887. Nitin Sawhney - Beyond Skin

Release Date: 1999
Label: Outcaste

This was an interesting album, with clever use of dialouge samples and references to nucleur wars, the tensions between Indian and Pakinstan etc. Better than I expected.

Rating: 7/10

866. David Gray - White Ladder

 

Release Date: 1998
Label: IHT Records

White Ladder was an unexpected hit for David Gray when it was released in 1998. The wobbly-headed singer/songwriter's fouth album was the kind that non-music lovers would buy in their thousands. Listening to it twenty-one years after its release, you can't help but wonder what all the fuss was about.

Rating: 7/10

863. Billy Bragg & Wilco - Mermaid Avenue

Release Date: 1998
Label: Elektra

A collection of previously unseen Woody Guthrie lyrics, given a contemporary update with music by Billy Bragg and Wilco has the potential to either entertain or despair. Fortunately, it does the former and this album is pleasant without being brilliant.

Rating: 7/10

847. Buena Vista Social Club - Buena Vista Social Club

Release Date: 1997
Label: World Circuit

BVSC were a collection of Cuban musicians who all met whilst working for Disney in the early 90s. They are the band that all Jools Holland's world artists aspire to be. The album was ok, I guess.

Rating: 7/10

845. Sleater-Kinney - Dig Me Out

Release Date: 1997
Label: Kill Rock Stars

I enjoyed this album, I'm just not sure how much. Perhaps because I wanted to really like it, I ended up being slightly underwhelmed by it?

Rating: 7/10

827. Everything But The Girl - Walking Wounded

Release Date: 1996
Label: Atlantic

Tracey Thorn has an excellent voice, and some of these songs a very good.

Rating: 7/10

812. Stereolab - Emperor Tomato Ketchup

Release Date: 1996
Label: Elektra

There are times when an album just doesn't quite do enough to warrant an 8 or above. This is one such album. If somebody put it on I'd listen to it again, but it's not something I'd consider buying at the moment.

Rating: 7/10

807. Alanis Morissette - Jagged Little Pill

Release Date: 1995
Label: Maverick

Everybody bought this album in 1995. And I imagine everybody donated it to the local charity soon afterwards. This it the first time I've heard it though, so I thought it was quite good.

Rating: 7/10

799. Femi Kuti - Femi Kuti

Release Date: 1995
Label: Tabu

One of the better 'world' music albums in the book.

Rating: 7/10

798 - Guided By Voices - Alien Lanes

Release Date: 1995
Label: Matador

This was an interesting record, but one that was ultimately unfulfilling. With twenty-eight songs in just over forty minutes, the album is more like a collection of demos and half-formed ideas.

Rating: 7/10

792. Rocket From The Crypt - Scream Dracula Scream

Release Date: 1995
Label: Interscope

This album wasn't actually that bad. It was reminiscent of Elvis Costello in places.

Rating: 7/10

783. Nine Inch Nails - The Downward Spiral

Release Date: 1994
Label: Interscope

This wasn't as bad as I expected it to be. In fact it was quite good in some places. Still not going to get it though.

Rating: 7/10

781. Orbital - Snivellisation

Release Date: 1994
Label: FFRR

I listened to this whilst cleaning my bike yesterday afternoon.

Rating: 7/10

780. Jeff Buckley - Grace

Release Date: 1994
Label: Columbia

I own this too, though I've never loved it as much as others. Mind you, he's better than his father.

Rating: 7/10

769. Soundgarden - Superunknown

Release Date: 1994
Label: A&M

I liked this album, I just didn't want it to be 70 minutes long. Sometimes, shorter is better - (not) like this review.

Rating: 7/10

756. Mehtod Man - Tical

Release Date: 1994
Label: Def Jam

I like most of what I've heard from the Wu-Tang clan, and this album is no different. It isn't particularly well know outside hip-hop circles, but it's certainly worth investigating.

Rating: 7/10

747. Sheryl Crow - Tuesday Night Music Club

Release Date: 1993
Label: A&M

I enjoyed this album, more than I probably should.

Rating: 7/10

743. Jamiroquai - Emergency on Planet Earth

Release Date: 1993
Label: Sony

Around twenty years ago I began my music collection by buying two albums, one of which was the latest release by Jamiroquai. This is their/his debut album. I am unfamiliar with most of the songs, but it is what you'd expect it to sound like.

Rating: 7/10

737. The Auteurs - New Wave

Release Date: 1993
Label: Hut

New Wave has been called one of the earliest examples of Britpop, but doesn't really sound like Britpop at all to me.

Rating: 7/10

724. Sonic Youth - Dirty

Release Date: 1992
Label: DGC

Sonic Youth have been one of my favourite discoveries in this book, but the previous album and this one have been underwhelming in comparison to their first three in the book. Perhaps they peaked with Daydream Nation. I do feel as though I need to listen to these again though, much like a lot of the 7 star albums in the list.

Rating: 7/10