The Music Forum's Essential Albums: The 90's

[micahistheballs]

Oh yes, it's that time again. With me actually home for two weeks, it's time to vote for the essential albums of the 90's.

Once again, these are the most essential albums of the 90's that are important to a music fan to understand the history and evolution of what we listen to today.

Post your list in order and the scoring system remains the same as before which is....

1st- 10 points
2nd- 8 points
3rd- 7 points
4th-10th- 5 points
11th-20th- 3 points

Vote and discuss away.

[micahistheballs]

Do you guys feel that it is too early to accurately judge the essential-ness of a lot of these albums or that the years since 1999 have been ample time to see which albums have held the test of time and which were just fads with no influence to speak of?

[Genuma]

Yeah, I don't know if '98-'99 could be called classics.

[micahistheballs]

Any list without OK Computer at number 1 is living in a dreamworld.
Quite possibly the best album of the 90's, but I don't think it's the most influential/essential.

[micahistheballs]

Disagreed entirely. It's by far the most essential. At the time others perhaps had a similar impact like Ten or Nevermind but time has taken a huge dump on those records and they are dated and no longer relevant. OK Computer however is as formidable and brilliant as it was in 97 and is still held on the absolute highest pedestal by music critics. It defines the entire decade.
But would rock that isn't pop be played on the radio without it? OK Computer had a much larger effect on the underground of rock music and in terms of production instead of music as a whole. No band since the Beatles has had such an impact on music as a whole and culture as well. Nirvana started a revolution that Radiohead never did.

[micahistheballs]

Also, one thing is the fact that you live in the UK and I live in America. While No Surprises, Paranoid Android, and Karma Police were all top 10 singles there, none of them even made the top 40 in America.

This is kind of vice versa with Nevermind as the single's success was about the same, but Nevermind as an album has sold 5 times as many copies in the US than in the UK.

[hailthewarrior]

But would rock that isn't pop be played on the radio without it? OK Computer had a much larger effect on the underground of rock music and in terms of production instead of music as a whole. No band since the Beatles has had such an impact on music as a whole and culture as well. Nirvana started a revolution that Radiohead never did.

Which is why Nirvana will be at the top of my list whenever I get around to making it.

[micahistheballs]

Which is why Nirvana will be at the top of my list whenever I get around to making it.
Ditto.

[born to expire]

1. Notorious BIG - Ready to Die
2. Into Another - Seemless
3. Refused - The Shape of Punk To Come
4. Morrissey - Your Arsenal
5. Jeff Buckley - Grace
6. Quicksand - Manic Compression
7. Supertouch - The Earth Is Flat
8. Big L - Lifestylez ov da Poor and Dangerous
9. Green Day - Kerplunk
10. Lifetime - Jersey's Best Dancers
11. Sheer Terror - Thanks Fer Nuthin'
12. Blink 182 - Dude Ranch
13. Nas - Illmatic
14. Leeway - Desperate Measures
15. Sleep - Holy Mountain
16. Life of Agony - River Runs Red
17. Integrity - Those Who Fear Tomorrow
18. Third Eye Blind - Third Eye Blind
19. Ben Folds Five - Whatever & Amen
20. Failure - Fantastic Planet

That was so hard.

[hailthewarrior]

Ditto.

I also think if anyone doesn't have Metallica's Black Album in the top 3 they, to use Ben's words, are living in a dreamworld.

[hailthewarrior]

1. Notorious BIG - Ready to Die
2. Into Another - Seemless
3. Refused - The Shape of Punk To Come
4. Morrissey - Your Arsenal
5. Jeff Buckley - Grace
6. Quicksand - Manic Compression
7. Supertouch - The Earth Is Flat
8. Big L - Lifestylez ov da Poor and Dangerous
9. Green Day - Kerplunk
10. Lifetime - Jersey's Best Dancers
11. Sheer Terror - Thanks Fer Nuthin'
12. Blink 182 - Dude Ranch
13. Nas - Illmatic
14. Leeway - Desperate Measures
15. Sleep - Holy Mountain
16. Life of Agony - River Runs Red
17. Integrity - Those Who Fear Tomorrow
18. Third Eye Blind - Third Eye Blind
19. Ben Folds Five - Whatever & Amen
20. Failure - Fantastic Planet

That was so hard.

...how did you manage to make a 90's list without Nirvana, or atleast the Foo Fighters? I mean, really.

[wewascontenders]

I also think if anyone doesn't have Metallica's Black Album in the top 3 they, to use Ben's words, are living in a dreamworld.

That more than likely won't even make my list. :shrug:

[GuitarR0cker1]

...how did you manage to make a 90's list without Nirvana, or atleast the Foo Fighters? I mean, really.
Yeah that is pretty bad...


I'll have mine up soon.

[hailthewarrior]

That more than likely won't even make my list. :shrug:

Is that because of preference or do you honestly believe they're not influential?

[micahistheballs]

01. Radiohead - OK Computer
02. Nas - Illmatic
03. Nirvana - Nevermind
04. Green Day - Dookie
05. Wu Tang Clan - Enter the Wu Tang (36 Chambers)
06. Jeff Buckley - Grace
07. REM - Automatic for the People
08. Oasis - Definitely Maybe
09. Dr Dre - The Chronic
10. Radiohead - The Bends
11. Massive Attack - Mezzanine
12. Weezer - Pinkerton
13. Bjork - Homogenic
14. Pavement - Slanted and Enchanted
15. My Bloody Valentine - Loveless
16. Portishead - Dummy
17. Manic Street Preachers - The Holy Bible
18. Fugazi - Red Medicine
19. Godspeed You Black Emperor! - F# A# = Infinity
20. GZA/Genuis - Liquid Swords
Why Definitely Maybe and no What's The Story?

EDIT: I'm also shocked to see no Neutral Milk Hotel. Please explain that as well.

[hailthewarrior]

Why Definitely Maybe and no What's The Story?

Seconded.

Though, it could be another one was bigger here/there things.

[wewascontenders]

Is that because of preference or do you honestly believe they're not influential?

Don't get me wrong, Metallica is definitely influential, but I think they did much more with their first three albums with what released in the 90's. I just think there are better choices than Metallica for this decade.

[hailthewarrior]

Don't get me wrong, Metallica is definitely influential, but I think they did much more with their first three albums with what released in the 90's. I just think there are better choices than Metallica for this decade.

But The Black Album gave them, arguably, their two biggest hits with Enter Sandman and Wherever I May Roam.

[born to expire]

...how did you manage to make a 90's list without Nirvana, or atleast the Foo Fighters? I mean, really.

Name five GOOD bands that Nirvana influenced. Don't tell me what I can and can't put on my list... I mean, really.

[micahistheballs]

The idea that Nirvana killed metal and revitalised rock is total bullshit. It's a complete media invention that never occured. Look at the bands playing just years before Nirvana...The Smiths, Joy Division, Sonic Youth, Pixies, Dinosaur Jr and tell me rock was dead. Moreover bands like The Smiths, Joy Division, The Clash etc.. are all non pop bands who received plenty radio play.

To the extremely idiotic and ignorant one could believe that Nickelback revitalised rock after than rap dominated early 00's for example, but anyone around at the time with half brain call that out for the bullshit it is.
You read far too much into what I said. I said no such thing about them killing metal or anything of that sort. I just said that Nirvana started a revolution among the youth that no band since the Beatles had done. That's why they get my vote.

They also broke down the doors for different style of rock bands to get mainstream attention and while that hasn't necessarily been as good of a thing with Nickelback and Creed carrying on their influence, you still can't deny it. While Radiohead influenced a ton of bands in a similar fashion musically, they don't carry quite the same weight unless you're someone like me or you and not to your average music consumer.

[hailthewarrior]

Name five GOOD bands that Nirvana influenced. Don't tell me what I can and can't put on my list... I mean, really.

Pearl Jam and Foo Fighters (though I don't know if influence is the right term here) come to mind almost instantly. But who says what a good band influences has to be good?

[born to expire]

Yeah that is pretty bad...



Don't get me started on you.

[GuitarR0cker1]

Don't get me started on you.
ohohoh because I like Pop Punk means you can bash me. Okay, feel free to but that is my personal preference and that doesn't mean that I can't like them and also enjoy some indie, metal and grunge stuff.

[born to expire]

Pearl Jam and Foo Fighters (though I don't know if influence is the right term here) come to mind almost instantly. But who says what a good band influences has to be good?

I don't really like Nirvana and I don't like the impact they had upon music. That work for you?

[born to expire]

ohohoh because I like Pop Punk means you can bash me. Okay, feel free to but that is my personal preference and that doesn't mean that I can't like them and also enjoy some indie, metal and grunge stuff.

I like pop punk. You're 7 years younger than I am and are trying to talk shit on a list full of albums you have probably never heard.

[hailthewarrior]

I don't really like Nirvana and I don't like the impact they had upon music. That work for you?

It makes it more understandable, but on two of my lists now I've stuck bands I despise in the top 5, haha, because I do see their influence. :shrug: Whatever.

[GuitarR0cker1]

And besides grunge is shit.

Essential means musically essential not just what the idiots at the time were into.

Please stop being a fucking music elitist. It is stupid and doesn't make you cool. I don't care if you think that grunge is shit but the idea that people who listen to it are idiots makes no sense. Honestly I don't care if you don't think Nirvana isn't that influential that's fine but at least have an explanation for why Grunge is shit or why Nirvana isn't influential.

[born to expire]

And besides grunge is shit.

Essential means musically essential not just what the idiots at the time were into.

Else 50 Cent, Disturbed and Nickelback are 00's top three.

I guess Nirvana had an impact on stuff like Failure (which I included on my list), but that still doesn't mean I have to list them.

[GuitarR0cker1]

I like pop punk. You're 7 years younger than I am and are trying to talk shit on a list full of albums you have probably never heard.
Fair enough, but at first I just didn't understand how you couldn't say that Nirvana, or the Foo Fighters or at least something Grunge just wasn't influential but now I do.

[born to expire]

Please stop being a fucking music elitist. It is stupid and doesn't make you cool. I don't care if you think that grunge is shit but the idea that people who listen to it are idiots makes no sense. Honestly I don't care if you don't think Nirvana isn't that influential that's fine but at least have an explanation for why Grunge is shit or why Nirvana isn't influential.

You were born in the year that I first got into Green Day and started being really interested in music. I loved Nirvana. 14 years later? Not so much.

[born to expire]

Fair enough, but at first I just didn't understand how you couldn't say that Nirvana, or the Foo Fighters or at least something Grunge just wasn't influential but now I do.

Foo Fighters are pretty cool but I probably haven't heard a full album of theirs in 10 years so I have no point of reference.

[GuitarR0cker1]

You were born in the year that I first got into Green Day and started being really interested in music. I loved Nirvana. 14 years later? Not so much.
That's cool, and fine but honestly without Green Day or Nirvana would you honestly say that you would be into the type of music you are now?

[GuitarR0cker1]

Foo Fighters are pretty cool but I probably haven't heard a full album of theirs in 10 years so I have no point of reference.
Ahhhhh, I see. Well it isn't like they were tremendously influential but they did impact music quite a bit.

[micahistheballs]

Disagreed. Radiohead remain the most experimental band to have ever reached number one on the billboard chart with Kid A. They made experimental music marketable.

But only marketable for themselves and Kid A wasn't even marketable, it just went platinum of the strength of OK Computer which I know adds to your argument, but yeah.
This isn't even about preference just so you know as Radiohead is my favourite band and Nirvana is alright.

And besides grunge is shit.

Essential means musically essential not just what the idiots at the time were into.

