1990s music meme

[lnr]

This one came from atommickbrane. I know I've not done much other than memes lately but somehow this appealed more than the top 100 unread books one. I've read all the Jane Austen OK, and some of the rest, but not War and Peace.

This is Acclaimed Music's aggregate list of the top 107 albums of the 1990s (as of now). Put any that you own in bold. Put any that you have heard all through or used to own in italics. Put a strikethrough any that you hate (whether you've heard them or not!). Underline any you want to hear. And put an asterisk by any that you would count as one of your own favourite albums of the 90s.

1. Nirvana - Nevermind 1991*
2. Radiohead - OK Computer 1997*
3. Massive Attack - Blue Lines 1991
4. R.E.M. - Automatic for the People 1992*
5. Beck - Odelay 1996
6. Primal Scream - Screamadelica 1991*
7. My Bloody Valentine - Loveless 1991
8. Portishead - Dummy 1994*
9. Oasis - (What's the Story) Morning Glory? 1995
10. U2 -Achtung, Baby 1991
11. Oasis - Definitely Maybe 1994
12. Radiohead - The Bends 1995*
13. Jeff Buckley - Grace 1994*
14. DJ Shadow -Endtroducing..... 1996
15. Tricky - Maxinquaye 1995
16. Pavement - Slanted and Enchanted 1992
17. Public Enemy - Fear of a Black Planet 1990
18. Lauryn Hill - The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill 1998
19. Air - Moon Safari 1998
20. Nirvana - In Utero 1993
21. Pulp - Different Class 1995*
22. The Flaming Lips - The Soft Bulletin 1999
23. Dr. Dre - The Chronic 1992
24. Björk - Debut 1993
25. P J Harvey - To Bring You My Love 1995
26. Pearl Jam - Ten 1991
27. Blur - Parklife 1994*
28. Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream 1993
29. Wu-Tang Clan - Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) 1993
30. Bob Dylan - Time Out of Mind 1997
31. Metallica - Metallica ("The Black Album") 1991*
32. The Verve - Urban Hymns 1997*
33. R.E.M. - Out of Time 1991
34. Moby - Play 1999*
35. Magnetic Fields - 69 Love Songs 1999
36. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Blood Sugar Sex Magik 1991
37. Lucinda Williams - Car Wheels on a Gravel Road 1998
38. Mercury Rev -Deserter's Songs 1998
39. Nine Inch Nails - The Downward Spiral 1994
40. Liz Phair - Exile in Guyville 1993
41. The Chemical Brothers - Dig Your Own Hole 1997*
42. The Smashing Pumpkins - Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness 1995*
43. Rage Against the Machine - Rage Against the Machine 1992*
44. Pavement - Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain 1994
45. Sigur Ros - Agaetis Byrjun 1999
46. Beastie Boys - Ill Communication 1994
47. Hole - Live Through This 1994*
48. Spiritualized - Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space 1997
49. Soundgarden - Superunknown 1994*
50. Beck - Mellow Gold 1994
51. Nirvana - MTV Unplugged in New York 1994*
52. A Tribe Called Quest - The Low End Theory 1991
53. Fugees - The Score 1996*
54. Happy Mondays - Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches 1990*
55. Björk - Post 1995*
56. Daft Punk - Homework 1997*
57. Tortoise - Millions Now Living Will Never Die 1996
58. Massive Attack - Mezzanine 1998*
59. Bonnie "Prince" Billy - I See a Darkness 1999
60. Leftfield - Leftism 1995
61. Slint - Spiderland 1991
62. Belle and Sebastian - If You're Feeling Sinister 1996
63. P J Harvey - Rid of Me 1993
64. Beastie Boys - Check Your Head 1992
65. Johnny Cash - American Recordings 1994
66. Sinéad O'Connor - I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got 1990
67. Fatboy Slim - You've Come a Long Way, Baby 1998
68. Basement Jaxx - Remedy 1999
69. Alanis Morissette - Jagged Little Pill 1995
70. Buena Vista Social Club - Buena Vista Social Club 1997
71. Jane's Addiction - Ritual De Lo Habitual 1990
72. The Prodigy - Music for the Jilted Generation 1994*
73. P J Harvey - Dry 1992
74. Björk - Homogenic 1997*
75. The Prodigy - The Fat of the Land 1997
76. Nas - Illmatic 1994
77. Green Day - Dookie 1994*
78. Roni Size/Reprazent - New Forms 1997
79. Eminem - The Slim Shady LP 1999
80. The Notorious B.I.G. - Ready to Die 1994
81. The Orb - The Orb's Adventures Beyond the Ultraworld 1991
82. Aphex Twin - Selected Ambient Works 85-92 1992
83. Suede - Suede 1993*
84. Manic Street Preachers - Everything Must Go 1996*
85. Neil Young and Crazy Horse - Ragged Glory 1990
86. Wilco - Summer Teeth 1999
87. Pet Shop Boys - Behaviour 1990
88. Tori Amos - Little Earthquakes 1992*
89. Bob Dylan - Live 1966 - The "Royal Albert Hall" Concert 1998
90. Weezer - Weezer ("The Blue Album") 1994
91. Teenage Fanclub - Bandwagonesque 1991
92. Sonic Youth - Goo 1990*
93. Tom Waits - Mule Variations 1999
94. The LA's - The LA's 1990
95. Goldie - Timeless 1995
96. The Chemical Brothers - Exit Planet Dust 1995*
97. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - The Boatman's Call 1997
98. The Breeders - Last Splash 1993
99. Madonna - Ray of Light 1998
100. Depeche Mode - Violator 1990
101. Missy Misdemeanor Elliott - Supa Dupa Fly 1997
102. Manu Chao - Clandestino 1998
103. Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane over the Sea 1998
104. Talk Talk - Laughing Stock 1991
105. OutKast - Aquemini 1998
106. Blur - Blur 1997
107. TLC - CrazySexyCool 1994

