Category Archives: 1994

1994

Mixes By Year: 1994 Most Recommended Albums


1994- the height of grunge, the birth of Brit-Pop, Pop-Punk & a transformative year for Rap.  If not the best music year of the 90’s, ’94 was definitely the most prolific- at least as far as quality music is concerned.

After the breakthrough of grunge and alternative music into the mainstream in late ’91 and early ’92, both had solidified themselves as cultural forces by ’94.  Pearl Jam released their weirdest album  with “Vitalogy”, which includes radio staples “Corduroy” and “Better Man”.  Soundgarden released their by far most mainstream (and I think best) album with “Superunknown”- it rocked plenty while remaining still loyal to their signature sound but several of the songs geared toward a mellower, more psychedelic but radio friendly sound.  Alice in Chains also seemed to lean toward a more mature sound by releasing a successful all-acoustic EP.  After the tragic death of singer, and Gen-X icon, Kurt Cobain in April of ’94, Nirvana released their swan song- “MTV Unplugged in New York”, an album recorded months before Kurt’s death that also pointed toward a new musical direction for the band.  Kurt’s wife, Courtney Love, released her band Hole’s second and best album “Live Through This” the same month that Kurt passed.  To this day I think it’s an underrated masterpiece (no matter who wrote it!)

After all of the above bands (and more) got big in the early 90’s, the major label record companies scooped in to sign every band they could with an alternative sound who was on an indie label.  This was both a blessing and a curse.  Radio & MTV were beginning to get (predictably) watered down by grunge also-rans like Candlebox, Songe, Bush & Silverchair.  But on the flipside some amazing bands unlikely able to gain much airplay or airtime during any other period, got to record their albums under a major label budget.  Post-Hardcore music like Jawbox and Shudder to Think are two examples.  Pavement also moved toward more of a mainstream sound, releasing their second standout album in a row with “Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain”.

Even with the mass of major-label signings the indie world was still doing more than fine.  Stellar underground albums came out by indie stalwart Built to Spill, punk-rock Jawbreaker, spazz-core bands like Jon Spencer Blues Explosion & Brainiac, & the kings of the Lo-Fi movement Guided By Voices released their first truly noteworthy album with “Bee Thousand”.  Sunny Day Real Estate also released their breakthrough album “Diary”, which would influence countless late 90’s/early 00’s Emo bands in the future.  In addition to “Diary”, the much more mainstream major label band Weezer released their debut album.  It would prove to be a big seller and it generated three big radio/MTV hits.  As their music glutted the marketplace, there was a pretty big backlash and their next record stiffed two years later.  However, both of their first two albums deservedly became  touchstones several years later to accessible emo bands like Jimmy Eat World.  Weezer’s power-pop sounded great juxtaposed against all of the gloomy grunge that was everywhere during the early-mid part of the 90’s.

San Francisco punk band Green Day also caught lightning in a bottle during ’94 with their third album “Dookie”.  Their first two albums were very underground and only known by the punk faithful.  But by ’94 Green Day had signed to a major label, gotten a top notch producer & a big recording budget, and the public was ready for their sound.  Again, their urgent and aggressive sound was fresh next to all of the grunge and the band and producer new how to merge the pissed off attitude of punk with poppy hooks.  The Offspring, Rancid & Bad Religion all had big, but lesser, hit albums the same year and in the same vein.

Across the pond in the U.K. music was flourishing.  Brit-Pop was in full swing with two of the movement’s biggest and greatest albums released in ’94-  Blur’s “Parklife” and Oasis’s “Definitely Maybe”.  Though the movement had been started several years earlier by Blur, and with other great bands like Suede contributing, didn’t really hit full stride until ’94 mostly due to the Oasis-Blur rivalry- a rivalry unseen in Britain since the Stones vs/ Beatles in the early to mid 60’s, which captured the imagination of both British press and public alike.  And these bands, unlike the Beatles and Stone who were actually friends, honestly seemed to hate each other.  “Parklife” was arguably the pinnacle album in Blur’s career and the Oasis debut remained one of the two great albums they ever made. Speaking of Suede they released their second album in ’94 as well- the very good “Dog Man Star”.  A few year’s later the Brit-Pop scene became bloated and over-done, but ’94 was the beginning of its peak.

