Man I really love this series. It's helping with discovering unheard of gems. Would love to see a top 140 for the 80's and rest of the 90's. Good stuff!
Hey Robert! Really enjoying the countdown so far but one slight correction with your last review. In 1982, April Wine released their album “Power Play” that contained the hit single "If You See Kay" (written by a David Freeland who is not a member of the band). So April Wine pulled this juvenile stunt almost 10 years earlier! Hehe!
The Woodface album was a big success down here in New Zealand (#1) and it was also big in Australia (#2) and a top 10 hit in the UK. Weather With You, Fall at your Feet and Four seasons in one day are known as NZ classic songs.
I always seriously enjoy your hot takes... funny ass shit. And I greatly appreciate that you picked '91 for this series, it's the year I graduated HS. Gives me the feels. 🤘🏽🤘🏽🤘🏽
These 'ranking 140 albums from 1991' videos are so addictive it's crazy. Can't wait until you get to the really good stuff and see where all the tunes from all the bands that I love end up on the list! Keep 'em coming Robert! Also I need to check out 70's Nazareth 🤘
I think we're in for a lots of episodes... 2 episodes down and 114 to go... yep, quite a few episodes remaining. Not complaining... just looking forward to it Thank you Robert for a huge amount of work this had required... Remember, 1992 comes next ;-)
This is truly epic. Love the deep dive into the releases of a year. And have to agree with everything reviewed so far. Pat Benater "True love" must be coming up soon. Truly lost her way with that one.
I agree with you on the review of "Ceremony" The album you mention from 94 "The Cult" is really good though, give it another shot if you haven't heard it recently
1991 was 8th-9th grade for me, so pretty formative music years. Surprised at how many established artists appeared here with such underwhelming efforts. I/we've heard a lot about what's probably towards the top of this list, so i find these lower tier album reviews really interesting; thanks, Robert! Also, a few years ago I did deep(er) dives on popular bands i wasnt very familiar with. Started with ELO... loved it! Moved on the The Police..Awesome. Then I tried Genesis and Phil Collins--and I JUST COULDN'T lol....Blech, tapped out.
Thanks! That's one of the reasons I thought it would be interesting to do this so that I could really dive deep and check out a lot of somewhat forgotten albums.
Back in the 90s I got a Superchunk CD called Foolish that was super-depressing, and that's all I've ever heard from them. Your comment about waiting for the Nazareth song to kick in made me think of the first time I listened to Trout Mask Replica. I was sure at some point Beefheart's magic band was going to start rocking out and it would all make sense. I was wrong, but I grew to appreciate the album for what it was, which was funny lyrics with quirky low-fi garage music.
I'm not sure I've heard any of these records, if I did, I've forgotten. I will say, I admire your courage in taking on major bands/singers with your honest opinion, some people would faint at the thought of criticizing Genesis. 😺
Seeing Sebadoh III (a bit overstuffed, yes) and Woodface this low hurts like love... Maybe Crowded House shouldn't have let their ill fated drummer contribute his fairly silly song though but hey, Ringo wrote some tunes. Love this series and looking forward to the next part! Did you film this all in one go? That would be a bit crazy I guess. Probably the T-shirt changes when the albums (for you) get good...
I was also program director at college radio in 1991 so I recognize all these indie records! Sebadoh, Poster Children, SuperChunk. We used to play If You See Kay a lot too. 😂
I have watched part one and commented the other day. Now I have watched part two and I am commenting once again. It seems to be less painful this time because I don't think that I still own any of these records.
In Killeen, Texas, in the ninties, THE record store was Renaissance records. And, this feels like you're right there at the used cd section in 1992. All of these were in there.
Crowded House - we love them in the “outside world” Robert. It’s great to teach Americans to learn to laugh at themselves- just like you do! Neil Finn is our Van Morrison. Cheers for the Festive Season
No, we can laugh at ourselves. Just because we don't appreciate lame music doesn't mean something's wrong with us. 🤷♂️🤣 I've never even heard of that album, much less song. However, in general, I agree with Robert's response... Gen Z are actually the one's who were born with geriatric attitudes, though. EVERY generation is sick of their shit at this point... besides themselves.