Else 50 Cent, Disturbed and Nickelback are 00's top three.

Nevermind broke down boundaries and was revolutionary. Things that 50 Cent, Disturbed, and Nickelback have not down and are not.

Like I keep saying, the thing about that record is that it wasn't just musically revolutionary, but cultural as well.

[born to expire]

That's cool, and fine but honestly without Green Day or Nirvana would you honestly say that you would be into the type of music you are now?

I listed Green Day. Nirvana didn't really get me into any other bands, whereas Green Day led me to punk. I always thought Green Day was much better then anyway. From 1st-3rd grade those were the big 2, and Kurt Cobain's suicide made them even more popular. I didn't list Offspring - Smash even though I was really into it at the time.

[Cuddleworthy]

Not really essential. Most people including music critics haven't heard of them. They don't belong on this list just like Modest Mouse, Built to Spill, Flaming Lips and a host of other great indie bands.

I'm pretty sure more people including music critics have heard of Modest Mouse, The Flaming Lips, and NMH than GZA and GY!BE.

[KidRobot]

I'll actually do a list this time.

[born to expire]

Nevermind broke down boundaries and was revolutionary. Things that 50 Cent, Disturbed, and Nickelback have not down and are not.

Like I keep saying, the thing about that record is that it wasn't just musically revolutionary, but cultural as well.


I don't like Nirvana. I did not put them on my list for that reason.

[GuitarR0cker1]

Nevermind broke down boundaries and was revolutionary. Things that 50 Cent, Disturbed, and Nickelback have not down and are not.

Like I keep saying, the thing about that record is that it wasn't just musically revolutionary, but cultural as well.
Exactly, Nevermind made it so that if you had an Alternative band(oh god terrible label) you could break out into the mainstream and have sucess. While this wasn't exactly good for music as a whole it influences lots of people and bands. I doubt that either Green Day or the Offspring would have gotten big without Nirvana, and the same goes for Weezer.

[GuitarR0cker1]

But it didn't at all. Your argument is similar to say Fall Out Boy and emo. Now a lazy journalist could claim Fall Out Boy caused an "emo" revolution and 20 years from now people would believe that but us at the time know they just picked up the momentum of Blink, NFG and so on and slightly altered it and made it more popular. They didn't cause any revolution or change at all. Now replace FOB with Nirvana and Blink and NFG with Pixies and Sonic Youth.

And besides 50 Cent caused a cultural revolution and he broke down the boundaries futher between music and business.
Except the Pixies and the Sonic Youth were nowhere near as popular to Blink and NFG and FOB really isn't that biggest band out there while,for their time, Nirvana was the biggest and most influential band on Earth so all of this is a false comparison.

[wewascontenders]

But The Black Album gave them, arguably, their two biggest hits with Enter Sandman and Wherever I May Roam.

Agreed, but I still think there are better choices for the 90's.

[GuitarR0cker1]

Guns n Roses, Metallica and others were bigger than Nirvana at their peak.

Pixies and Sonic Youth were massive.

Pixies headlined Reading Festival the year before Nirvana did.
That might be massive to the underground scene or whatever they called it but not to many people had heard of them on the mainstream. Also for some clarification are you saying at Metallica's and Guns n Roses' peak or Nirvana's peak?

[wewascontenders]

That might be massive to the underground scene or whatever they called it but not to many people had heard of them on the mainstream. Also for some clarification are you saying at Metallica's and Guns n Roses' peak or Nirvana's peak?

I'm not one to talk seeing as I'm not much older. But how do you know how many people knew about the Pixies at the time of their peak, when you weren't even born yet?

[GuitarR0cker1]

Listen kid. You know fuck all about music. Chances are you found that bullshit out three months ago on wikipedia (probably a week before you bought your first pair of skinnys and read the manifesto promptly declaring yourself a socialist without even being old enough to work, oh the irony). Drop the act and you might learn something.
So because I am 14 it is illegal for me to know about anything and for me to act mature and learn things? Also you shut the fuck up about me being a socialist. First of all that is for politics and I don't want to clutter up this thread with it, and second of all I have been a socialist since I was 12 and I know quite a bit about histroy so before please stop judging me.

[El_Jeffe]

surprised to see no elliot smith yet, this would be a very different result in the general forum i think. i'm not a huge fan of the man myself, good, but the best

although i don't expect it, it'll still be a bummer not to see any crowded house. they played a much much bigger role than many people realize

[GuitarR0cker1]

Incorrect again. Hell Sonic Youth were on The Simpsons in 1996. Now think about that. What kind of musical acts are on the Simpsons right now? Green Day, Blink 182, 50 Cent are the recent ones I can think of.

So Sonic Youth weren't popular?



Their peak was around the same time. Once again showing you know nothing.

Metallica have had a pretty plateaued peak however.
No their peak was about a year before Nirvana's and yes I recognize I fucked up with Sonic Youth and the Pixies maybe I should shut up about some of this. Also I think it is possible you could say Nirvana's peak was after Cobain's death and if you use that then it would be well after their peak.

[Cuddleworthy]

No their peak was about a year before Nirvana's and yes I recognize I fucked up with Sonic Youth and the Pixies maybe I should shut up about some of this. Also I think it is possible you could say Nirvana's peak was after Cobain's death and if you use that then it would be well after their peak.

:wallbash:

[hailthewarrior]

Nirvana – Nevermind
Metallica – The Black Album
R.E.M. – Automatic For The People
Rage Against The Machine – Rage Against The Machine
Pearl Jam – Ten
Nirvana – In Utero
Smashing Pumpkins – Siamese Dreams
Green Day – Dookie
Goo Goo Dolls – Dizzy Up The Girl
Nas – Illmatic
Jeff Buckley – Grace
Beck – Odelay
Weezer – Weezer (The Blue Album)
Red Hot Chili Peppers – Californication
Oasis – What’s The Story (Morning Glory)?
Crowded House – Recurring Dream
Matchbox 20 – Yourself Or Something Like You
U2 – Achtung Baby
Dillinger Escape Plan – Calculating Infinity
Sunny Day Real Estate - Diary

Funny you mentioned Crowded House Craig right before I posted this.

And before anyone goes and jumps on my ass about no Radiohead, they would be in my top 5, but they're going to get enough votes anyways so I put some other albums on instead.

[KidRobot]

1. Radiohead - OK Computer
2. Neutral Milk Hotel- In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
3. Jeff Buckley - Grace
4. Nirvana - Nevermind
5. Green Day - Dookie
6. Blink-182- Dude Ranch
7. Modest Mouse- The Lonesome Crowded West
8. Oasis - (What's the Story) Morning Glory?
9. Weezer - Pinkerton
10. Tupac- Me Against the World
11. Godspeed You Black Emperor! - F# A# = Infinity
12. Third Eye Blind- Third Eye Blind
13. Notorious B.I.G.- Ready to Die
14. Built to Spill- There's Nothing Wrong with Love
15. Metallica- The Black Album
16. Fugazi- Red Medicine
17. Saves the Day- Through Being Cool
18. Blink-182- Enema of the State
19. Third Eye Blind- Blue
20. Rage Against The Machine- The Battle of Los Angeles

[El_Jeffe]

Nirvana – Nevermind
Metallica – The Black Album
R.E.M. – Automatic For The People
Rage Against The Machine – Rage Against The Machine
Pearl Jam – Ten
Nirvana – In Utero
Smashing Pumpkins – Siamese Dreams
Green Day – Dookie
Goo Goo Dolls – Dizzy Up The Girl
Nas – Illmatic
Jeff Buckley – Grace
Beck – Odelay
Weezer – Weezer (The Blue Album)
Red Hot Chili Peppers – Californication
Oasis – What’s The Story (Morning Glory)?
Crowded House – Recurring Dream
Matchbox 20 – Yourself Or Something Like You
U2 – Achtung Baby
Dillinger Escape Plan – Calculating Infinity
Sunny Day Real Estate - Diary

Funny you mentioned Crowded House Craig right before I posted this.


legend! although that was a compilation album mate. but it did have a huge impact & is still one of the top selling cds today...

crowded house - woodface will no doubt feature well on my list

[hailthewarrior]

legend! although that was a compilation album mate. but it did have a huge impact & is still one of the top selling cds today...

crowded house - woodface will no doubt feature well on my list

haha, i still hear it every so often from my dad upstairs when he's blasting all his music. and i believe i talked to you once and you explained their influence outside of america, and that helped in my decision, haha. you're such a convincing fan.

[wewascontenders]

1. Radiohead - OK Computer
2. Nirvana - Nevermind
3. Refused - The Shape of Punk to Come
4. Converge - Petitioning the Empty Sky
5. Jawbreaker - 24 Hour Revenge Therapy
6. Blink-182 - Enema Of the State
7. Drive Like Jehu - Yank Crime
8. At The Drive-In - Acrobatic Tenement
9. Tupac - All Eyez On Me
10. Fugazi - Repeater
11. Cap'n Jazz - Analphabetapolothology
12. Lifetime - Jersey’s Best Dancers
13. Weezer - Blue Album
14. Wu-Tang Clan - Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
15. Oasis - (What’s the Story) Morning Glory
16. Hot Water Music - Fuel For the Hate Game
17. Blink-182 - Dude Ranch
18. Botch - We Are the Romans
19. Sunny Day Real Estate - Diary
20. The Get Up Kids - Something to Write Home About

[Cuddleworthy]

Modest Mouse maybe but not TFL and NMH. GZA is massive is hip hop circles and Godspeed is one of those bands that other bands love if you catch me.

GZA himself is not that massive in hip hop circles. Wu-Tang (the group he's been in, obviously) is much more popular and their debut the 36 Chambers is more essential than Liquid Swords.

[hailthewarrior]

This list is going to be so sporadic after the top 5 or so.

[micahistheballs]

But it didn't at all. Your argument is similar to say Fall Out Boy and emo. Now a lazy journalist could claim Fall Out Boy caused an "emo" revolution and 20 years from now people would believe that but us at the time know they just picked up the momentum of Blink, NFG and so on and slightly altered it and made it more popular. They didn't cause any revolution or change at all. Now replace FOB with Nirvana and Blink and NFG with Pixies and Sonic Youth.

And besides 50 Cent caused a cultural revolution and he broke down the boundaries futher between music and business.
I definitely see what you're saying and feel that it's valid, but I just feel that it's not quite the same.

I know it's far too early to tell if it is or not, but I can't envision Fall Out Boy living on the way that Nirvana has unless Pete Wentz suddenly kills himself.

Please don't tell me I know fuck all about music haha.

