Music Gourmets Presents 60 Years of Great Music - 1997

[Zeeba Neighba]

Sorry about the delay (I know you've been anxiously awaiting this thread )

Welcome to the next year in our "Great Music" series - 1997!

Here's the rules:

Each Friday (typically) we'll introduce a new year from 1957 through 2016. Each member selects an album released in that year with a few lines (or more) on why you picked it/enjoy it. Your selection does not have to be the most important release or the most admired release of that year (though it certainly can be), simply an album that grabs you and that you really love.

However, once an album is selected by a member, you must choose a different album.

Together we will compile quite the canon of "Great Music" and, who knows, maybe inspire each other to check out some new artists (or to revisit old forgotten classics).

This week - the albums of 1997

 

[patrikc325]

Chuck Prophet-Homemade Blood

 

[Unsomnambulist]

OK, I'll pick the obvious one so everybody else can choose their secret heart's desire...

Radiohead - OK Computer



(And I'll state I don't understand why it's RYM's #1 of all time.)

 

[Postalboy]

Ben Folds Five- Whatever and Ever Amen

 

[Old Uncle Toe]

The original draft of the IEEE 802.11 standard, which gave us wi-fi and a better reason to go to Starbucks than the burnt, sugar-laden overpriced "coffee," mint-condition tickets to the movie Titanic, the first Harry Potter book and Axolotl's missing sock can be found here.

https://rateyourmusic.com/charts/top/album/1997/1

And I hope that when Axo finds that sock, he'll come back and do the things we count on him for around here. These links don't post themselves, you know.

 

[Old Uncle Toe]

Setting aside my typical pretentious selection from the mid-200's to pull this off the front page:

Buena Vista Social Club (self titled)



My dad, a Czechoslovakian immigrant, loved his classical and opera music but among other genres he also loved Latin music. That's the only reason I can figure out that I'm drawn to it the way I am. So when this cooperative effort from Ry Cooder and some Cuban musicians hit the stores, I scooped it up like a manager at a Baskin-Robbins. I've heard since then, that this is considered old-timey Cuban music. That could be why I like it. No modern or American pop influence. Just old school Cuban folk, jazz and easy listening from the little music clubs, the way they'd been playing it for the past 30 years.

 

[Unsomnambulist]

Setting aside my typical pretentious selection from the mid-200's to pull this off the front page:

Buena Vista Social Club (self titled)



My dad, a Czechoslovakian immigrant, loved his classical and opera music but among other genres he also loved Latin music. That's the only reason I can figure out that I'm drawn to it the way I am. So when this cooperative effort from Ry Cooder and some Cuban musicians hit the stores, I scooped it up like a manager at a Baskin-Robbins. I've heard since then, that this is considered old-timey Cuban music. That could be why I like it. No modern or American pop influence. Just old school Cuban folk, jazz and easy listening from the little music clubs, the way they'd been playing it for the past 30 years.

I love this album, too, because it reminds me of the music my parents (Cuban immigrants) played when I was a little kid.

 

[axolotl]

The original draft of the IEEE 802.11 standard, which gave us wi-fi and a better reason to go to Starbucks than the burnt, sugar-laden overpriced "coffee," mint-condition tickets to the movie Titanic, the first Harry Potter book and Axolotl's missing sock can be found here.

https://rateyourmusic.com/charts/top/album/1997/7

And I hope that when Axo finds that sock, he'll come back and do the things we count on him for around here. These links don't post themselves, you know.

The only thing I remember about the incident is, I did not leave my sock on the seventh RYM page of 1997.

https://rateyourmusic.com/charts/top/album/1997

That's because, I'm still playing with it.

 

[Ojai Sam]

OK, I'll pick the obvious one so everybody else can choose their secret heart's desire...

Radiohead - OK Computer



(And I'll state I don't understand why it's RYM's #1 of all time.)

One of many reasons I’m skeptical of RYM. :nunja:

 

[Ojai Sam]

Spotify playlist here:

 

[Ojai Sam]

Julie Miller - Blue Pony

Despite recording since 1983, Julie managed to stay below the radar until this alt country tour de force came out. A bakers dozen insightful songs that walk the line between country and folk, aided by kindred spirits such as Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle and hubby Buddy Miller.

 

[Mattafett]

Not much is screaming pick me, so I'm going with this fun one. Love me some Zydeco.
Nathan & The Zydeco Cha-Chas - I'm a Zydeco Hog

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Supergrass - In It For The Money

So many good Britpop albums that it's tough to rank them (plus although under the umbrella of "Britpop", there are so many stylistic differences). Would be tough to find room in my top 5 with Pulp's A Different Class, two Oasis albums and 2 Blur albums, but damn I do love Supergrass' first two albums which themselves are very different. Although most probably prefer the punk-like rapid fire joy of their debut, I Should Coco, I enjoy their sophomore effort even more. And what a goofy cover that if one bought thinking it was a folk or bluegrass album, one would be quite surprised

 

[Worm]

The Verve - Urban Hymns

I'm late as usual.

 

[lpfreak1170]

Kylie Minogue - Impossible Princess


Yes, really.

 

[JazzyRandy]

Erykah Badu - Baduizm