Actually I used the * more for things I thought were defining albums of the 1990s rather than specifically my favourites.

Comments

[simont]

Trouble with these memes is that the mapping between typographical variations and properties of the listed things tends to be almost entirely arbitrary, and the lists are so long that the key falls off the top of the screen. I can guess that the strikethrough on number 101 probably means you didn't like it, but for everything else I keep having to scroll back up to remember which of bold, italic, underline and asterisks mean what...

[lnr]

Heh, I had that trouble *writing* it! I completely missed out the bold category at first.

[bugshaw.livejournal.com]

It was very interesting to read this; I've often said I lost track of new music after the eighties and my score on this would seem to agree.
I own:
2. Radiohead - OK Computer 1997* [purchased 2006]
11. Oasis - Definitely Maybe 1994
24. Björk - Debut 1993
34. Moby - Play 1999*
99. Madonna - Ray of Light 1998 [but don't like it any more]

I have some Blur, Fatboy Slim, Pulp, Pet Shop Boys but not the ones listed. And I've never heard of a lot of the artists. Would this be a good one to use to start my re-education? I notice it doesn't have any Spice Girls or Robbie Williams.

[bugshaw.livejournal.com]

Oh, and I bought a copy of Smash Hits in the mid-90s, having been a huge reader of it in the mid 80s. I didn't understand it at all, and was tempted to write a letter:
"Dear Black Type,
Please explain the difference between Pulp, Blur, and Suede."

[aardvark179.livejournal.com]

It's got quite a lot of good stuff, but there's a couple of absolute stinkers on there too, and it's predominantly from the alt. rock/indie perspective.

[bugshaw.livejournal.com]

Nothing wrong with indie :-) Not keen on the rockier end of rock, and I can't listen to Nine Inch Nails. "Ever since I was born, I knew I was destined to hideous misery and death and pain!!" Oh, what must your poor mother think when she hears that song? I bet she's got photos of you smiling in your school uniform, which rather undermines your image.

[lnr]

There's several I've only really vaguely heard of.

I'd definitely get Blur's Blur and the Pulp if I were you. I'd also really recommend you at least have a listen to PJ Harvey and Jeff Buckley.

But if you want *new* music rather than 7-17 year old music you want to stick the radio on. I'm feeling out of touch again because I've stopped listening to 6music at work some time in the last 6 months, but it made a hell of a lot of difference when I was listening to it. And they play quite a bit of 90s stuff too.

[bugshaw.livejournal.com]

:-( I want someone to sort out my computer so I can listen to the radio on it. I gave it another try, just now, and it either wants to install more complicated things, or when it opens it won't play, and then my Internet connection falls over. I'm using all my tenacious-sorting-new-things-outness on Linux, Emacs, Java, SQL, PuTTY, Isabelle and Matlab at the moment.

[lnr]

If you have freeview you can listen to 6music on the telly.

[bugshaw.livejournal.com]

We have Virgin Media - I will experiment! And kick myself for not having thought of that sooner. Thanks.

[damerell.livejournal.com]

If I am not very much mistaken you score five more than I do.

[aardvark179.livejournal.com]

I know I own about half of those, and there's some others that I think I own but the covers Amazon shows aren't the ones I'm thinking of, and I'm not sure if it's just a case of different editions.

I'm surprised you haven't put Depeche Mode's Violator in italics. it's the album with Personal Jesus on it and somebody must have stuck it on at a party at some point.

