There was no dearth of great artists recording and touring in 1999, but the Flaming Lips' masterpiece, "The Soft Bulletin," catapulted them to the top of the heap. Check it out!
Alternative, Indie & Punk titles on our 100 Best CDs of 1999 include:
"Keep It Like a Secret"
Built to Spill
Check it out!
Built to Spill's "Keep It Like a Secret" takes an electric stand. Guitar-driven indie rock wrapped around smart, regretful songs, it's one of the genre's finest recent discs.
"The Soft Bulletin"
The Flaming Lips
Check it out!
The Flaming Lips have transformed from one of alt-rock's freakiest groups into it's most innovative. "The Soft Bulletin" is the Lips' magnum opus, a genius work that welds symphonic flourishes to an experimental psychedelic mainframe.
"Come On Die Young"
Mogwai
Check it out!
On "Come On Die Young," the brash Scottish band Mogwai create guitar-infused instrumental soundscapes of epic proportions that, despite the lack of vocals, carry a dark narrative heft and a startling sense of discovery.
Alternative selections from the list of customer favorites include:
"There Is Nothing Left to Lose"
Foo Fighters
Check it out!
Ex-Nirvana drummer and Foo Fighter's frontman Dave Grohl turns down the angst and turns up the pop overdrive.
"Play"
Moby
Check it out!
Big beats and a heaping helping of soul and gospel make "Play" one of the year's most outstanding and original releases.
"Mule Variations"
Tom Waits
Check it out!
Waits returns after a long hiatus with an his trademark throaty growl and quirky, back-bar instrumentation on "Mule Variations," easily among the most enjoyable surprises of the year.
1. "The Soft Bulletin"
The Flaming Lips
REVIEW
The crazed genius of the Lips comes to full flower on the
sonically massive and majestic "The Soft Bulletin." Head Lip
Wayne Coyne compounds the band's penchant for freak-outs
with symphonic excess; the result is nothing short of
magnificent, making it not only the best album of 1999, but
among the best albums of the past decade and a blueprint for
future generations of musical provocateurs.
2. "Let It Bomb"
Zoobombs
REVIEW
If you're not a part of the Zoobomb army yet, enlist as soon
as possible. This rocked-out and funky Japanese quartet
(Don, Matta, Moo-Stop, and Bukka) throw down the most
enervating, rump-shaking grooves set to wax. Think Jon
Spencer whacked with a rhythm stick or James Brown on
punk-rock overdrive--only better.
3. "Pedals"
The Aluminum Group
REVIEW
When producer-du-jour Jim O'Rourke encouraged the Navin
brothers to explore "new areas in pop music," they set off
on a musical journey of discovery to rival the exploits of
Arctic adventurers. "Pedals" is a revelation, with
elaborate, breezy, and moody compositions epic in scope and
effervescent in execution that manage, somehow, to be like
everything you've ever heard and unlike anything you've ever
heard. That's quite an accomplishment.
4. "Come On Die Young"
Mogwai
REVIEW
Moody, bombastic, brooding, loping, thunderous, austere, chaotic:
heap on the adjectives as the young boys in Mogwai sidle their
way through a mostly instrumental set of guitar-heavy songscapes.
"Punk Rock" is anything but--instead loopy and delicate--while
"Christmas Steps" unlocks the dark creepiness of the winter
holiday. Not easy, but entirely, utterly original.
5. "Trance State in Tongues"
Zen Guerrilla
REVIEW
They've got the guerrilla part right, but these musical
thugs are about as Zen as a Mack truck. Zen Guerrilla's
"Trance State in Tongues" shows off the strong-armed,
revved-up, R&B-infused smash-your-head-on-the-punk-rock
tunes that make other hard-rock revivalists like the
Hellacopters and Queens of the Stone Age sound like
girl-school choirs.
6. "The 3 Way"
Lilys
REVIEW
The Lilys hit a treacly jangled groove that sounds like the
Kinks and Zombies channeled through Belle and Sebastian. Fey
vocals, lilting melodies, dirty-water guitar, trash-can
drums, and charmingly decadent lyrics all make "The 3 Way"
one of the year's most infectious releases.
7. "Social Dancing"
Bis
REVIEW
It's a revolution you can dance to. The kids in Bis--Manda,
Sci-Fi, and Disco--put the disco back in discordant on
"Social Dancing," combining fresh beats, punk-rock rage, and
savage political rants to create a heady mix sure to incite
the masses to riot or dance--take your pick.
8. "Greatest Rock & Roll Band in the World"
Supersuckers
REVIEW
What other punk-rock band can hang with Willie Nelson? The
Supersuckers make the ballsy claim that they are the world's
greatest rock & roll band. Can it be true? This compilation,
which culls a stunning 27 cuts from their Sub Pop catalog,
makes a strong case that no punk-rock judge could overturn.
