Pitchfork's revised 100 Best Albums of the 90's.

[Edwin MacPhisto 0]

Pitchforkmedia.com has posted their revised top 100 albums of the 1990's. It's a pretty sound (ha!) list from where I sit: not too self-consciously indie, and with most choices well-justified. Metal fans beware, though: Pitchfork barely covers metal and I don't think there's a single album you could classify as such on the list.

 

It's set up in a weird format, but I'll c&p the top 20 for discussion's sake. The top 20 isn't surprising - lotsa Nirvana, Pavement, Radiohead - but the whole list is solid reading. More to my tastes than the recent Rolling Stone list, for sure.

 

020: Björk - Post

019: Beck - Odelay

018: Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream

017: Public Enemy - Fear of a Black Planet

016: The Dismemberment Plan - Emergency & I

015: Radiohead - The Bends

014: Belle & Sebastian - If You're Feeling Sinister

013: Nirvana - In Utero

012: Slint - Spiderland

011: Talk Talk - Laughing Stock

010: Guided by Voices - Bee Thousand

009: Bonnie "Prince" Billy - I See a Darkness

008: Pavement - Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain

007: DJ Shadow - ...Endtroducing

006: Nirvana - Nevermind

005: Pavement - Slanted & Enchanted

004: Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea

003: The Flaming Lips - The Soft Bulletin

002: My Bloody Valentine - Loveless

001: Radiohead - OK Computer

[Red Baron 0]

it still sucks...

[godthedog 0]

the rest of the list, in descending order:

 

021: Björk - Homogenic

022: Built to Spill - Perfect from Now On

023: The Beta Band - The Three EPs

024: Built to Spill - There's Nothing Wrong with Love

025: Yo La Tengo - I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One

026: Weezer - Weezer

027: Guided by Voices - Alien Lanes

028: Pixies - Bossanova

029: Modest Mouse - The Lonesome Crowded West

030: Liz Phair - Exile in Guyville

031: Wilco - Summerteeth

032: The Notorious B.I.G. - Ready to Die

033: Nas - Illmatic

034: Beastie Boys - Check Your Head

035: Boards of Canada - Music Has the Right to Children

036: Wu-Tang Clan - Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)

