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.

1998 and 1999 were probably the most productive years of the ’90s. 1997 slightly less so. That said, there isn’t much change from the original list, a few shuffles aside.

1. Cocco, Bougainvillia
2. Duran Duran, Medazzaland
3. The Old ’97s, Too Far to Care
4. Björk, Homogeneic
5. 10,000 Maniacs, Love Among the Ruins
6. Soundtrack, The Simpsons: Songs in the Key of Springfield
7. Molotov, ¿Dónde Jugarán las Niñas?
8. Bill Frisell, Nashville
9. Pizzicato Five, Happy End of the World
10. Prodigy, Fat of the Land

Other favorites from the year:

• Janet Jackson, The Velvet Rope
• China Digs, Looking for George …
• John Taylor, Feelings are Good and Other Lies
• Jack Ingram, Livin’ and Dyin’
• Kronos Quartet, Early Music (Lachrymæ Antiquæ)
• 8 1/2 Souvenirs, Souvonica
• Sleater-Kinney, Dig Me Out
• Missy Elliott, Supa Dupa Fly
• David Bowie, Earthling

I wouldn’t rediscover The Velvet Rope till 2014. I disliked its predecessor, janet., but I was also disappointed Janet didn’t switch up her theme. I’ve come to realize The Velvet Rope was the album I wished janet. would have been.

Earthling is the very first album by David Bowie I’ve ever owned. I actually liked it at the time, but I didn’t love it. So it got cut during a collection purge. My recent deep dive into the his work made me revisit Earthling, and as unlikely as an EDM Bowie album might sound, he makes it work.

Sleater-Kinney and Missy Eliott are retroactive additions to the list. I didn’t explore their works until recently.

Tags: 10000 maniacs, 8 1/2 souvenirs, bill frisell, bjork, china digs, cocco, david bowie, duran duran, favorite edition, jack ingram, janet jackson, john taylor, kronos quartet, missy elliott, molotov, pizzicato five, prodigy, rewind, sleater-kinney, soundtrack, the old 97s