733. Dry

Dry
P.J. Harvey
1992

Tracks
1. Oh My Lover
2. O Stella
3. Dress
4. Victory
5. Happy and Bleeding
6. Sheela-Na-Gig
7. Hair
8. Joe
9. Plants and Rags
10. Fountain
11. Water

This is the last album of 1992 and what a whirlwind it has been. The bad (ahem Ministry) always tends to stand out a little bit more than the good (Nick Cave). Speaking of Nick Cave, I guess him and P.J. Harvey were a couple for awhile. That is so cool it hurts.

I liked Harvey before listening to this, but I had never experienced a complete album of hers. This was pretty fascinating; I admired her sultry vocals and clever lyrics. Would a Bjork comparison be completely off base? They both just have a lot of talent and a very cool aesthetic. 

Thankfully, this isn't the last of her albums on the List. We will have to remember that during our dark, heavy metal infused, moments.

RATING: 4/5

732. Devotional Songs

Devotional Songs
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
1992

Tracks
1. Allah Hoo Allah Hoo
2. Yaad E Nabi Gulshan Mehka
3. Haq Ali Ali Haq
4. Ali Maula Ali Maula Ali Dam Dam
5. Mast Nazroon Se Allah Bachhae
6. Ni Main Jogi De Naal

And now, for something completely different. This genre of music is known as Qawwali music, which is a form of Islamic devotional singing intended to stir the listener's fervor for God. Well, that's a tall order for me but I appreciate the effort.

So I obviously have no idea what they are saying, but it was interesting hearing something, anything, from the Indian subcontinent. From what I have read, it seems like this music loses something not being performed live. Also, apparently this is about as Western as Qawwali music gets, which explains why the List chose it. 

Overall an interesting entry but obviously not something I am going to put on repeat.

RATING: 3/5

731. Henry's Dream

Henry's Dream
Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds
1992

Tracks
1. Papa Won't Leave You Henry
2. I Had A Dream Joe
3. Straight To You
4. Brother My Cup Is Empty
5. Christina The Astonishing
6. When I First Came To Town
7. John Finns' Wife
8. Loom Of The Land
9. Jack The Ripper

I know some music lovers will scoff if I compare Nick Cave to Taylor Swift, but really, I think you should admire my restraint in not mentioning her every post since the release of folklore. Anyway, this reminded me of Taylor Swift in how cohesive it felt. It's like the entire album has a singular vibe, even though there is a wide range of songs tackling different subjects.

It's hard to point to a favorite track, but it might just be "Jack the Ripper" which, admittedly frightened me a little bit. But that's part of Cave's charm.

Unlike some of the previous entries on this List, this album also didn't scream 90s. It had a timeless, rather than a dated, feeling. A welcome addition to the List, considering the rut we have been in lately.

RATING: 5/5

730. Dirt

Dirt
Alice in Chains
1992

Tracks
1. Them Bones
2. Dam That River
3. Rain When I Die
4. Sick Man
5. Rooster
6. Junkhead
7. Dirt
8. God Smack
9. Hate To Feel
10. Angry Chair
11. Down In A Hole
12. Would

I suppose you could categorize this as grunge, but it is also much more heavy metal sounding than grunge. As I am pretty ambivalent about grunge anyway, this really didn't do much to endear the genre to me.

I don't have much to say about this one, only that I was bored and it sounded like a hundred other albums we've had on the List so far. On the plus side, I believe Nick Cave is about to save us from this terrible run of albums. 

RATING: 2/5

729. Vulgar Display of Power

Vulgar Display of Power
Pantera
1992

Tracks
1. Mouth For War
2. New Level
3. Walk
4. Fucking Hostile
5. This Love
6. Rise
7. No Good (Attack The Radical)
8. Live In A Hole
9. Regular People (Conceit)
10. By Demons Be Driven
11. Hollow

There is way too much metal on the List. I've said it before, I'll say it again, and I'll probably mention it on my death bed as well (don't worry, it will be speaking to a larger theme on the futility of life and hope). Yes, I think there is too much hip hop on the List as well, but at least most of those artists are doing something different with the genre, even if I don't like the results. 

This is just more of the same thrashy metal that never sounds original, even when they swap out the words they yell at us. They are just imitating Black Sabbath...and I don't really like Black Sabbath to begin with.