Genesis have an outtake that was on their second Collins era rarities box, On The Shoreline that for me is like speed listening to the best parts of I Can't Dance cause it's like a cross between No Son of Mind and Driving The Last Spike.
I have only heard 2 of these. And I don't know which one I wouldn't want to listen to first. Genesis or Sebadoh. Both seem like they never end. I did listen to that Fig Dish cd. Pretty good. Definitely got that 90s sound.
Joan Jett actually did a cover version of "Love Hurts" in 1990. There's even a video for it. I think her best albums were 1983 Album (the yellow one) and 1984 Glorious Results. I don't see her discussed very often, among RUclips music circles.
@@RobertFithen I think her 1986 Good Music album is the worst though. She actually RAPS on it 🤣 and she does some songs with your favorites, The BEACH BOYS! 😫😜
This is really enjoyable to watch, still laugh at your "NO RULEZ" gesture :) Never heard of "School of Fish" and after checking them out on RUclips, I guess I will have Fish - Internal Exile instead!
Couldn't disagree more on the Superchunk, that one is an absolute masterpiece of urgency and energy. Absolutely fair play on both the Sebadoh and Poster Children, they did go on to make superior albums in the yeaars to come. Looking forward to the next part.
Great series so far! It's educational. That Doobies album cover looks like they're all standing at urinals. And that typography, are you kidding? Almost looks like the Dobbie Brothers! BTW, I picked up that Janis and BB live album from RSD that you recommended. They could have put that thing out INSTEAD of Cheap Thrills! Thanks!
Thanks! I think it is children standing at urinals. I thought the same about the Big Brother RSD. "Combination of the Two" is much better on this live album.
Fall at Your Feet may have the best opening line of all time.. “ I'm really close tonight And I feel like I'm moving inside her Lying in the dark And I think that I'm beginning to know her Let it go I'll be there when you call
I can live with Genesis from 76 - 82/3. Basically the early Phil Collins as lead singer. By 85 onwards he became ridiculous. Such an uncool band. The Cult have kept at it and released a load more albums. This is a great series….i wouldn’t want to listen to all these albums all the way through! Although I suppose you’re suggesting they’re going to be better LPs coming up
In fear of losing my coolness....nope not a problem apparently....their was at least one more album before Believe called it's a man's world(?) ,do not ask me how I know also I somehow have alternate cover for this and Heart of stone.
I LOVE "Dangerous"! I remember radio station KSHE 95 played that Doobie's single a good bit. As a matter of fact I just played "Dangerous" today. I also remember playing "3 Strange Days" by School Of Fish a lot. I remember getting up early, going to work at Hardee's and hearing "Ordinary Average Guy" on my clock radio. Kind of a depressing way to wake up! LOL!!
I was managing a record store in 1991 & I have absolutely no memory of that Joan Jett album. Don't think Sony worked it much. The fire 🔥 was somewhere but certainly not on that horrific Bob Seger album & it's loaded with guest stars but still a banal affair. I did like that Crowded House album but the single Chocolate cake is an atrocious song. The Cult jumped the shark 🦈 on Cermony. 1991 needed a record like Nevermind & .. it arrived in autumn 🍂.
I remember being pretty disappointed with that Smithereens album when it first came out but it improved with repeated listens. Still not their best, but there are maybe three or four songs I really like a lot, including the Julian Lennon song.
I'm not big into the Smithereens anyway, so an album from them that's not one of their best I really wouldn't care for that much. Still better than Toad The Wet Sprocket. lol
Funny enough, I've never heard any of the records shown...that said I may have heard a number of songs from Ceremony. What's odd about that is the fact that I was a DJ for most of the late 90s, and there was very little I didn't check out from that period.
If it wasn't for Phil Collins and his performance of "Home By The Sea", I would never have been interested in Genesis in 1983. In 1991 it is clear that the musicians have nothing interesting to say.
