Landmark Albums: 1994

Fourth in a series of influential albums. Aired 3/21/2014



I've made this list 50% longer, and took a 3 hour slot to play all these on the radio. 1994 was a good year. Also, as a general note, 1994 is really the first year that Indie Rock (as such) was truly a separate entity and sound from Alternative. Again, all labels are subjective, but you will see a lot less mainstream music on these lists going forward from 1994.

(in no particular order other than the order I'm played them on the radio)

Built to Spill - There's Nothing Wrong with Love

Every song a pop classic. Subtle string touches, vocal harmonies. Near perfect.

Sebadoh - Bakesale

Lou Barlow and Jason Loewenstein really hit their songwriting stride on this album.

Shellac - At Action Park

Noise and perfect sound, fetishized. Baseball and Canada, fetishized. A first full-length album. Essential.

 

Low - I Could Live in Hope

 

 In 1994, it was very punk to play slowly and beautifully.

 

Sunny Day Real Estate - Diary

Without hyperbole, the best music to ever come from Seattle. Nothing sounds quite like Sunny Day, even the bands who try.

 

Christie Front Drive - self-titled EP

To be clear, since Christie Front Drive has many self-titled releases, this is their first, 6-song 12", released in 1994. And it's amazing.

Evergreen [CA] - Seven Songs

In the same vein as Sunny Day and Christie Front Drive. There are multiple bands named Evergreen. This is the one from San Diego. and this release is on Anomaly / Whaleboy records. Legend has it there are only a handful of these in existence. Sadly, I only have a dubbed copy.



Guilty Pleasure / Special Mention: Stone Temple Pilots - Purple

A perfect, solid rock album that's stood the test of time. Who knew?

Brainiac - Bonsai Superstar

20 years ahead of their time. I can't listen to Enon because Brainiac was so much better.

Pavement - Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain

Sublimely perfect in the way only Pavement could be. If you went to college in the 90s, you get it. If you didn't, you never will.

 

Guided by Voices - Bee Thousand

 The Hi-water mark of Lo-Fi. GBV's songwriting at its best. 

Starflyer 59 - Starflyer 59 [Silver]

The innovative first album of SF59's two perfect albums. Noisier, slower, more languid than anything else at the time.

Rodan - Rusty

A flawed album, but Rodan's legacy is taller than their recorded output. Rodan are the reason that other bands picked up Slint's sound and called it Post-rock.

Halo Benders - God Don't Make No Junk

The concept still doesn't make sense. Calvin from Beat Happening, Doug from Built to Spill, Steve from Pell Mell, Northwest rock royalty all, but very different. All mixed up together, making the strangest, most interesting pop you can imagine.

Landmark Albums: 1993

Third in a series of influential albums.


I'm getting behind in posting these on the site, but oh well. Aired 1/24/2014

(in no particular order other than the order I'm played them on the radio)

Fugazi - In on the Kill Taker

Fugazi's high water mark.

 

 Nirvana - In Utero

Nirvana, meet Steve Albini. Galvanizing for the mainstream and the underground.

Radiohead - Pablo Honey

Mass-marketed one-hit wonder for the alternative nation. Deeper listening reveals a layered, nuanced album buried in layers of guitar noise. The first, and maybe even the best? Them's fightin' words.

Catherine Wheel - Chrome

Catherine Wheel's best album. Pop songs buried under vast guitar soundscapes. Plus, some rocking.

Hum - Electra 2000

Drop-D fuzz science pop. A glimpse of what's to come. Definitive version includes "Winder" as a bonus track.

Smashing Pumkins - Siamese Dream

Same approach as Pablo Honey, Chrome, and Electra 2000, but done on a grander scale.

Afghan Whigs - Gentlemen

Darkly cinematic. Grunge angst meets soul longing.

The Breeders - Last Splash

Technically, this is the guilty pleasure album for the day, but in 1993, the mainstream and the underground were so mixed up that this was a big hit. Certainly as deserving as anything else on the list.

Built to Spill - Ultimate Alternative Wavers

Indie rock takes its first shambling, irony-laden steps away from the Alternative Nation mainstream.

The Spinanes - Manos

Doing less with more. Shimmering, sexy sounds from guitar, vocals, drums.