First an album I already own/know:
Bona Drag (1990) by Morrissey
I know that this is a compilation but since it only has two tracks coming from regular albums (in fact only from one: Viva Hate) and the rest are all A- and B-sides, I'm putting this one in my year chart. And overall it's a very good album from the early Morrissey and even more even in line with what The Smiths did. The two tracks from Viva Hate, Every Day Is Like Sunday and Suedehead, together with Hairdresser On Fire are the best tracks but nearly all are good. Which launches it from the 41st to the 21st rank of the year.
And an album from my wishlist:
Lovey (1990) by The Lemonheads
I must admit that I'm not very familiar with their albums befor It's A Shame About Ray and to be honest I don't think this album is very inspired. It's suppose to be a bit of a bridge album between their more punky period (I still have to discover) and their more poppy albums in which they really shine but that's maybe the problem with this album. So all in all a good one but not a brilliant one which lands at the 54th rank of the year. And really by coincidence, they're releasing a new album tomorrow, Love Chant.
First an album I already own/know:
The Soul Cages (1991) by Sting
In fact this is one of the better solo albums of Sting with a clear theme: the demise of the shipping industry in the region he was born in. All This Time and Mad About You are really great tracks and overall the album gives good vibes. I liked The Police better but this is also a good one which moves up from the 72nd to the 62nd rank of the year.
And an album from my wishlist:
Superstition (1991) by Siouxsie And The Banshees
In fact this is an album I already own but assumed not to be good enough to make it to my year charts. But finally this is an ok album with some OK tracks like the single Kiss Them For Me but also some weaker ones like especially Softly. All in all not the best of this great band but it does enters my year chart at the 82nd rank.
First an album I already own/know:
Incesticide (1992) by Nirvana
This is in fact a compilation but a compilation of rarities of their earlier songs so it certainly deserves a place in my year chart especially with tracks like Been A Son, Aneurysm or that special version of Polly. Of course there are a few misses but that doesn't prevent this album from being utterly essential and it moves up from the 70th to the 36th rank of 1992.
And an album from my wishlist:
Rise Above (1992) by Epic Soundtracks
Under this moniker this former member of Swell Maps follows a much more very much piano-driven path. A bit less good than that other album I know from him, Change My Life from 4 years later, but this is certainly also an album that deserves a place in my year chart at rank 71.
First an album I already own/know:
Thirteen (1993) by Teenage Fanclub
I love the first albums by Teenage Fanclub. Bandwagonesque was clearly the highlight of that period but this album released two years later was nearly its equal. The band was regularly seen as a derivative of Big Star but they were so much more than that with their excellent guitar work, the fantastic vocal delivery and not in the least the great songwriting of which I think Norman 3 is the best example? But nearly all tracks are classics to me and this album deserves to move up from the 40th to the 13th rank of the year?
And an album from my wishlist:
Trade Test Transmissions (1993) by Buzzcocks
This album is a comeback album after a long hiatus after their first punk period. Although this album doesn't contain any killer tracks like Ever Fallen In Love, Fast Cars or Orgasm Addict, it contains nothing but good songs which clearly shows that they hadn't lost their touch. The album enters my year chart at the 33rd rank.
An album I already own/know:
If I Were A Carpenter (1994) by Various Artists
I only rank those tribute albums when the cover versions are really special and lift the original versions to a higher level. And that's the case with most of the tracks here. Top Of The World by Shonen Knife stays close to its fairly tacky original version but Goodbye To Love by American Music Club already sounds great and Let Me Be The One by Matthew Sweet even greater. But the greatest of them all is the very dark version of Superstar by Sonic Youth. So all in all a very good tribute album which moves up from the 59th to the 47th rank in my 1994 year chart.
And an album from my wishlist:
Ain't Life Grand (1994) by Widespread Panic
There's two more jazzy pieces on this album but they are fairly flat so all the credits go the bluesy southern guitar rock which really shines here especially on the great title track. I only recently discovered this album but will certainly try to discover more and this one enters my year chart at the 41st rank.
First an album I already own/know:
Grand Prix (1995) by Teenage Fanclub
And after the fantastic Thirteen I just discussed followed the even more fantastic Grand Prix with that incredible Highlight which was just the quintessence of what TF used to be good at: close harmonies, guitars and good songs: Neil Jung. And there are more great tracks with especially Sparky's Dream but also About You, Mellow Doubt, Discolite and Going Places. It was clear that this was a very good period for the band and this album moves up from the 17th to the 14th rank of the year.
And an album recked hereunder by Repo:
Truth Walks In Sleepy Shadows (1995) by S.F. Seals
A band round Barbara Manning and with a number of well chosen covers from John Cale, Faust and The Pretty Things (where would the band name come from 🤔 ) they already get a lot of sympathy. Also most of the own tracks are very good and it's only a pity that the last part of the album is not really good. But this album is good for the 53rd rank of the year. Thx for the rec Repo.
First an album I already own/know:
Fixed Water (1996) by Sophia
This band is one of my hidden pleasures but this is a less good album of theirs. Only When You're Sad is as good as the rest of their best tracks but certainly still a good album which goes from the 34th to the 35th rank.
And an album from my wishlist:
We Are Urusei Yatsura (1996) by Urusei Yatsura
Not a Japanese but a Scottish band and again a real discovery. They both have the DIY attitude and off-kilter lyrics of Pavement and the distorted guitar sound of Sonic Youth but they clearly have a place as their own band and I like them. The version I'm listening to is an extended one with 9 extra tracks which are all great as well. This fantastic album enters my year chart at the 30th rank.
First an album I already own/know:
Fixed Water (1996) by Sophia
This band is one of my hidden pleasures but this is a less good album of theirs. Only When You're Sad is as good as the rest of their best tracks but certainly still a good album which goes from the 34th to the 35th rank.
And an album from my wishlist:
We Are Urusei Yatsura (1996) by Urusei Yatsura
Not a Japanese but a Scottish band and again a real discovery. They both have the DIY attitude and off-kilter lyrics of Pavement and the distorted guitar sound of Sonic Youth but they clearly have a place as their own band and I like them. The version I'm listening to is an extended one with 9 extra tracks which are all great as well. This fantastic album enters my year chart at the 30th rank.
First an album I already own/know:
Blue Moon Swamp (1997) by John Fogerty
I'm a fan of John Fogerty and of course especially of his CCR years but in general his solo albums are good as well. But I don't really like this particular solo album. It's still John Fogerty's voice and guitar sound so it can't be utterly bad but there's not one track here I would designate as better than OK. Of course still suitable for my year chart and it still goes from 71st to the 64th rank but still too low for John Fogerty.
And an album from my wishlist:
Trouble Is... (1997) by Kenny Wayne Shepherd
This is good electric guitar blues a bit in the sense of Jeff Healey and I quite like it. I didn't knew the guy and there is nothing very innovative here but Kenny Wayne Sheppard is a very good guitar player and the songs are enjoyable so this is a good album to enter my year chart at the 42nd rank.
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dihansse
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