Shakedown 1994

Oh the Humanity!!!
1994, Whatta great year for a 'Melomaniac' like myself.

• Catchy, ear-bleeding singles
• Music icons
• Audioteque worth albums

All that in only 364 days and some hours.
I now present you with my favorite albums of 1994.
No particular order, they all rocked!!

Album Name - Biggest Hit - Artist

1. Purple - Interstate Love Song (Stone Temple Pilots)
2. Superunknown - Black Hole Sun (Soundgarden)
3. Jar of Flies - No Excuses (Alice in Chains) * EP
4. MTV Unplugged in New York - The Man Who Sold the World (Nirvana)
5. Vitalogy - Better Man (Pearl Jam)
6. Too High to Die - Backwater (Meat Puppets)
7. Sixteen Stone - Machinehead (Bush)
8. Throwing Copper - I Alone (Live)
9. Dookie - Basket Case (Green Day)
10. Smash - Come Out and Play (Offspring)
11. Punk in Drublic - The Brews (NOFX)
12. The Downward Spiral - Closer (Nine Inch Nails)
13. Mellow Gold - Loser (Beck)
14. III Communication - Sabotage (Beastie Boys)
15. No Need to Argue - Zombie (The Cranberries)
16. Dummy - Glory Box (Portishead)
17. Hints, Allegations and Things Left Unsaid - Shine (Collective Soul)
    
18. August and Everything - Mr. Jones (Counting Crows)
19. Monster - What's the Frequency Kenneth (R.E.M.)
20. Blue Album - Buddy Holly (Weezer)
21. Parklife - Girls & Boys (Blur)
    
22. Live Through This - Doll Parts (Hole)
23. Under the Table and Dreaming - What Would You Say (Dave Matthews Band)
24. Cracked Rear View - Only Wanna Be with You (Hootie & the Blowfish)
25. The Retun of The Space Cowboy - Space Cowboy (Jamiroquai)
26. Valentin Alsina - Valentin Alsina (Dos Minutos)
27. Re - Ingrata (Cafe Tacvba)
    

Let's not forget the formation of Major Bands such as Foo Fighters, Placebo, Muse, Snow Patrol, Supergrass, Garbage and Rammstein.

Or the almost vomiting-like Singles that helped us overcome our zit-face adolescence. Lisa Loeb's Stay, or Bon Jovi's Always...

Songs from the Heart

Never would have Ronnie and Gary imagined that one hour of chitchat and stories about women in their life would create an almighty rock classic.
What makes a song blow your mind away? I ponder...

Hardly ever I've encountered myself with a tune that's mind-grasping, heartbreaking, yet masterfully written and emotionally endearing. Emotionally endearing. That's the point I'm trying to make with this entry.

It's not the complex structure. It's not the never-ending music academy pompous solos. It's not even the rhythmic, danceable connection with our bodies.

For me a good song [ depending on the mood off course :o) ] is the one written with your own blood and suffering, telling your story in so little words. It's the song that speaks to you and connects with the emotional stage your going through in your life. Plus, an outraging performance also helps!

Have you ever cringed at the sound of a tune?
You probably have... But how long does the sensation last?

I've found myself disliking songs that I used to worship. Let's call it Radiohead's Creep, Bowie's The Man Who Sold the World, or Ugly Kid Joe's Cats in the Craddle.

The trick here is this: **If you find that one song, don't play it too often, otherwise it will lose the magic** I know it's hard, but it's a way to do it

For me, these are (my seasonal) songs from the heart:
1. Two-headed Boy (Neutral Milk Hotel)
2. Simple Man (Shinedown. Sorry Lynyrd)
3. Songs for JPL (Noir Desir)
4. Hate Me (Blue October)
5. The Wolf (Miniature Tigers)

Just listen to the sensibility impregnated in the songs above and give me your list. After all, it's a very personal point of view.