TOP 25 ALBUMS, SINGLES OF 1995
There were a lot of one-hit wonders and Pearl Jam soundalike releases in 1995, but there were also a lot of good solid pop records released, the best of which combined various styles to create fresh, new sounds (like Dance Hall Crashers' combo of ska, punk and pop). The following are my favorite releases of 1995, the albums that I simply couldn't keep from the CD player for long:
* * * Top 25 Albums
* * *
1) Dance Hall Crashers – Lockjaw (510/MCA):
The nonstop party album (and best new band) of the year!
2) Collective Soul – Collective Soul (Atlantic):
A sharp collection of pop and power.
(tie) 2) Elastica – Elastica (DGC): The
'80s haven't died, Elastica rediscovered hooky New Wave power.
4) The Muffs – Blonder and Blonder (Warner):
Punk-meets-pop in an infectious Joan Jett-kinda way.
5) Moonpools & Caterpillars – Lucky Dumpling
(East/West): Loopy, fun, thoughtful, and ultimately catchy as a clawed cat on
carpet.
6) Suddenly Tammy! – We Get There When We
Do (Warner): a piano, drums and bass trio that both rock and pull a Carole
King vibe.
7) Belly – King (Reprise): Even stronger
than Star, this was the most sadly overlooked album at radio in 1995.
8) Seven Day Diary – Skin & Blister (Warner):
Two female harmony singers, a smattering of 70s rock guitar and 90's eclecticism,
this was a powerful debut.
9) Smashing Pumpkins – Mellon Collie and the
Infinite Sadness (Virgin): Who would dare a double album of all new songs
these days? Chicago's own daring Pumpkins. It rocked, railed and relaxed.
10) Alanis Morissette – Jagged Little Pills
(Maverick/Reprise): Alanis was a fresh voice in a stale, grunge-ridden rock
scene. And the best songs on this album haven't hit radio yet.
11) Green Day – Insomniac (Reprise): More
catchy pop-punk, though not as hot as Dookie.
12) Radiohead – The Bends (Capitol): A
perfect mix of 70s pop and '90s guitar that unfortunately missed at radio.
13) Shaw/Blades – Hallucination (Warner):
Half of Damn Yankees prove again that they're the best male vocal duo of the
decade.
14) Echobelly – On (550 Music/Epic): More
of that '80s meets '90s synth-guitar sound with a strong female lead voice.
15) Mary Karlzen – Yelling at Mary (Atlantic):
A fresh rock/country/folk voice with nods to Nanci Griffith.
16) Matthew Sweet – 100% Fun (Zoo): Another
strong dose of Sweet pop guitar!
17) Wanderlust – Prize (RCA): Rickenbackers
rule on Wanderlust's catchy Beatlesque debut.
18) Bonepony – Stomp Revival (Capitol):
Rockin' stomp-ridden hooks throughout this blues-rock acoustic revival.
19) Smoking Popes – Born To Quit (Capitol):
Chicago's Popes put a new lounge spin on punk rock.
20) B-Tribe – Suave Suave (Lava): World
beat with ambient synths — astonishingly beautiful and catchy.
21) Blessid Union Of Souls – Home (EMI):
Lite rock with a bit of bite and lots of cool harmonies.
22) Del Amitri – Twisted (A&M): One of
the finest pop rock bands around still sound great on album #3.
23) Dao Dezi – World Mix Album (Metro Blue):
World music with a good beat a la Deep Forest.
24) Kendra Smith – Five Ways of Disappearing
(4 AD): Eclectic and engaging; from deranged carnival sounds to quiet soliloquoy.
25) Whale – We Care (Hut/Virgin): A great
little rockin album that hit way too long after the band's hit single ("Hobo
Humpin' Slobo Babe") to get noticed.
* * * TOP 25 Singles * * *
1) Elastica: "Connection"
2) Collective Soul: "The World I Know"
3) Alanis Morissette: "You Ought To Know"
4) The Muffs: "Sad Tomorrow"
5) Sophie B. Hawkins: "As I Lay Me Down"
6) Presidents of the United States of America:
"Lump"
7) Smoking Popes: "Need You Around"
8) Smashing Pumpkins: "Bullet With Butterfly
Wings"
9) Belly: "Now They'll Sleep"
10) Chick: "Malibu"
11) Jill Sobule: "I Kissed A Girl"
12) Joan Osborne: "One Of Us"
13) Del Amitri: "Roll To Me"
14) Janet Jackson: "Runaway"
15) Green Day: "Geek Stink Breath"
16) Everything But The Girl: "Missing"
17) Radiohead: "Fake Plastic Trees
18) Blessid Union Of Souls: "I Believe"
19) Bjork: "It's Oh So Quiet"
20) Primus: "Winona's Big Brown Beaver"
21) Toad The Wet Sprocket: "Good Intentions"
22) Mariah Carey: "Fantasy"
23) Jennifer Trynin': "Better Than Nothing"
24) Seal: "Kiss From A Rose"
25) Rembrandts: "I'll Be There For You"
* * * Top 5 "One-Hit Wonder" Singles * * *
1) Presidents of the United States of America:
"Lump"
2) Chick: "Malibu"
3) Jill Sobule: "I Kissed A Girl"
4) Joan Osborne: "One Of Us"
5) Primus: "Winona's Big Brown Beaver"