Music: Is 1991 the Best Year Since the 70s?

[Elvis P]

1. Nevermind - Nirvana
2. Ten - Pearl Jam
3. Achtung Baby - U2
4. Metallica (a.k.a. The Black Album) - Metallica
5. Blood Sugar Sex Magik - Red Hot Chili Peppers
6. The Low End Theory - A Tribe Called Quest
7. Out of Time - R.E.M.
8. Use Your Illusion I - Guns N' Roses
9. Use Your Illusion II - Guns N' Roses
10. Blue Lines - Massive Attack
11. Loveless - My Bloody Valentine
12. Cypress Hill - Cypress Hill
13. BadMotorFinger - Soundgarden
14. Screamadelica - Primal Scream

Click to read more...

 

[Xelebes]

Which 1970s? 1973?

 

[#37]

Not for me, but tastes do differ... This is 2 random years from the 80's.

1980 (no particular order)
1. Back in Black - AC/DC
2. Goucho - Steely Dan
3. Double Fantasy - John Lennon
4. Zenyatta Mondatta - The Police
5. Permanent Waves - Rush
6. Ace of Spades - Motorhead
7. British Steel - Judas Priest
8 Woman and Children First - Van Halen
9 The Game - Queen
10. Heaven and Hell - Black Sabbath
11. Blizzard of OZ - Ozzy Osbourne
12. Against the Wind - Bob Segar
13. Departure - Journey
14. Glass Houses - Billy Joel
15. Iron Maiden - Iron Maiden
16. Duke - Genesis

More.


Hmm, and then there is 1981 (no particular order)...

1. Fair Warning - Van Halen
2. Moving Pictures - Rush
3. Ghosts in the Machine - The Police
4. High n' Dry - Def Leppard
5. Diary of a Madman - Ozzy Osbourne
6. Mob Rules - Black Sabbath
7. For Those About to Rock - AC/DC
More.

 

[I am not exposed]

1980 and 1983 are far superior.

Hell, I would take every year of the 80s over 1991!

 

[Cas]

1991 has, for me:

Atheist - Unquestionable Presence
Bolt Thrower - Warmaster
Carcass - Necroticism
Death - Human
Dismember - Like an Everflowing Stream
Master - On the Seventh Day God Created... Master
Massacre - Enjoy the Violence
Morbid Angel - Blessed are the Sick
Samael - Worship Him
Cathedral - Forest of Equilibrium
Solitude Aeturnus - Into the Depths of Sorrow
Cirith Ungol - Paradise Lost
Razor - Open Hostility

Pretty good year, yeah. I know there's more, but I only have my iPod right now and Apple makes sorting by year astonishingly difficult (I wouldn't use them if I could find a quality, high-capacity MP3 player, but I have been unable to find something in the 250 GB range that meets my needs and budget outside of Apple - and I will NOT use streaming).

But the 80's usually have more classics for me in each year.

 

[Hippasus]

1991 has, for me:

Atheist - Unquestionable Presence
Bolt Thrower - Warmaster
Carcass - Necroticism
Death - Human
Dismember - Like an Everflowing Stream
Master - On the Seventh Day God Created... Master
Massacre - Enjoy the Violence
Morbid Angel - Blessed are the Sick
Samael - Worship Him
Cathedral - Forest of Equilibrium
Solitude Aeturnus - Into the Depths of Sorrow
Cirith Ungol - Paradise Lost
Razor - Open Hostility

Pretty good year, yeah. I know there's more, but I only have my iPod right now and Apple makes sorting by year astonishingly difficult (I wouldn't use them if I could find a quality, high-capacity MP3 player, but I have been unable to find something in the 250 GB range that meets my needs and budget outside of Apple - and I will NOT use streaming).

But the 80's usually have more classics for me in each year.

Probably your phone, but it's Massacra, not Massacre. I've been on a real Massacra kick lately. There's this live set on Youtube called Live in Sweden 1990, or something, that is chillingly good. Enjoy the Violence has awesome riffs too. French death-thrash.