Entirely skippable.

RATING: 1/5

728. The Predator

The Predator
Ice Cube
1992

Tracks
1. The First Day of School
2. When Will They Shoot?
3. I'm Scared (Insert)
4. Wicked
5. Now I Gotta Wet'cha
6. The Predator
7. It Was A Good Day
8. We Had To Tear This Up
9. Fuck 'Em
10. Dirty Mack
11. Don't Trust Em
12. Gangsta's Fairy Tale 2
13. Check Yo Self
14. Who Got The Camera
15. Integration
16. Say Hi to the Bad Guy

Yawn. More misogynistic bragging that is both dull and repetitive. It's like Public Enemy (although at least that was original), but with even more ego.

It's scary how relevant "Who Got The Camera" is. But his self justification for his anti semitism is wearing. At least he addressed that issue though. I wish he would address his sexism. If it's a white/black thing, why aren't you more respectful of black women in your music?

Not as offensive as I was imagining, but just kind of boring.

RATING: 2/5

727. Little Earthquakes

Little Earthquakes
Tori Amos
1992

Tracks
1. Crucify
2. Girl
3. Silent All These Years
4. Precious Things
5. Winter
6. Happy Phantom
7. China
8. Leather
9. Mother
10. Tear In Your Hand
11. Me And A Gun
12. Little Earthquakes

I think the List knew I needed this album after Ministry, and I appreciate them throwing me a bone. There is also a storm a-brewing in the form of Ice Cube and Pantera. So I'll take what I can get for right now.

I have been very impressed with the female singer/songwriters we have been experiencing lately. Amos' lyrics are clever and complex. I think this is an album that would benefit from repeated listenings, and I will definitely revisit it as part of my post Ice Cube therapy. 

Maybe I've had my head in the sand, but to me she is an underrated artist. 

RATING: 4/5

726. Psalm 69

Psalm 69
Ministry
1992

Tracks
1. NWO
2. Just One Fix
3. TV II
4. Hero
5. Jesus Built My Hotrod
6. Scarecrow
7. Psalm 69
8. Corrosion
9. Grace

Good god, did I hate this. I actually had to take a break while listening to it; I literally could not take it anymore about halfway through "TV II." I had to fight my natural instincts of self preservation to turn it on again.

Perhaps the description "industrial metal" will provide you with sufficient information as to why I hated this. If you require further reasoning, I could point you toward the screamed, obnoxious lyrics ("69. 69. 69. 69. 69") or the eight minute long tracks. 

To me, it felt like the music an angry teenage boy would come up with on his quest to become an edgelord. Truly a terrible album.

RATING 1/5

725. Connected

Connected
Stereo MCs
1992

Tracks
1. Connected
2. Ground Level
3. Everything
4. Sketch
5. Fade Away
6. All Night Long
7. Step It Up
8. Playing With Fire
9. Pressure
10. Chicken Shake
11. Creation
12. The End

Well this was possibly the most 90s album so far to come out of the List. I was still -3 when this album came out but it feels like something I grew up with.

I know I am frequently critical of hip hop music but I actually enjoyed this quite a bit. The lyrics didn't have the depth of some of my other favorites here, but at least it wasn't hateful. Even the band name "Stereo MCs" sounds uber 90s.

Undeniably dated, but a decent album if you are on a nostalgia trip. 

RATING: 3/5

724. Dirty

Dirty
Sonic Youth
1992

Tracks
1. 100%
2. Swimsuit Issue
3. Theresa's Sound-World
4. Drunken Butterfly
5. Shoot
6. Wish Fulfillment
7. Sugar Kane
8. Orange Rolls, Angel's Spit
9. Youth Against Fascism
10. Nic Fit
11. On The Strip
12. Chapel Hill
13. JC
14. Purr
15. Creme Brulee

When I started this album, I thought Sonic Youth was moving to a more mainstream sound. Then I heard "Drunken Butterfly" and thought maybe not. 

I think I am warming up to grunge, which took me a little while. There is definitely a line between noise and music that Sonic Youth tends to cross frequently. I could do without the feedback, but I do like their vocals and lyrics.

So another decent album and hopefully this streak will continue.

