![[Tracy Chapman - New Beginning]](https://musicwhore.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/TracyChapmanNewBeginning145003_f-300x300.jpg)
A decade ago, I wrote a series of entries ranking my favorite albums from 1985 to 2004. My collection has expanded greatly since then, particularly in the last five years. So I wanted to see what has changed in 10 years.
I had trouble coming up with a Favorite 10 of 1995, so I left it at nine. I’ve since had time to fill the remaining spot with an album I shouldn’t have let go.
- Emmylou Harris, Wrecking Ball
- The Klezmatics, Jews with Horns
- John Zorn/Masada, Hei
- Värttinä, Aitara
- Björk, Post
- Enya, The Memory of Trees
- Kronos Quartet, Performs Philip Glass
- Alanis Morissette, Jagged Little Pill
- Tears for Fears, Raoul and the Kings of Spain
- Tracy Chapman, New Beginning
Other favorites from the year:
- Prince, The Gold Experience
- Bang on a Can All-Stars, Industry
- Janet Jackson, Design of a Decade, 1986-1996
- Fugazi, Red Medicine
- Radiohead, The Bends
- Ned’s Atomic Dustbin, Brainbloodvolume
- John Zorn, Elegy and Kristallnacht
A year-end list at the time would have included Tracy Chapman, but New Beginning got cut in purge before the original list was compiled. It took the discovery of her second album, Crossroads, for me to revisit New Beginning and realizing what a mistake I’d made.
The Gold Experience is a surprising entry in the extended list. The era when Prince was known by the Love Symbol was a creatively fraught time, so it overshadows just how good The Gold Experience is.
I’ve attempted to explore Radiohead in the past few years to understand my general ambivalence to them. So far, The Bends is the only album I really like, which is of course an obvious choice. Modern classical musicians all seem to love them, which surprises me. Café Tacuba does far more interesting work.
Tags: alanis morissette, bang on a can, bjork, emmylou harris, enya, favorite edition, fugazi, janet jackson, john zorn, kronos quartet, masada, ned's atomic dustbin, prince, radiohead, rewind, tears for fears, the klezmatics, tracy chapman, varttina
![[Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea]](https://musicwhore.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/NeutralMilkHotelIntheAe48874_f-293x300.jpg)
A decade ago, I wrote a series of entries ranking my favorite albums from 1985 to 2004. My collection has expanded greatly since then, particularly in the last five years. So I wanted to see what has changed in 10 years.
As much as I loved the ’80s, I can’t say the ’90s holds as much sentiment. I feel more affinity for the Aughts than I do the ’90s. That said, 1998 has proven to be rich with favorites, and I would consider it the pinnacle year in the decade. This list has gone through extensive revision from the original.
- Neutral Milk Hotel, In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
- Madonna, Ray of Light
- Lauryn Hill, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
- Lucinda Williams, Car Wheels on a Gravel Road
- Fastball, All the Pain Money Can Buy
- Patty Griffin, Flaming Red
- SUPERCAR, Three Out Change
- Various Artists, For the Masses: A Tribute to Depeche Mode
- Bruce Robison, Wrapped
- Cocco, Kumuiuta
Other favorites from the year:
- Shakira, ¿Dónde Están Los Ladrones?
- Wendy and Lisa, Girl Bros.
- Midnight Oil, Redneck Wonderland
- 8 1/2 Souvenirs, Happy Feet
- UA, Ametora
- Kronos Quartet, Alfred Schnittke: The Complete String Quartets
- the brilliant green, the brilliant green
- Bang on a Can All-Stars, Music for Airports
- Craig Armstrong, The Space Between Us
- Julieta Venegas, Aquí
- Aterciopelados, Caribe Atómico
- Macha, Macha
- Idlewild, Hope Is Important
- Pansy Division, Absurd Pop Song Romance
- Orgy, Candyass
A number of titles that held positions in the Favorite 10 switched places with ones in the extended list.
I didn’t give Fastball much credit 10 years ago because the album had been all over Austin at the time of its release. I got caught up in that hype, then dismissed it as such later. I was wrong. All the Pain Money Can Buy needs to be in the Favorite 10.
For the Masses actually turned me into a Depeche Mode fan. Some of the covers on the tribute album rival the originals. In the case of “Shake the Disease” and “Everything Counts”, they straight up improve them.
Madonna dominated the top position of this list for 10 years before Neutral Milk Hotel nudged her down a notch. SUPERCAR makes another revisionist ranking, pushing 8 1/2 Souvenirs off.
Idlewild makes an appearance with a debut album that’s at times bratty and tuneful. It’s a mess compared to its follow-up, 1000 Broken Windows. But it’s a riveting mess.
Tags: 8 1/2 souvenirs, aterciopelados, bang on a can, bruce robison, cocco, craig armstrong, depeche mode, fastball, favorite edition, idlewild, julieta venegas, kronos quartet, lauryn hill, lucinda williams, macha, madonna, midnight oil, neutral milk hotel, orgy, pansy division, patty griffin, rewind, shakira, supercar, the brilliant green, ua, various artists, wendy and lisa
![[Duran Duran, Washington State Fair, Sept. 23, 2015]](https://musicwhore.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/20150923_213148_1032x774-1024x768.jpg "[Duran Duran, Washington State Fair, Sept. 23, 2015]")
Concert reviews were always something I wanted to write for this site, but I never drummed up the gumption to jot down my thoughts about shows after I attend them. In reality, I didn’t want shows to become means to an end, in the same way album purchases had become source for reviews.
Still, I go to a lot of concerts, and it feels awkward not mentioning them at least once.
So I’m going to do a year-end overview of all the shows I’ve attended in the past year.
Continue reading »
Tags: arvo part, bang on a can, catalyst quartet, concert edition, danish string quartet, duran duran, emerson string quartet, emmylou harris, jason isbell, john adams, mono, neutral milk hotel, rodney crowell, seattle symphony, sturgill simpson, wayne horvitz
![[Duran Duran, Washington State Fair, Sept. 23, 2015]](https://musicwhore.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/20150923_213148_1032x774.jpg "[Duran Duran, Washington State Fair, Sept. 23, 2015]")