Bristol’s Portishead also came out with their debut, which didn’t invent the trip-hop sound but did take to another level both artistically and popularly.  The original inventors of the sound, Massive Attack, released theirt second album, “Protection”, which contained several classic songs but was unable to reach the heights of the debut 1991 album.  Both of these bands would influence countless others as trip-hop would become one of the dominate sounds of young adults in the late 90’s- unfortunately much of it was watered down so that its primary function became dinner party music.  Stereolab also released their first song oriented album- “Mars Audiac Quintet”.  Their sound was dubbed ‘Space-age bachelor pad music’- they sounded futuristic while giving a nod to the mellow cocktail jazz of the late 50’s and the Moog synthesizer sound of the early 60’s.  Eccentric genius and reclusive techno artist The Aphex Twin released “Selected Ambient Works Volume 2”, which is to this day the most influential ambient album outside of Brian Eno.  He is considered the Mozart of the genre and would have countless influence over other techno artists.

While early 90’s Hip-Hop was dominated by the Native-Tongues conscious rap in New York City, and the G-Funk West Coast sound of Dr. Dre & the Death Row label, ’94 the New York East Coast scene again added skin in the game.  Two of THE all-time rap classics were released.  One from Bad Boy label-mate The Notorious B.I.G. with “Ready to Die”, and the other from Queens native Nas with “Illmatic”.  Both debuts would be the best either artist ever released and both would influence up and coming NYC rappers like Jay-Z and Mobb Deep who would be featured rappers in the mid to late 90’s and beyond.  B.I.G., along with the Posse cut “Flava In ya Ear” by Craig Mack (which B.I.G. also appeared on) would put the Bad Boy label on the map- their sound would dominate rap music in the mid to late 90’s for better or for worse.  NYC’s The Beastie Boys released “Ill Communication”, which ran the musical gamut incorporating hardcore, rap, soul-jazz & deep funk workouts all within the same album.  Their blending of genres would point the way forward for many other like-minded bands at the turn of the century.  Down South, the talented Outkast also released their debut “Southernplayasticcadillacmuzik”.  Though it generated some hits and was well thought of in rap circles and would prove hugely influential on rap in the south, it would be years until Outkast was a household name.



Jeff Buckley- Grace

Buy Grace – Jeff Buckley

Buy GraceAmazon




Guided By Voices- Bee Thousand

Buy Bee Thousand – Guided By Voices

Buy Bee ThousandAmazon



Green Day- Dookie

Buy Dookie – Green Day

Buy Dookie Amazon



Blur- Parklife

Buy Parklife – blur

Buy ParklifeAmazon



Hole- Live Through This

Buy Live Through This – Hole

Buy Live Through ThisAmazon



Nas- Illmatic

Buy Illmatic – Nas

Buy IllmaticAmazon



Stereolab- Mars Audiac Quintet

Buy Mars Audiac Quintet – Stereolab

Buy Mars Audiac QuintetAmazon



Portishead- Dummy

Buy Dummy – Portishead

Buy Dummy Amazon



Oasis- Definitely Maybe

Buy Definitely Maybe – Oasis

Buy Definitely MaybeAmazon



Nirvana- MTV Unplugged in New York

Buy MTV Unplugged in New York: Nirvana – Nirvana

Buy MTV Unplugged in New YorkAmazon



Built to Spill- There’s Nothing Wrong with Love

Buy There’s Nothing Wrong With Love – Built To Spill

Buy There’s Nothing Wrong With LoveAmazon



Outkast- Southernplayasticcadillacmuzik

Buy Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik – OutKast

Buy SouthernplayalisticadillacmuzikAmazon



Elvis Costello- Brutal Youth

Buy Brutal Youth – Elvis Costello

Buy Brutal YouthAmazon




Jeru Da Damaja- The Sun Rises in the East

*Album not available via iTunes

Buy Sun Rises in the EastAmazon



Pavement- Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain

Buy Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain – Pavement

Buy Crooked Rain Crooked Rain



The Beastie Boys- Ill Communication

Buy Ill Communication – Beastie Boys

Buy Ill CommunicationAmazon



The Notorious B.I.G.- Ready to Die

Buy Ready to Die – The Remaster – The Notorious B.I.G.

