This Finnish alternative rock band has gathered cult fame around the world, but has never become a big name outside of Finland. Band was founded in the small village of Utajärvi and indeed on the gigs it seems that they are still miles away from the other people. They're a bit shy, a lot weird, but they make brilliant music. The shows sometimes get really rowdy as well. This is one of the best Finnish bands ever, so I encourage each and every non-Finn to try it out. The highlights of this album are in my opinion Onion Soup and Boardroom Walk. The lyrics may not make a lot of sense, but if you're more into authentic sounds, this is definitely music for you. If you have the chance to see them live, I suggest you take that chance. Listen to the album on Spotify.
I was disappointed that I couldn't fit All Is Dream into this blog, since in my opinion it's the best album by Mercury Rev. Deserter's Songs is almost as good though. This dream-pop band play beautiful and dream-like music with beautiful melodies and sounds. One of the most distinctive features of this album is the musical saw that is being played beautifully in few songs. The ending of this album is not quite as good as the beginning, but as a whole it's some sort of a masterpiece. This band doesn't sound like other bands, even though it's been sometimes compared to The Flaming Lips. This is less psychedelic and more beautiful. So for all you dreamers out there, this is a perfect album to take you away from now and into a dream. Listen to the album on Spotify.
Beck has made quite a few excellent alternative country albums during his career. in my opinion Mutations is the best one of them all. It's not as experimental as Odelay or as melancholic as Sea Change, but it has the best overall songs. Mostly the music is easygoing and lazy country folk, but there are some groovier songs in there. The highlights include Tropicalia, Dead Melodies and Bottle of Blues. This is a perfect album for those days when you don't have to rush anywhere. This is music to listen to while lying on the sofa minding your own thoughts. The lyrics are a bit cryptic from time to time, but there are some great things in there. Beck is one of the most original singer-songwriters that you need to listen to a lot to really get into. Listen to the album on Spotify.
This tells something about the greatness of 1998 albums! Air's amazing Moon Safari is only on the seventh place on this list. That's how great this list is. The French duo's first proper album features absolutely brilliant mixture of electronic sounds and jazzy organ tunes. Even though most of the album is instrumental there are some great vocal performances in there. This album is probably one of the most critically acclaimed albums in the history of music. I can see why. This sound is completely original, even though they've ripped off things from a thousand different bands. But that's what music is. Making new brilliant things from already existing other things. Space meets lounge jazz in this brilliant album. Listen to the album on Spotify.
Here is another incredible masterpiece! Trip-hop was one of the most original creations in 90's music and Massive Attack was probably the genre's brightest star. Mezzanine is also the best album from this band. Dark and hypnotic melodies are from another world. Music doesn't get any classier than this. Right down to insect in the front cover, everything is full of creepy beauty and scary melodies. This album can't be described through its individual songs. It's a whole journey that you must listen to. Electric guitars and drums are accompanied by electronically produced sounds, but everything sounds perfectly organic. The vocals are beautiful and eerie. This one is a must have album for every record collector! Listen to the album on Spotify.
Placebo is one of those many bands who made brilliant first two albums, and after that, started slowly to fall apart. Without You I'm Nothing is probably the band's brightest hour. Fast paced and punk influenced indie guitar rock songs come together with heartbreaking melancholic ballads. Some people are annoyed by Brian Molko's nasal voice, but in my opinion it's what makes Placebo's distinctive voice sound like nothing else. This album is full of amazing songs but to mention a few highlights, I like the title track, Every you, Every Me, The Crawl and My Sweet Prince the most. On this album Placebo sounds fresh and new with great enthusiasm to make great music. unfortunately this album is not on Spotify, so here are the songs on Youtube.
This cult band has kept its underground popularity strong for 15 years. it sells almost as much now as it did in the year it was published. In the Airplane Over the Sea is a masterful theme album that gets its inspiration from Anne Frank's diary. Dark themes intertwine in psychedelic lyrics about king of carrot flowers, communists and a two-headed boy. This album is probably the best folk-punk album ever written. Lo-fi sounds are absolutely fantastic! The album cover continues to perplex. Woman with a tambourine for a head and a small boy seem to perform a nazi salute near sea shore. This album certainly is full of surprises, so I suggest you experience it for yourself. One of the finest albums of the 90's. Listen to the album on Spotify.
Pulp is definitely one of my all time favourite bands. Their 90's albums are among the best albums of all times. This Is Hardcore is Jarvis Cocker's personal take on getting old. The songs are highly personal, funny and beautifully written. The sound on this album is more massive than on the other albums. Choirs, strings and echos make it sound grand! The title track is one of the best songs ever written. It's hard to believe, but when I saw Pulp live at Royal Albert Hall a bit more than a year ago, also the live version sounded perfect. This album is not as commercial (nor as good) as Different Class, but it's an incredible album all the same. There is no overestimating Jarvis' charisma. Listen to the album on Spotify.
Few years ago I created my all time top 100-list in a blog by me and Heini. The two first albums on this blog entry were that list's first two. As I've noted many times before, Eels is one of my all time favourite bands. This is their greatest album! Electro-Shock Blues is a melancholic and beautiful sad story from real life. Band frontman E's family had died away. His father a bit earlier but his sister and mother just before. This album features the pain of being the last person alive from your family. Even though the theme is such a dark one, E manages to include funny observations and humor in the lyrics. The songs have the beautiful simplicity of other Eels albums, but there is some more experimentalism in there as well. Listen to the album on Spotify.
This is my all time favourite album in the world! Elliott Smith ended his life after many years of depression and paranoia but before that he managed to make some outstanding albums. XO, in my opinion, is the best one of them all. It's orchestration is a bit larger than on the preceding albums but still the acoustic guitar and piano take the main stage. Smith's vocals are fragile but so full of emotions that they make me sometimes even still cry even though I've listened to the album hundreds of times. Special notion must be given to the ending song on the album which is sung in acapella only by Elliott Smith by multiple vocal tracks. This song is the most beautiful song in the world. Best album ever!!! Listen to the album on Spotify.
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