Do you remember what you were doing back in 1993? Perhaps entering pre-school? Having fun multiplying fractions in the 4th grade? Finishing high school? Well, in case you’ve forgotten, this post is going to make your mind travel back in time and make you reminisce the good old early nineties and its music (and then…suddenly you realize, you are getting old!)
(Yes…we are getting old)
Twenty years ago…a few good albums (and songs) were released, so here is a small list of what we were listening back then (using a walkman or a Discman. Remember those?). There’s no specific order in it, just naming the ones that stuck in my head. So, plug-in your earbuds and let’s get started:
1. ‘Two Princes’ – Spin Doctors
This song belongs in the ‘Pocket Full of Kryptonite’ album from 1991, however…the song was released as a single in 1993…and to this date, it is their most successful single. What can I say, it’s been 20 years and the song still has that catchy rhythm.
2. Get a Grip – Aerosmith
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Aerosmith was one of my favorite bands while growing up in the 90’s and this album was a must. I still listen to some Aerosmith, but not as much as I used to. ‘Get a Grip’ is one of their best selling albums. It won a couple of Grammy’s, a few MTV Awards and it has some killer rock and power ballad songs with amazing videos as well. You could say Alicia Silverstone has to thank the band for her stardom status. ‘Cryin’ is one of my favorite songs. Hey look…it’s Sawyer!
3. August and Everything After – Counting Crows
This is the debut album for Counting Crows, led by the notorious voice of Adam Duritz. The album includes hits such as ‘Round Here’ and ‘Mr. Jones’, being the latter a lead single and their most popular hit. Counting Crows brought a new and energetic sound to the early 90’s era, ruled mainly by the raw grunge. It is still considered by many, a great rock album.
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4. In Utero – Nirvana
Now, who doesn’t love grunge. After all, it is the sound that practically defined the first half of the 90’s, right? I mean, it was everywhere! Even at school you could see kids with that ‘grunge look’. Nirvana was one of the main acts that helped the gender grow and become accepted in the music industry and youngters everywhere. Even though ‘In Utero’ was not as great as ‘Nevermind’, being the last album of the band makes it very special. It includes songs such as ‘Heart-Shaped Box’, ‘Dumb’, ‘All Apologies’ and it received a nomination for Best Alternative Music Album at the 1994 Grammy’s.
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5. Siamese Dream – The Smashing Pumpkins
I discovered The Smashing Pumpkins really, really late in my life. I don’t consider myself a huge fan of the band, but I do recognize and enjoy listening to most of their tunes. The first song I listened from this album was ‘Today’, and I loved it. From a slow and almost acoustic intro, to a rock and heavy metal style throughout the entire song. However, one of my favorite songs is ‘Disarm’, which includes a more gentle tempo . This album is part of Rolling Stone’s ‘500 Greatest Albums of All Time’.
6. The Sign – Ace of Base
This album was part of my daily soundtrack back in 93′. Swedish pop sensation Ace Of Base really brought a new and appealing sound. ‘The Sign’ was their debut album (in North America) and it was an instant hit. The album combines a mixture of reggae, dance and electronic beats that make it fun to listen.
7. Pablo Honey – Radiohead
Even though ‘Pablo Honey’ is not the best reviewed album from English band Radiohead, it is still considered a good starting point for them. When you listen to it, you will find a few depressing and slow numbers, but also good and upbeat tunes with great guitar riffs from Mr. Jonny Greenwood. ‘Creep’, the second song from the album, was a worldwide hit and their best known song. ‘How Do You?’, ‘Thinking About You’ and ‘Stop Whispering’ are also my favorites. If you haven’t listened to ‘Pablo…’ in a while, now is a good time to do so.
8. Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We? – The Cranberries
Other band that made their full debut in 1993 were The Cranberries. With their album ‘Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We?’, they introduced a mellow but yet uplifting sound to our ears. And let’s not forget Dolores O’Riordan’s extraordinary vocals in each song. The album has a great pace and rhythm thanks to Noel Hogan’s guitar playing and composition.
9. Vs. – Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam, another great band that glorified the grunge era in the early 90’s. After ‘Ten’ (1991) gave the band a formidable start, ‘Vs.’ was less praised, but it’s still considered a record that ‘stands out on its own’. Tracks such as ‘Go’ and ‘Animal’ were a great way to start the album. ‘Daughter’ is the most popular track and it even received a Grammy nomination.
10. Zooropa – U2
After the huge success of ‘Achtung Baby’, U2’s ‘Zooropa’ was no stranger in being recognized as an excellent studio and conceptual album. This album continues to experiment with interesting sounds, specially in the electronic arena. With ‘Zooropa’, U2 made not only a difficult album and got a good response from it, but they also managed to put aside their distinctive sound and were able to transport us to a not so distant digital age.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bdr4mVaudg
I’m sure all these great albums and songs will leave you humming for a while. I might be missing a few names, so feel free to share your thoughts!
Notable mentions go to:
11. Very Necessary – Salt N’ Pepa
12. Are You Gonna Go My Way – Lenny Kravitz
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