Buy Ready to Die (W/Dvd) (Reis)Amazon




The Aphex Twin- Selected Ambient Works Volume 2

*Album not available via iTunes

Buy Selected Ambient Works 2 Amazon



Soundgarden- Superunknown

Buy Superunknown – Soundgarden

Buy SuperunknownAmazon



Weezer- Weezer (The Blue Album)

Buy Weezer – Weezer

Buy WeezerAmazon


Mixes By Year: Best of 1994 Volume 1

Best of 1994 Volume 1 (9/17/02)

1.  Oasis- Supersonic

Buy Supersonic – Definitely Maybe

2.  Blur- Parklife

Buy Parklife – Parklife

3.  Hole- Miss World

Buy Miss World – Live Through This

4.  Nas- The World is Yours

Buy The World Is Yours – Illmatic

5.  The Notorious B.I.G.- Juicy

Buy Juicy – Ready to Die – The Remaster

6.  TLC- Creep

Buy Creep – CrazySexyCool

7.  Everything But the Girl- Missing

Buy Missing – Amplified Heart (Bonus Track Version)

8.  Liz Phair- Supernova

Buy Supernova – Whip-Smart

9.  Weezer- Say It Ain’t So

Buy Say It Ain’t So – Weezer

10.  Beck- Loser

Buy Loser – Mellow Gold

11.  Ween- Baby Bitch

Buy Baby Bitch – Chocolate & Cheese

12.  Pavement- Cut Your Hair

Buy Cut Your Hair – Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain

13.  The Beastie Boys- Get It Together

Buy Get It Together – Ill Communication

14.  Soundgarden- My Wave

Buy My Wave – Superunknown

15.  Pearl Jam- Corduroy

Buy Corduroy – Vitalogy

16.  Nine Inch Nails- Closer

Buy Closer – The Downward Spiral

17.  Portishead- Sour Times

Buy Sour Times – Dummy

18.  Johnny Cash- Delia’s Gone

Buy Delia’s Gone – American Recordings

19.  Nirvana- Where Did You Sleep Last Night?

Buy Where Did You Sleep Last Night (Live) – MTV Unplugged in New York: Nirvana


Mixes By Year: Best of 1994 Volume 2

Best of 1994 Volume 2 (9/18/02)

1. Nine Inch Nails- March of the Pigs

Buy March of the Pigs – The Downward Spiral

2.  Sebadoh- License to Confuse

Buy License to Confuse – Bakesale

3.  Veruca Salt- Seether

Buy Seether – American Thighs

4.  Green Day- When I Come Around

Buy When I Come Around – Dookie

5.  R.E.M.- Star 69

Buy Star 69 – Monster

6.  Beck- Pay No Mind (Snoozer)

Buy Pay No Mind (Snoozer) – Mellow Gold

7.  Pavement- Range Life

Buy Range Life – Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain

8.  The Smashing Pumpkins- Frail & Bedazzled

Buy Frail and Bedazzled (Outtake) – Pisces Iscariot

9.  The London Suede- New Generation

Buy New Generation – Dog Man Star

10.  Blue- Jubilee

Buy Jubilee – Parklife

11.  Luscious Jackson- City Song

Buy Citysong – Natural Ingredients

12.  The Beastie Boys- Sure Shot

Buy Sure Shot – Ill Communication

13.  The Crooklyn Dodgers- Crooklyn

*Tracks not available via iTunes

Buy Crooklyn: Music From The Motion Picture (Volume 1)Big Poppa – Ready to Die – The Remaster

15.  Nas- N.Y. State of Mind

Buy N.Y. State of Mind – Illmatic

16.  Elvis Costell0- Kinder Murder

Buy Kinder Murder – Brutal Youth

17. Soundgarden- Fell on Black Days

Buy Fell On Black Days – Superunknown

18.  Hole- Doll Parts

Buy Doll Parts – Live Through This

19.  The Jesus & Mary Chain- Sometimes Always

Buy Sometimes Always – Stoned & Dethroned

20.  Grant Lee Buffalo- Mockingbirds

Buy Mockingbirds – Mighty Joe Moon

21.  Jeff Buckley- The Last Goodbye

Buy Last Goodbye – Grace

Mixed By Year: Best of 1994 Volume 3

Best of 1994 Volume 3 (12/21/04)