Hello, greetings from Scotland. New subscriber. I like Crowded House, I liked the singles taken from Woodface: "Chocolate Cake", "Fall at Your Feet", "It's Only Natural", "Weather with You", and "Four Seasons in One Day". But I do not like the album Woodface. Go figure.
Gene Simmons dated Cher? Holy sh1t. Thank god that was before the times of sex-tapes being leaked. Please tell me it was before that time. I feel weird now. I feel like a disclaimer/trigger warning may have been appropriate before breaking that news to unsuspecting viewers. Oh God. I'm just going to keep watching and hope that goes away.
You know, in "Chocolate Cake," Crowded House also rips on England's Andrew Lloyd Webber, and yet the album reached number 6 in the charts over there. Maybe we Americans need a better sense of humor. (But admittedly, Tammy Bakker was an easy target.)
I think "Don't Surrender" is a great song, actually. Good sentiment, too. Most of the rest of the album is pretty forgettable. She got back to a more raw, energetic sound on the following album.
What I remember about listening to radio in the early 90s the music seemed to be meaningless. The meaningless 90s. That is the R&B stations, the easy listening stations went to downright lifeless.
Man I really love this series. It's helping with discovering unheard of gems. Would love to see a top 140 for the 80's and rest of the 90's. Good stuff!
Great video, I'm really loving this series!
Thanks!!
Hey Robert!
Really enjoying the countdown so far but one slight correction with your last review.
In 1982, April Wine released their album “Power Play” that contained the hit single "If You See Kay" (written by a David Freeland who is not a member of the band). So April Wine pulled this juvenile stunt almost 10 years earlier! Hehe!
True. I had forgotten about that one and I actually have that album.
Nice nerd stuff! Love it!
The Woodface album was a big success down here in New Zealand (#1) and it was also big in Australia (#2) and a top 10 hit in the UK. Weather With You, Fall at your Feet and Four seasons in one day are known as NZ classic songs.
Huge in the UK too.
Terrible albulm.
Tall Dwarfs are not only the best Kiwi band but my favourite band of all time.
The New Zealand Beatles.
I always seriously enjoy your hot takes... funny ass shit. And I greatly appreciate that you picked '91 for this series, it's the year I graduated HS. Gives me the feels. 🤘🏽🤘🏽🤘🏽
Me too. Listening to nearly nothing but 1991 for over a month took me right back to my late teens.
@RobertFithen Right on. 🤘🏽
These 'ranking 140 albums from 1991' videos are so addictive it's crazy. Can't wait until you get to the really good stuff and see where all the tunes from all the bands that I love end up on the list! Keep 'em coming Robert! Also I need to check out 70's Nazareth 🤘
Thanks!! Definitely start with "Hair of the Dog" if you haven't heard that one.
@@RobertFithen I'm pretty sure I've not heard any of Nazareth's songs! There's one radio station in England that play's hard rock and no others!
I think we're in for a lots of episodes... 2 episodes down and 114 to go... yep, quite a few episodes remaining.
Not complaining... just looking forward to it
Thank you Robert for a huge amount of work this had required...
Remember, 1992 comes next ;-)
Indeed. It should be around 10 episodes.
The "Jesus He Knows Me" cover by Ghost is fantastic. Crank it up
This is truly epic. Love the deep dive into the releases of a year. And have to agree with everything reviewed so far. Pat Benater "True love" must be coming up soon. Truly lost her way with that one.
It's coming up, but I am apparently one of around four people who actually liked it. I had never heard it before.
That Material Issue album is one of my favorites! R.I.P. Jim Ellison ❤
I agree with you on the review of "Ceremony" The album you mention from 94 "The Cult" is really good though, give it another shot if you haven't heard it recently
1991 was 8th-9th grade for me, so pretty formative music years. Surprised at how many established artists appeared here with such underwhelming efforts. I/we've heard a lot about what's probably towards the top of this list, so i find these lower tier album reviews really interesting; thanks, Robert!
Also, a few years ago I did deep(er) dives on popular bands i wasnt very familiar with. Started with ELO... loved it! Moved on the The Police..Awesome. Then I tried Genesis and Phil Collins--and I JUST COULDN'T lol....Blech, tapped out.