[El_Jeffe]

haha, i still hear it every so often from my dad upstairs when he's blasting all his music. and i believe i talked to you once and you explained their influence outside of america, and that helped in my decision, haha. you're such a convincing fan.

haha had the finn boys been from the uk, they'd be hailed (in the international mainstream) as some of the greatest ever. they do have a large international cult & mainstream following that believe they are right up there, as well as much love from their musician peers. but still not fully recognized enough

ya need to keep up in the finn brother thread mate haha. another great example:
back in the early days when crowded house were trying to make a name for themselves, they had just signed to capitol records & finished recording their self-titled debut, which had been distributed around many big names in music (label members & musicians, elvis costello was a fan!). when a number of band managers & promoters, etc wanted to see what all the fuss was about. so neil & the boys set up to do a number of live gigs for these bigwigs & whoever else wanted to attend. the industry turned up, only to find the boys had turned up with only acoustic instruments. however, instead of the industry workers showing up, drinking heavily, doing drugs & scoffing free food, they were all hooked on the stripped back ways of the songs they had already heard & loved on record. the intensity of all these great songs stripped back to the real roots of raw emotion in a time when techno pop & studio equipment overkill were everywhere

to quote a capitol employee of the time "they blew the place to pieces. the adrenaline rush from everyone was incredible". one of the most significant things about these little impromptu sets was the fact there was a few (soon to be) mtv employees gathered at one such gig. no sooner they were hired by mtv, they all suddenly had this "new idea" for a television show... it was called "unplugged". how convenient

[Cuddleworthy]

1. Radiohead - OK Computer
2. Neutral Milk Hotel- In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
3. Jeff Buckley - Grace
4. Nirvana - Nevermind
5. Green Day - Dookie
6. Blink-182- Dude Ranch
7. Modest Mouse- The Lonesome Crowded West
8. Oasis - (What's the Story) Morning Glory?
9. Weezer - Pinkerton
10. Tupac- Me Against the World
11. Godspeed You Black Emperor! - F# A# = Infinity
12. Third Eye Blind- Third Eye Blind
13. Notorious B.I.G.- Life After Death
14. Built to Spill- There's Nothing Wrong with Love
15. Metallica- The Black Album
16. Fugazi- Red Medicine
17. Saves the Day- Through Being Cool
18. Blink-182- Enema of the State
19. Third Eye Blind- Blue
20. Rage Against The Machine- The Battle of Los Angeles


You clearly know nothing about rap music or its history. There is not a chance in hell that Life After Death is more essential, influential, or even better than Biggie's other album, Ready To Die. Not to mention Illmatic and a slew of other albums shit all over Life After Death.

[KidRobot]

You clearly know nothing about rap music or its history. There is not a chance in hell that Life After Death is more essential, influential, or even better than Biggie's other album, Ready To Die. Not to mention Illmatic and a slew of other albums shit all over Life After Death.

Fair enough.

[micahistheballs]

Nirvana – Nevermind
Metallica – The Black Album
R.E.M. – Automatic For The People
Rage Against The Machine – Rage Against The Machine
Pearl Jam – Ten
Nirvana – In Utero
Smashing Pumpkins – Siamese Dreams
Green Day – Dookie
Goo Goo Dolls – Dizzy Up The Girl
Nas – Illmatic
Jeff Buckley – Grace
Beck – Odelay
Weezer – Weezer (The Blue Album)
Red Hot Chili Peppers – Californication
Oasis – What’s The Story (Morning Glory)?
Crowded House – Recurring Dream
Matchbox 20 – Yourself Or Something Like You
U2 – Achtung Baby
Dillinger Escape Plan – Calculating Infinity
Sunny Day Real Estate - Diary

Funny you mentioned Crowded House Craig right before I posted this.

And before anyone goes and jumps on my ass about no Radiohead, they would be in my top 5, but they're going to get enough votes anyways so I put some other albums on instead.
List in order again?

[theguy77]

i wish i knew enough 90s music to make a decent list.

*prays that barenaked ladies' album "stunt" makes it somehow*

[chipdip18]

Nirvana – Nevermind
Metallica – The Black Album
R.E.M. – Automatic For The People
Rage Against The Machine – Rage Against The Machine
Pearl Jam – Ten
Nirvana – In Utero
Smashing Pumpkins – Siamese Dreams
Green Day – Dookie
Goo Goo Dolls – Dizzy Up The Girl
Nas – Illmatic
Jeff Buckley – Grace
Beck – Odelay
Weezer – Weezer (The Blue Album)
Red Hot Chili Peppers – Californication
Oasis – What’s The Story (Morning Glory)?
Crowded House – Recurring Dream
Matchbox 20 – Yourself Or Something Like You
U2 – Achtung Baby
Dillinger Escape Plan – Calculating Infinity
Sunny Day Real Estate - Diary

Funny you mentioned Crowded House Craig right before I posted this.

And before anyone goes and jumps on my ass about no Radiohead, they would be in my top 5, but they're going to get enough votes anyways so I put some other albums on instead.


I'm curious, why is Rage so high?

[chipdip18]

Do you guys feel that it is too early to accurately judge the essential-ness of a lot of these albums or that the years since 1999 have been ample time to see which albums have held the test of time and which were just fads with no influence to speak of?


Well what about a blink album? like Enema of the State? We all agree they were highly influencial, and that was released in 1999.

[El_Jeffe]

you'll never catch me saying i'm "in the know" about pop-punk haha. but blink 182 seemed to only "influence" a trend of clones, with the same nasal vocals & embarrassingly immature behavior. green day's earlier material seemed to have more of an actual impact on the music, building on what bands (like the ramones, descendents, etc) had already laid down

that's what it seemed like to me anyway. but if i were you, i'd ask versus god, cause i guarantee she'll have many more accurate answers for ya than i ever will on this subject

[chipdip18]

you'll never catch me saying i'm "in the know" about pop-punk haha. but blink 182 seemed to only "influence" a trend of clones, with the same nasal vocals & embarrassingly immature behavior. green day's earlier material seemed to have more of an actual impact on the music, building on what bands (like the ramones, descendents, etc) had already laid down

that's what it seemed like to me anyway. but if i were you, i'd ask versus god, cause i guarantee she'll have many more accurate answers for ya than i ever will on this subject


I agree with you on their influence vs. Green Day's, but they do fit the criteria i think. They were extremely popular, and had a great influence (though i agree, not a very good one.) I was wondering if it still works because Micah asked if we should use albums from 98 and 99.

[theguy77]

you'll never catch me saying i'm "in the know" about pop-punk haha. but blink 182 seemed to only "influence" a trend of clones, with the same nasal vocals & embarrassingly immature behavior. green day's earlier material seemed to have more of an actual impact on the music, building on what bands (like the ramones, descendents, etc) had already laid down

that's what it seemed like to me anyway. but if i were you, i'd ask versus god, cause i guarantee she'll have many more accurate answers for ya than i ever will on this subject

well the influence of 90s pop-punk has little influence on what's going on now in the genre because its almost like a whole new breed of it came about at the turn of the millenium.

[chipdip18]

well the influence of 90s pop-punk has little influence on what's going on now in the genre because its almost like a whole new breed of it came about at the turn of the millenium.


Yeah, like JEW's Bleed American and TBS's Tell All Your Friends.

[El_Jeffe]

I agree with you on their influence vs. Green Day's, but they do fit the criteria i think. They were extremely popular, and had a great influence (though i agree, not a very good one.) I was wondering if it still works because Micah asked if we should use albums from 98 and 99.

i see what ya saying mate, but impact & popularity are very different things. having ever high school band in the land clone your sound isn't really an influential to me. i think it's more of a what did later bands take from this & use to create something innovative or something that went on to change the way people think about or perceive music, that change is what's important i reckon. none of which i personally can see from blink 182

but again, i'm no pop-punk expert. can't swallow much of it haha

well the influence of 90s pop-punk has little influence on what's going on now in the genre because its almost like a whole new breed of it came about at the turn of the millenium.

how so? do you mean pop-punk bands incorporating (or trying to) indie & alike styles?

[theguy77]

Yeah, like JEW's Bleed American and TBS's Tell All Your Friends.

yeah, but thats a good trend of pop-punk. and then there's this bad trend forming. it started with fall out boy's (highly enjoyable and amazingly catchy) TTTYG, and then just took leaps downhill from that one high point. i call it fueled by ramen powerpop but its definitely not just that label anymore. if you post on this site you probably defnitely know what im getting at.

[chipdip18]

yeah, but thats a good trend of pop-punk. and then there's this bad trend forming. it started with fall out boy's (highly enjoyable and amazingly catchy) TTTYG, and then just took leaps downhill from that one high point. i call it fueled by ramen powerpop but its definitely not just that label anymore. if you post on this site you probably defnitely know what im getting at.


Haha yeah i get what you mean. I think you are missing the window from 2000-2004 though. But anyway, back to this thread.

Do you think Elliott Smith would fit somewhere near the bottom of this list?

[theguy77]

how so? do you mean pop-punk bands incorporating (or trying to) indie & alike styles?

not just indie but also melodic hardcore. and also developing better lyrical tactics, though the lyrics still arent the deepest around. there's more focus on emotion rather than just the fun/stupid aspect as well.

[El_Jeffe]

jimmy eat world & taking back sunday aren't really pop-punk though are they? (i don't listen to the latter). more bands that pop-punk fans have embraced for some reason or another

Do you think Elliott Smith would fit somewhere near the bottom of this list?

it's a tough one. many music fans rate him way too highly as the most defining singer/songwriter out there & a lot of real indie nuts write him off completely. i'm not his hugest fan, but he was decent. as to where he'd fit on a list... tough call, could be an interesting debate

not just indie but also melodic hardcore. and also developing better lyrical tactics, though the lyrics still arent the deepest around. there's more focus on emotion rather than just the fun/stupid aspect as well.

but is that really influence, or another recent trend that'll no doubt go nowhere? i don't have the answers here, don't listen to melodic hardcore. but i do see the movement away from embarrassing antics, but still wouldn't really call it emotion filled haha

[theguy77]

but is that really influence, or another recent trend that'll no doubt go nowhere? i don't have the answers here, don't listen to melodic hardcore. but i do see the movement away from embarrassing antics, but still wouldn't really call it emotion filled haha

its not so recent and you're right it didnt go anywhere significant, because bands stopped doing it that way around 2004 and since we've had shitty boyband pop-punk. its not emotion filled but it has more emotion in it though.

[hailthewarrior]

List in order again?

It's in order, the numbers messed up when I transfered again.

I'm curious, why is Rage so high?

Because, after Nirvana, on all rock stations, I'll hear Rage daily, without fail, every time I listen. Not to mention, they seemed to have influence Linkin Park, Limp Bizkit, etc. trend.

[bradsonemanband]

jimmy eat world - clarity
blink 182 - dude ranch
blink 182 - enema of the state
everclear - so much for the afterglow
american football - s/t
beastie boys - licensed to ill
quicksand - manic compression
grade - under the radar
mineral - endserenading

[chipdip18]

jimmy eat world & taking back sunday aren't really pop-punk though are they? (i don't listen to the latter). more bands that pop-punk fans have embraced for some reason or another[quote/]

Well Jimmy Eat Worlds' Bleed American is Jimmy Eat World's most pop-punk release i believe, (i haven't heard Chase This Light) And Taking Back Sunday's Tell All Your Friends is a good example of pop-punk as both the albums helped transition the whole idea of pop-punk, and making it more pop than punk, which has snowballed into those bands we dread and here about today.


[quote]
it's a tough one. many music fans rate him way too highly as the most defining singer/songwriter out there & a lot of real indie nuts write him off completely. i'm not his hugest fan, but he was decent. as to where he'd fit on a list... tough call, could be an interesting debate



Actually the more i think about it, what Elliott Smith influenced could probably be taken under Jeff Buckley's wing, and Jeff Buckley influenced even more. Although i would give Elliot Smith a little bit of credit, which is why he could be put at the bottom of the list IMO.

[kearn1tm]

Radiohead -- OK Computer
Nirvana -- Nevermind
Beck -- Odelay
Nas -- Illmatic
Neutral Milk Hotel -- In The Aeroplane Over The Sea
Dr. Dre -- The Chronic
The Fugees -- The Score
Liz Phair -- Exile in Guyville
Blur -- Parklife
The Breeders -- Last Splash
Weezer -- Pinkerton
Massive Attack -- Protection
Pavement -- Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
Aphex Twin -- The Richard D. James Album
Blackstar -- Mos Def & Talib Kweli are Black Star
Stereolab -- Emperor Tomato Ketchup
De La Soul -- De La Soul Is Dead
Lifetime -- Hello Bastards
Wilco -- Summerteeth
Tom Waits -- Bone Machine

[sandra92]

something like:
Nevermind - Nirvana
All Eyes on me - 2Pac
..