RATING: 3/5

723. Bone Machine

Bone Machine
Tom Waits
1992

Tracks
1. Earth Died Screaming
2. Dirt In The Ground
3. Such A Scream
4. All Stripped Down
5. Who Are You
6. The Ocean
7. Jesus Gonna Be Here
8. A Little Rain
9. In The Colosseum
10. Goin' Out West
11. Murder In The Red Barn
12. Black Wings
13. Whistle Down The Wind
14. I Don't Wanna Grow Up
15. Let Me Down Up On It
16. That Feel

I do love me some Tom Waits, but did the song "In The Colosseum" annoy the bejesus out of anybody else? 

Maybe it was just me and my Thursday morning crankiness. I didn't think this was quite as good as his previous albums on the List, but it was still an enjoyable experience. Waits always surprises me with how he uses his voice. Definitely one of a kind.

I wouldn't call this the quintessential Tom Waits album, but definitely worth listening to.

RATING: 3/5

722. Copper Blue

Copper Blue
Sugar
1992

Tracks
1. Act We Act
2. Good Idea
3. Changes
4. Helpless
5. Hoover Dam
6. Slim
7. If I Can't Change Your Mind
8. Fortune Teller
9. Slick
10. Man On The Moon

I was talking to my friends about music and mentioned Sugar, and by extension Husker Du, and I was accused of making up words/band names. Of course, because I have the intellectual confidence of a blueberry scone, I immediately began to doubt that these bands did in fact exist. Turns out they're not a figment of my imagination after all. 

I actually enjoyed this more than Husker Du; I guess Bob Mould is going for a more mainstream sound now. It reminded me of the Pixies, which is definitely a good thing. Each song is pretty catchy (my favorite being "Man on the Moon"), and there's really not a bad track on the album.

So I'm very glad this band turned out to be real and not a quarantine inspired delusion. 

RATING: 4/5

721. Lazer Guided Melodies

Lazer Guided Melodies
Spirtualized
1992

Tracks
1. You Know It's True
2. If I Were With Her Now
3. I Want You
4. Run
5. Smiles
6. Step into the Breeze
7. Symphony Space
8. Take your Time
9. Shine a Light
10. Angel Sigh
11. Sway
12. 200 Bars

So space rock is once again represented here, and I guess it's supposed to be music for sexy aliens. More accurately, it's probably intended for people who found 2001: A Space Odyssey interesting. I am not one of those people.

I won't be too harsh on this one; it's actually fairly pleasant background music for the most part. You're likely supposed to be passing around a joint while you listen to this, but I guess that is inadvisable during a global pandemic. 

The best part of this album is probably the cover.

RATING: 2/5

720. Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde

Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde
The Pharcyde
1992

Tracks
1. 4 Better Or 4 Worse
2. Oh Shit
3. It's Jiggaboo Time
4. 4 Better Or 4 Worse
5. I'm That Type Of Nigga
6. If I Were President
7. Soul Flower
8. On The DL
9. Pack The Pipe
10. Officer
11. Ya Mama
12. Passing Me By
13. Otha Fish
14. Quinton's On The Way
15. Pack The Pipe
16. Return Of The B-Boy

Admittedly, this was better than Dr. Dre's The Chronic, but then again, what isn't? Of course, there is an entire track dedicated to Ya Mama jokes, so it's not what I would consider a significant improvement. 

Same old, same old. More misogyny with fairly childish lyrics. According to a friend of mine, "there is a time and place for misogyny and it's in hip hop music." I walked away so my head wouldn't explode all over the carpet. 

I guess I enjoyed the jazz elements in there, and at least the sampling wasn't tacky. But A Tribe Called Quest is much better.

RATING: 2/5

719. Automatic For The People

Automatic For The People
R.E.M.
1992

Tracks
1. Drive
2. Try Not To Breathe
3. Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite
4. Everybody Hurts
5. New Orleans Instrumental No 1
6. Sweetness Follows
7. Monty Got A Raw Deal
8. Ignoreland
9. Star Me Kitten
10. Man On The Moon
11. Nightswimming
12. Find The River

I think everybody has heard at least a couple songs on this album. The most famous track is probably "Everybody Hurts" which is just the sort of cheerful ditty that really invigorates your Tuesday morning. I might need a minute.

