What was I listening to in 1990? Windham Hill and old jazz. 1990 was a wasteland for rock. Half of my contenders for this year aren't rock or jazz albums. Michael Hedges (who was actually a tremendous guitarist that I have posted about previously), Dwight Yoakam (who is one of my favorite singers and Buck Owens fan) and John Zorn's Naked City (spoilers, it's number four on the Mt. Rushmore). There's only one album under consideration that I actually listened to when it came out. Seriously, Kurt Cobain saved rock music. All that being said, I did come up with a solid three albums and John Zorn, which is just fun.
Number one is a tough call, so in fairness I will give it to the album I was actually listening to in 1990; Midnight Oil's Blue Sky Mining. This album has Oils classics "Forgotten Years", "King of the Mountain", "Blue Sky Mine" and "One Country". I especially love "Forgotten Years". It's a straight up burner with one of the best choruses ever. And they shot the video in a cemetary. Other great tracks are "Stars of Warburton" and "River Runs Red". This was an impressive follow up to Diesel and Dust, which is a hard album to follow.
Number two is perrenial favorites The Flaming Lips with In a Priest Driven Ambulance. This is the best album of the pre-Steven Drozd era. Wayne's lyric are bonkers and Jesus-ey. "Used to be alright, but things got strange. Used to take all night, but things have changed and God walks among us now", "There you are. You stand in the rain and the rain fills your brain and it makes you think that God was fucked up when he made this town. There you stand with your bleedin' hands and you don't understand why you work so goddamn hard to be anything at all. There you are. You drive in your car and you wish for the stars and you end up face down in the road dead as fuck". "I was born the day they shot a hole in the Jesus egg". My favorite line is from "Stand in Line"; "Ten men stand in line waitin' for some personality to be put out on the corner, but it ain't garbage day". Now I feel bad making this number two.
Nunber three is Vehicle by The Clean. I posted about this album before, so please go back and check that out. Love the Flying Nun bands.
And finally John Zorn's Naked City. This mostly instrumental album is also bonkers. There are inspired originals as well as fantastic covers, like Henry Mancini's "Shot in the Dark". A must listen for anyone that likes unhinged instrumental music. It's like revved up Raymond Scott. Tomorrow will be a '90's recap. Peace.
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