037: Magnetic Fields - 69 Love Songs

038: The Jesus Lizard - Goat

039: Olivia Tremor Control - Dusk at Cubist Castle

040: Aphex Twin - The Richard D. James Album

041: Yo La Tengo - Painful

042: Fugazi - Red Medicine

043: R.E.M. - Automatic for the People

044: Boredoms - Super Ae

045: Godspeed You Black Emperor! - F# A# Infinity

046: Air - Moon Safari

047: Oval - 94diskont

048: Portishead - Dummy

049: Tom Waits - Bone Machine

050: Outkast - Aquemini

051: Stereolab - Emperor Tomato Ketchup

052: PJ Harvey - Rid of Me

053: Weezer - Pinkerton

054: Blur - Parklife

055: Spiritualized - Ladies and Gentlemen, We Are Floating in Space

056: A Tribe Called Quest - The Low-End Theory

057: Brainiac - Bonsai Superstar

058: Jesus Lizard - Liar

059: Elliott Smith - Either/Or

060: Palace Music - Viva Last Blues

061: Pulp - Different Class

062: Aphex Twin - Selected Ambient Works, Vol. II

063: De La Soul - De La Soul Is Dead

064: The Breeders - Last Splash

065: Daft Punk - Homework

066: Tricky - Maxinquaye

067: Mouse on Mars - Iaora Tahiti

068: Elliott Smith - XO

069: Jeff Buckley - Grace

070: Jawbox - For Your Own Special Sweetheart

071: Dr. Octagon - Octagonecologyst

072: Silver Jews - American Water

073: Brainiac - Hissing Prigs in Static Couture

074: Ride - Nowhere

075: A Tribe Called Quest - Midnight Marauders

076: Mercury Rev - Deserter's Songs

077: Primal Scream - Screamadelica

078: Stereolab - Mars Audiac Quintet

079: Dr. Dre - The Chronic

080: The Pharcyde - Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde

081: The Breeders - Pod

082: Sonic Youth - Goo

083: Pixies - Trompe le Monde

084: Company Flow - Funcrusher Plus

085: Massive Attack - Blue Lines

086: Destroyer - City of Daughters

087: GZA/Genius - Liquid Swords

088: Wilco - Being There

089: Squarepusher - Music Is Rotted One Note

090: Cocteau Twins - Heaven or Las Vegas

091: Tortoise - TNT

092: Scott Walker - Tilt

093: Bob Dylan - Time Out of Mind

094: Frank Black - Teenager of the Year

095: Massive Attack - Mezzanine

096: Herbert - Around the House

097: Mogwai - Young Team

098: KMD - Mr. Hood

099: Raekwon - Only Built 4 Cuban Linx

100: The Orb - The Orb's Adventures Beyond the Ultraworld

 

this is one weird ass list. i can't even comment, as i've never heard of about 70% of this stuff.

[Guest Plushy Al Logan]

Van Halen 3 beats all of those on my list.

[Guest BAR]

I don't really follow '90s music but the two UYI albums were great.

[Red Baron 0]

My Top Five Albums of the 90's

 

1.) Dirt: Alice In Chains

2.) Ten: Pearl Jam

3.) Divison Bell: Pink Floyd

4.) Ænima: Tool

5.) Megadeth: Youthanasia

[cbacon 0]

Van Halen 3 beats all of those on my list.

[Henry Spencer 0]

If I remember correctly, the original nineties list had no hip hop on it. So, good job.

[PsychoDriver 0]

I've heard of and like alot of that stuff... but I still don't agree with that list.

[1234-5678 0]

My Top 5 Albums of the 90s list

 

1. Guns N Roses "Use Your Illusion I"

2. Guns N Roses "Use Your Illusion II"

3. Nirvana "Nevermind"

4. Pearl Jam "Vs."

5. Metallica "Metallica"

[razazteca 0]

Is this a list from UK magazine editors or what?

[Giuseppe Zangara 0]

I have 47 of those albums. So, yeah.

[razazteca 0]

066: Tricky - Maxinquaye

085: Massive Attack - Blue Lines

Do you have any suggestions of other artist that sound like this?

 

017: Public Enemy - Fear of a Black Planet

026: Weezer - Weezer

050: Outkast - Aquemini

075: A Tribe Called Quest - Midnight Marauders

079: Dr. Dre - The Chronic

Paid for these.

[Giuseppe Zangara 0]

In case anyone was curious, here's the 47:

 

001: Radiohead - OK Computer

002: My Bloody Valentine - Loveless

003: The Flaming Lips - The Soft Bulletin

004: Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea

005: Pavement - Slanted & Enchanted

007: DJ Shadow - ...Endtroducing

008: Pavement - Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain

009: Bonnie "Prince" Billy - I See a Darkness

011: Talk Talk - Laughing Stock

012: Slint - Spiderland

014: Belle & Sebastian - If You're Feeling Sinister

015: Radiohead - The Bends

016: The Dismemberment Plan - Emergency & I

022: Built to Spill - Perfect from Now On

024: Built to Spill - There's Nothing Wrong with Love

025: Yo La Tengo - I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One

026: Weezer - Weezer

027: Guided by Voices - Alien Lanes

028: Pixies - Bossanova

031: Wilco - Summerteeth

033: Nas - Illmatic

036: Wu-Tang Clan - Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)

