Parklife by Blur
The more I hear of Blur especially also on their most recent albums, the more I appreciate them. And in hindsight it make me appreciate also Parklife more. Because it's a real classic only comparable only with one other band, no not Oasis but the Kinks. They are able to describe normal life in the UK as good as Ray Davies could and they do with a vartiety of songs on this album which is breathtaking. The higlights are Girls & Boys, End Of A Century and This Is A Low and the album climbs from the 65th to the 28th rank.
Then an album on my wishlist:
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Starlite Walker by Silver Jews
Silver Jews are all about the main man, David Berman, but Silver Jews are also about a second guy, Stephen Malkmus and on this first full album the influence of the latter is very clear. The same year Stephen Malkmus made Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain with Pavement and this album and this band got shoven a bit to the side. But nevertheless I had never heard this album before although I own American Water and other albums of theirs. This band has so much similarities with Pavement if not for the best track Advice To The Graduate although maybe it's also maybe a bit the other way round: David Berman definitely had his own voice and Silver Jews should have been more popular certainly also with this album which enters my year chart at the 49th rank (a bit too low maybe as there somehow some fillers).
Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness by The Smashing Pumpkins
When this album was released I was very disappointed. After the Brilliant Siamese Dream, this album seemed a mess: especially the hits didn't seem to be my type of music and why was it so long. But in hindsight I have to admit I was wrong. I enjoyed every minute of relistening to the album and the variety of music presented here is breathtaking. And the hits like Tonight Tonight, Zero, Bullet With Butterfly Wings and 1979 are plainly very good as are X.Y.U, Jellybelly, Bodies and Thru The Eyes of Ruby also sound fantastic.So the album moves up from the 43rd to the 13th rank.
Then an album of my wishlist:
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No Joke by Meat Puppets
After the praise this band got with Too High To Die (not in the least because Nirvana covered a few of them), there were high hopes for the next album, and the reviews were nearly unanimously negative: the words not inspired, autopilot appeared a lot. But I don't think this is a bad record at all. It's a bit heavier than their previous albums and that change is in fact a good choice. There are no real outliers but no bad tracks either so a thumbs up and the album comes in at the 32nd rank.
Melting In The Dark by Steve Wynn
I own this album but only now found out that the band Come, a band I know fairly well, is joining Steve Wynn on this album. But again a very good album with the title track as the highlight but I would also recommend What We Call Love, The Angels and Epilogue. The album rises from the 36th to the 14th rank of the year.
And an album on my wishlist:
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Son Of Walter by The Bevis Frond
A bit of a softer album by this band although again not really a band here because all instruments were played by Nick Saloman. But still the guitar rules as on the long mantra like Garden Aeroplane Trap and certainly also Barking Of False Point Blues and Requiem. Another good album entering at the 22nd rank.
…The Dandy Warhols Come Down by The Dandy Warhols
As Romanelli puts it very well: Some really great songs surrounded by a bit too much filler. The album is just a bit too long; 15 minutes to be exact which is the total length of the two final songs which contribute nothing at all to an otherwise fine album; it goes from the 64th to the 48th rank.
And an album on my wishlist:
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Lustra by Echobelly
I'm totally unfamiliar with this band but listening to this album gave me a good feeling. The songs are delivered in a very enthusiastic and catchy way by Sonya Madan. Also the addition of strings on some of the tracks are a nice bonus. According to Allmusic this third album is a misstep and sounds tired compared to the first two albums which makes me want to listen to these ones as soon as possible. This one enters at the 35th rank of the year.
The Last Dog And Pony Show by Bob Mould
Maybe his last real masterpiece album (with which I haven't said his latter albums are not good) not in the least because there are a lot of tracks here with a Sugar vibe with New #1 and Classifieds as the highlight. So no wonder the album moves up from the 20th to the 4th rank.
An album from my wishlist:
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Overcome By Happiness by Pernice Brothers
This is the fourth album I have listened to recently of this great band/artist. And the first track starts off the same way as on their other albums: very upbeat and with great harmonies and the best track here. After that the album becomes much more subdued which means at first sight not so appealing but I'm sure this might change. So at first view not as good as the other albums but still good for the 27th rank.
Lustra by Echobelly
I'm totally unfamiliar with this band but listening to this album gave me a good feeling. The songs are delivered in a very enthusiastic and catchy way by Sonya Madan. Also the addition of strings on some of the tracks are a nice bonus. According to Allmusic this third album is a misstep and sounds tired compared to the first two albums which makes me want to listen to these ones as soon as possible. This one enters at the 35th rank of the year.
Nice to see Lustra being discovered. Critics hate this album, and way too many people listen to critics. Echobelly was a really good band. Lustra is actually my favorite by them. _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
The Man Who by Travis
Alway in between pop and rock and sometimes a bit mellow but above all they write some good stuff especially also on this album. In this respect, it"s not always the hits like Why Does It Always Rain On Me? which are the best tracks but more tracks like Driftwood. Still a mixed bag but this album rises from the 59th to the 43rd rank of the year.
And also only an album I already own from the year 2000:
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Ecstasy by Lou Reed
Not his best although Big Sky is amongst his better tracks. But in general a fairly average Lou reed album which however climbs from the 62nd to the 29th rank.
Souljacker by Eels
One of the their best with some real gripping tracks like Dog Faced Boy and Friendly Ghost. Moves from the 51st to the 35th rank.
And an album from my wishlist:
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Dilate by Bardo Pond
This band is specialised in droning sounds. Sometimes this results in something interesting like on the long Inside but mostly on this album the result is fairly boring. So for me there are better albums to explore from them and this one doesn't make it to my top chart.
This Never Ending Now by The Chameleons
When I bought this album on Itunes I didn't know that this was in fact sort of a compilation album with songs mainly from earlier albums. But until I have listened to all these albums I will keep this one in my top chart not in the least because of the wonderful Swamp Thing. And the album goes from the 38th to the 22nd rank.
And an album from my wishlist:
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Here Come The Lies by The Drones (AU)
A peculiar Australian punk band (but with long songs) with hard guitars which deserves to be heard more. Consistently good tunes and good for the 21st rank.
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dihansse
Romanelli