[theguy77]

Well Jimmy Eat Worlds' Bleed American is Jimmy Eat World's most pop-punk release i believe, (i haven't heard Chase This Light) And Taking Back Sunday's Tell All Your Friends is a good example of pop-punk as both the albums helped transition the whole idea of pop-punk, and making it more pop than punk, which has snowballed into those bands we dread and here about today.

haha TAYF was not that pop i mean the voices had a very immature untrained sound to them, the lyrics were sorta quirky, i mean that album is where the "melodic hardcore" influence came in the strongest too, and funnily enough its also one of the most emotional of those albums.

[wewascontenders]

As much as I remember, TAYF has little to no melodic hardcore influence.

[TheOtherAndrew]

1. Foo Fighters - The Colour and the Shape
2. NOFX - Punk in Drublic
3. Blink 182 - Enema of the State
4. Less Than Jake - Hello Rockview
5. Nirvana - Nevermind
6. Refused - The Shape of Punk to Come
7. NOFX - So Long and Thanks for All the Shoes
8. Jawbreaker - Dear You
9. Green Day - Dookie
10. Rancid - And Out Come the Wolves
11. Nirvana - In Utero
12. Foo Fighters - Foo Fighters
13. Alkaline Trio - Goddamnit
14. Bad Religion - The Gray Race
15. Moxy Fruvous - Bargainville
16. Bad Religion - Stranger than Fiction
17. Green Day - Insomniac
18. Rage Against the Machine - The Battle of Los Angeles
19. The Lawrence Arms - A Guided Tour of Chicago
20. South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut - Music From And Inspired By The Motion Picture

[Troggy]

I'm not very cool so my list will probably be whack but I will come try this later after I see what 90s albums I have haha.

Andrew - your 1-4 is kind of crazy TBH although I love Hello Rockview...

[versus_god]

1. Foo Fighters - The Colour and the Shape
2. NOFX - Punk in Drublic
3. Blink 182 - Enema of the State
4. Less Than Jake - Hello Rockview
5. Nirvana - Nevermind
6. Refused - The Shape of Punk to Come
7. NOFX - So Long and Thanks for All the Shoes
8. Jawbreaker - Dear You
9. Green Day - Dookie
10. NOFX - So Long and Thanks for All the Shoes
11. Rancid - And Out Come the Wolves
12. Nirvana - In Utero
13. Foo Fighters - Foo Fighters
14. Alkaline Trio - Goddamnit
15. Bad Religion - The Gray Race
16. Moxy Fruvous - Bargainville
17. Bad Religion - Stranger than Fiction
18. Green Day - Insomniac
19. Rage Against the Machine - The Battle of Los Angeles
20. The Lawrence Arms - A Guided Tour of Chicago
Two times the SLATFATS.

[TheOtherAndrew]

Two times the SLATFATS.
haha, thanks. fixing.

[versus_god]

1. Fugazi - Repeater
2. Nation Of Ulysses - 13-Point Program To Destroy America
3. Tom Waits - Bone Machine
4. Archers Of Loaf - Icky Mettle
5. Refused - The Shape Of Punk To Come
6. Crimpshrine - Duct Tape Soup
7. Fugazi - Red Medicine
8. Jawbreaker - 24 Hour Revenge Therapy
9. Leatherface - Mush
10. Fugazi - In On The Kill Taker
11. Quicksand - Slip
12. Screeching Weasel - My Brain Hurts
13. Fugazi - Steady Diet Of Nothing
14. Jawbox - For Your Own Special Sweetheart
15. Green Day - Dookie
16. Hot Water Music - Fuel For The Hate Game
17. Lifetime - Hello Bastards
18. Fugazi - End Hits
19. NOFX - Punk In Drublic
20. Dillinger Four - Midwestern Songs Of The Americas

[Dr. Acula]

1. Radiohead - Ok Computer
2. Nirvana - Nevermind
3. U2 - Achtung Baby
4. Green Day - Dookie
5. Janes Addiction - Ritual de lo Habitual
6. The Smashing Pumpkins - Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
7. Jeff Buckley - Grace
8. The Cure - Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me
9. Fugazi - Repeater
10. Refused - The Shape of Punk To Come
11. The Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream
12. The Breeders - Last Splash
13. Jimmy Eat World - Clarity
14. Sunny Day Real Estate - Diary
15. NOFX - Punk in Drublic
16. Weezer - Pinkerton
17. Bad Religion - Stranger than Fiction
18. AFI - Black Sails in the Sunset
19. Jawbreaker - 24 Hr Revenge Therapy
20. Hot Water Music - Fuel For The Hate Game

[Dr. Acula]

from what Ive seen on these lists, Pumpkins need so more love. Def essential 90s.

[chipdip18]

haha TAYF was not that pop i mean the voices had a very immature untrained sound to them, the lyrics were sorta quirky, i mean that album is where the "melodic hardcore" influence came in the strongest too, and funnily enough its also one of the most emotional of those albums.

Haha you refuse to let TAYF be called pop-punk? You have to admit that those albums among other have led to the watering down of the punk aspect of pop-punk.

[chipdip18]

from what Ive seen on these lists, Pumpkins need so more love. Def essential 90s.


Which album though?

[theguy77]

Haha you refuse to let TAYF be called pop-punk? You have to admit that those albums among other have led to the watering down of the punk aspect of pop-punk.

it watered down the punk, some people refuse to even give it the glory of being called punk at all. but there's definitely something else in there, with integrity, with a garage band, honest feel. it's not total pop on TAYF although there are pop sensibilities (in the songwriting but not really in the overall sound.) but these days its just teenage boybands with guitars.

[chipdip18]

it watered down the punk, some people refuse to even give it the glory of being called punk at all. but there's definitely something else in there, with integrity, with a garage band, honest feel. it's not total pop on TAYF although there are pop sensibilities (in the songwriting but not really in the overall sound.) but these days its just teenage boybands with guitars.


Yup. I absolutely agree.

[absolutecrunk]

Oh man all this time I was just thinking along the lines of favorite albums. I didn't know it was supposed to be the essentials (despite it being painfully obvious). Well shoot man I don't know what people need to know about.

[Brokenhill]

This has been made for a while...

1. The Smashing Pumpkins - Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness

2. Nirvana - Nevermind
3. Refused - The Shape of Punk to Come
4. Pink Floyd - The Division Bell
5. The Cranberries - No Need to Argue
6. Pearl Jam - Ten
7. Weezer - The Blue Album
8. Radiohead - The Bends
9. Metallica - Metallica
10. Incubus - Make Yourself
11. The Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream
12. Queensryche - Empire
13. Rage Against the Machine - The Battle of Los Angeles
14. Bush - Sixteen Stone
15. Foo Fighters - The Colour and the Shape
16. Sigur Rós - Ágætis Byrjun
17. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Californication
18. Green Day - Dookie[/font]
19. Jimmy Eat World - Clarity
20. Michael Jackson - Dangerous

[chipdip18]

Yeah some Smashing Pumpkins!

[absolutecrunk]

Well I already had a list but it was counterintuitive to what this thread represents so now I won't post it.


Ugh.

[chipdip18]

You could work with it and change it around?

[absolutecrunk]

No because I would put The Blue Album at number 1 like I said I would and everyone would start crying.

Especially me.

[chipdip18]

Haha, basically it has to be Nirvana or Radiohead at number one.

[absolutecrunk]

I could buy Radiohead, but I still say that Billy Corgan, Chris Cornell, or especially Eddie Vedder could have offed themselves and had just as much of an 'impact' as Nevermind. Nirvana was clearly the most intentionally marketable to the anti-market. It's like saying The Sex Pistols were the greatest punk band ever. It's just an image.

But as I said, I can dig on OK Computer.

PS Pinkerton sucked in the 90s. Sure people may like it now, but it's stench kept those idiots out of the studio for 5 years. It is in no way essential to the 90s.

[IWasaCamera]

Please stop being a fucking music elitist. It is stupid and doesn't make you cool. I don't care if you think that grunge is shit but the idea that people who listen to it are idiots makes no sense. Honestly I don't care if you don't think Nirvana isn't that influential that's fine but at least have an explanation for why Grunge is shit or why Nirvana isn't influential.
Grunge is shit.


I'm making a list of "essential" albums according to what I deem the best music of the 90's because I dislike so much of what is on these lists. Fuck all of you.

1. Bonnie "Prince" Billy - I See A Darkness
2. Talk Talk - Laughing Stock
3. Boards Of Canada - Music Has The Right To Children
4. Silver Jews - American Water
5. Eels - Electro-Shock Blues
6. Gillian Welch - Revival
7. Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds - The Boatman's Call
8. Mogwai - Young Team
9. Portishead - Dummy
10. Belle & Sebastian - If You're Feeling Sinister
11. Tindersticks - Curtains
12. Tortoise - TNT
13. Autechre - Amber
14. Built To Spill - There's Nothing Wrong With Love
15. Pavement - Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
16. Aphex Twin - Richard D. James Album
17. Yo La Tengo - I Can Hear The Heart Beating As One
18. Neil Young - Harvest Moon
19. Jeff Buckley - Grace
20. Radiohead - OK Computer (half of it is quite good)

[Jumpoff]

The 90's just happens to be my favorite decade.

01. Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
02. Nas - Illmatic
03. Raekwon - Only Built 4 Cuban Linx
04. A Tribe Called Quest - Low End Theory
05. De La Soul - Is Dead
06. The Dismemberment Plan - Emergency and I
07. Belle and Sebastian - Boy with the Arab Strab
08. Portraits of Past - Self Titled
09. Gza - Liquid Swords
10. Sunny Day Real Estate - Diary
11. Outkast - Southernplayalistic...
12. Sublime - Sublime
13. Common - Ressurection
14. Fugazi - Repeater
15. Wu Tang - 36 Chambers
16. NoFX - Punk in Drublic
17. Portishead - Dummy
18. The Pixies - Bossanova
19. Ghostface Killah - Ironman
20. Cap N Jazz - Analphabetapolothology

Vinh, by the way, I've eben meaning to check out Bonnie "Prince" Billy.. that album is sitting on my harddrive. I'm going to listen to it tomorrow finally I think haha.

And I do agree. Grunge wasn't good.. the people who influenced Grunge like Sonic Youth were miles better than them....

EDIT: Order looks a little better to me now.

[Regards]

I knew this would be the most ridiculous decade.

[born to expire]

I'm making a list of "essential" albums according to what I deem the best music of the 90's because I dislike so much of what is on these lists. Fuck all of you.



That's how I went about making mine.

[Regards]

Yeah, it would be terrible if you actually tried to attempt to make the list based off of the criteria given.

[kearn1tm]

I'm making a list of "essential" albums according to what I deem the best music of the 90's because I dislike so much of what is on these lists. Fuck all of you.