9. "I Want Some"
Make Up
REVIEW
If you can imagine Prince fronting a gospel-punk-rock combo,
you'd be close to envisioning the spectacle that is Make
Up. With DIY ethics intact, Make Up forge a funky and
danceable alloy from gospel shout-outs, James Brownish jams,
and three-chord rave-ups.
10. "Simple Pleasures"
Tindersticks
REVIEW
The Tindersticks' formula is unique and deceptively simple:
a combination of Stuart Staples's heart-on-sleeve, Leonard
Cohen-on-Quaaludes vocals, the Tindersticks' rainy-day
orchestral lushness, a small dose of R&B swagger, and a
whole lot of sexual angst. "Simple Pleasures" doesn't depart
from that potent concoction at all, adding to the overall
greatness of their oeuvre. Imagine their albums as lovely
seashells: they are all recognizably the same thing, but the
particular shell you hold in your hand is singular and
beautiful.
"Trance Stare in Tongues"
Zen Guerrilla
REVIEW
They've got the guerrilla part right, but these musical
thugs are about as Zen as a Mack truck. Zen Guerrilla's
"Trance State in Tongues" shows off the strong-armed,
revved-up, R&B-infused, smash-your-head-on-the-punk-rock
tunes that make other hard-rock revivalists like the
Hellacopters and Queens of the Stone Age sound like
girl-school choirs.
"One Part Lullaby"
Folk Implosion
REVIEW
When Sebadoh provocateur Lou Barlow followed his love to
L.A., he hardly expected to find a home among the pomp and
circumstance of that sprawling city, but surprisingly he
did. Moonlighting with John Davis as Folk Implosion, Barlow
creates an open-hearted song-cycle about the city of angels
on "One Part Lullaby."
"Between the Bridges"
Sloan
REVIEW
Nova Scotia's Sloan plays some of the most stellar,
exuberant crunch-pop ever created; they're kind of like
Cheap Trick gone wrong. Despite a handful of topnotch
releases, they are criminally overlooked outside the Great
White North, but the flawless genius of "Between the
Bridges" should change all that. In a just world, we'd all
be whistling Sloan songs.
"Xtra Acme USA"
Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
REVIEW
JSBX likes to follow up their albums with collections of
B-sides and remixes, and "Xtra Acme USA" comes hot on the
heels of the funky swagger of this year's "Acme." And what a
treat it is, with guest stars such as gutter-soul legend
Andre Williams and remixes from Moby and David Holmes
packing the gloves of songs that already have a powerful
wallop. And just like a box of Cracker Jacks, "Xtra Amce
USA" has a hidden surprise that alone makes it worth the
purchase.
"Pedals"
The Aluminum Group
REVIEW
Is it too early to declare the record of the year? All the
buzz you've heard about the Aluminum Group is true. "Pedals"
is a revelation, and their quirky, soulful, Belle and
Sebastian-meets-Gastr Del Sol music is as infectious as a
summer flu (but a hell of a lot more fun). Catch it.
British experimental rock act Stereolab push the sonic
envelope even further on their latest CD, the succinctly
titled "Cobra and Phases Group Play Voltage in the Milky
Night."
"Cobra and Phases Group Play Voltage in the Milky Way"
Stereolab
REVIEW
The Ramones stripped rock & roll down to its skeleton and
rattled its very bones back in the 1970s. The two-CD
retrospective "Hey! Ho! Let's Go: The Anthology" offers
ample evidence of the vitality of the first-generation
punks' music.
"Hey! Ho! Let's Go: The Anthology"
REVIEW
"Us and Us Only"
Charlatans UK
REVIEW
The flagship band of the Mad-chester sound return with
another set of tripped-out groove rock.
"God Save the Smithereens"
The Smithereens
REVIEW
And you thought these guys were dead? The Smithereens
resurrect their impeccable pop song-craft to see if they can
find at the end of the millennium the deserved success that
just barely eluded them in the '80s.
"Modified"
Save Ferris
REVIEW
The best but most underrated ska-punk act returns with a
brilliant, rankin' album featuring breakneck beats, blaring
horns, and the vocal prowess of Monique Powell.
"Greatest Rock & Roll Band in the World"
Supersuckers
REVIEW
The Supersuckers make the ballsy claim that they are the
world's greatest rock & roll band. Can it be true? This
compilation, which culls a stunning 27 cuts from their
Subpop catalog, makes a strong case that no punk-rock judge
could overturn. Includes Supersucker rave-ups such as "How
to Maximize Your Kill Count," "Wake Me When It's Over," and
"Supersucker Drive-by Blues."
"Social Dancing"
Bis
REVIEW
It's a revolution you can dance to. The kids in Bis--Manda,
Sci-Fi, and Disco--put the disco back in discordant on
"Social Dancing," combining fresh beats, punk-rock rage, and
savage political rants to create a heady mix sure to incite
the masses to riot or to dance--take your pick.
"Come Pick Me Up"
Superchunk
REVIEW
Punk rockers can go two ways, either out in a blaze of glory
or by aging gracefully. Superchunk, sitting on top of more
than a decade of blitzing pop-punk songs, have chosen the
later. "Come Pick Me Up" is a glorious album on which they
combine their signature guitar buzz with mellow reflection.