1.  Blur- Girls and Boys

Buy Girls & Boys – Parklife

2.  Frank Black- Headache

Buy Headache – 93-03

3.  Shudder to Think- Hit Liquor

‘ Buy Hit Liquor – Pony Express Record

4.  Soul Coughing- Down to This

Buy Down to This – Ruby Vroom

5.  Massive Attack- Protection

Buy Protection – Protection

6.  Built to Spill- In the Morning

Buy In the Morning – There’s Nothing Wrong With Love

7.  Stereolab- Ping Pong

Buy Ping Pong – Mars Audiac Quintet

8.  Sebadoh- Rebound

Buy Rebound – Bakesale

9.  Outkast- Player’s Ball

Buy Player’s Ball – Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik

10.  TLC- Waterfalls

Buy Waterfalls – CrazySexyCool

11.  Portishead- It Could Be Sweet

Buy It Could Be Sweet – Dummy

12.  Nas- It Ain’t Hard to Tell

Buy It Ain’t Hard to Tell – Illmatic

13.  The Notorious B.I.G.- Things Done Changed

Buy Things Done Changed – Ready to Die – The Remaster

14.  Sunny Day Real Estate- In Circles

Buy In Circles – Diary

15.  Guided By Voices- Tractor Rape Chain

Buy Tractor Rape Chain – Bee Thousand

16.  Weezer- In the Garage

Buy In The Garage – Weezer

17.  Pavement- Silence Kit

Buy Silence Kit – Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain

18.  Hole- Rock Star

Buy Rock Star – Live Through This

19.  Jeff Buckley- Hallelujah

Buy Hallelujah – Grace

Mixes By Year: Best of 1994 Volume 4

Best of 1994 Volume 4 (12/23/04)

1.  Guided By Voices- I Am A Scientist

Buy I Am a Scientist – Bee Thousand

2.  Pavement- Elevate Me Later

Buy Elevate Me Later – Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain

3.  The Black Crowes- Descending

Buy Descending – Amorica

4.  Blur- This is A Low

Buy This Is a Low – Parklife

5.  the London Suede- We are the Pigs

Buy We Are the Pigs – Dog Man Star

6.  Oasis- Slide Away

Buy Slide Away – Definitely Maybe

7.  Green Day- Chump

Buy Chump – Dookie

8.  Morrissey- The More You Ignore Me, the Closer I Get

Buy The More You Ignore Me, the Closer I Get – Vauxhall and I

9.  Dinosaur Jr.- Feel the Pain

Buy Feel the Pain – Without a Sound

10.  Jawbreaker- Indictment

Buy Indictment – 24 Hour Revenge Therapy

11.  The Notorious B.I.G.- Everyday Struggle

Buy Everyday Struggle – Ready to Die – The Remaster

12.  Soundgarden- The Day I Tried to Live

Buy The Day I Tried to Live – Superunknown

13.  Nas- Life’s a Bitch

Buy Life’s a Bitch – Illmatic

14.  Outkast- Ain’t No Thang

Buy Ain’t No Thang – Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik

15.  The Brand New Heavies- Dream on Dreamer

Buy Dream On Dreamer – Brother Sister

16.  Weezer- Buddy Holly

Buy Buddy Holly – Weezer

17.  Jeff Buckley- Grace

Buy Grace – Grace

18.  Built to Spill- Twin Falls

Buy Twin Falls – There’s Nothing Wrong With Love

19.  Magnetic Fields- Lonely Highway

Buy Lonely Highway – The Charm of the Highway Strip

Mixes By Year: Best of 1994 Volume 5

Best of 1994 Volume 5 (7/9/10)