1. Bonnie "Prince" Billy - I See A Darkness
2. Talk Talk - Laughing Stock
3. Boards Of Canada - Music Has The Right To Children
4. Silver Jews - American Water
5. Eels - Electro-Shock Blues
6. Gillian Welch - Revival
7. Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds - The Boatman's Call
8. Mogwai - Young Team
9. Portishead - Dummy
10. Belle & Sebastian - If You're Feeling Sinister
11. Tindersticks - Curtains
12. Tortoise - TNT
13. Autechre - Amber
14. Built To Spill - There's Nothing Wrong With Love
15. Pavement - Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
16. Aphex Twin - Richard D. James Album
17. Yo La Tengo - I Can Hear The Heart Beating As One
18. Neil Young - Harvest Moon
19. Jeff Buckley - Grace
20. Radiohead - OK Computer (half of it is quite good)

If you get to, I get to. Here's my "favorite albums" list:
Sloan -- Twice Removed
Weezer -- Pinkerton
Stereolab -- Mars Audiac Quintet
Bob Dylan -- Out of Time
Phantom Planet -- ...Is Missing
The Breeders -- Last Splash
Yo La Tango -- I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One
Neutral Milk Hotel -- In The Aeroplane Over The Sea
Belle & Sebastian -- If You're Feeling Sinister

Leaders of the New School -- A Future Without a Past
Liz Phair -- Exile in Guyville
Blur -- Parklife
Texas is the Reason -- Do You Know Who You Are?
Sonic Youth -- Goo
The Jesus Lizard -- Goat
Radiohead -- OK Computer
The Roots -- Illadelph Halflife
Talk Talk -- Laughing Stock
Mercury Rev -- Deserter's Song
The Old 97's -- Fight Songs

[Until The Bombs]

I could buy Radiohead, but I still say that Billy Corgan, Chris Cornell, or especially Eddie Vedder could have offed themselves and had just as much of an 'impact' as Nevermind.

Yeah Kurt became even larger in death as many artists have done, but he and his band were already better received and more successful than any of those artists were at the time before he committed suicide.


Nirvana was clearly the most intentionally marketable to the anti-market. It's like saying The Sex Pistols were the greatest punk band ever. It's just an image.


This implies that they were a product, that was constructed to market to the anti-market. That is not true. These guys just continued to dress and act as they had all along, the fact that people adopted their style isn't their fault. It only goes to show the impact that they did have.

[born to expire]

Yeah, it would be terrible if you actually tried to attempt to make the list based off of the criteria given.

Why would I put down a bunch of albums that music critics consider essential if I don't like them or consider them essential? What's the point of even making a list?

[Regards]

Why would I put down a bunch of albums that music critics consider essential if I don't like them or consider them essential? What's the point of even making a list?
Its not weather or not critics find it esential or not, its what was essential. What part of the 90's made music what it is today. Its not called "Your top albums on the 90's"

[IWasaCamera]

Probably what we should of done to begin with.
Frankly, skipping this decade might have been the best option.
Vinh, by the way, I've eben meaning to check out Bonnie "Prince" Billy.. that album is sitting on my harddrive. I'm going to listen to it tomorrow finally I think haha.
Nice, let me know what you think.
If you get to, I get to. Here's my "favorite albums" list:
Sloan -- Twice Removed
Weezer -- Pinkerton
Stereolab -- Mars Audiac Quintet
Bob Dylan -- Out of Time
Phantom Planet -- ...Is Missing
The Breeders -- Last Splash
Yo La Tango -- I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One
Neutral Milk Hotel -- In The Aeroplane Over The Sea
Belle & Sebastian -- If You're Feeling Sinister

Leaders of the New School -- A Future Without a Past
Liz Phair -- Exile in Guyville
Blur -- Parklife
Texas is the Reason -- Do You Know Who You Are?
Sonic Youth -- Goo
The Jesus Lizard -- Goat
Radiohead -- OK Computer
The Roots -- Illadelph Halflife
Talk Talk -- Laughing Stock
Mercury Rev -- Deserter's Song
The Old 97's -- Fight Songs
Pretty decent list right thurr.

[Dr. Acula]

Which album though?

Hard to pick. I put both Siamese Dream and Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness on my list.

[CellarGhosts]

I'm almost afraid to make a list... haha.

[chipdip18]

So what if after this thread, there was a thread like Music Forum's Essential Albums Of the Century and used the top 20's of each decade to make a top 20 of the Century? :shrug: But we would be missing and 50's and before.

[kwsqd]

Pearl Jam and Foo Fighters (though I don't know if influence is the right term here) come to mind almost instantly. But who says what a good band influences has to be good?
news: Pearl Jam was bigger than Nirvana and Nirvana's influence on pearl jam is limited at best.

[micahistheballs]

Frankly, skipping this decade might have been the best option.

Nice, let me know what you think.

Pretty decent list right thurr.
At least we're not doing the 2000's haha.

[chipdip18]

At least we're not doing the 2000's haha.


You couldn't do the 2000's. What has the 2000's influenced? Haha but Micah, check out my post like two above and tell me your thoughts

[secretsociety92]

No point me even doing a list as I know next to nothing about music in the 90's.

[CellarGhosts]

Alot of my favorite albums have been from the past 7 years but I don't think an "essential 2000's" list would be a good idea.

[TheOtherAndrew]

Making an essential 2000s list would turn the music forum into VH1.

[chipdip18]

Oh no way it would. I think they most you could do is like what did 2000-2004 influence in 2005- present, but that would be retarded. I think even doing the 90's is pushing it since this decade isn't over, and its easier to see what one decade did the next IMO.

[Until The Bombs]

news: Pearl Jam was bigger than Nirvana and Nirvana's influence on pearl jam is limited at best.

I agree on the influence, I doubt Nirvana had any influence on Pearl Jam, but Pearl Jam was definitely not bigger than Nirvana.

[TheOtherAndrew]

I agree on the influence, I doubt Nirvana had any influence on Pearl Jam, but Pearl Jam was definitely not bigger than Nirvana.
Pearl Jam managed to stay together longer.

TOOOO SOOOOOON!

[micahistheballs]

So what if after this thread, there was a thread like Music Forum's Essential Albums Of the Century and used the top 20's of each decade to make a top 20 of the Century? :shrug: But we would be missing and 50's and before.
We talked about this in the planning thread for this actually. We're planning on doing a pre 60's possibly and then I may try something mega huge afterwards. I'm keeping the oldies alive!

[micahistheballs]

Pearl Jam managed to stay together longer.

TOOOO SOOOOOON!
It's been 14 years, you're in the clear Andrew.

[chipdip18]

We talked about this in the planning thread for this actually. We're planning on doing a pre 60's possibly and then I may try something mega huge afterwards. I'm keeping the oldies alive!

Hahaha way to keep the oldies alive! Music Forum Essential of the Century. Such an epic title.

[TheOtherAndrew]

It's been 14 years, you're in the clear Andrew.
Dodged a bullet there.

[Until The Bombs]

Pearl Jam managed to stay together longer.

TOOOO SOOOOOON!

And too bad. Nirvana, an especially Kurt, was a lot better than a few people on these boards are giving them credit for. I would have loved to watch the rest of Nirvana's/Cobain's solo/or another Cobain fronted band's career play out.

[chipdip18]

Dodged a bullet there.


The bullet was curved.

[micahistheballs]

Hahaha way to keep the oldies alive! Music Forum Essential of the Century. Such an epic title.
It'd probably just end up being a repeat of Rolling Stone's list or something haha.

[Until The Bombs]

If that did happen, it would have to be top 50.

Edit: But it's just going to end up dominated largely by bands/albums from the 60's-70's.

[kwsqd]

I agree on the influence, I doubt Nirvana had any influence on Pearl Jam, but Pearl Jam was definitely not bigger than Nirvana.
That's an argument you could make, but no, I don't agree. Pearl Jam outsold Nirvana, even though they did nothing to enhance their popularity aside of making music.

[micahistheballs]

If that did happen, it would have to be top 50.

Edit: But it's just going to end up dominated largely by bands/albums from the 60's-70's.
Yeah, that's kind of what I meant with the Rolling Stone remark.

[Until The Bombs]

That's an argument you could make, but no, not really. Pearl Jam outsold Nirvana, even though they did nothing to enhance their popularity aside of making music.

Figures please.

even though they did nothing to enhance their popularity aside of making music.

Slightly irrelevant because radio was much more important back then. (Edit: meaning bands didn't have to do as much to promote themselves, if they wrote good music, they got play) They made a few less music videos during that time than Nirvana ended up making, that's about it.

[Until The Bombs]

Yeah, that's kind of what I meant with the Rolling Stone remark.

Ahh....forgive me.

[kwsqd]

Figures please.



Slightly irrelevant because radio was much more important back then. They made a few less music videos during that time than Nirvana ended up making, that's about it.
figures = size, how else would you determine it?

Boycotting ticketmaster didn't help.

[stereomouse]

1. Nirvana - Nevermind
2. Radiohead - OK Computer
3. Slint - Spiderland
4. Dr. Dre - The Chronic
5. Faith No More - The Real Thing
6. Nas - Illmatic
7. R.E.M. - Automatic for the People
8. Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream
9. Wu Tang Clan - Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
10. Tool - Undertow
11. Jeff Buckley - Grace
12. Notorious BIG - Ready to Die
13. Green Day - Dookie
14. Pavement - Slanted and Enchanted
15. Elliott Smith - Either / Or
16. Metallica - Metallica
17. Foo Fighters - The Colour and the Shape
18. Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
19. Blink-182 - Enema of the State
20. Death - The Sound of Perseverance


3 things:
Nirvana is not grunge
my order is shit...
not necescary my fave albums, just ones i think influenced people the most

[Until The Bombs]

figures = size, how else would you determine it?

By figures I mean, prove they outsold Nirvana during Nirvana's career. Because I believe you're wrong.

Boycotting ticketmaster didn't help.

Didn't hurt either. I respect the hell out of them for doing so, but if anything it just created more press. Any press = good press.

[born to expire]

I seriously cannot believe I am the only one who put down Quicksand. Ridiculous.

[IWasaCamera]

- No 2000's thread unless we're in need of a laugh when the forum is slow.

- Essentials of the century would be saturated with 60's and 70's releases. While I would love to discuss those albums, pretty sure everyone else has had their fill.

- Pre-60's will be quite similar to the 80's for me.

[stereomouse]

i think pre 60's would be too hard to do (i know it would be for me...)

[kwsqd]

By figures I mean, prove they outsold Nirvana during Nirvana's career. Because I believe you're wrong.



Didn't hurt either. I respect the hell out of them for doing so, but if anything it just created more press. Any press = good press.
How could one get those numbers? I have proof that pearl jam has sold more records, do you have proof that Nirvana sold more during their career? Both Ten and Nevermind have gone platinum. I'm not sure how we could resolve this.

That's a good point.

[IWasaCamera]

Ten: Certified 12 times platinum
Vs.: Certified 7 times platinum

Nevermind: Certified 8 times platinum
In Utero: Certified 5 times platinum


It seems Pearl Jam did in fact outsell Nirvana.

[TheOtherAndrew]

Nevermind has sold more than ten million.

[Regards]

I would much rather listen to Pearl Jam than Nirvana.

[stereomouse]

dont you think its a bit silly arguing over the influence of pearl jam and nirvana?

just becuase pearl jam sold more records doesnt mean they're more influencial.

[IWasaCamera]

Those are domestic figures. Worldwide it was 26 million I believe.


I honestly don't care for either band, just providing stats.

[bowl of oranges]

1. Radiohead- OK Computer
2. Smashing Pumpkins- Siamese Dream
3. Weezer- Pinkerton
4. Fugazi- Red Medicine
5. The Notorious B.I.G.- Ready To Die
6. Modest Mouse- The Lonesome Crowded West
7. Beck- Odelay
8. Radiohead- The Bends
9. Pavement- Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
10. Neutral Milk Hotel- In The Aeroplane, Over The Sea
11. Mogwai- Young Team
12. My Bloody Valentine- Loveless
13. A Tribe Called Quest- The Low End Theory
14. Sonic Youth- Goo
15. Godspeed You! Black Emperor- f#a#infinity
16. Smashing Pumpkins- Mellon Collie
17. Yo La Tengo- Painful
18. Nas- Illmatic
19. Nirvana- Nevermind
20. Built To Spill- Perfect From Now On

[kwsqd]

dont you think its a bit silly arguing over the influence of pearl jam and nirvana?

just becuase pearl jam sold more records doesnt mean they're more influencial.
did anyone say that? also, learn to spell thanks!