Oh, and Ray of Light is actually well worth a listen, it's a William Orbit album that happens to have Madonna doing the singing.

[lnr]

Actually now I think about it I think I've *heard* Ray of Light, and it's OK, and that's probably why I wasn't fussed about hearing it again (I certainly wouldn't object though).

I might have heard some of the others too, but if I didn't *know* that's what I've heard I haven't put them down. The Depeche Mode comes under that.

[chickenfeet2003.livejournal.com]

AFAIK I have heard precisely none of them

[lnr]

Gosh! (I read that as "heard of" at first, which rather broke my brain completely).

[chickenfeet2003.livejournal.com]

That would probably be true too though I vaguely recognise some of the bands. My knowledge of 'popular' music came to a screaming halt in 1973.

[lemur-catta.livejournal.com]

You've heard all of Buena Vista Social Club, you just weren't paying attention

[lemur-catta.livejournal.com]

Heard and own 4 (for certain definitions of own ;)
PJ Harvey : Dry and Rid of Me
Tom Waits: Mule Variations
Buena Vista Social Club



That's more than I expected. I've heard parts of others but I don't know for sure because I can't tell from just the album name.

[burkesworks.livejournal.com]

I own just fourteen of these, and am really only bothered about a handful of the rest. And where's all the rock gone, to say nothing of the jazz? Bloody indie kids.

[aardvark179.livejournal.com]

It is a little blinkered. Looking at the site I'd say this is due to the the types of magazine that produce "best of" lists. Clearly in that sort of thing the NME & co. are going to dominate.

[andyroyal.livejournal.com]

I've never understood why people rate OK Computer more highly than The Bends. The Bends belongs right up there amongst the greatest albums of all time IMO, OK Computer is just meh.

[lnr]

I like them both, but The Bends is definitely the one I like best by a long way. Despite it being one I don't currently own (it was one of Richard's). I think it depends a bit how much of a guitar person you are.

[covertmusic.livejournal.com]

Got :
Nirvana - Nevermind 1991
Radiohead - OK Computer 1997
Massive Attack - Blue Lines 1991
R.E.M. - Automatic for the People 1992
My Bloody Valentine - Loveless 1991
Primal Scream - Screamadelica 1991
Portishead - Dummy 1994
U2 - Achtung, Baby 1991
Radiohead - The Bends 1995
Jeff Buckley - Grace 1994
DJ Shadow -Endtroducing..... 1996
Pavement - Slanted and Enchanted 1992
Air - Moon Safari 1998
Nirvana - In Utero 1993
Pulp - Different Class 1995
The Flaming Lips - The Soft Bulletin 1999
Blur - Parklife 1994
R.E.M. - Out of Time 1991
Mercury Rev -Deserter's Songs 1998
The Chemical Brothers - Dig Your Own Hole 1997
The Smashing Pumpkins - Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness 1995
Sigur Ros - Agaetis Byrjun 1999
Spiritualized - Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space 1997
Nirvana - MTV Unplugged in New York 1994
Björk - Post 1995
Daft Punk - Homework 1997
Tortoise - Millions Now Living Will Never Die 1996
Massive Attack - Mezzanine 1998
Leftfield - Leftism 1995
P J Harvey - Rid of Me 1993
The Orb - The Orb's Adventures Beyond the Ultraworld 1991
Aphex Twin - Selected Ambient Works 85-92 1992
Suede - Suede 1993
Manic Street Preachers - Everything Must Go 1996
Fatboy Slim - You've Come a Long Way, Baby 1998
Pet Shop Boys - Behaviour 1990
Weezer - Weezer ("The Blue Album") 1994
Teenage Fanclub - Bandwagonesque 1991
The Chemical Brothers - Exit Planet Dust 1995
Blur - Blur 1997

Love (random order - but check the list at the end...):
Spiritualized - Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space 1997
Radiohead - The Bends 1995
Jeff Buckley - Grace 1994
Blur - Blur 1997
DJ Shadow -Endtroducing..... 1996
Radiohead - OK Computer 1997
My Bloody Valentine - Loveless 1991
Sigur Ros - Agaetis Byrjun 1999
R.E.M. - Out of Time 1991
Teenage Fanclub - Bandwagonesque 1991
Björk - Post 1995
Tortoise - Millions Now Living Will Never Die 1996
Massive Attack - Mezzanine 1998
Pulp - Different Class 1995
R.E.M. - Automatic for the People 1992
Blur - Parklife 1994


Would like (few ones I'd really *really* like up the top):
Bonnie "Prince" Billy - I See a Darkness 1999
Slint - Spiderland 1991
Pavement - Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain 1994
Björk - Homogenic 1997
Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane over the Sea 1998
Talk Talk - Laughing Stock 1991
Björk - Debut 1993
Sonic Youth - Goo 1990