037: Magnetic Fields - 69 Love Songs

040: Aphex Twin - The Richard D. James Album

041: Yo La Tengo - Painful

043: R.E.M. - Automatic for the People

045: Godspeed You Black Emperor! - F# A# Infinity

049: Tom Waits - Bone Machine

050: Outkast - Aquemini

052: PJ Harvey - Rid of Me

053: Weezer - Pinkerton

054: Blur - Parklife

055: Spiritualized - Ladies and Gentlemen, We Are Floating in Space

056: A Tribe Called Quest - The Low-End Theory

061: Pulp - Different Class

063: De La Soul - De La Soul Is Dead

068: Elliott Smith - XO

069: Jeff Buckley - Grace

071: Dr. Octagon - Octagonecologyst

075: A Tribe Called Quest - Midnight Marauders

076: Mercury Rev - Deserter's Songs

083: Pixies - Trompe le Monde

084: Company Flow - Funcrusher Plus

088: Wilco - Being There

092: Scott Walker - Tilt

097: Mogwai - Young Team

099: Raekwon - Only Built 4 Cuban Linx

[Edwin MacPhisto 0]

066: Tricky - Maxinquaye

085: Massive Attack - Blue Lines

Do you have any suggestions of other artist that sound like this?

Right on this list is Portishead's Dummy, which is probably my personal favorite trip-hop album. You could also do well with Lamb's self-titled album.

 

That's for your similarities in sounds, and general ambience. If you're after the rap that Tricky and Massive Attack dabble in...well, pretty much them. Tricky's second and third albums and pretty much everything Massive Attack did except for the newest album are all pretty solid.

 

I own 30 of these and have heard a little over half. Checking it out, the only bands I'm really surprised to not see represented are U2 for Achtung Baby, anything from Underworld (which was on the original list), or anything from Tool. But whoever reviewed Lateralus gave it something like a 2.9, so I don't think Pitchfork very much likes Maynard and the boys anyway.

[razazteca 0]

Was Massive Attack a supergroup that included Tricky and Portishead?

[Edwin MacPhisto 0]

I wouldn't call Massive Attack a supergroup, but they did form from the remains of The Wild Bunch, which was an 80's DJ-type group in England. It's more akin to Fugazi growing out of Minor Threat than a supergroup thing.

 

Part two: no on Portishead, but yes to Tricky. He was involved with the first two albums and split with the collective when after their second album, Protection. Protection's first song, "Karmacoma," is ostensibly the same song as "Overcome" on Tricky's Maxinquaye, with the former's vocal being provided by Tricky and the latter's by Martina Topley-Bird. I like "Overcome" better myself.

[Guest ian.]

portishead and wilco get a mention, im happy

[snuffbox 0]

this list blows

[Your Paragon of Virtue 0]

If I remember correctly, the original nineties list had no hip hop on it. So, good job.

I was just about to say that the two things I noticed about this list that were different were that there's a lot more hip hop, and that a lot of mainstream albums were pushed higher, most notably REM and Smashing Pumpkins. I love both albums, and Siamese Dream is one of my favourites, so it's all good with me. I do have to agree with Edwin that Achtung Baby should be somewhere on there.

 

There are still a few albums that I'd have put in there, but than I'm not surprised that they aren't there and I'm not complaining. Good list, but I have a question; why is it that the first list was so much more obscure than this one, and why were albums that were like top twenty in the other one pushed far lower or even off the list entirely? Odd to say the least, I guess they have a lot of new writers that are more mainstream-friendly or something.

[Edwin MacPhisto 0]

Good list, but I have a question; why is it that the first list was so much more obscure than this one, and why were albums that were like top twenty in the other one pushed far lower or even off the list entirely? Odd to say the least, I guess they have a lot of new writers that are more mainstream-friendly or something.

It seems that way. I mean, someone gave the Darkness album an 8.4, and that's about as un-Pitchfork a record as you can find. I think that since this is four years later and actually out of the 90's - they made the first in 1999, after all - it's easier for them to get a realistic perspective. Flash-in-the-pan stuff that didn't seem so flash-in-the-pan at the time has been exposed, and the better works, mainstream or not, have aged really well.

[Boner Kawanger 0]

I'm glad Grace was on there.

[Zetterberg is God 0]

I don't see why they ranked Weezer's self-titled over Pinkerton.

[snuffbox 0]

I'm glad Grace was on there.

its a top 10 record easily...