Thanks! That's one of the reasons I thought it would be interesting to do this so that I could really dive deep and check out a lot of somewhat forgotten albums.
Back in the 90s I got a Superchunk CD called Foolish that was super-depressing, and that's all I've ever heard from them. Your comment about waiting for the Nazareth song to kick in made me think of the first time I listened to Trout Mask Replica. I was sure at some point Beefheart's magic band was going to start rocking out and it would all make sense. I was wrong, but I grew to appreciate the album for what it was, which was funny lyrics with quirky low-fi garage music.
I am huge Genesis fan, but We Can't Dance was worse than the Toad the Wet Sprocket album you put at No. 140.
This series is incredible bro
Thanks!! Hopefully it's good enough to warrant 10 videos.
I'm not sure I've heard any of these records, if I did, I've forgotten. I will say, I admire your courage in taking on major bands/singers with your honest opinion, some people would faint at the thought of criticizing Genesis. 😺
I have gotten blowback on Big Audio Dynamite so I am prepared. lol
Seeing Sebadoh III (a bit overstuffed, yes) and Woodface this low hurts like love... Maybe Crowded House shouldn't have let their ill fated drummer contribute his fairly silly song though but hey, Ringo wrote some tunes.
Love this series and looking forward to the next part! Did you film this all in one go? That would be a bit crazy I guess. Probably the T-shirt changes when the albums (for you) get good...
Thanks! I made separate review, then organized them after I was finished.
Sebadoh III is in my Top 10 albums of all time. To each their own. I love the range of emotions. It’s scary, sad, funny, perverse and so much more.
This is awesome work man.
Thanks!!
Cher also does Love Hurts on her 1975 album Stars. As a ballad. It’s beautiful- her voice is amazing.
When I find a Cult CD at the thrift stores, it’s always Ceremony. Love these videos.
Thanks!
I was also program director at college radio in 1991 so I recognize all these indie records! Sebadoh, Poster Children, SuperChunk.
We used to play If You See Kay a lot too. 😂
Those bands are all coming up...
I have watched part one and commented the other day. Now I have watched part two and I am commenting once again. It seems to be less painful this time because I don't think that I still own any of these records.
You probably have a nicely curated collection.
In Killeen, Texas, in the ninties, THE record store was Renaissance records. And, this feels like you're right there at the used cd section in 1992. All of these were in there.
Crowded House - we love them in the “outside world” Robert. It’s great to teach Americans to learn to laugh at themselves- just like you do! Neil Finn is our Van Morrison. Cheers for the Festive Season
Good luck teaching the bulk of America to laugh at itself. It hasn't happened yet.
No, we can laugh at ourselves. Just because we don't appreciate lame music doesn't mean something's wrong with us. 🤷♂️🤣 I've never even heard of that album, much less song. However, in general, I agree with Robert's response... Gen Z are actually the one's who were born with geriatric attitudes, though. EVERY generation is sick of their shit at this point... besides themselves.
Genesis have an outtake that was on their second Collins era rarities box, On The Shoreline that for me is like speed listening to the best parts of I Can't Dance cause it's like a cross between No Son of Mind and Driving The Last Spike.
No Sonic Youth or Pavement in 91. Where is this going? The mystery!
Love it.
Believe it or not, April Wine actually did the whole "If You See Kay" thing first. Aside from that, 1991 was a fun year for me as a music fan.
I have only heard 2 of these. And I don't know which one I wouldn't want to listen to first. Genesis or Sebadoh. Both seem like they never end.
I did listen to that Fig Dish cd. Pretty good. Definitely got that 90s sound.
Heart does a great version of Love Hurts on their live album, The Road Home, from 1995.
Wow! I haven['t heard that. I will check it out.
Joan Jett also covered "Love Hurts" in 1990. There's a video for it. What is it with this song?! 🤨😏
Joan Jett actually did a cover version of "Love Hurts" in 1990. There's even a video for it. I think her best albums were 1983 Album (the yellow one) and 1984 Glorious Results. I don't see her discussed very often, among RUclips music circles.
