Matchbox 20 –Yourself or someone like you (1996)

Over the last year this has been my favourite album. Ask me in 12 months time and I may well say the same thing. MB20 were unheard of in England before they released ‘Push’ and haven’t made as much impact over here as in America, but that takes nothing away from this masterpiece. Poppy in places, heavy in places, acoustic in places. Each track tells a different tale as Rob Thomas’ vocals lure you into a rock feast with his sometimes whiney but emphatic voice.

Without a weak track in site the likes of ‘Push’, ‘Long Day’, ‘3am’ and ‘Real World’ have hit written all over them and other classics like ‘Damn’ and the angry ‘Busted’ show a uniqueness in their song writing that I haven’t heard in some time. The change in tempos and mixture of acoustic guitar and electrics grip you to their catchy songs. The ending acoustic track ‘Hang’ is wonderful example of how simple guitar playing once again brings an outstanding result and it will only be a couple of plays before you start singing about yourself or someone like you.

If you like something different and instantly likeable then MB20 are the band for you. The only difficult part is deciding on a favourite track and I’m sure everyone who has heard this album will have an opinion on that! Roll on album number 2.

Jars of Clay – Jars of Clay (1995)

Hootie and the Blowfish – Cracked Rear View (1994)

Although only selling 5 copies in England, Cracked Rear View went on to break records of the biggest selling debut album of all time (counts at the moment are in excess of 20 million). If you are lucky enough to have heard any track of this album you will see why. Bordering on the lines of country rock once again we see an excellent example of how a band can produce the hits and keep the rest of the album as strong. The opening track Hannah Jane is a boppy rollocoster with Darius Ruckers voice in full swing from the off. The acoustics of tracks like Hold my hand and I’m going home, the piano led Goodbye (played by drummer Soni), viola Running From an Angel and the Euphoric Let her Cry bring a debut album which has just about everything. The emotion in Darius voice has to be heard - Sometimes sympathetic, sometimes angry, always empathic. Just hear it on Look Away which is one of my favourite songs on the album. The short and emotional ride has Hootie and the Blowfish doing what comes naturally making them more than just another band with a box of tricks. This box of tricks is here to stay. Enough said.

Crowded House – Reoccurring Dream the best of…. (1996)

It’s an old Crowded House cliché, but ‘Don’t Dream Its over’, ‘Weather with you’ and ‘Fall at your feet’. What do they all have in common among other things? The phrase "You know more Crowded House songs then you think" comes to mind and has been used many a time. The thing about Crowded House is that the more you think I can name 10 bands that are similar- the more you can’t and the more unique they become. They have lived their careers nicely in the limelight without becoming overly commercial but then not falling behind at the same time.

A real fan’s band with a family of friends around the world, Crowded House are the best thing to come out of Australia since…..well lets just say I’m not too hot on all things Australian.

Reoccurring Dream brings together the best of their previous four albums. Not sure how they done it really since they should have released all four albums in a four CD pack. There must have been some arguments on what was to be left out. I can think of at least 2 songs on each of the other albums that would have been on the not so shortlist.

Neil Finn seems to write songs for fun. The things that come easy for him in each observation and use of imagery may not be so easy for others. It seems everything he touches has his name written all over it and the originality is scary each time he puts pen to paper. ‘Four Seasons in one Day’, ‘Better be home soon’ and ‘Instinct’ are just a small taste of a collection of material which is only rivalled by the albums which proceeded it. There are new songs on it for the fans who have all the albums but this is Crowded House’s farewell to the music world and was an appropriate release and not a money driven compilation. Long live messers Finn, Seymour, Hester and Hart.

And as for the fans favourite songs? We haven’t got time to do the poll and compile the results.

Del Amitri – Twisted (1995)

This was the Dels last album with David Cummings and introduced us to their heavier approach that is more apparent on their latest album "Some other Sucker’s parade". Maybe the boys were getting tired of the folk rock tag they were given by the press, but the irony on ‘Twisted’ is that the acoustic tracks hold some of their finest moments ever.

The slick ‘Start With Me’, ‘Food for Songs’ and ‘Being SomeBody Else’ provide the balls to this album but the high moments are the Dels doing what comes naturally. ‘Here and Now’, ‘Tell Her This’, It’s never too late to be alone’ and the brilliant ‘Driving with the brakes on’ are the Dels in their finest hour. These songs have a cutting edge above the rest and show an

artistry that we know and love in Del Amitri’s music.

The big hit of course was ‘Roll to Me’ and most people know it even though they probably don’t know it was the Del Boys who wrote it. People are more accustomed to think the Del’s are a ‘Nothing Ever happens’ kind of band but listening to classics like ‘Driving’ it is easy to see how the Dels have survived for this long – downers or not.

There are particular moments of finesse on ‘Twisted’: The ending to ‘Here and Now’ which I can’t hear enough of, the breaks in ‘Never too late’ and ‘Driving’ and the guitar solo in ‘It Might as well be you’. These pieces of genius stand proud. Like all their albums though there is the odd track which doesn’t show much appeal but like all their albums there is enough magic to make this an inspiring album.

The debate over which is their greatest album is still unresolved. To me the 5 songs mentioned are their finest hour but in rivalry with ‘Change Everything’ I think it has to look up to its predecessor. This takes nothing away from a great album with some classic tracks and shows a musical lesson to do what comes naturally and some of the best music comes from the roots to where it all began.

