Some of my absolute favorites are on this list! The Queen is Dead, Violator (saw them on this tour and it was amazing!), Hunkpapa!!, The White Album, Rid of Me, Siamese Dream, Exodus… These would all be in my top 50.
As I get older Music is the closest thing I feel I can get to time travel. Sort of ironic since I remember thinking the Forest Gump was lame for it’s warmed over Baby Boomer soundtrack being forced down our throats for blatant album selling… I don’t want hear about your 1960s nostalgia… ahh youth in the 90s 😆
I'm very picky about my '90s alt rock and you guys nailed some of my faves. I'm sure some of my least favorites are coming (😀), but for now, yay! Great to see Bob Mould and Kristin Hersh both represented (in Sugar and Throwing Muses) as I've seen them both in concert together I think three times in different band and solo configurations.
I love all the Beatles albums, but The White Album is not at the top for me. I think it's often when and where you first hear albums by an artist that elicits what becomes a "favorite." It's often what we hear first, but not always. For Husker Du, Flip Your Wig is my favorite based on the time and place. Sugar was similar in that Copper Blue came out in a super transitional time in my life.
Waiting until the end to eviscerate these lists...:) just kidding or course, these are great, but the whole point of making lists is to argue about them, right? Digging the ongoing dialogue between you two (and the comments) as they come out.
This remains a great series. Oddly this week has fewer albums that are personally important to me, but always fun reading (I ended up being too busy to comment last week so let me belated cheer the inclusion of Blondie and The Pretenders).
Second, I occasionally struggle to decide how best to write about Warren Zevon who is, both on the artists that I have the strongest emotional attachment to, and who's songs are a fundamental part of my musical landscape, and who sounds like kind of a terrible person to those who knew him and cared about him. The best I can do is recommend this as a well-written and fairly balanced profile of him: https://www.theringer.com/music/2018/9/7/17830460/warren-zevon-career-music-albums
On the topic of Warren Zevon, I would be strongly tempted to argue that _The Wind_ is his best album. Unfortunately it doesn't have any of the material that makes him such a distinctive songwriter, but it's one of the more consistent albums front to back. He's an artist for which I also might want to depart from his main albums and select his live album _Learning To Flinch_ because it has so many of his best songs. There was one year in college when _Learning To Flinch_ was probably my favorite album in my collection.
Looking ahead, I'm hoping that Tori Amos makes an appearance before the end (presumably _Little Earthquakes_ which is a phenomenal album).
Just wanted to say thanks for the series. As an aging boomer your list will provide a nice checklist to catch up on all the great music I missed over the years.
Two things leap out at me. First, I think we were both into those Smiths albums at the same exact time, around 8th grade! Secondly, I actually think Reunions is my favorite Jason Isbell album!
(Note to self: get Marley and Zevon records).
Copper Blue! Such a great record! Always in rotation for me.
Agreed. This was the standout on the list!
As someone who loved Husker Du in high school, I can't believe I've never heard of this album or band until this project.
Like Fela Kuti in Week 4, I'm very happy that this project introduced you to Sugar!
Never far from my rotation, either!
Some of my absolute favorites are on this list! The Queen is Dead, Violator (saw them on this tour and it was amazing!), Hunkpapa!!, The White Album, Rid of Me, Siamese Dream, Exodus… These would all be in my top 50.
Glad we delivered! Felt like this was a good day for great 90s alt rock albums.
Black Crowes: Shake Your Money Maker, Tears for Fears: Songs from the Big Chair
Some absolute brilliant albums. And now ... more music queued up for the drive home and to work and back home and to work and back home .... Thanks!
Always happy to liven up your commute! Thanks for reading and checking out the records!
That's what this series is for!
Love Excitable Boy — especially with Linda on it.
So many great albums! My favourites from this selection are the White Album, Love Deluxe and Violator. Each monumental in its own right.
I wish I had more space for Violator
As I get older Music is the closest thing I feel I can get to time travel. Sort of ironic since I remember thinking the Forest Gump was lame for it’s warmed over Baby Boomer soundtrack being forced down our throats for blatant album selling… I don’t want hear about your 1960s nostalgia… ahh youth in the 90s 😆
I'm very picky about my '90s alt rock and you guys nailed some of my faves. I'm sure some of my least favorites are coming (😀), but for now, yay! Great to see Bob Mould and Kristin Hersh both represented (in Sugar and Throwing Muses) as I've seen them both in concert together I think three times in different band and solo configurations.
I love all the Beatles albums, but The White Album is not at the top for me. I think it's often when and where you first hear albums by an artist that elicits what becomes a "favorite." It's often what we hear first, but not always. For Husker Du, Flip Your Wig is my favorite based on the time and place. Sugar was similar in that Copper Blue came out in a super transitional time in my life.
The Beatles are an all time great band because they have at least 6 albums you could make a plausible case for being their best.
Waiting until the end to eviscerate these lists...:) just kidding or course, these are great, but the whole point of making lists is to argue about them, right? Digging the ongoing dialogue between you two (and the comments) as they come out.
Don’t worry I’ll be assembling a mob to roast Kevin for his inevitable lack of Rediohead.
Lol. I'm surprised you don't already have one ready to unleash.
You don't have to wait to argue!
This remains a great series. Oddly this week has fewer albums that are personally important to me, but always fun reading (I ended up being too busy to comment last week so let me belated cheer the inclusion of Blondie and The Pretenders).
A few thoughts.
First, seeing the love the Sade I want to put in a word for Roberta Flack; one of the hills I will die on is that _Quiet Fire_ is a great album -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quiet_Fire_(Roberta_Flack_album)
Second, I occasionally struggle to decide how best to write about Warren Zevon who is, both on the artists that I have the strongest emotional attachment to, and who's songs are a fundamental part of my musical landscape, and who sounds like kind of a terrible person to those who knew him and cared about him. The best I can do is recommend this as a well-written and fairly balanced profile of him: https://www.theringer.com/music/2018/9/7/17830460/warren-zevon-career-music-albums
On the topic of Warren Zevon, I would be strongly tempted to argue that _The Wind_ is his best album. Unfortunately it doesn't have any of the material that makes him such a distinctive songwriter, but it's one of the more consistent albums front to back. He's an artist for which I also might want to depart from his main albums and select his live album _Learning To Flinch_ because it has so many of his best songs. There was one year in college when _Learning To Flinch_ was probably my favorite album in my collection.
Looking ahead, I'm hoping that Tori Amos makes an appearance before the end (presumably _Little Earthquakes_ which is a phenomenal album).
I'm sure there's more that I'm forgetting.
"Death Wish" is probably my favorite song that has come out in the past 5 years.
It's a great track!
Just wanted to say thanks for the series. As an aging boomer your list will provide a nice checklist to catch up on all the great music I missed over the years.
Rolling Stone walked so we could run
Two things leap out at me. First, I think we were both into those Smiths albums at the same exact time, around 8th grade! Secondly, I actually think Reunions is my favorite Jason Isbell album!
Tbh I think pretty much every Smiths album is either a 9/10 or a 10/10.
I completely agree. 👍🏻
btw, great take on To Live and Die in LA soundtrack. That’s a total Time Machine soundtrack.
I'm going for Sade and The Beatles here! Some other really great choices though.