1.  R.E.M.- What’s the Frequency Kenneth?

Buy What’s the Frequency, Kenneth? – Monster

2.  Oasis- Cigarettes & Alcohol

Buy Cigarettes & Alcohol – Definitely Maybe

3.  Manic Street Preachers- Yes

Buy Yes – The Holy Bible

4.  The Smashing Pumpkins- Whir

Buy Whir (Outtake) – Pisces Iscariot

5.  Stereolab- Wow & Flutter

Buy Wow and Flutter – Mars Audiac Quintet

6.  Portishead- Glory Box

Buy Glory Box – Dummy

7.  Outkast- Southernplayasticcadillacmuzik

Buy Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik – Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik

8.  Craig Mack (Feat. The Notorious B.I.G., L.L. Cool J & Busta Rhymes)- Flava in Ya Ear (Remix)

Buy Flava In Ya Ear Remix – Bad Boy’s 10th Anniversary – The Hits

9.  Zhane- Hey Mr. DJ

Buy Hey Mr. DJ – 90’s Dance Hits Box Set

10.  Common- I Used to Love H.E.R.

Buy I Used to Love H.E.R. – Resurrection

11.  The Beastie Boys- Sabotage

Buy Sabotage – Ill Communication

12.  Jeru Da Damaja- Come Clean

*Track not available via iTunes

Buy Sun Rises in the EastAlbum via Amazon

13.  Nas- Halftime

Buy Halftime – Illmatic

14.  Liz Phair- Go West

Buy Go West – Whip-Smart

15.  Pavement- Gold Soundz

Buy Gold Soundz – Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain

16.  Soundgarden- Black Hole Sun

Buy Black Hole Sun – Superunknown

17.  Guided By Voices- Smothered in Hugs

Buy Smothered In Hugs – Bee Thousand

18.  Green Day- Longview

Buy Longview – Dookie

19.  Hole- Asking for It

Buy Asking for It – Live Through This


Mixes By Year: Best of 1994 Volume 6

Best of 1994 Volume 6 (7/10/08)

1.  Oasis- Rock N’ Roll Star

Buy Rock ‘N’ Roll Star – Definitely Maybe

2.  The Toadies- Possum Kingdom

Buy Possum Kingdom – Rubberneck

3.  Green Day- Welcome to Paradise

Buy Welcome to Paradise – Dookie

4.  Soul Coughing- True Dreams of Wichita

Buy True Dreams of Wichita – Ruby Vroom

5.  The Silver Jews- Advice to the Graduate

*Track not available via iTunes

Buy Starlite WalkerAmazon

6.  Magnetic Fields- Take Ecstasy with Me

Buy Take Ecstasy with Me – Holiday

7.  Outkast- Crumblin’ Erb

Buy Crumblin’ Erb – Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik

8.  Nas- One Love

Buy One Love – Illmatic

9.  Edwyn Collins- A Girl Like You

Buy A Girl Like You – NOW That’s What I Call the 90’s (Deluxe Edition)

10.  Ween- Voodoo Lady

Buy Voodoo Lady – Chocolate & Cheese

11.  Guided By Voices- Echoes Myron

Buy Echos Myron – Bee Thousand

12.  Portishead- Mysterons

Buy Mysterons – Dummy

13.  Sonic Youth- Bull in the Heather

Buy Bull in the Heather – Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star

14.  Elvis Costello- Pony St.

Buy Pony St. – Brutal Youth

15.  Hole- Violet

Buy Violet – Live Through This

16.  Pearl Jam- Better Man

Buy Better Man – Vitalogy

17.  Weezer- No One Else

Buy No One Else – Weezer

18.  Tom Petty- You Don’t Know How It Feels

Buy You Don’t Know How It Feels – Wildflowers

19.  Blur- To the End

Buy To the End – Parklife

Mixes By Year: Best of 1994 Volume 7

Best of 1994 Volume 7 (7/23/10)

1.  Weezer- Undone (the Sweater Song)

Buy Undone (The Sweater Song) – Weezer

2.  Green Day- Burnout

Buy Burnout – Dookie

3. Soundgarden- Let Me Drown

Buy Let Me Drown – Superunknown

4.  Portishead- Numb

Buy Numb – Dummy

5.  Massive Attack- Karmacoma

Buy Karmacoma – Protection

6.  Elvis Costello- This is Hell

Buy This Is Hell – Brutal Youth

7.  Nirvana- The Man Who Sold the World (Live)

Buy The Man Who Sold the World (Live) – MTV Unplugged in New York: Nirvana

8.  Nine Inch Nails- Hurt

Buy Hurt – The Downward Spiral (Deluxe Edition)