... and ones I care about a bit less:

P J Harvey - To Bring You My Love 1995
Beastie Boys - Ill Communication 1994
Belle and Sebastian - If You're Feeling Sinister 1996
Johnny Cash - American Recordings 1994
Tricky - Maxinquaye 1995
The Prodigy - Music for the Jilted Generation 1994
P J Harvey - Dry 1992
Roni Size/Reprazent - New Forms 1997
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - The Boatman's Call 1997
The Breeders - Last Splash 1993
Public Enemy - Fear of a Black Planet 1990
Neil Young and Crazy Horse - Ragged Glory 1990
Wilco - Summer Teeth 1999
Goldie - Timeless 1995
Beck - Odelay 1996
Beck - Mellow Gold 1994
Missy Misdemeanor Elliott - Supa Dupa Fly 1997

(... continued in next comment)

[covertmusic.livejournal.com]

Don't want or don't care:
Oasis - (What's the Story) Morning Glory? 1995
Oasis - Definitely Maybe 1994
Lauryn Hill - The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill 1998
Dr. Dre - The Chronic 1992
Pearl Jam - Ten 1991
Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream 1993
Wu-Tang Clan - Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) 1993
Bob Dylan - Time Out of Mind 1997
Metallica - Metallica ("The Black Album") 1991
The Verve - Urban Hymns 1997
Moby - Play 1999
Magnetic Fields - 69 Love Songs 1999
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Blood Sugar Sex Magik 1991
Lucinda Williams - Car Wheels on a Gravel Road 1998
Nine Inch Nails - The Downward Spiral 1994
Liz Phair - Exile in Guyville 1993
Rage Against the Machine - Rage Against the Machine 1992
Hole - Live Through This 1994
Soundgarden - Superunknown 1994
A Tribe Called Quest - The Low End Theory 1991
Fugees - The Score 1996
Happy Mondays - Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches 1990
Beastie Boys - Check Your Head 1992
Sinéad O'Connor - I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got 1990
Basement Jaxx - Remedy 1999
Alanis Morissette - Jagged Little Pill 1995
Buena Vista Social Club - Buena Vista Social Club 1997
Jane's Addiction - Ritual De Lo Habitual 1990
The Prodigy - The Fat of the Land 1997
Nas - Illmatic 1994
Green Day - Dookie 1994
Eminem - The Slim Shady LP 1999
The Notorious B.I.G. - Ready to Die 1994
Tori Amos - Little Earthquakes 1992
Bob Dylan - Live 1966 - The "Royal Albert Hall" Concert 1998
Tom Waits - Mule Variations 1999
The LA's - The LA's 1990
Madonna - Ray of Light 1998
Depeche Mode - Violator 1990
Manu Chao - Clandestino 1998
OutKast - Aquemini 1998 (but wouldn't mind getting a copy of Stankonia (2000) at all)
TLC - CrazySexyCool 1994


Ones where they've picked the wrong records by the right bands:
Teenage Fanclub - Grand Prix (1995: even better than Bandwagonesque)
Teenage Fanclub - Songs from Northern Britain (1997: even better than Grand Prix) (seriously, Teenage Fanclub are one of the best bands ever)
U2 - Zooropa (1993)
Aphex Twin - I Care Because You Do (1995)
Pavement - Brighten the Corners (1996)
Blur - Modern Life Is Rubbish (1993, still their best album I reckon)
Suede - Dog Man Star (1994)
Manic Street Preachers - The Holy Bible (1994)

Albums they're blatantly missing which I've got:
Boards of Canada - Music Has The Right To Children (1998) (one of the best records ever by anyone; not having this in the list is seriously unforgivable)
The Delgados - Peloton (1999)
Ben and Jason - Hello (1999)
Balanescu Quartet - Possessed (1992)
The Auteurs - After Murder Park (1996)
Mogwai - Young Team (1997)
Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Slow Riot for New Zero Kanada (EP) (1999)
Autechre - Incanubula (1993)
Orbital - Orbital (Brown Album) (1993)
KLF - The White Room (1991)
The House of Love - The House Of Love (aka Butterfly/Fontana) (1990)
Smog - Knock Knock (1999)
Six by Seven - The Things We Make (1998)

[burkesworks.livejournal.com]

Good call re Boards of Canada and GY!BE, as I've already posted in my reply to carsmilesteve's post based on this meme, and extra bonus points for Smog, Autechre, Mogwai and the Balanescus. Why no Stereolab on the list either?

[covertmusic.livejournal.com]

It's just that I've never got round to them. I've got one EP of theirs (the pre-Margerine Eclipse one), which I like, but...