 

[Elvis P]

Probably your phone, but it's Massacra, ...

It's Mascara to me.

 

[Hippasus]

It's Mascara to me.

I'll meet you at the monkey bars.

 

[Cas]

Probably your phone, but it's Massacra, not Massacre. I've been on a real Massacra kick lately. There's this live set on Youtube called Live in Sweden 1990, or something, that is chillingly good. Enjoy the Violence has awesome riffs too. French death-thrash.

You are correct, my phone betrayed me.

 

[BigBadBruins7708]

1994 is better

Illmatic
Ready to Die
Superunknown
Vitalogy
Nirvana Unplugged
Crazy Sexy Cool
Weezer Blue Album
Dookie
Downward Spiral
Grace
Ill Communication
Smash
Throwing Copper
Cracked Rear View
Korn self titled
Under the Table and Dreaming
Purple
Four
Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik
Far Beyond Driven

 

[Teemu]

I'd probably give it to 1984 (Double Nickels on the Dime, Purple Rain, Zen Arcade, Reckoning, Let It Be, Stop Making Sense). Not a metal guy, but there are some classics from that field, too. Other faves are 2007 and 2010. It's reasonably close, though.

 

[Elvis P]

I'd probably give it to 1984 (Double Nickels on the Dime, Purple Rain, Zen Arcade, Reckoning, Let It Be, Stop Making Sense). Not a metal guy, but there are some classics from that field, too. Other faves are 2007 and 2010. It's reasonably close, though.

You convinced me.

1. Purple Rain
Prince and the Revolution

---

2. Born in the USA
Bruce Springsteen

---

3. Like A Virgin
Madonna

---

4. Run-D.M.C.
Run-D.M.C.

---

5. 1984
Van Halen

---

6. The Unforgettable Fire
U2

---

7. Let It Be
The Replacements

---

8. The Smiths
The Smiths

---

9. Ride The Lightning
Metallica

---

10. Private Dancer
Tina Turner

---

11. Zen Arcade
Hüsker Dü

---

12. Double Nickels On The Dime
Minutemen

---

13. Rattlesnakes
Lloyd Cole & The Commotions

---

14. How Will The Wolf Survive
Los Lobos

---

15. Reckoning
R.E.M.

---

16. Stop Making Sense
Talking Heads

---

17. Ocean Rain
Echo And The Bunnymen

---

18. Learning To Crawl
The Pretenders

 

[Fire Sweeney]

1986 for hard rock and metal fans is unbeatable



Accept - Russian Roulette
AC/DC - Who Made Who (soundtrack to Maximum Overdrive)
Alcatrazz - Dangerous Games
Bad Brains - I Against I
Black Sabbath - Seventh Star
Bon Jovi - Slippery When Wet
Candlemass - Epicus Doomicus Metallicus
Chastain - Ruler of the Wasteland
Cro-Mags - The Age of Quarrel
Dark Angel - Darkness Descends
Destruction - Eternal Devastation
Europe - The Final Countdown
Exciter - Unveiling the Wicked
Exumer - Possessed by Fire
Fates Warning - Awaken the Guardian
Flotsam and Jetsam - Doomsday for the Deceiver
Grave Digger - War Games
Guns N' Roses - Live ?!*@ Like a Suicide (EP)
Helstar - Remnants of War
High Power - Les Violons de Satan
Hirax - Hate, Fear and Power
Holy Moses - Queen of Siam
Iron Maiden - Somewhere in Time
Juggernaut - Baptism Under Fire
King Diamond - Fatal Portrait
Kreator - Pleasure to Kill
Tony MacAlpine - Edge of Insanity
Yngwie Malmsteen - Trilogy
Frank Marino – Full Circle
Megadeth - Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?
Metal Church - The Dark
Metallica - Master of Puppets
Vinnie Moore – Mind's Eye
Motörhead - Orgasmatron
Nuclear Assault - Brain Death (EP)
Nuclear Assault - Game Over
Ozzy Osbourne - The Ultimate Sin
Poison - Look What the Cat Dragged In
Possessed - Beyond the Gates
Queensrÿche - Rage for Order
Racer X - Street Lethal
Rage - Reign of Fear
Ratt - Dancing Undercover
Ravage - Wrecking Ball
Raven - Mad (EP)
Razor - Malicious Intent
David Lee Roth - Eat 'Em and Smile
Sadus - D.T.P.
Sacrifice - Torment In Fire
Samhain - Samhain III: November-Coming-Fire
Joe Satriani - Not of This Earth
Savatage - Fight for the Rock
Sentinel Beast - Depths of Death
Sepultura - Morbid Visions
Slaughter (Can) – Strappado
Slayer - Reign in Blood
Sodom - Obsessed by Cruelty
Sortilège - Larmes de Héros
Steeler (Ger) - Strike Back
Stryper - To Hell with the Devil
Tankard - Zombie Attack
Tesla - Mechanical Resonance
Triumph - The Sport of Kings
Tyrant (Ger) - Running Hot
Van Halen - 5150
Venom - Eine Kleine Nachtmusik
Vinnie Vincent Invasion - Vinnie Vincent Invasion
Voivod - Rrröööaaarrr
Vulcano - Bloody Vengeance
Warhead (Bel) - The Day After
Whiplash - Power and Pain
Wrath - Fit of Anger