[TheOtherAndrew]

Those are domestic figures. Worldwide it was 26 million I believe.


I honestly don't care for either band, just providing stats.
According to the RIAA, Nevermind was certified Diamond nine years ago.

[Regards]

dont you think its a bit silly arguing over the influence of pearl jam and nirvana?

just becuase pearl jam sold more records doesnt mean they're more influencial.
Actually its an extremely valid argument. More records sold=more people listening to your album.

[IWasaCamera]

According to the RIAA, Nevermind was certified Diamond nine years ago.
http://www.ukmix.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=37525

Guess these guys were wrong. :shrug:

[micahistheballs]

Yeah, that's kind of what I meant with the Rolling Stone remark.
Not a problem. I was just clarifying anyways.

[stereomouse]

Actually its an extremely valid argument. More records sold=more people listening to your album.


that doesnt mean they'll be influenced by it though. an amazing album could sell 100 copies and have everyone who bought it want to start a band. or a mediocre album, such as Ten, could sell a gazillion copies and people are indifferent to it becuase it doesnt have its own original style. more copies does not equal more influence.

[Regards]

that doesnt mean they'll be influenced by it though. an amazing album could sell 100 copies and have everyone who bought it want to start a band. or a mediocre album, such as Ten, could sell a gazillion copies and people are indifferent to it becuase it doesnt have its own original style. more copies does not equal more influence.
Yeah that is true in some cases. In other cases, such as this, it is not. Nirvana definately did a good job of killing hair metal, but that was about it.

[bradsonemanband]

I seriously cannot believe I am the only one who put down Quicksand. Ridiculous.

false.
you must have missed my post on page 6

but i can't believe i'm the only person who's listed Everclear

[micahistheballs]

Sales isn't the best way to measure this. London Calling is outsold by IV nearly 10 times for example.

[Until The Bombs]

How could one get those numbers? I have proof that pearl jam has sold more records, do you have proof that Nirvana sold more during their career? Both Ten and Nevermind have gone platinum. I'm not sure how we could resolve this.

That's a good point.

I'm not trying to be a dick about this, btw. I'm a big fan of Pearl Jam as well, but the burden of proof is on you since you started that Pearl Jam sold more records, which I don't believe is true. This is of course assuming that you meant albums released during the span of Nirvana's career, as record released later are invalid in this case. If you make claims, you have to be able to back them up.

dont you think its a bit silly arguing over the influence of pearl jam and nirvana?

Actually, stuff like this is kinda the point of the tread.

just becuase pearl jam sold more records doesnt mean they're more influencial.
But this is true.

Yeah that is true in some cases. In other cases, such as this, it is not. Nirvana definately did a good job of killing hair metal, but that was about it.

Not to mention they are largely given credit for bringing "alternative" music to the mainstream and oh yeah, put out some really good albums (although this of course is up to each person's taste).

[CellarGhosts]

Sales isn't the best way to measure this. London Calling is outsold by IV nearly 10 times for example.
Agreed.

[kwsqd]

I'm not trying to be a dick about this, btw. I'm a big fan of Pearl Jam as well, but the burden of proof is on you since you started that Pearl Jam sold more records, which I don't believe is true. This is of course assuming that you meant albums released during the span of Nirvana's career, as record released later are invalid in this case. If you make claims, you have to be able to back them up.



Actually, stuff like this is kinda the point of the tread.


But this is true.



Not to mention they are largely given credit for bringing "alternative" music to the mainstream and oh yeah, put out some really good albums (although this of course is up to each person's taste).
Neither am I. I'm glad we can have a mature discussion about this. I will see what I can find.. I was just talking in general. I'm not sure if we could find sales records from 1994 or 93. I'll give it a shot.

[Until The Bombs]

Neither am I. I'm glad we can have a mature discussion about this. I will see what I can find.. I was just talking in general. I'm not sure if we could find sales records from 1994 or 93. I'll give it a shot.

Cool. Obviously don't waste too much time.

[kwsqd]

Everclear would have been a more valid selection if you selected Sparkle and Fade. Even though songs like Father of Mine got a lot of air time on the radio, it is definitely the weaker of their two decent albums.

[kwsqd]

Cool. Obviously don't waste too much time.
haha yeah, as you can tell I obviously like Pearl Jam.

[Until The Bombs]

haha yeah, as you can tell I obviously like Pearl Jam.

Haha. I'd also like to admit that while I believe Nirvana would continued to put out great music, it's pretty unlikely that they would have matched Pearl Jam in terms of quality over the long run. I'd like to think that they would have, but the odds are against it.

[kwsqd]

Haha. I'd also like to admit that while I believe Nirvana would continued to put out great music, it's pretty unlikely that they would have matched Pearl Jam in terms of quality over the long run. I'd like to think that they would have, but the odds are against it.
Too many younger kids haven't even listened to Pearl Jam, it's fucking ridiculous.

Nirvana was great while they were around, but I agree with you about the potential for their catalogue to expand. I'm not saying that it couldn't happen, but they might share the same fate as bands like STP who were good but never really progressed anywhere.

[kearn1tm]

1. Radiohead- OK Computer
2. Smashing Pumpkins- Siamese Dream
3. Weezer- Pinkerton
4. Fugazi- Red Medicine
5. The Notorious B.I.G.- Ready To Die
6. Modest Mouse- The Lonesome Crowded West
7. Beck- Odelay
8. Radiohead- The Bends
9. Pavement- Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
10. Neutral Milk Hotel- In The Aeroplane, Over The Sea
11. Mogwai- Young Team
12. My Bloody Valentine- Loveless
13. A Tribe Called Quest- The Low End Theory
14. Sonic Youth- Goo
15. Godspeed You! Black Emperor- f#a#infinity
16. Smashing Pumpkins- Mellon Collie
17. Yo La Tengo- Painful
18. Nas- Illmatic
19. Nirvana- Nevermind
20. Built To Spill- Perfect From Now On


The fact that you're 16 and able to compile a solid list of essential and influential artists of the '90s is astonishing. Seriously. When I was 16 (2003), I was listening to Taking Back Sunday and would have been unable to appreciate bands such as Neutral Milk Hotel and Pavement.

[EchoPark]

The 90's seem so long ago.

[Brokenhill]

The 90's seem so long ago.

Indeed.

[x togepi x]

what bands has pearl jam influenced besides creed? i mean seriously

[Nevuk]

Oh holy fucking shit you fuckers decided to do one of these? I'm going to participate, just so I can scream about being oppressed.

[Until The Bombs]

The fact that you're 16 and still are able to compile a solid list of essential and influential artists of the '90s is astonishing. Seriously. When I was 16 (2003), I was listening to Taking Back Sunday and would have been unable to appreciate bands such as Neutral Milk Hotel and Pavement.

I still can't appreciate NMH. :shrug:

The 90's seem so long ago.

Agreed.

[CellarGhosts]

I still can't appreciate NMH. :shrug:
You're not alone.

[versus_god]

Neutral Milk Hotel was great but they weren't God's gift to music as many people here seem to believe.

[CellarGhosts]

Fuck, I'm having such a hard time with this list haha. It might be a little while before I get mine posted. And even then I'll probably revise it at least once.

[Until The Bombs]

Oh holy fucking shit you fuckers decided to do one of these? I'm going to participate, just so I can scream about being oppressed.

Take it to the personal life forum. ;-)

[Nevuk]

Take it to the personal life forum. ;-)
Censorship! I'M BEING CENSURED!

[Until The Bombs]

You're not alone.

There is more to this I know!

http://media.pegasusnews.com/img/photos/2007/08/05/Saosin1_t250.jpg

[Jumpoff]

Changed my list around.


GZA himself is not that massive in hip hop circles. Wu-Tang (the group he's been in, obviously) is much more popular and their debut the 36 Chambers is more essential than Liquid Swords.

Liquid Swords and OB4CL are all just as big if not bigger than 36 chambers in actual hip hop circles in my experience.. hell, one could argue Tical and Ironman are just as big too.

Especially OB4CL considering most people credit it with beginning the whole east coast mafioso rap scene..

[Nevuk]

Any list without OK Computer at number 1 is living in a dreamworld.
This is a dreamworld, on so many levels. For one, this is the internet - it is nothing more than a dream we're all pretty much participating in on a conscious level. So its pretty much a self-participating alternate reality. 2. Just try and prove to me this reality isn't a dream.

[CellarGhosts]

There is more to this I know!

http://media.pegasusnews.com/img/photos/2007/08/05/Saosin1_t250.jpg
Haha, nicely done.

By the way, I listened to some of the Joy Division stuff I downloaded and so far it's not quite clicking yet. It's not that I think it's bad, it's just not making much of an impression as of right now.

[kearn1tm]

Neutral Milk Hotel was great but they weren't God's gift to music as many people here seem to believe.

How so? Who's made that Jeff Mangum and co. are some kind of musical deities? Is this another "[x] band is overrated" argument?

[versus_god]

Definitely.

[Nevuk]

How so? Who's made that Jeff Mangum and co. are some kind of musical deities? Is this another "[x] band is overrated" argument?
NMH is not essential from a musical standpoint. They don't bring anything new or anything not been done before. We've had this argument before, no one can claim it is the best instrumentation or vocalization on the album, the importance of it is how well the lyrics perform in their role. At the time they released it, singer songwriter done in that style was kind of rare (done well), but at the same time it had been done better by Dylan or Cohen. The argument against this is something else, that I can't remember.


And Ben pretty much does claim them to be gods, as do a few others on the board. Its not that I don't enjoy it, I just find the album average in most of the more important ways, and would probably like it more to just read.

[AlternateToLife]

Nirvana- Nevermind
Fugazi- Repeater + 3 Songsr
The Replacements- All Shook Down
Weezer- Weezer (Blue Album)
Sunny Day Real Estate- Diary
Jawbreaker- 24 Hour Revenge Therapy
Neutral Milk Hotel- On Avery Island
Elliot Smith- Either/Or
NOFX- Drublic
Sunny Day Real Estate- How It Feels To be Something On
Radiohead- Ok Computer
Elliot Smith- XO
Fugazi- In On The Kill Take
At the Drive-In- In/Casino/Out
Smashing Pumpkins- Pisces Iscariot
Peter Gabriel- So
Weezer- Pinkerton
Pixies- Trompe Le Monde
Goo Goo Dolls- A Boy Named Goo
Nine Inch Nails- Further Down The Spiral


So... I did it. But it's far from perfect.

[Until The Bombs]

Haha, nicely done.

By the way, I listened to some of the Joy Division stuff I downloaded and so far it's not quite clicking yet. It's not that I think it's bad, it's just not making much of an impression as of right now.

Awesome. Yeah it's definitely not for everyone and definitely not for every mood. I didn't care them the first couples times that I listened to them, so I just put it off for a long time, and when I came back to it I was hooked.

[CellarGhosts]

Awesome. Yeah it's definitely not for everyone and definitely not for every mood. I didn't care them the first couples times that I listened to them, so I just put it off for a long time, and when I came back to it I was hooked.
Yeah, that's what I noticed, I just didn't seem to be in much of a mood to be listening to them. There are several bands I do have to be in the mood to listen to and Joy Division might end up being one of them. But we'll see I guess.