9.  Method Man- Bring the Pain

Buy Bring the Pain – Tical

10.  Jeru Da Damaja- My Mind Spray

*Track not available via iTunes

Buy Sun Rises in the EastAmazon

11.  The Notorious B.I.G.- Unbelievable

Buy Unbelievable – Ready to Die – The Remaster

12.  The Beastie Boys- Root Down

Buy Root Down – Ill Communication

13.  Hole- Softer. Softest

Buy Softer, Softest – Live Through This

14.  Jeff Buckley- Lover, You Should’ve Come Over

Buy Lover, You Should’ve Come Over – Grace

15.  Tom Petty- You Wreck Me

Buy You Wreck Me – Wildflowers

16.  Jawbox- Motorist

Buy Motorist – For Your Own Special Sweetheart

17.  Built to Spill- Car

Buy Car – There’s Nothing Wrong With Love

18.  Oasis- Live Forever

Buy Live Forever – Definitely Maybe

19.  Magnetic Fields- In My Secret Place

Buy In My Secret Place – Holiday

Mixes By Year: Best of 1994 Volume 8

Best of 1994 Volume 8 (7/24/10)

1.  The Notorious B.I.G.- Ready to Die

Buy Ready to Die (Bridgeport Sample Removed) – Ready to Die – The Remaster

2.  Jeru Da Damaja- Brooklyn Took It

*Track not available via iTunes

Buy Sun Rises in the EastAmazon

3.  Nas- Memory Lane (Sittin’ In Da Park)

Buy Memory Lane (Sittin’ In Da Park) – Illmatic

4.  Stereolab- International Colouring Contest

Buy International Colouring Contest – Mars Audiac Quintet

5.  Paperclip People- Throw

Buy Throw – The Secret Tapes of Dr. Eich

6.  Saint Etienne- Like A Motorway

Buy Like a Motorway – Tiger Bay

7.  Liz Phair- Cinco De Mayo

Buy Cinco De Mayo – Whip-Smart

8.  Tori Amos- Cornflake Girl

Buy Cornflake Girl – Under the Pink

9.  Blur- Tracy Jacks

Buy Tracy Jacks – Parklife

10.  Lush- Hypocrite

Buy Hypocrite – Split

11.  Freedy Johnston- Bad Reputation

Buy Bad Reputaion – This Perfect World

12.  Pavement- Unfair

Buy Unfair – Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain

13.  Brainiac- Radio Apeshot

*Track not available via iTunes

Buy Bonsai Superstar Amazon

14.  Jon Spencer Blues Explosion- Bell Bottoms

Buy Bellbottoms – Dirty Shirt Rock ‘N’ Roll: The First Ten Years

15.  Ween- Freedom of ’76

Buy Freedom of ’76 – Chocolate & Cheese

16.  Jawbox- Savory

Buy Savory – For Your Own Special Sweetheart

17.  Sugar- Gee Angel

Buy Gee Angel – File Under: Easy Listening

18.  Built to Spill- Big Dipper

Buy Big Dipper – There’s Nothing Wrong With Love

Mixes By Year: Best of 1994 Volume 9

  1. The Renegade (AKA Ray Keith)- Terrorist (Pa Mix)
  2. UK Apache & Shy FX- Original Nuttah
  3. Warren G (Feat. Nate Dogg)- Regulate
  4. Digable Planets- Jettin’
  5. Gang Starr- Code Of The Streets
  6. Nas- Represent
  7. The Notorious B.I.G.- Machine Gun Funk
  8. Portishead- Strangers
  9. Arthur Russell- This Is How We Walk On The Moon
  10. Lilys- The Hermit Crab
  11. Pulp- Babies
  12. Ween- Joppa Road
  13. Tom Petty- Wildflowers
  14. Alice In Chains- No Excuses
  15. Soundgarden- Superunknown
  16. Hole- Plump
  17. Jeff Buckley- So Real
  18. Rocketship- Hey Hey Girl
  19. Blur- End Of The Century