 

[Pranzo Oltranzista]

1991 was indeed amazing, mostly for reasons not yet mentioned here:

Mr Bungle - Mr Bungle
Painkiller - Guts of a Virgin
Cows - Peacetika
Ween - The Pod
Cardiacs - Songs for Ships and Irons
Caroliner - Rise of the Common Woodpile
Sonny Sharrock - Ask the Ages
Butthole Surfers - Piouhgd
:zoviet*france: — Shadow, Thief of the Sun
Merzbow & Right Brain Audile - Music For Bondage Performance
Vampire Rodents - War Music
Sun City Girls - Dawn of the Devi
Akos Rozmann - Images of the Dream and Death
Henry Kaiser & Jim O'Rourke - Tomorrow Knows Where You Live

​

 

[Roo Returns]

To me it's an easy yes. It might not be everyone's favorite year of the 1990s (it is for me), but for those who were around at that time or very young like me, even if you got into some of those bands a few years later, it pretty much shaped the entire decade.

In the spring of that year, pop and hair metal still ruled, then De La Soul Is Dead comes out in May, in the summer the first Lollapalooza festival, Metallica and Pearl Jam release albums (not to mention Fugazi), and then September 24th, 1991 which is pretty much pound for pound the best release date in the history of music (Nirvana, RHCP, Soundgarden, A Tribe Called Quest, Pixies, Primal Scream).

In about four months what was slowly building for about a decade exploded and would lead to everything else.

 

[PANARIN BREAD FAN]

more adds for 1980:

crimes of passion - pat benatar
end of the century - ramones
argybargy - squeeze
scary monsters - david bowie
emotional rescue - rolling stones
voices - hall and oates
making movies - dire straits
stage struck - rory gallagher
just one night - eric clapton
hi infidelity - reo speedwagon

 

[PANARIN BREAD FAN]

more adds for 1981:

face value - phil collins
fire down under - riot
street songs - rick james
don't say no - billy squier
zebop - santana
bella donna - stevie nicks
precious time - pat benatar
tattoo you - rolling stones
songs in the attic - billy joel
denim and leather - saxon
private eyes - hall and oates
zz top - el loco
get lucky - loverboy
too fast for love - motley crue
tonight i'm yours - rod stewart
escape - journey

 

[frisco]

more adds for 1981:

face value - phil collins
fire down under - riot
street songs - rick james
don't say no - billy squier
zebop - santana
bella donna - stevie nicks
precious time - pat benatar
tattoo you - rolling stones
songs in the attic - billy joel
denim and leather - saxon
private eyes - hall and oates
zz top - el loco
get lucky - loverboy
too fast for love - motley crue
tonight i'm yours - rod stewart
escape - journey

More:
Foreigner-4
Rick Springfield-Working Class Dog
Styx-Paradise Theatre
Beauty And The Beat-Go-Go's
I Love Rock And Roll-Joan Jett And The Blackhearts

My Best-Carey

 

[Jumptheshark]

I was 20 in 91 so no

 

[Roo Returns]

Once again it's a facts vs. feels type of question. Is it everyone's personal favorite year? Maybe not.

