Musicwhore.org Music and memory

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.

The original list from 1994 didn’t even include an extended list. That’s how austere the selections from the year were.

1. Talitha Mackenzie, Solas
2. Freedy Johnston, This Perfect World
3. Wayne Horvitz/Pigpen, V as in Victim
4. Harry Connick, Jr., She
5. Guided By Voices, Bee Thousand
6. Everything But the Girl, Amplified Heart
7. Kronos Quartet, Night Prayers
8. Jayne Cortez and the Firespitters, Cheerful & Optimistic
9. John Zorn/Masada, Alef
10. Madonna, Bedtime Stories

Other favorites from the year:

• Prince, The Black Album
• Blur, Parklife
• Pizzicato Five, Made in USA
• Shudder to Think, Pony Express Record
• Elliott Goldenthal, Interview with a Vampire

At the time of its limited release, I was actually very curious about The Black Album. Part of it was all the hype surrounding its initial aborted release, but I was still mostly ambivalent about Prince to pass on it. Its underdog status among Prince’s work makes me like it just a bit more.

A top 10 list I would have compiled in 1994 would have listed the Interview with a Vampire soundtrack. It’s actually a really good score. It’s too bad the movie sucked eggs. I watched twice — the first time to evaluate its faithfulness to the novel (somewhat), the second to evaluate it as a film (awful). The only thing that mars the soundtrack is the unfortunate cover of Sympathy for the Devil by Guns N’ Roses.

Tags: blur, elliott goldenthal, everything but the girl, favorite edition, freedy johnston, guided by voices, harry connick jr, jayne cortez, john zorn, kronos quartet, madonna, masada, pigpen, pizzicato five, prince, rewind, shudder to think, talitha mackenzie, wayne horvitz