I agree with those. The 1988 one wasn't too bad for that era.
@@RobertFithen I think her 1986 Good Music album is the worst though. She actually RAPS on it 🤣 and she does some songs with your favorites, The BEACH BOYS! 😫😜
@@RobertFithen Yeah 1988 Up Your Alley is high on my list too. Her 2023 Mindsets EP had some cool rockers, reminded me of her early 80s stuff.
This is really enjoyable to watch, still laugh at your "NO RULEZ" gesture :) Never heard of "School of Fish" and after checking them out on RUclips, I guess I will have Fish - Internal Exile instead!
They were definitely locked into a particular time.
Couldn't disagree more on the Superchunk, that one is an absolute masterpiece of urgency and energy.
Absolutely fair play on both the Sebadoh and Poster Children, they did go on to make superior albums in the yeaars to come. Looking forward to the next part.
Great series so far! It's educational. That Doobies album cover looks like they're all standing at urinals. And that typography, are you kidding? Almost looks like the Dobbie Brothers!
BTW, I picked up that Janis and BB live album from RSD that you recommended. They could have put that thing out INSTEAD of Cheap Thrills! Thanks!
Thanks! I think it is children standing at urinals. I thought the same about the Big Brother RSD. "Combination of the Two" is much better on this live album.
Didn't expect "gooey butter cake." I destroyed a few of those when i was a kid.
Fall at Your Feet may have the best opening line of all time.. “ I'm really close tonight
And I feel like I'm moving inside her
Lying in the dark
And I think that I'm beginning to know her
Let it go
I'll be there when you call
fine ranking so far but sebadoh III way too low... great album
Joe Walsh signed off on that album cover? That tells you what it sounds like by the cover alone.
April Wine- "If you see Kay" circa 1982 😉
I can live with Genesis from 76 - 82/3. Basically the early Phil Collins as lead singer. By 85 onwards he became ridiculous. Such an uncool band.
The Cult have kept at it and released a load more albums.
This is a great series….i wouldn’t want to listen to all these albums all the way through!
Although I suppose you’re suggesting they’re going to be better LPs coming up
I think so. I hope so. Lol
In fear of losing my coolness....nope not a problem apparently....their was at least one more album before Believe called it's a man's world(?) ,do not ask me how I know also I somehow have alternate cover for this and Heart of stone.
I ways thought the original cover for "Heart of Stone" was cool.
@@RobertFithen sad tidings I bring,I also think so,which means it is not sorry.
April Wine did If You See Kay as well.
I came here to say the same thing. I think it was on the follow-up album to Nature Of The Beast.
I LOVE "Dangerous"! I remember radio station KSHE 95 played that Doobie's single a good bit. As a matter of fact I just played "Dangerous" today. I also remember playing "3 Strange Days" by School Of Fish a lot. I remember getting up early, going to work at Hardee's and hearing "Ordinary Average Guy" on my clock radio. Kind of a depressing way to wake up! LOL!!
My first job was Hardee's. (My sixth job was working in the studio next to KSHE).
I was managing a record store in 1991 & I have absolutely no memory of that Joan Jett album. Don't think Sony worked it much. The fire 🔥 was somewhere but certainly not on that horrific Bob Seger album & it's loaded with guest stars but still a banal affair. I did like that Crowded House album but the single Chocolate cake is an atrocious song. The Cult jumped the shark 🦈 on Cermony. 1991 needed a record like Nevermind & .. it arrived in autumn 🍂.
I agree with all of this.
Why 140 and not 1991??
I remember being pretty disappointed with that Smithereens album when it first came out but it improved with repeated listens. Still not their best, but there are maybe three or four songs I really like a lot, including the Julian Lennon song.
I'm not big into the Smithereens anyway, so an album from them that's not one of their best I really wouldn't care for that much. Still better than Toad The Wet Sprocket. lol
Funny enough, I've never heard any of the records shown...that said I may have heard a number of songs from Ceremony. What's odd about that is the fact that I was a DJ for most of the late 90s, and there was very little I didn't check out from that period.