Did it literally cause the biggest shift in the music industry in decades and have the single biggest release date (September 24th, 1991) and set the tone for not only mainstream rock and hip hop but the underground for the next 25 years? Yes it did.

 

[zombie kopitar]

1994 is better

Illmatic
Ready to Die
Superunknown
Vitalogy
Nirvana Unplugged
Crazy Sexy Cool
Weezer Blue Album
Dookie
Downward Spiral
Grace
Ill Communication
Smash
Throwing Copper
Cracked Rear View
Korn self titled
Under the Table and Dreaming
Purple
Four
Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik
Far Beyond Driven

I was just about to post this but got beaten to it, ***ing goated year

 

[I am not exposed]

Once again it's a facts vs. feels type of question. Is it everyone's personal favorite year? Maybe not.

Did it literally cause the biggest shift in the music industry in decades and have the single biggest release date (September 24th, 1991) and set the tone for not only mainstream rock and hip hop but the underground for the next 25 years? Yes it did.

Not for the better though

 

[Roo Returns]

Not for the better though

How so? I'm not saying it was good or bad I'm just curious what your take is.

Personally, I love 90s music and how the production is a little warmer than the 80s which had the big keyboards and the gated drum sound that inadvertently defined the decade due to Phil Collins guesting on Peter Gabriel III.

Arrangements were also great. Even hip hop really evolved a lot from the 90s sampling and production (J. Dilla, 9th Wonder, Timbaland).

If anything, everything was evolving up until the 2010s and then the modern pop and rap started with the same trap beats and vocals drowned in autotune. And we have rock records that are ten minutes long with 3-4 good tracks (here's looking at you boygenius) that people try to compare to a Nevermind or Thriller or Rumors.

 

[Roo Returns]

I was just about to post this but got beaten to it, ***ing goated year

1994 happens as a direct result of 1991. World was also in a different place mourning Kurt Cobain/paying tribute and trying to find a Nirvana replacement which Green Day kind of inadvertently became.

Woodstock 94 which to me is the underrated and defining concert for Generation X/the 90s helped elevate both Green Day and Nine Inch Nails to superstardom. It was also booked perfectly with the order of bands playing.

 

[#37]

How so? I'm not saying it was good or bad I'm just curious what your take is.

Personally, I love 90s music and how the production is a little warmer than the 80s which had the big keyboards and the gated drum sound that inadvertently defined the decade due to Phil Collins guesting on Peter Gabriel III.

Arrangements were also great. Even hip hop really evolved a lot from the 90s sampling and production (J. Dilla, 9th Wonder, Timbaland).

If anything, everything was evolving up until the 2010s and then the modern pop and rap started with the same trap beats and vocals drowned in autotune. And we have rock records that are ten minutes long with 3-4 good tracks (here's looking at you boygenius) that people try to compare to a Nevermind or Thriller or Rumors.

I like your reasoning, but I disagree with you. That you mention the production and arrangement aspects is.. solid analysis, imho.

My memory of that era is that 1989 & 1990, though a few gems came out, were the weakest years of the 80's. Change was in the air, though at the time it felt like music was dying... Vanilla Ice, MC Hammer, and Milli Vanilli were huge... Hair metal was on it's last legs. I was a young guitarist at the time, and I thought it was all over. Guitar as a 'pop' instrument felt like it was over. There was a desperate need for a new direction and the albums/bands you are referencing hit at the right place at the right time. The shift you mention was already going on and the bands you mentioned were there to fill the void. Right place, right time. Nature abhors a vacuum.