Del Amitri – Change Everything (1992)

Alanis Morissette – Jagged Little Pill (1995)

Someone once said "All Music is Revolution or Plagiarism". If this is true then I can’t think of another artist (or at least female artist ) in the 90’s who has caused as much revolution as Alanis. Only a few years on we can’t fail to see artists with similarities stemming from her (Meredith Brookes and Natalie Imbrugila to name but two)

The misunderstood ‘You oughta know’ is the sure fire anthem which everyone knows as Alanis at her raging best but as her fans know there is much more to her than that. It is a misconception that Alanis has an angry voice. Her style of singing can be fierce and also gentle. ‘You Learn’ and ‘Perfect’ show her angelic voice but fans of her wont need to discuss what has become a musical issure with her. Alanis talents as a songwriter are here for all to see. ‘Ironic’ and ‘Hand in my pocket’ being simplistic but genius at the same time and ‘All I really Want’ showing great maturity for a debut album. Her new album will do well to be half this good.

The first song I heard was ‘You Learn’ but ask any of her fans and you will get a dozen different answers which shows the depth of this album. No wonder it has been in the billboard charts forever.

There are guest appearances from Flea and Dave Navarro of Red Hot Chilli Peppers Fame and it is produced by her co writer Glen Ballard. There is also the hidden track ‘Your house’, which you can find if you leave the CD playing. This is often played at concerts with guitar backing.

At times Alanis sounds like a little girl and at others like the wise professor. Her style and grace has been copied but never bettered. An influence to a generation - Love her or hate her you can’t ignore her. Alanis has left her mark.

Therapy? Came from the underground scene of riff driven beats with screaming vocals. ‘Troublegum’ welcomed Therapy? to the chart scene with the same beats (provided by ex drummer Fyfe Euwing) the beastiest of riifs and great songs which were heavy but were accessable Was it time for  metal to come into the normal household? Well maybe not quite. I hadn’t seen metal as easily accessible since the Metallica Black album. But to say that it was poppy? Could metal and pop be seen in the same light?

Unlike their earlier material, ‘Troublegum’ showed great maturity and songs like ‘Screamager’, ‘Turn’ and ‘Nowhere’ became instant hits. The most notable things that strike you are the beats – can that be done on a drum kit? It does at times sound like someone’s been tapping on the computer. Andy Carins lyrics of youth, growing up, love and the trials and tribulations of life are well suited to the amazing riffs that can be witnessed on ‘Troublegum’. ‘Hellbelly’, ‘Trigger Inside’, and ‘Isolation’ are all guitar treats and masses of respect have been given to Andy Carins guitar playing even if he is modest. His songs are continually tabbed in magazines

The great thing about ‘Troublegum’ is that it is not for one kind of listener. The die hard metal heads amongst us will be bopping with the dance fanatics and the pop fans. It’s that kind of album. Metal, dance, love, hate, riffs, 90’s vocals. It has everything. The most peculiar thing I’ve seen with ‘Troublegum’ is when it was used as the music at a party on East Enders. ‘Knives’ and ‘Screamager’ on national family TV? – Says it all.

Counting Crows – August and Everything After (1993)

Once in a while an album comes along where the writers and musicians seem to have been put together by a greater source. Their workmanship and efforts bring together a sound mixed with lyrics, which are poetry in their own right, and a voice that echoes everyone’s soul within them. With August and Everything After, Counting Crows achieved just this.

From the first few bars of ‘Round Here’ you instantly know that something special is about to happen. Adam Duritz’s lyrics are on another level. Instead of comparing him to others before him it may be worth comparing others to him. You won’t hear nothing like it. His voice can be soft but angry in the same breath. And if you thought that hits may are too much to ask, just look at ‘Mr. Jones’ and ‘Rain King’. Both songs being brilliantly written as is ‘Round Here’ are something you wont hear anywhere else. Blues Traveller’s ‘Runaround’ is a typical ‘Mr. Jones’ rip off.

One of my favourite parts of the album is how ‘Anna Begins’ develops and the chorus gives me goose bumps every time. ‘Sullivan Street’ is another beautiful example of Counting Crows at their best. ‘Perfect Blue Buildings’, ‘Raining in Baltimore’ and ‘A murder of one’ would be the highlight on most other albums but it says a lot when a groups so called lesser songs are better than some bands best. ‘Time and time Again’ and ‘Omaha’ have equal uniqueness if there is such a thing. Listen, admire and remember. There’s no need for me to say that – you won’t help but do.

Belinda Carlisle – The Best of Belinda Volume 1 (1992)

This as the title suggests is Belinda’s first compilation but as it falsely implies this is her only official compilation to date and we are yet to see a volume 2. Still this should be reassuring to all fans that there will be one to follow! Being a Belinda fan this has all the classics – ‘Heaven is a place on Earth’, ‘Circle in the sand’, ‘Live your life be free’ and the wonderful ‘Runaway Horses’. It reaffirms her as the 80’s Queen of Pop as her instantly recognisable voice charters through hit after hit. I was surprised to see the omission of songs like ‘Mad about you’ and ‘Valentine’ but I guess this album wasn’t intended for the fans who have all her albums but a bit of a marketing tool for the more mainstream audience. There is nothing new from her here you do get a near enough perfect compilation from her without releasing a double album. With her two albums which followed this (‘Real’ and ‘A Woman and a man’) it will be interesting to see if the likes of ‘Mad about you’ will appear on a best of Volume 2 or if she will intend recording some new material first.

Here are 10 of my favourite singles over the last year or so by artists who failed to make my top 10 albums!

Natalie Imbruglia – Torn

Sheryl Crow - If it makes you happy

Amanda Marshall – Dark Horse

Shania Twain – Still the one

Republica – Ready to go

Paula Cole – I don’t want to wait

No Doubt – Don’t Speak

Meredith Brookes – Bitch

Gin Blossoms – Hey Jealously

Texas - Halo