There actually isn't a bad song on this album. Each track is thoughtful, accessible, and catchy. I particularly enjoyed "Man On The Moon" and "Nightswimming," both of which I had never heard before. So a familiar album, but it still held some unexpected treats.

This is just an excellent album and sorely needed after yesterday's Dr. Dre disaster. Five stars, easy.

RATING: 5/5

718. The Chronic

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

717. Ingenue

Ingenue
k.d. lang
1992

Tracks
1. Save Me
2. Mind Of Love
3. Miss Chatelaine
4. Wash Me Clean
5. So It Shall Be
6. Still Thrives This Love
7. Seasons Of Hollow Soul
8. Outside Myself
9. Tear Of Love's Recall
10. Constant Craving

k.d. lang came out as a lesbian the same year this was released, and had to face a picket line outside the Grammies (where she won for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance). Good for you k.d. I hope she did a victory lap outside after winning.

k.d has an amazing voice and is a fantastic songwriter to boot. I feel like it is impossible not to make a comparison to Joni Mitchell here, in terms of talent and style. Every song is pretty slow and melodic. I would have preferred some jauntier tunes sprinkled in there; I felt like I had been lulled into a stupor after listening to this.

It was interesting to see her move away from country to a more cabaret-esque feel. And, as always, it was nice to get a woman on the List. 

RATING: 4/5

716. Hypocrisy is the Greatest Luxury

Hypocrisy is the Greatest Luxury
Disposable Heroes of Hyphoprisy
1992

Tracks

1. Satanic Reverses
2. Famous And Dandy (Like Amos 'N' Andy)
3. Television The Drug Of The Nation
4. Language Of Violence
5. The Winter Of The Long Hot Summer
6. Hypocrisy Is The Greatest Luxury
7. Everyday Life Has Become A Health Risk
8. INS Greencard A-19 191 500
9. Socio-Genetic Experiment
10. Music And Politics
11. Financial Leprosy
12. California Uber Alles
13. Water Pistol Man

I'll like pretty much any album that contains literary references. This is a far cry from other West Coast hip hop albums coming out around the same time.

The best part about this album is the lyrics, which are smart and, unfortunately, still relevant today even if 2020 has redefined "dysfunction." It's an angry album, but doesn't contain the kind of blind, almost childish anger present in entries like Rage Against the Machine. This album actually has something to say.

I know it's my daily ritual to complain that the List is oversaturated with hip hop and/or metal albums, but I honestly wouldn't mind if there were all as good as this. They are not.

RATING: 4/5

715. Rage Against the Machine

Rage Against the Machine
Rage Against the Machine
1992

Tracks
1. Bombtrack
2. Killing in the Name
3. Take the Power Back
4. Settle for Nothing
5. Bullet in the Head
6. Know Your Enemy
7. Wake Up
8. Fistful of Steel
9. Township Rebellion
10. Freedom

I think this album is for teenage boys who are attempting to sort through their rage and sexual frustration. Men might like it in their later years because it reminds them of being a teenage boy, or maybe they are still attempting to sort through their rage and sexual frustration and this album helps in some way. Having never been a teenage boy, I didn't enjoy this.

I think rage at a certain point renders you incoherent. That is what this album was to me: musically incoherent. It also felt very repetitive and just plain boring.

So it didn't offend me (maybe it was trying to?), but it didn't really interest me either.

RATING: 1/5

714. It's a Shame About Ray

It's a Shame About Ray
Lemonheads
1992

Tracks

1. Rockin' Stroll
2. Confetti
3. It's A Shame About Ray
4. Rudderless
5. My Drug Buddy
6. Turnpike Down
7. Bit Part
8. Alison's Starting To Happen
9. Hannah And Gabi
10. Kitchen
11. Ceiling Fan In My Spoon
12. Frank Mills
13. Mrs Robinson

I would be forgiving of most albums if they came with a cover of Mrs. Robinson. Thankfully, this is a great album and the Mrs. Robinson cover might actually be its weakest spot.

This was just a pure joy to listen to. The songs were light and catchy. Lyrically, I haven't seen such an impressive album in a long time. Each song was punchy and undemanding.

Most artists can't resist overstaying their welcome, but this album is only a half hour long. It left me wanting more, which is exactly what you want from any work of art. 

RATING: 5/5