[Nevuk]

1. My Bloody Valentine - Loveless (For production)
2.Public Enemy - Fear of a Black Planet (Use of samples and translation of the pastiche style into music))
3. Wu-Tang Clan - Enter 36 Chambers (Minimalism)
4. Fugazi - Repeater (to claim Red Medicine is more influential is ... ignoring the importance of this album)
5. Drive Like Jehu - Yank Crime (Fuck all of you)
6. Merzbow - 1930 (No one really has any Noise music on any of their lists.. why?)
7. Slint - Spiderland (Obv Choice. Post-rock, etc. If we're judging by influence alone this should top any 90s list)
8. Refused - Shape of Punk to Come
9. Smart Went Crazy- Con Art (This has been heard by more than you would think...)
10. Moss Icon - Lyburnum
11 Rites of Spring - End on End (Their S/T was from 85, this is the CD compilation.)
12. Portraits of Past - S/T
13. Pavement - Slanted

13 sounds about right. If I were going higher I'd add GZA and some more rap, Raekwon and others, as the large things to come out of the 90s weren't really these massive bands like Nirvana. More important are the bands who set the stage for the huge diversity of music we see in the 2000s, like Slint or DLJ setting the stage for GSY!BE and etc. (I've heard of Black Metal bands citing DLJ as an influence). As far as genres which established themselves fully in the 90s, only Post-Hardcore and Rap can really be said to have done so (and rap already was, it just expanded and took on a new minimalistic skin shortly after taking on a wall of noise approach and mastering it).

As well, the massive issue with these threads has always been who is this an essential list for ? Music critics, musicians, your average person, abstract artists? Farmers? All of those groups are going to have vastly different criteria for this, which is why it seems to come down to certain people judging it by album sales (The argument against this is how many were returned, just look at ST ANGER, it sold like 6 million copies and is considered one of the worst fucking albums ever), others by how many bands it influenced, and still others by the sheer quality of the music itself. It is for this reason I have put the reason I've added it by most of them, for the others you'll have to refer to this long addendum.

[El_Jeffe]

tough call

1. crowded house - woodface
2. bela fleck & the flecktones - three flew over the cuckoo's nest
3. r.e.m. - automatic for the people
4. radiohead - ok computer
5. the slackers - redlight
6. beck - odelay
7. massive attack - mezzanine
8. the skatalites - ball of fire
9. bjork - homogenic
10. nick cave & the bad seeds – boatman’s call
11. pearl jam - ten
12. lauryn hill – the miseducation of lauryn hill
13. fugazi - repeater
14. jeff buckley - grace
15. beres hammond - love from a distance
16. tim finn - tim finn
17. dj shadow - endtroducing....
18. ben harper & the innocent criminals - the will to live
19. hot water music - fuel for the hate game
20. oasis - what's the story morning glory


those that missed out:
refused - the shape of punk to come
a tribe called quest - the low-end theory
the exponents - something beginning with c
erykah badu - baduizm
red hot chili peppers - blood sugar sex magik
public enemy - fear of a black planet
u2 - achtung baby
the roots - illadelph halflife

surprised to see no love yet for catch 22's keasbey nights round this place. don't know why, but i thought it'd be a very loved record here

[mattybobviously]

I need to make my list... I'll get around to it.

[EchoPark]

tough call

1. crowded house - woodface
2. bela fleck & the flecktones - three flew over the cuckoo's nest
3. r.e.m. - automatic for the people
4. radiohead - ok computer
5. the slackers - redlight
6. beck - odelay
7. massive attack - mezzanine
8. the skatalites - ball of fire
9. bjork - homogenic
10. nick cave & the bad seeds – boatman’s call
11. pearl jam - ten
12. lauryn hill – the miseducation of lauryn hill
13. fugazi - repeater
14. jeff buckley - grace
15. beres hammond - love from a distance
16. tim finn - tim finn
17. dj shadow - endtroducing....
18. ben harper & the innocent criminals - the will to live
19. hot water music - fuel for the hate game
20. oasis - what's the story morning glory


those that missed out:
refused - the shape of punk to come
a tribe called quest - the low-end theory
the exponents - something beginning with c
erykah badu - baduizm
red hot chili peppers - blood sugar sex magik
public enemy - fear of a black planet
u2 - achtung baby
the roots - illadelph halflife

surprised to see no love yet for catch 22's keasbey nights round this place. don't know why, but i thought it'd be a very loved record here

Good to see you pay homage to your fellow Kiwis eh bro

[kwsqd]

what bands has pearl jam influenced besides creed? i mean seriously
I pray to god that's sarcasm and not just you being naive.

[IWasaCamera]

12. lauryn hill – the miseducation of lauryn hill
Damn, completely forgot about this one.

[hailthewarrior]

news: Pearl Jam was bigger than Nirvana and Nirvana's influence on pearl jam is limited at best.

I know Pearl Jam was bigger than Nirvana, but Nirvana came first, even if only by a year or two. Tell me you don't see clones of what's big in the scene being reproduced within two years.

[kwsqd]

I know Pearl Jam was bigger than Nirvana, but Nirvana came first, even if only by a year or two. Tell me you don't see clones of what's big in the scene being reproduced within two years.
Nevermind was a success before Ten, true, but Ten was released before Nevermind if only by a month or two. Sorry I didn't mean to sound like an ass.

[hailthewarrior]

Nevermind was a success before Ten, true, but Ten was released before Nevermind if only by a month or two. Sorry I didn't mean to sound like an ass.

That's fine, I knew this decade would be the "roughest" because of bands involved.

[Shandizzle]

1) Sonic Youth - Dirty
2) Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream
3) Catherine Wheel - Ferment
4) Sunny Day Real Estate - Diary
5) My Bloody Valentine - Loveless
6) Placebo - Placebo
7) Garbage - Garbage
8) Jeff Buckley - Grace
9) Björk - Post
10) Portishead - Dummy
11) Sugar - Copper Blue
12) Face to Face - Ignorance Is Bliss
13) The Afghan Whigs - Gentlemen
14) Lush - Gala
15) Stone Temple Pilots - Core
16) The Pixies - Doolittle
17) Missy Elliot - Supa Dupa Fly
18) Morrissey - Bona Drag
19) Foo Fighters - The Colour and The Shape
20) Veruca Salt - American Thighs

[bowl of oranges]

The fact that you're 16 and able to compile a solid list of essential and influential artists of the '90s is astonishing. Seriously. When I was 16 (2003), I was listening to Taking Back Sunday and would have been unable to appreciate bands such as Neutral Milk Hotel and Pavement.Thanks. I like TBS when I was 13 and 14 though, so I'm not totally innocent, haha.

[Tyler Revolution]

...how did you manage to make a 90's list without Nirvana, or atleast the Foo Fighters? I mean, really.

Nirvana won't be making my list, most likely. But the Foo Fighters? Are you serious? What have they done?

[ambiguous.dude]

1- Red Hot Chili Peppers - Californication
2- Metallica - The Black Album
3- Nirvana - Nevermind
4- Weezer - Weezer (Blue Album)
5- Blink-182 - Dude Ranch
6- Foo Fighters - The Colour And The Shape
7- Rage Against The Machines - Rage Against The Machines
8- Radiohead - OK Computer
9- Oasis - (What's The Story) Morning Glory
10- Green Day - Dookie
11- Pearl Jam - Ten
12- Wu-Tang Clan - Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
13- Soundgarden - Superunknown
14- Sublime - Sublime
15- Third Eye Blind - Third Eye Blind
16- Incubus - Make Yourself
17- Dr. Dre - 2001
18- The Verve - Urban Hymns
19- Our Lady Peace - Clusmy
20- Notorious B.I.G. - Ready To Die

[sandra92]

1- Red Hot Chili Peppers - Californication
2- Metallica - The Black Album
3- Nirvana - Nevermind
4- Weezer - Weezer (Blue Album)
5- Blink-182 - Dude Ranch
6- Foo Fighters - The Colour And The Shape
7- Rage Against The Machines - Rage Against The Machines
8- Radiohead - OK Computer
9- Oasis - (What's The Story) Morning Glory
10- Green Day - Dookie
11- Pearl Jam - Ten
12- Wu-Tang Clan - Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
13- Soundgarden - Superunknown
14- Sublime - Sublime
15- Third Eye Blind - Third Eye Blind
16- Incubus - Make Yourself
17- Dr. Dre - 2001
18- The Verve - Urban Hymns
19- Our Lady Peace - Clusmy
20- Notorious B.I.G. - Ready To Die

agree

[kwsqd]

Nirvana won't be making my list, most likely. But the Foo Fighters? Are you serious? What have they done?
uhh their first cd was fucking HUGE

[Yes. And?]

Neat.

[kwsqd]

people.. learn... what?

[hailthewarrior]

Nirvana won't be making my list, most likely. But the Foo Fighters? Are you serious? What have they done?

It was just the "continuation" of Nirvana, ish. Not to mention, they're one of the few solid alternative rock bands left.

[CellarGhosts]

Wouldn't a "favorite albums of the 2000's" thread be a better idea? or...no? Because I don't really see things changing all that much with another all-time favorites list but maybe I'm just being too skeptical.

[absolutecrunk]

1- Red Hot Chili Peppers - Californication
2- Metallica - The Black Album
3- Nirvana - Nevermind
4- Weezer - Weezer (Blue Album)
5- Blink-182 - Dude Ranch
6- Foo Fighters - The Colour And The Shape
7- Rage Against The Machines - Rage Against The Machines
8- Radiohead - OK Computer
9- Oasis - (What's The Story) Morning Glory
10- Green Day - Dookie
11- Pearl Jam - Ten
12- Wu-Tang Clan - Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
13- Soundgarden - Superunknown
14- Sublime - Sublime
15- Third Eye Blind - Third Eye Blind
16- Incubus - Make Yourself
17- Dr. Dre - 2001
18- The Verve - Urban Hymns
19- Our Lady Peace - Clusmy
20- Notorious B.I.G. - Ready To Die
boo-urns for not having Smashing Pumpkins but looks solid otherwise.

[CellarGhosts]

Disagree. The last one didn't have a single Beatles album on it. No way will that be true a second time out.

We could do a favourtie bands/artists?
It didn't? I could have sworn Abbey Road was on there...

I think favorite/bands artists might be a better idea. But whether we do that or another favorite albums, I'm game.

[Troggy]

I will list some of my favorites and if they make the list then okay, but I don't know enough to know what should go on this list...

Opeth "Still Life"
Incubus "Make Yourself"
Refused "the Shape of Punk to Come"
NMH
Less than jake "losing streak"
Converge "when forever" / "petitioning"
OK computer
Lifetime "hello bastards"
Pinkerton / Blue Album
What's the story morning glory?
at the gates "slaughter of the soul"
alanis morrisette "jagged little pill"
portishead "dummy"
carcass "heartwork"
in flames "the jester race"
something by pavement
pantera "cowboys from hell"
hanson "middle of nowhere"

OK cool.

[hailthewarrior]

I think we should finish the discussions on the first favorite's list first...

[CellarGhosts]

I think I agree, Garrett.

[chipdip18]

When this one finishes we should do another favourite albums of all time and see what people have learnt.


That is a good idea.

[hailthewarrior]

That would take about seven or eight months and those discussions never really go anywhere. We may as well just make random album threads whenever we feel like.

If they were made more frequently something might happen?

