1992 in music. • Page 2

1. Alice In Chains- Dirt
2. Rage Against the Machine- S/T
3. Megadeth- Countdown to Extinction

 

There are seriously moments on Dirt that plead the case for them being the best of the Seattle bands. Ending an album with "Angry Chair" and "Would?" are among those moments.

The "grunge" genre term is kind of silly as we have all discussed at great length, but IF one song were to epitomize the SOUND of grunge, it has to be "Would?" for me.

RIP Layne, what a talent.

 

dirt is a top 50 album ever for me.

RATM might be a top 10

 

Duuuuuuuude Bone Machine is so amazing

 

It’s Tom Waits birthday today too, so a perfect day to be listening!

 

1. Neil Young - Harvest Moon
2. Dr. Dre - The Chronic
3. The Cure - Wish

 

The definition of inimitable, album's been blowing my mind from the first listen.

 

The combination of brutality and beauty and the dynamic rise and fall between them is masterful.

 

My pick for underrated gem of the year - from Bob Mould's oft-forgotten, short-lived alt-rock band, Sugar.

If this isn't a perfect ~3 min pop song, I've never heard one. The rest of the album is just as brilliant. Enjoy!

 

yeah, sugar rules. i personally ding them slightly for being my least favorite Mould project, but that's silly of me

 

for sure!

 

1. R.E.M. - Automatic for the People
2. Bruce Springsteen - Lucky Town
3. Lyle Lovett - Joshua Judges Ruth

Automatic for the People is my favorite R.E.M. album, and IMO, is one of the most beautiful albums ever recorded. I'll never get tired of hearing "Nightswimming" or "Sweetness Follows" or "Find the River." I think a lot of fans prefer the IRS years, and Automatic's huge mainstream appeal seems to lead a lot of People to embrace other '90s records over this one (New Adventures in Hi-Fi in particular has gotten big and well-deserved a re-estimation lately). But some albums are huge for a reason, and this one's blend of undeniable singles with really wrenching songs about death and mortality and fading youth...man, I find the whole thing so moving.

Lucky Town slots in relatively low on my Springsteen catalog ranking -- and there's a lot about the Springsteen "Wilderness Years" in the '90s that I take issue with (imagine having THAT band and firing them!) -- but I do think the album deserves more credit than it gets. It often seems to get "damned by association" because it came out alongside Human Touch (which even I won't spend much time trying to defend), but there are some really wonderful songs here. "Better Days," the title track, and "If I Should Fall Behind" are all obviously wonderful, and I adore "Living Proof" and "My Beautiful Reward" as well.

My step dad is a huge Lyle fan, so I grew up hearing his music in the car or at home all the time. This is my favorite record of his. The band sounds so damn good on the upbeat songs, but my favorite tracks are "She's Already Made up Her Mind" and "North Dakota," two of the greatest late-night slow-burn country ballads of all time.

 

Great words on Automatic for the People, Craig. Agreed entirely - moving is a great descriptor as well. And anyone that thinks it's "too mainstream" should def take themselves less seriously. It's Just brilliant and never gets old. A Timeless classic.

 

love AFTP. need to listen to the lyle album. my lucky town/human touch opinions are redacted

 

For what it’s worth, I think you’d really dig Lovett.

 

Other than Lovett, any other country albums you’d stump for during this golden age?

 

have you considered garth

 

His masterpiece approaches next year

 

I'm not super well-versed in the country from this era, but the ones you've been mentioning are all going on my "to listen" list. I'm in full year-end list making mode right now, but I'm hoping to get to a bunch of this stuff for MWE next year.

Are you familiar with Radney Foster? His debut came out in '92. My step dad is a big fan of his as well, though I don't know his albums as well as Lyle's.

 

I’ve never heard of him actually. Will have to write his name down.

I’d definitely make note of Robert Ellis Orrall from this year’s crop. He’s from MA, and my Dad actually went to school with him and took over the lead tenor chair from him when he graduated, so when he blew up briefly we kept good track. The whole thing is killer, but “Flying Colors” ended up on my top songs ballot. Just a magnificent ballad

Edit: Now THAT’s an album cover. I have to hear this debut

 

I've heard a lot of Radney over the years, but haven't ever really kept track of what albums everything is from. I'll have to listen to this one as well.

And adding Robert Ellis Orral to the list!

 

Iris Dement’s debut Infamous Angel came out in 92, and it’s prob still the best from her long and impressive career.

Also Joe Ely’s Love and Danger is another solid one.

 

manic street preachers LP hit me hard

 

@Craig Manning all you would have had to say to get me to listen to Foster’s debut is that Mary Chapin Carpenter shows up on backing vocals. Sold!

 

Well, there you go!