 

and i didnt see Gish or Mellon Collie on that list...does Stephen Malkmus work for pitchfork?

[Kinetic 0]

I'm totally baffled as to why they'd bother doing this list again. Edwin's explanation makes as much sense as any, but it still seems like an awfully big waste of time when they've yet to tackle best-of lists from the 60s and 70s, arguably the two best decades for rock/pop music that would contain more records that their readership probably hasn't heard but should. Doing a small revision on the first list--and what happened in the last three years that suddenly made OK Computer, released in '97, better than Loveless, released in '91--seems like a paltry excuse to post another pointless list.

[Kinetic 0]

And I own the following albums:

 

020: Björk - Post

019: Beck - Odelay

018: Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream

016: The Dismemberment Plan - Emergency & I

015: Radiohead - The Bends

014: Belle & Sebastian - If You're Feeling Sinister

013: Nirvana - In Utero

008: Pavement - Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain

006: Nirvana - Nevermind

005: Pavement - Slanted & Enchanted

004: Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea

003: The Flaming Lips - The Soft Bulletin

002: My Bloody Valentine - Loveless

001: Radiohead - OK Computer

021: Björk - Homogenic

022: Built to Spill - Perfect from Now On

023: The Beta Band - The Three EPs

024: Built to Spill - There's Nothing Wrong with Love

025: Yo La Tengo - I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One

026: Weezer - Weezer

028: Pixies - Bossanova

029: Modest Mouse - The Lonesome Crowded West

030: Liz Phair - Exile in Guyville

031: Wilco - Summerteeth

037: Magnetic Fields - 69 Love Songs

043: R.E.M. - Automatic for the People

046: Air - Moon Safari

048: Portishead - Dummy

050: Outkast - Aquemini

052: PJ Harvey - Rid of Me

053: Weezer - Pinkerton

054: Blur - Parklife

056: A Tribe Called Quest - The Low-End Theory

059: Elliott Smith - Either/Or

061: Pulp - Different Class

063: De La Soul - De La Soul Is Dead

064: The Breeders - Last Splash

068: Elliott Smith - XO

069: Jeff Buckley - Grace

076: Mercury Rev - Deserter's Songs

081: The Breeders - Pod

083: Pixies - Trompe le Monde

088: Wilco - Being There

[Giuseppe Zangara 0]

Doing a small revision on the first list--and what happened in the last three years that suddenly made OK Computer, released in '97, better than Loveless, released in '91--seems like a paltry excuse to post another pointless list.

I'd hardly call the new list a "small revision"--there's a lot of hip hop on the list this time around, most notably--and the different ranking for those albums are reflected in the fact that, aside from three people, it's a completely different staff doing the list. Plus, they shouldn't have done the original list when they did; it was still 1999 when they published it. That's hardly far enough removed to make a proper list.

 

Doing 70s/60s list is not a bad idea--one they've probably considered, I'm sure--but far more difficult in execution than the 80s/90s.

[Edwin MacPhisto 0]

I'll be surprised if Pitchfork ever does pull off a 70's or 60's list. The usual "we know everything about music and here are some anecdotes reflecting this" pretension that often makes up half the content in their lesser reviews would be really hard to buy when these guys discuss stuff they weren't alive to see. I'd like to see them try, but I'm worried we'd get a lot of stuff like Ryan Schreiber's infamous Pet Sounds review.

[Jack_Bauer 0]

I don't own a lot of them, but here's what I DO own.

 

Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream

Radiohead - The Bends

Nirvana - Nevermind

The Flaming Lips - The Soft Bulletin

Radiohead - OK Computer

Weezer - Weezer

REM - Automatic For The People

Weezer - Pinkerton

Pulp - Different Class

Mercury Rev - Deserter's Song

 

I'm surprised Manic Street Preachers - The Holy Bible isn't on there. It's a pretty critically acclaimed album.

[PLAGIARISM! 0]

The inclusions of Waits, Frank Black and most importantly for me, the Richard D James LP mean I've seen a lot worse. The best utter waste of time that's been produced thus far.