Wednesday, June 06, 2007

Time for Fun... It's SC6's Top Ten CD's in My Collection - Part 1, 1991-1995, The Grunge Years.




Time for me to take a break from all this heavy political talk, and chat about my favorite thing.... Music and Me! Take a short trip back in time with me, as I let you in my most inner sanctum to talk about the music that made me what I am today.








Yep, after I learned to play guitar, I went thru my Led Zeppelin, Doors and Sabbath phases, into my Heavy Metal concert shirt phase, followed by my mid-80's U2 and REM phase , and then the Glam Metal as I finished college. Then a great thing happened......... I could afford to buy CD's !! Sure, my Beastie Boys and Bon Jovi Cd's were stolen along the way, but I still managed a couple hundred. Thanks Columbia House - the check's in the mail!!






The Ground Rules...



Very simple. There are three criteria you need to understand about my choices.





1. No Greatest Hits CD's. That's cheating.


2. Mike is Cheap. I rarely bought a CD just for one song. I missed a lot of good albums.


3. I stopped buying CD's in about 2002. Might that have something to do with the current state of music ???





So, here we go!!!







Number 10 : Red Hot Chili Peppers

Blood, Sugar, Sex , Magic (1991)


Recently, i've gotten a bit bored with the Peppers singing about Geography and the Alphabet, but this album was pretty eye-opening. Lots of funk from Flea's bass, and John Frusciante came into his own on guitar - before he got hooked on smack and recovered.













Number 9: 10,000 Maniacs

Our Time in Eden (1992)


This was the last album they made before Natalie Merchant realized she was the talent. Seriously, the guys from Jamestown, NY had a real good run despite their limitations. Of course, Merchant's rich voice covered a lot of that over.










Number 8: Green Day

Dookie (1994)
You don't have a copy of Dookie? No problem, you can have one of mine - I ended up with two! Keeping off of the Punk/Not-Punk argument, there is one indisputable fact - Green Day brought back speed roak that was fun - aka Ramones. The newer albums are better produced (and a bit overly political), but Dookie was a hallmark album.








Number 7: No Doubt

Tragic Kingdom (1995)



Like Ska music? Like a bit of Rock? Like a Hot Chick singing? Then you were probably one of the 15 million people that bought this CD too. Peppy, different and diverse, No Doubt and Gwen Stefani made Girl Power popular, without screaming it - like the Spice Girls.





Number 6: Pearl Jam

Ten (1991)

Is it possible to wear out a CD? Well, in '92 and '93, I tried to do it with Ten. Want a guaranteed way to get a grunge chick with your Doc Martens? Play Black with your band. Sure, it's a standard CD, but listen to their other CD's and you'll appreciate the effort.





Number 5: Sarah McLachlan
Fumbling Towards Ecstacy (1993)

Yeah, I like female singers.... Sue me ! Before she became super-famous, before she was the face of the Lilith Fair, Sarah McLachlan broke out in '93 with her great voice and nicely crafted arrangements. Front to back, this album kicks butt, and makes a great CD to unwind ( or spend quality time w/ your girl).





Number 4: Live
Throwing Copper (1994)
If I had a dollar for every lustful look I got from women when I played I Alone , All Over You or Lightning Crashes......Well, I'd have about $10.. Those guys from York , PA must have had some super Protestant nightmares, with all the religious references. But it was a sonic revelation to some, and it's held up well over the years.






Number 3: Nirvana
Nevermind (1991)
What can I say that hasn't been said already? Like there was any doubt that this CD would be on the Grunge list, it would have been nice to see what else Kurt Cobain had in that noodle of his. I almost picked In Utero, but that would've been blasphemy. Honestly though, did anyone think Dave Grohl would have such a good career after Nirvana?




Number 2: Smashing Pumpkins
Melon Collie and the Infinite Sadness (1995)


What made this CD stand out? Billy Corgan's Uncle Fester look? Nope. Listen to drummer Jimmy Chamberlain on Tonight, Tonight and Bullet With Butterfly Wings. The man is like a machine gun ! The monster 2-CD set took it's toll on the group, but they are working in the studio on a new album, so I'll be waiting...




Number 1: Alice in Chains
Dirt (1991)

Those who know me well know that my battery runs on the negative terminal sometimes, and Dirt is the ultimate death album. Tortured by drugs and unhappiness, Layne Staley's lyrics paint an ugly picture. After listening to this CD, I knew Staley wouldn't live to see 40. Heavy and dark, Alice in Chains niche was their beautiful harmonies, and their quieter side. This was an album that you can trace thier influence directly to bands like Godsmack and Days of the New. Alice was thrown off track by Staley's battle with smack, only recording an EP and one album after this. One listen to this CD, and you'll find it hard to believe that people feel this down.


That's All !! I have no doubt that some of you will say that my taste in music sucks, and that I need to buy some more CD's. For those of you who want more, stay tuned for Part II.


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6 comments:

Thoroughbred 401k said...

Hold on, let me conjure up Earl's Spirit..........

EARLEE....CAPPEE !!
YOKO... ONO !!
EARLEE....CAPPEE !!
BIGGIE....HOMO!!

It is done.

Anonymous said...

It ain;t Earl but it is Moye. What is all the blank space about.

earlcapps said...

are we not men?
we are devo
jocko homo
we are devo

Thoroughbred 401k said...

Explanation on post above..

____________ said...

this is a solid list. i'm still stuck in the grunge era myself. I actually was able to get 2 tickets to the smashing pumpkins show up in asheville in less than a month from now.

The only albums I might would put in their would be Metallica "Black" (i think that was 91') and possible Stone Temple Piolots "Core." Either way, you compiled a good list and I agree with you on 8 out of the 10.

Thoroughbred 401k said...

Michael, I agree on the other two you mentioned. I left Metallica out because I think that came out earlier in '91, so I had them listed on a previous list - there may be crossover there. I left Core out to not be too cliche', but another STP album is on my Part II list.