Time for another journey back in time. Here’s some memorable musical moments from 1994:
- The Grammy for Album of the Year went to the soundtrack of Bodyguard with Whitney Houston’s cover of “I Will Always Love You” claiming Best Song.
- Kurt Cobain died.
- The Smashing Pumpkins headlined the reopening of the Fillmore in San Francisco.
- Aerosmith, Nine Inch Nails, Bob Dylan, CS&N, Red Hot Chile Peppers, Green Day, Peter Gabriel, and more, played the Woodstock ’94 concert in Saugerties, NY.
- Pearl Jam filed a complaint against Ticketmaster charging them with operating a monopoly (some things never change).
Here’s my favorite albums of 1994:
10. Neil Young – Sleeps with Angels: While his classic rock brothers were receding in the public conscious, Neil Young was on a roll in the early ’90s – Freedom, Ragged Glory, and Harvest Moon. He goes all in with Sleeps with Angels, a double album including a 14-minute rambling juxtaposition, “Change Your Mind.” It’s a foreboding, subdued collection with Neil playing the marimbas, vibes, synths, and even the flute on two songs. The title song is in honor of Cobain. Later on he lets us know what he really thinks of the world in “Piece of Crap.”
9. Pavement – Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain: Pavement’s second album is a little more accessible than their lo-fi debut, Slanted and Enchanted. It’s still rough around the edges, however. The three singles lead the way from the country-folk of “Range Life,” the ringing guitars of “Gold Soundz,” and the delightful, catchy “Cut Your Hair.” It remains influential to this day.
8. Grant Lee Buffalo – Mighty Joe Moon: A criminally overlooked band of the ’90s, Grant Lee Buffalo’s second album layers an array of keys and string instruments over emotive storytelling and singing. They rock with a warm feeling of Americana. “Lone Star Song” is big and brash just like the state while “It’s the Life” is the sweetest song you’ll ever hear about jealousy and resentment.
7. Jeff Buckley – Grace: Jeff Buckley tragically drowned a few years after the release of his only album. Highlighted by the definitive cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” the record is just plain beautiful. So unlike any other album of its time. His voice is divine, the range incredible. The strings, bass, and romantic heartbreak of “Last Goodbye” combine into Buckley’s most popular song.
6. R.E.M. – Monster: R.E.M. fans…do you remember your first listen to Monster? Whoa, what happened to the strumming acoustics and swelling piano of Out of Time and Automatic for the People? From the loud, distorted guitars of the opener, “What’s the Frequency, Kenneth?” it was clear that R.E.M. was ready to rock. “Crushed with Eyeliner” and “Bang and Blame” keep the party going as Michael Stipe’s muffled vocals and sly lyrics point to a band having a whole lot of fun.
5. Pearl Jam – Vitalogy: Vitalogy has punk (“Whipping”), hard rock (“Not for You”), and ballads (“Better Man”). It’s an uneven collection. Three or four bizarre songs keep it from being in a loftier position. “Corduroy” makes sure it’s on the best-of list.
4. Green Day – Dookie: Green Day’s third album and major label debut was a colossal smash putting punk in the mainstream. Of course, with a more polished sound, they were accused of being sell-outs. But who can argue with “Longview,” “Basket Case,” “Welcome to Paradise,” and “When I Come Around”? A ray of sun beamed down on the mosh pit.
3. Lush – Split: While Lush’s music packs more of a punch than their shoegaze counterparts, Cocteau Twins, they are defined by the ethereal vocals of Miki Berenyi and Emma Anderson. “Desire Lines,” “Hypocrite” and “Lit Up” are indeed lush. My favorite is “Lovelife.” Sparkling. Majestic. Bring on the goosebumps.
2. Hole – Live Through This: One week after the death of Kurt Cobain, Hole’s second album was released with Courtney Love blasting it off with “And the sky was made of amethyst, And all the stars were just like little fish, You should learn when to go, You should learn how to say no.” “Violet” remains her pinnacle, but “Doll Parts,” “Plump,” and “Miss World” showcase the album’s fine blend of acoustic and electric. Hole may be more melodic and less hardcore than on their debut but Love still knows how to screech.
1. Oasis – Definitely Maybe: When the first song of your first album is titled “Rock N Roll Star,” you better have some swagger. Oasis had that in spades. There’s not a bad song on Definitely Maybe. “Supersonic,” “Slide Away,” “Live Forever,” “Shakermaker,” and “Cigarettes and Alcohol” pour on the guitar hooks, dance beats, and memorable choruses. Part glam, a little punk, and a dash of psychedelia. Over the years, Oasis would lose some of their luster and the feud between the brothers would become tiresome. But in 1994, they brought us a sound we’d never heard before.
Trivia: Who replaced bassist Bill Wyman in the Rolling Stones in 1994?
Answer below
Honorable Mentions: I kept the best-of list to studio LPs, thus precluding Alice in Chains’ excellent EP Jar of Flies and Nirvana’s remarkable live album, MTV Unplugged in New York. Other notable 1994 albums from my collection are Love Spit Love (Love Spit Love), Whip Smart (Liz Phair), The Downward Spiral (Nine Inch Nails), Parklife (Blur), Guided by Voices (Bee Thousand), and Brutal Youth (Elvis Costello). I have all of Morrissey’s except for 1994’s Vauxhall and I, so I can’t speak to that. And I still want to pick up Tom Petty’s Wildflowers one of these days, often heralded as his best.
Answer: Darryl Jones. (He also played with Miles Davis and Sting and is still a member of the Stones.)