[CellarGhosts]

That would take about seven or eight months and those discussions never really go anywhere. We may as well just make random album threads whenever we feel like.
I feel like that would be a good idea, either that or just do as Garrett suggested and try and make them more frequently.

[chipdip18]

1.)Nas - Illmatic
2.)Radiohead - OK Computer
3.)Nirvana - Nevermind
4.)Refused - The Shape of Punk To Come
5.)Notorious B.I.G. - Ready To Die
6.)Jeff Buckley - Grace
7.)Smashing Pumpkins - Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
8.)Fugazi - Red Medicine
9.)Dr. Dre - The Chronic
10.)Weezer - Pinkerton
11.)Green Day - Dookie
12.)Rage Against the Machine - Rage Against the Machine
13.)Crowded House - Woodface
14.)Cap'n Jazz - Analphabetapolothology
15.)blink-182 Enema of the State
16.)A Tribe Called Quest - The Low-End Theory
17.)Sunny Day Real Estate - Diary
18.)The Slackers - Redlight
19.)Texas Is the Reason - Do You Know Who You Are?
20.)Elliot Smith - Xo

This is my list, and i will most likely revise it.

[Nevuk]

ahem I didn't even put it on my list.
Yeah, I noticed. For something along the lines I stated, I think (it wasn't very influential). I actually didn't think you were the biggest culprit... but I couldn't remember who was. Scapegoating ftw.

[Nevuk]

Disagree. The last one didn't have a single Beatles album on it. No way will that be true a second time out.

We could do a favourtie bands/artists?
I think the favorite bands/artists would lead to a fairer overall representation, as you could include other factors such as live shows or recordings.

[Until The Bombs]

Question is do we say favourite or try a vague objective (only half of the people post subjectively) poll like this one?

We say F-A-V-O-R-I-T-E. Kidding.

[chipdip18]

Question is do we say favourite or try a vague objective (only half of the people post subjectively) poll like this one?


Vaguely objective. That way we can get more of the same artists so it isn't a pain for whoever tallies it up. Like in favorite bands i could put a local band that no one else is going to vote for.

[CellarGhosts]

Okay, I think I have a list sort of sorted out here. Radiohead technically should be number one, but I realize they will be getting plenty of votes as it is, and for the most part people just seem to be posting favorites, or albums they deem essential so I'll just do the same. I don't know if this is the best way to go about it but I had hell making this list so whatever.

1. Goddamnit - Alkaline Trio
2. Dear You - Jawbreaker
3. Bone Machine - Tom Waits
4. Fuel For the Hate Game - Hot Water Music
5. Punk In Drublic - NOFX
6. Dookie - Green Day
7. Mule Variations - Tom Waits
8. Hello Bastards - Lifetime
9. Clarity - Jimmy Eat World
10. Pinkerton - Weezer
11. Enema Of the State - blink-182
12. Stranger Than Fiction - Bad Religion
13. Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness - Smashing Pumpkins
14. In Utero - Nirvana
15. Petitioning the Empty Sky - Converge
16. Woodface - Crowded House
17. Generator - Bad Religion
18. A Boy Named Goo - Goo Goo Dolls
19. A Guided Tour Of Chicago - The Lawrence Arms
20. The Colour and the Shape - Foo Fighters

I'm probably going to be revising this alot.

[IWasaCamera]

I forgot The Score too.
Wouldn't have cut my 20.
Disagree. The last one didn't have a single Beatles album on it. No way will that be true a second time out.

We could do a favourtie bands/artists?
The lists will be drastically different this time around. It'd be like observing the fruits of our elitist labor which I am all for.
It didn't? I could have sworn Abbey Road was on there...

I think favorite/bands artists might be a better idea. But whether we do that or another favorite albums, I'm game.
Not one Beatles album made the cut.
That would take about seven or eight months and those discussions never really go anywhere. We may as well just make random album threads whenever we feel like.
I agree with this.
If they were made more frequently something might happen?
Shhhhh.

[hailthewarrior]

Shhhhh.

hahahaha. well... we were doing one a week, then two a month... then one a month... :-p

[CellarGhosts]

Not one Beatles album made the cut.
Woah. That's ridiculous.

I know there was an Abbey Road discussion thread though, wasn't there? And then a Sgt. Pepper's...


edit: wait, never mind. Andrew made the Abbey Road appreciation thread and then I think Sgt. Pepper's was part of the "classic albums" discussion series.

[chipdip18]

Wouldn't have cut my 20.

The lists will be drastically different this time around. It'd be like observing the fruits of our elitist labor which I am all for.

Not one Beatles album made the cut.

I agree with this.

Shhhhh.

Hahaha your elitist labor has gone a long way with me. Your being you and other "regulars" of this site who know a little something about music.

[Until The Bombs]

Not one Beatles album would likely make my cut this time either. Not if it's a favorite list.

[chipdip18]

Woah. That's ridiculous.

I know there was an Abbey Road discussion thread though, wasn't there? And then a Sgt. Pepper's...


edit: wait, never mind. Andrew made the Abbey Road appreciation thread and then I think Sgt. Pepper's was part of the "classic albums" discussion series.


Yup, that was it.

[chipdip18]

Not one Beatles album would likely make my cut this time either. Not if it's a favorite list.


What i find odd is that the people who participated in the last Music Forum's Favorites list didn't participate in almost any of these Essential Albums threads. If we did another Music Forum Favorites list, we might just get those people to come out again because to do that list you don't have to have any knowledge on music except knowing what you like. That's why artists like The Beatles didn't make it.

[IWasaCamera]

Hahaha your elitist labor has gone a long way with me. Your being you and other "regulars" of this site who know a little something about music.
Glad to hear it. :-)
hahahaha. well... we were doing one a week, then two a month... then one a month... :-p
haha it's hard to find the motivation when the discussions are so poor.
Woah. That's ridiculous.

I know there was an Abbey Road discussion thread though, wasn't there? And then a Sgt. Pepper's...


edit: wait, never mind. Andrew made the Abbey Road appreciation thread and then I think Sgt. Pepper's was part of the "classic albums" discussion series.
I suspect a top 40 would contain at least 3 Beatles albums if Ben made a new thread.

[CellarGhosts]

Glad to hear it. :-)

haha it's hard to find the motivation when the discussions are so poor.

I suspect a top 40 would contain at least 3 Beatles albums if Ben made a new thread.
Quite possibly. I mean, I'd hope so at least. I do think another "favorite albums" thread would be interesting, yet, there's no way it's results would please everybody. But hopefully more so than the last results did. I like a good deal of the albums on that list, and in fact, I don't think there was one album on there I truly disliked.

That being said, I think another list would have better results.

Yup, that was it.
Yeah.

[Nevuk]

Question is do we say favourite or try a vague objective (only half of the people post subjectively) poll like this one?
I'd say put a slight qualifier of that it must be based upon releases or actual music. Like, there are certain bands who I respect more for things aside from their music than their music itself (Blood Brothers, Crass are the two that come to mind. Not that their music is bad, but they would wind up a few places higher on my favorites list if I included their politics and attitudes)

[Tyler Revolution]

uhh their first cd was fucking HUGE

So was Britney Spears. And Creed. And Aqua. Huge doesn't mean essential.

[CellarGhosts]

Agreed.

[Troggy]

Is Hanson essential? I'm trying to decide. MMMbop is amazing.

[chipdip18]

Haha MMMboy was popular.... but influencial? Defining of the decade in music?

[IWasaCamera]

Dude, Middle Of Nowhere is amazing from front to back aside from that song about signing yearbooks or some shit.

[Troggy]

Dude, Middle Of Nowhere is amazing from front to back aside from that song about signing yearbooks or some shit.

hahahaha yearbook is freakin terrible...but come on, "Where's the Love?", "Madeline"...those are great

Haha MMMboy was popular.... but influencial? Defining of the decade in music?

Just thought there should be at least one pop release to represent the millions that were commercially successful

[IWasaCamera]

hahahaha yearbook is freakin terrible...but come on, "Where's the Love?", "Madeline"...those are great
I'm not even joking, I loved that album when it came out. I Will Come To You with the na-na-nas is epic.

[allhourcymbals]

Is Hanson essential? I'm trying to decide. MMMbop is amazing.
i love hanson... haha, but i don't know about influential.

[chipdip18]

hahahaha yearbook is freakin terrible...but come on, "Where's the Love?", "Madeline"...those are great



Just thought there should be at least one pop release to represent the millions that were commercially successful


Haha well i guess Hanson would be your pick then. I suppose it would work because it was popular and defined the whole pop aspect of the later 90's

[Troggy]

I'm not even joking, I loved that album when it came out. I Will Come To You with the na-na-nas is epic.

I am definitely not joking either. haha.

[CellarGhosts]

I have Mmmbop stuck in my head now. haha.

[Troggy]

i love hanson... haha, but i don't know about influential.

:shrug: maybe...

Haha well i guess Hanson would be your pick then. I suppose it would work because it was popular and defined the whole pop aspect of the later 90's

yeah I will pick it. haha.

[Troggy]

I have Mmmbop stuck in my head now. haha.

hahahaha i had "thinking of you" earlier.

[allhourcymbals]

I have Mmmbop stuck in my head now. haha.
you know i didn't even think about it until i saw this post. thanks..

[IWasaCamera]

Have you forgotten which site we're on?

[Troggy]

Have you forgotten which site we're on?

Absolutelunchfortheskystasteinmusic ?

[IWasaCamera]

-500 hipster points for currently listening to Middle Of Nowhere.

[allhourcymbals]

i just went to hanson's myspace hoping to see all songs from mmbop on there, but nope... i honestly didn't know they were still making albums. but the newest comment on their myspace cracked me up:

hey guys!!!
congrats ike and nikki!!!=)
godd bless you and youre babie's 2!!=)
so i hope tahat you can como to mexico soon!!!
please all fans here miss you!!!
ok i hope ike a nd niki tht youre babe a mean youre 2 babe's been well and healty!!!
i wish you the best!!!!=)=)=)

[CellarGhosts]

you know i didn't even think about it until i saw this post. thanks..
It's a good song though! I'm not kidding either.

The 00's should actually be pretty interesting providing people don't start picking Saves the Day, Say Anything, TBS, Brand New etc..
Unfortunately, I'm sure people would start doing that. Of those three bands, Brand New would be the the only one to make my list with the Devil and God, and even then I'm not sure I'd put that one there.

hahahaha i had "thinking of you" earlier.
Haha nice. I kind of wish I still had my old copy of Middle Of Nowhere now.

[allhourcymbals]

It's a good song though! I'm not kidding either.


Unfortunately, I'm sure people would start doing that. Of those three bands, Brand New would be the the only one to make my list with the Devil and God, and even then I'm not sure I'd put that one there.


Haha nice. I kind of wish I still had my old copy of Middle Of Nowhere now.

i just went and found mine... and it's in perfect condition too.

[Troggy]

-500 hipster points for currently listening to Middle Of Nowhere.

I am listening to. It's good.

Haha nice. I kind of wish I still had my old copy of Middle Of Nowhere now.

Yeah i don't have the physical copy but my sister does so good enough. I'll prob pick it up used someday.

[IWasaCamera]

I am listening to. It's good.
I was totally digging the first two tracks then Weird came on. :-(

[allhourcymbals]

I was totally digging the first two tracks then Weird came on. :-(
i used to love that song hahah. and 'lucy' was amazing to me. oh and i definitely have a hanson tour on vhs somewhere.

[Troggy]

I was totally digging the first two tracks then Weird came on. :-(

haha that one isn't too bad really. the upbeat numbers are way better. by the time where's the love comes on, weird is forgotten. the second half barely makes up for yearbook though.