10 Albums for Someone Born in the 90’s
October 22nd 2009 22:57
10 Albums for Someone Born in the 90’s
This list was created after I realized that my 15 year old sister had no idea who Alanis Morrisette was. Born in the mid nineties, she wasn’t even alive when some of the biggest albums of the decade, albums that formed my love of music were made. In my mid-twenties now, I couldn’t imagine anyone NOT knowing who Alanis Morrisette was. But, I guess this is just like me and the 1980’s. I love the 80's, although I was very young when I lived through them, I realized as a teenager that there was more to music then what was on Total Request Live after school . So I consulted Rolling Stone for ideas and discovered music like The Police, U2 and The Cure. For definitive records of the 1990's, I went into my collection and thought of the albums that I had listened to, that I had actually begged money from my parents to buy, back in the day when people actually went to the store and bought CD’s. In this Itunes world my sister lives in, where you can just download the single you heard on the radio, I doubt she has ever listened to a single album end to end, front to back. This is my list of 90’s favorites I would like to give her.
1. Aerosmith, Big Ones (1994)
First there were the music videos featuring Alicia Silverstone and Liv Tyler, which were epic events not to be missed. Everyone saw the trilogy of videos for Crying, Crazy and Amazing which were expensive to produce and at the time, so super cool. But this album contained a huge chunk of hits from Aerosmith’s impressive catalog, almost the entire album are hits.
Legendary Singles:
Love in an Elevator, Rag Doll, What it Takes, Dude Looks Like a Lady, Janie’s got a Gun, Crying, Amazing, the Other Side, Crazy, Eat the Rich, Angel, Living on the Edge.
My Personal Favorites:
The Other Side, Dude Looks Like a Lady
2. Alanis Morrisette- Jagged Little Pill (1995)
Jagged Little Pill
The reason this list was created. No amount of apologizing and acting Zen could make up for the fact that when she was angry, she was at her best. As a teenage girl, I loved seeing that a female could be raw, improper and rock out.
Legendary Singles:
You Oughta Know, Hand in my Pocket, You Learn, Ironic
My Personal Favorite:
Head Over Feet
3. No Doubt- Tragic Kingdom (1995)
If Alanis Morrisette was the Queen of Pain, then Gwen Stefani was the Queen of Cool. There wasn’t anyone like Gwen; and yet she was just like every girl, dealing with a breakup by channeling her hurt feelings into song after being dumped by the bass player in her own band. Only instead of buying a pint of ice cream and watching Pretty In Pink with her girlfriends she wrote iconic girl power anthems. Oh, and she was drop dead gorgeous and did sweaty push-ups on stage. What woman in her 20’s can make it through Don’t Speak without belting out the end at the top of her lungs? I don’t think I’ve met that 20 something yet.
Legendary Singles:
Spiderwebs, Just a Girl, Don’t Speak
My Personal Favorites:
Sunday Morning
4. Green Day: Dookie (1994)
This is a highly inappropriate album for a then twelve year old to own, it contained lyrics about masturbation, drug use, and general slacking. Thank god my parents never listened to it. But for me, I’d hand it over to my sister in a heartbeat. It’s a shame to think that the only Green Day that she’s familiar with is American Idiot Green Day. I wish for the days of dirty, punk Green Day.
Legendary Singles:
Longview, Welcome to Paradise, Basketcase, When I come Around
Personal Favorites:
She
5. Bush: Sixteen Stone (1994)
Now mostly known as Mr. Stefani as well as that bit part as a demon in Constantine, and also for being a smoking hot Dad, my sister has no idea who Gavin Rossdale the musician was. He was the hottest alternative rocker out there in the 90’s and along with Razorblade Suitcase, this album was owned by almost every teenage girl. Why? Watch the youtube video of when Bush played MTV’s spring break back in 96. Legend has it that due to the pouring rain and lightning and the threat of possible electrocution, the band stopped their show, but Gavin went out in the rain and did this amazing solo version of Glycerine like a true rock star.
Legendary Singles:
Everything Zen, Little Things, Machinehead
Personal Favorites:
Glycerine
6. Dave Matthews Band: Under the Table and Dreaming (1994), Crash (1996)
When I was in high school, there were people who went to all of his shows and were generally obsessed by Dave Matthews. While I am far from obsessed by DMB, I am a general admirer and these two albums, and I include them together because they were both so influential, were the soundtrack to much of my teenage years. Plus, who hasn’t had a make out session to Crash Into me?
Legendary Singles:
What Would You Say, Ants Marching, Dancing Nancies, So Much to Say, Crash Into me, Tripping Billies
Personal Favorites:
Lie in Our Graves, Satellite
7. Beastie Boys: Licensed to Ill (1995)
Everyone had a copy of this album. My sister doesn’t understand the Beastie Boys,she feels like all they do is shout. But how could anyone resist Brass Monkey? Clearly, she hasn’t heard the Licensed to Ill, or used it to get through a long road trip?
Legendary Singles:
Fight for your Right, No Sleep Till Brooklyn, Brass Monkey
Personal Favorites:
She’s Crafty, Girls
8. TLC: Crazy Sexy Cool (1994)
I can’t really listen to this album anymore. For some reason, it makes me feel melancholy, maybe it’s due to the death of Lisa “Left Eye” Lopez or how depressing the song Waterfalls was. As a teenage girl I loved the song Diggin on You because it was just about having a crush on a guy. Most young teenage girls don’t remember TLC or they might just remember No Scrubs. Ok, I’m sad again. Just take the CD and go listen to it. Go on…. just go.
Legendary Singles:
Waterfalls, If I was Your Girlfriend, Creep
Personal Favorites:
Diggin on you, Red Light Special
9. Fiona Apple: Tidal (1996)
Dear Fiona, you kinda ruined your chance to be a huge recording artist when you gave that bizarre, horrific acceptance speech at the MTV movie awards. But I still love you and I love how you refuse to be commercialized. I love your smoky voice. I love your beautiful blue eyes. That risqué video for Criminal. I love this entire magically delicious album.
Legendary Singles:
Sleep To Dream, Shadowboxer, Criminal
Personal Favorites:
The First Taste
10. Sarah McLachlan: Fumbling Towards Ecstasy (1994) & Surfacing (1997)
I know…I know. I’m breaking my own rules again by choosing two albums by the same artist. But I can’t choose between them, it would be like choosing between my nonexistent children, such is my deep and abiding love for these two albums. Until these albums I had never really heard an adult woman sing about love in a very mature, classy way. Her melodies are beautiful and the lyrics simplistic but quirky.
Legendary Singles:
Possession, Hold On, Fear, Ice Cream, Fumbling Toward Estasy
Building a Mystery, Sweet Surrender, Adia, Angel
Personal Favorites:
I love you, Witness, Good Enough, Ice Cream
Does anyone else have a suggestion of your favorite 90's album? Let me know!
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