve Pipe - Villains ('96) The brothers duo and small town Michigan band create some
great rock tracks on this album. Everyone knows "freshman", but this album has so many special tracks Drive You Mild and Villains. Saw them live in St. Louis and blew my mind.
4. Radiohead - The Bends ('95) Back when Radiohead were still a straight ahead Rock band, this
album has some thrilling sounds coming from Thom and friends. Listen to The Bends, High and Dry, Fake Plastic Trees, and Bones. Better yet, youtube them for some great live takes on Jools Holland. Saw them in Chicago, great show.
5. Live - Throwing Copper ('94) Some of Central PAs finest, Live hits the bigtime with Throwing
Copper. So much power in these tracks. Very few albums do it like this one. Lightning Crashes, Dam at the Otter Creek, I alone, White Discussion are amazing. Saw these boys at a small club in State College in '95. Amazing.
6. Toad the Wet Sprocket - Dulcinea ('94) More Jangly Rock. Beautiful vocal tracks and he can pull em off live as evidenced when I saw them at Mississippi Nights. Woodburning, Something's Always Wrong, and Fall Down are musts.
7. Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream ('93) Bring out the Fuzz pedals for this one. Chicago based foursome. Today, Rocket, Disarm, and Mayonaise is a good place to start.
8. The Jayhawks - Hollywood Town Hall ('92) From the opening notes of Waiting for the Sun, I
realized we had something different here. Minneapolis Based, you can hear the midwestern influences. Beautiful harmonies and timeless songs. Great live show at Mississippi Nights. Give Settled down like Rain and Take me with you when your gone a try.
9. Matthew Sweet - Girlfriend ('91) Pure Jangly Guitar pop with great melodies and harmonies.
I physically ran into Matthew Sweet as I was trying to rush into one of his concerts as he was stepping out of his tour bus. Saw him live in Wash DC as well as St. Louis. Give Winona and Evangeline a listen.
10. Nirvana - Nevermind ('91) What a change in direction from everything coming out at the
time. This album is so haunting, the chord changes so out of the norm. In Bloom, Come as you are, and Polly.
11. The Church - Starfish ('88) Jangly rock from Australia. This is such a treat to listen to from
start to finish. Under the Milkyway is the obvious one, but Spark, Reptile, North/South/East/West are great as well. Saw these guys in Chicago and it was one of the best concerts I have ever been to.
12. U2 - Joshua Tree ('87) This one is obvious and on most people's top lists of all time. This
album is beautiful from start to finish. These guys are top 5 foursome of all time. How many bands do you know all of the members names off the top of your head like Bono, Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen. Streets, Exit, In God's Country, Bullet, etc. Saw U2 on this tour and it was an unforgettable experience.
13. REM - Life's Rich Pageant ('86) Athens, GA working class touring band starting to get
noticed. some great Jangly Rock on this one. Try Begin the Begin, Swan Swan, Superman, These Days. Saw these guys many times, great show always.
14. Prince - Purple Rain ('84) Prince is one of the great performers of our time. When this came
out along with the movie, it was Prince mania. Purple Rain, Let's Go Crazy, When Doves Cry, Darling Nikki.
15. Violent Femmes - Violent Femmes ('83) This album was being played at every party I went
to in High School it seems like and everyone was singing along with every track. This was a great teen angst record. Saw them in St. Louis in one of my first concerts ever. Blister in the sun, Kiss Off, Add it Up, just to name a few. What I didn't appreciate at the time but have learned to is the outstanding Bass lines on these records.
Honorable Mentions: The Cure - Staring at the Sea, Pearl Jam - Ten, The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses
I have always loved music. I can't keep up with music trends the way i did in my teens, 20's and early 30's but I am still a music fanatic in every since of the term. I love playing music, listening to music, recording music, the recording process, music gear, music theory. I graduated HS in 86, BS in 91, and Ph.D in 96. My most formitive years would be from 1983 - 2000 (Age 15-32). That 17 year span formed my impressions of music. My tastes generally are in the alternative rock genre but I like artists from many genres and eras. Below is my top 15 rated albums of the 17 year span from 1983-2000. My rules were no more than 2 albums from any 1 year and could not skip a gap of more than 2 years. Comments are welcomed.
er for Nirvana by leading the Foo Fighters into Rock and Roll Stardom. This album is known to be one of the more frustrative ones for the Foo Fighters to record because of the studio perfection mentality of the producers on this album. None the less, tracks like Everlong, My Hero, and Walking after You show that Grohl and company are a master of the mesa dual rectifier grind and powerful vocal and drum tracks.
working class band. So many hits like Slide, Black Balloon, and Iris make this a great album. Saw them in Champaign before anyone really new them.
great rock tracks on this album. Everyone knows "freshman", but this album has so many special tracks Drive You Mild and Villains. Saw them live in St. Louis and blew my mind.
album has some thrilling sounds coming from Thom and friends. Listen to The Bends, High and Dry, Fake Plastic Trees, and Bones. Better yet, youtube them for some great live takes on Jools Holland. Saw them in Chicago, great show.
Copper. So much power in these tracks. Very few albums do it like this one. Lightning Crashes, Dam at the Otter Creek, I alone, White Discussion are amazing. Saw these boys at a small club in State College in '95. Amazing.
6. Toad the Wet Sprocket - Dulcinea ('94) More Jangly Rock. Beautiful vocal tracks and he can pull em off live as evidenced when I saw them at Mississippi Nights. Woodburning, Something's Always Wrong, and Fall Down are musts.
7. Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream ('93) Bring out the Fuzz pedals for this one. Chicago based foursome. Today, Rocket, Disarm, and Mayonaise is a good place to start.
realized we had something different here. Minneapolis Based, you can hear the midwestern influences. Beautiful harmonies and timeless songs. Great live show at Mississippi Nights. Give Settled down like Rain and Take me with you when your gone a try.
I physically ran into Matthew Sweet as I was trying to rush into one of his concerts as he was stepping out of his tour bus. Saw him live in Wash DC as well as St. Louis. Give Winona and Evangeline a listen.
time. This album is so haunting, the chord changes so out of the norm. In Bloom, Come as you are, and Polly.
start to finish. Under the Milkyway is the obvious one, but Spark, Reptile, North/South/East/West are great as well. Saw these guys in Chicago and it was one of the best concerts I have ever been to.
album is beautiful from start to finish. These guys are top 5 foursome of all time. How many bands do you know all of the members names off the top of your head like Bono, Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen. Streets, Exit, In God's Country, Bullet, etc. Saw U2 on this tour and it was an unforgettable experience.
noticed. some great Jangly Rock on this one. Try Begin the Begin, Swan Swan, Superman, These Days. Saw these guys many times, great show always.
out along with the movie, it was Prince mania. Purple Rain, Let's Go Crazy, When Doves Cry, Darling Nikki.
to in High School it seems like and everyone was singing along with every track. This was a great teen angst record. Saw them in St. Louis in one of my first concerts ever. Blister in the sun, Kiss Off, Add it Up, just to name a few. What I didn't appreciate at the time but have learned to is the outstanding Bass lines on these records.