Some of them like the Genesis and Crowded House, I hadn't heard until I started this ranking.
The cult were big coming off Sonic temple. I think i snuck sun king into my radio show in 91
Chocolate cake from Woodface is a bit mean .."the excess of weight on your American bones ..."
24:26 🤣🤣
Maybe it's my Chicago area biased, but Material Issue's debut would be in my top 15.
It doesn't sound as top shelf in St Louis. lol
@RobertFithen yeah, must be the higher elevation up here that really makes the poppy sounds cut through. 😀
‘Home By the Sea’ is pretty similar to their prog stuff. . .
I love on the album we can't dance by Genesis they appear to have hired the Rugrats to write the word genesis lol.
lol
I think you’re thinking of Johnny Mathis on the wonderful wonderful song
Hope to see The Pod by Ween up near the top! 😁
It's in a special category. Lol
@RobertFithen I agree, but I love it! Haha!
@BillyFromTheHills01 me too
If it wasn't for Phil Collins and his performance of "Home By The Sea", I would never have been interested in Genesis in 1983. In 1991 it is clear that the musicians have nothing interesting to say.
It seemed in 1991 they were interested in what song would make a fun music video and what music could get them on lite rock radio.
Johnny Mathis did "wonderful wondeful"
Hello, greetings from Scotland. New subscriber. I like Crowded House, I liked the singles taken from Woodface: "Chocolate Cake", "Fall at Your Feet", "It's Only Natural", "Weather with You", and "Four Seasons in One Day". But I do not like the album Woodface. Go figure.
Thanks! Welcome!
April Wine did If You See Kay first.
Pocky are those Japanese chocolate dipped cookie sticks that were all the rage in 91 bro. All the hipsters were into it.😃
That would explain why I didn't know what it was. lol
My favourite Crowded House album with the exception of “Chocolate Cake”…meh.
I definitely like their first one more.
Ceremony & Woodface rated so low???? 😮😮There must a be a lot of good albums in the top 100!!
I'd like to think so.
Cher ranked better than Toad the Wet Sprocket in 1991.... c'mon.
And not even one of the better Cher albums, that's how truly awful the Toad The Wet Sprocket is.
Both are pretty awful
Love Hurts by Gram Parsons and Emmy Lou Harris live. Check it out.
Gene Simmons dated Cher? Holy sh1t. Thank god that was before the times of sex-tapes being leaked. Please tell me it was before that time. I feel weird now. I feel like a disclaimer/trigger warning may have been appropriate before breaking that news to unsuspecting viewers. Oh God. I'm just going to keep watching and hope that goes away.
It was the 70's I think. Strange times.
@brianjames5685 🤣🤣🤣
i'm glad you got recommended M'dou Moctar btw. Have you listened to Diamond Jubilee by Cindy Lee. Incredible lofi dream pop/garage
I haven't heard it. Thanks for the recommendation.
@RobertFithen It's A+ dude. Seriously.
Diamond Jubilee is high art lo-fi.
You know, in "Chocolate Cake," Crowded House also rips on England's Andrew Lloyd Webber, and yet the album reached number 6 in the charts over there. Maybe we Americans need a better sense of humor. (But admittedly, Tammy Bakker was an easy target.)
The majority of Americans have a difficult time being critiqued.
In the UK they openly laugh in the street at Andrew Lloyd Webber. No problem in insulting him.
I bought the Joan Jett album just for Backlash, which she co-wrote with Paul Westerberg. The rest of the album is pretty forgettable.
I think "Don't Surrender" is a great song, actually. Good sentiment, too. Most of the rest of the album is pretty forgettable. She got back to a more raw, energetic sound on the following album.
What I remember about listening to radio in the early 90s the music seemed to be meaningless. The meaningless 90s.
That is the R&B stations, the easy listening stations went to downright lifeless.
I abandoned R&B in the 90's after so much great soul/funk of the 60's, 70's, and 80's.