"Field Studies"
Quasi
REVIEW
Let's hope Sam Cooms never discovers Prozac. His failure to
even acknowledge the sunny side infuses Quasi's sweeping,
anthemic, distorted organ-and-drum pop with pathos. On
"Field Studies," Cooms, backed by his ex, Janet Weiss (who
also pounds skin for Sleater-Kinney), ruminates on the
glass-half-empty side of life in songs such as "A Fable with
No Moral," "It Don't Mean Nothing," and "Under a Cloud."
"Live 1981-82"
The Birthday Party
REVIEW
Nick Cave, who has been mining the darkest recesses of the
rock & roll heart for many years, cut his fangs with the
demonic Birthday Party, perhaps the most menacing rock band
of all time. "Live 1981-82" captures their unique caterwaul
in all its shambolic glory.
"End Time"
Freakwater
REVIEW
The punk rockers turned country crooners return with their
lovely twang.
"Xtra Acme USA"
Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
REVIEW
The king of skronk-punk blues hits hard with this collection
of B-sides and rarities.
"Avenue B"
Iggy Pop
REVIEW
The grandfather of punk proves he can still search and destroy with the best of them.
WORD FOR WORD: ROBYN HITCHCOCK
"The Soft Boys didn't fit in too tightly with [punk music].
It was all a bit more brutal than what we were doing. The
whole punk thing was like a football crowd, and we were
more like refined young gentlemen eating cucumber
sandwiches on our mothers' lawns. We were so effete. They
would have beaten the crap out of us if we had gotten
anywhere near them." --Robyn Hitchcock on his first band,
the Soft Boys
You can find Hitchcock's wonderful new album, "Jewels for
Sophia," at
REVIEW
"Do the Collapse"
Guided by Voices
REVIEW
Basement genius, high school teacher, and alt-rock star
Robert Pollard hooks up with the Cars' Ric Ocasek to create
another Guided by Voices joint, inspired by new wave,
prog-rock, and Pollard's impeccable and infectious pop
ditties. Does that sound terrifying or wondrous? It's both,
deliciously so.
"Electric Honey"
Luscious Jackson
REVIEW
On their latest groove-infested album, "Electric Honey,"
Luscious Jackson eschew their lo-fi funk-pop sprawl for a
more produced yet somehow edgier sound. The beats are
bigger, the arrangements busier, the rhythms more
driving. "Electric Honey" may turn out to be the summer
party album of 1999, the perfect excuse to sweat away the
hot nights on the dance floor.
"Tigermilk"
Belle and Sebastian
REVIEW
The original vinyl release of Belle and Sebastian's debut,
"Tigermilk," only sold 1,000 copies, but what a lucky few
those folks are! Fans of "If You're Feeling Sinister" and
"Boy with the Arab Strap" have been clamoring for a reissue,
and here it is--10 seminal cuts of the Glaswegian
collective's gorgeous, graceful jangle.
"Philadelphonic"
G. Love and Special Sauce
REVIEW
G. Love lays it low on "Philadelphonic," a sprawling
panorama of laid-back beats, slinky urban vibes, sexy sparse
grooves, and G.'s nonstop patter of self-deprecating jibes
and wry observations. Can you dance to it? Kinda--but do it
horizontally.
"Rembrandt Pussyhorse"
"Butthole Surfers"
REVIEW
If all you've heard from this infamously named group is
their radio hit "Pepper," you're in for a shock. As the
recent reissue of their Touch and Go catalog attests
(including "Rembrandt Pussyhorse"), the Butthole Surfers
specialize in massive slabs of sonic terrorism, equal parts
heavy-metal crunch, punk-rock vitriol, acid-crazed visions,
deconstructed song structures, and swirling walls of
brain-frying noise that could stun a small dog 50 yards
away. In other words, it's essential listening.
Kristin Hersh has been in a constant state of artistic evolution ever since the now-defunct Throwing
Muses emerged in 1984. As a solo artist, she has displayed a uniquely unorthodox perspective by
incorporating observations about parenthood, adult relationships, madness, and manifestations of life
on the fringe. With Sky Motel, Hersh combines the introspective nature of her past solo work with
the rocking insurgency of the Throwing Muses. Accompanied by Muses drummer David Narcizo,
Robert Rust on keyboards, and guitarist Tom Gorman, she explores themes of faith, emotional
ambivalence, and life in L.A. with poetic insight. The music here is powerful and Hersh's vocal
stylings are both tough and emotionally vulnerable. Once again, Kristin Hersh reveals herself as a
multifaceted songwriter with plenty to say. --Mitch Myers
You can find "Sky Motel" at
REVIEW
"Hello June Fool"
Madder Rose
REVIEW
"Live: 1981-82"
The Birthday Party
REVIEW
"Greatest Rock 'n Roll Band in the World"
Supersuckers
REVIEW
