Smashing Pumpkins new album....

[Flystripper]

yes the 3rd album is Tiny Music

[wuapinmon]

I loved STP in the 90s. Some people have bagged on them for being a bit derivative, but teenage me didn't know and current me doesn't care. I found this bit on wikipedia about the band's formation funny:

I can't choose between Core and Purple. I still will belt out "Big Empty" and "Creep" in any shower with good acoustics. However, when I'm taking a shower and there's no one around to hear, I will let loose with "Sex Type Thing," granted I strain to hit the high notes, but I get there. When I saw them in 1996, maybe 1997, can't remember anymore, they opened with "Dead and Bloated" and he came out with a bullhorn and sang the opening part on a completely dark stage through the bullhorn into the mic, and then the whole stage lit up with the band already at their posts, "CAUSE I'M DEAD AND BLOA-TED" GNNNN GNNNN.

About 10 songs in, this huge candelabra looking thing over the stage started lowering and there was an entire second setup atop it when it got down to stage level, and they played like 7-8 songs acoustically, and then it rose up again, and they went right back to electric. One of the best live shows I've seen.

Their music is great, not the best, but it's still B+/A- work, with flashes of brilliance.

"Moderation, is masturbation."
"And I feel so much depends on the weather, so is it raining in your bedroom?"
"If you should die before me, ask if you can bring a friend"

[falafel]

[falafel]

And a better recording from 2010.

[wuapinmon]

I just remembered that Scott and the bassist kissed, on the lips, for a good 2-3 seconds during the concert. And, everyone cheered. In 1996 or 97. In Georgia. I was probably the only sober person in the place not working security, so maybe that had something to do with it.

[USUC]

I know you guys are focusing only on mainstream bands and albums from the 90s, but your opinions are super wrong. Some of the greatest music was made in the 90s and is not even mentioned thus far. I would only put 2 of the albums/bands discussed thus far in my top 20 of the 90s.

[wuapinmon]

I know you guys are focusing only on mainstream bands and albums from the 90s, but your opinions are super wrong. Some of the greatest music was made in the 90s and is not even mentioned thus far. I would only put 2 of the albums/bands discussed thus far in my top 20 of the 90s.

I like Neutral Milk Hotel as much as next trash-bag-wearing punk rocker, everything is beautiful there, but it's not the greatest music from the 90's for me. The last two words are the most important in that sentence. I'd love to hear your "for me" sentence with some whys.

[USUC]

I like Neutral Milk Hotel as much as next trash-bag-wearing punk rocker, everything is beautiful there, but it's not the greatest music from the 90's for me. The last two words are the most important in that sentence. I'd love to hear your "for me" sentence with some whys.

Fair enough. I'll focus and specific albums. For me, there are 2 criteria for what I consider the greatest music from the 90s: 1) it was influential on bands that followed and 2) it stands the test of time. In no particular order:

Pavement – Crooked Rain
Pavement – Slanted and Enchanted
DJ Shadow - …Entroducing
Nirvana – Nevermind
Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
Radiohead – OK Computer
The Flaming Lips - The Soft Bulletin
My Bloody Valentine – Loveless
Slint – Spiderland
Talk Talk - Laughing Stock

If we were going to expand it to 20 it would also include:

Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream
Björk – Post
Modest Mouse - The Lonesome Crowded West
Pixies – Bossanova
Weezer – Weezer
Built to Spill - Perfect from Now On
Wilco – Summerteeth
Aphex Twin - The Richard D. James Album
Mogwai - Young Team
Daft Punk - Homework

So I was wrong, there would be 4 bands mentioned that would be included in the top 20. Also, I realize I am omitting some important hip hop albums/groups. Finally, I must own up to my bias against California pop punk... yuck

[swampfrog]

I'm going to throw Toad the Wet Sprocket's Fear, Gin Blossoms' New Miserable Experience, and Collective Soul's Collective Soul.

I agree with the first 2, spent a lot of time listening to Fear at BYU, I think at one time the 5 cd changer was just TtWS discs. Good times at BYU when X96 was bringing in quite a few cheap concert bands. The Origin, Toad the Wet Sprocket, The Connells, The Hearthrobs, Railway Children, Ocean Blue and many others.

[Art Vandelay]

Good call on Summerteeth
I LOVED 80s Pixies. Bossanova can’t hold a candle to Doolittle. I would even put it behind Surfer Rosa
Weezer is like a chocolate soufflé. I understand it’s good, it’s just not my thing.

[Donuthole]

Will somebody please add Out of Time to this 90s album discussion? Thanks.

[USUC]

Good call on Summerteeth
I LOVED 80s Pixies. Bossanova can’t hold a candle to Doolittle. I would even put it behind Surfer Rosa
Weezer is like a chocolate soufflé. I understand it’s good, it’s just not my thing.

Yeah, Bossonova is only better than Trompe le Monde in the Pixies discography. But I just think so many bands were influenced by that album (I feel like the Weezer sound comes from Velouria).

[USUC]

Will somebody please add Out of Time to this 90s album discussion? Thanks.

Damnit, I forgot about REM. If we are going by the "for me" standard, I prefer Automatic for the People.

Also, some albums that I absolutely love but wouldn't put them in the greatest discussion are Wish by the Cure, Achtung Baby, and A storm in Heaven by the Verve.

[falafel]

I agree with the first 2, spent a lot of time listening to Fear at BYU, I think at one time the 5 cd changer was just TtWS discs. Good times at BYU when X96 was bringing in quite a few cheap concert bands. The Origin, Toad the Wet Sprocket, The Connells, The Hearthrobs, Railway Children, Ocean Blue and many others.

Saw several of those bands in the 90s. Pretty sure I saw The Ocean Blue at the Wilk. The Connells was my first concert without parental supervision, out at Salt Air.

[Art Vandelay]

Damnit, I forgot about REM. If we are going by the "for me" standard, I prefer Automatic for the People.

Also, some albums that I absolutely love but wouldn't put them in the greatest discussion are Wish by the Cure, Achtung Baby, and A storm in Heaven by the Verve.

Much like The Pixies. 90s Cure and U2 just wasn’t as good as the 80s versions. I always liked U2 but never loved them like many of my friends.