1993- a great year for me personally and musically.  I think it’s right up there with 1991 and 1994 as the best year of the 90’s.  By ’93 the alternative and grunge  had already taken over youth culture but it was still several years before their pale corporate imitators took over MTV and radio and watered down a great thing.  The bands were maturing- Nirvana was on their 3rd album and Pearl Jam and Smashing Pumpkins were on their 2nd.  The Brit Pop and shoegaze bands in the U.K. were starting to emerge and Hip Hop was still in the middle of its golden age before “jiggy’ took over.  There was a noticeable lack of good mainstream music mostly because so much alternative dominated the charts.  1993 was the end of my junior year and the beginning of my senior year of college.  I was living in an off-campus house with a pile of great friends at a small college where it was up to off-campus houses to supply much of the extracurricular fun.  So the music of 1993 soundtracked that fun for me- very good times.  It is a tendency for people to overrate the music of their “peak years”.  I try to be as unbiased as possible and I still think the music of 1993 is pretty damn great- “peak years” or not.  But I’ll let you guys be the judge.

1993 was a great year for heavy music.  Nirvana released “In Utero”, their extremely uncompromising album that nonetheless became another huge hit for the band and garnered several hit singles.  Even when Cobain tried to be inaccessible his knack for melodies usually shone through.  Pearl Jam’s 2nd album “Vs.” solidified their status as one of the biggest bands of the alternative movement, despite them releasing no videos from the album at the height of MTV’s importance.  Though for me Pearl Jam was never as interesting or as great as Nirvana at the moment in time they were arguably bigger.  While Chicago’s Smashing Pumpkins delivered a much smaller hit with their 1991 debut “Gish”, their 2nd album “Siamese Dream” blew up huge and is still their artistic peak as well as one of my favorite releases of the decade.  It doesn’t have a weak moment on it and showed that alt rock could be huge, arena ready with lots of guitar solos, sound like Queen and still be more than viable.  The prog metal band Tool released their debut full length “Undertow” highlighted by two very cool claymation videos for tracks “Sober” and “Prison Sex”.  Though their debut came out in ’92 rap metal band Rage Against the Machine didn’t really hit until ’93 and was all over the cultural radar.  Dinosaur Jr. also had their first MTV hit with perhaps their signature song “Start Choppin'” off of the “Where You Been” album.

And the above were just the biggest major label bands.  Plenty of great stuff was being released in the indie label underground as well.  D.C. band the mighty Fugazi released their 3rd full length “In On the Kill Taker”, which was their best selling release yet mostly due to building up so much goodwill since their inception. Fellow DC-ers Girls Against Boys released “Venus Luxure No. 2 Baby”, another big deal among the post-hardcore scene.  Chapel Hill, N.C. band Achers Of Loaf’s debut “Icky Mettle”, Morphine’s “Cure For Pain”, Sebadoh’s “Bubble & Scrape” and His Name Is Alive’s “Mouth By Mouth” were other great heavier indie albums.  The Archers were the talk of the indie world in the mid 90’s only to fade away quickly thereafter.  Sebadoh, led by Lou Barlow formerly of Dinosaur Jr., would become bigger (relatively speaking) with their next two albums, but “Bubble & Scrape” and the “III” album which preceded it remain perhaps their most loved.  The unique Morphine, whose  sound was made up of primarily sax, bass & drums, blew up a bit with “Cure For Pain” and their next album only to see their lead singer/bassist Mark Sandman unfortunately die of a heart attack in 1999.  His Name Is Alive remained obsure but are well worth checking out for those who don’t know of them.  Hoboken, NJ band Yo La Tengo had been at it since the mid 80’s, but their 1993 album “Painful” was their first great album and it put them on the map with rock critics and music connoisseurs.  Okalahoma City, Psychedelic freak-rock group Flaming Lips had a left field hit with “She Don’t Use Jelly”

Other great alt-rock releases, actually on major labels include Frank Black’s (formerly of the Pixies) self-titled debut album, Urge Overkill’s “Saturation”, which was a prelude to them blowing up later with Neil Diamond cover “Girl You’ll Be A Woman Soon” from the “Pulp Fiction Ost”, only to fall completely flat right afterwards.  The Lemonheads “Come On Feel the Lemonheads” was a failure compared to the previous year’s “It’s A Shame About Ray” but was able to ride that album’s coattails, particularly with standout lead single “Into Your Arms”.  Lollapaloooza creator, and Jane’s Addiction frontman, Perry Farrell debuted his new band Porno For Pyros, which was a disappointment compared to Jane’s but not a complete flop.  Greg Dulli’s Afghan Whigs “Gentlemen” was another big ’93 release and still that group’s signature album.

The Brits were just coming out of the ‘Baggy’ movement sparred by bands like Stone Roses and Happy Mondays (and errr… EMF & Jesus Jones) and were smack dab in the middle of Shoegaze.  Bands like Slowdive, Swervedriver, Flying Saucer Attack & Catherine Wheel all came out with great stuff that didn’t really register much in the U.S.  ’93 also saw the release of Radiohead’s debut “Pablo Honey” which remains by far their weakest released despite containing the epic single “Creep”.  The bombastic, overtly gay, glam-rock throwback Suede also debuted with their great self-titled release, which received plenty of 120 Minutes and Alt Nation MTV play in the U.S. even if it wasn’t a smash hit here.  The soon to be British institution Blur released their 2nd album “Modern Life Is Rubbish”, which kickstarted the Brit-Pop era which would be especially dominated by them and Oasis.  Space-Age, bachelor pad band Stereolab Brit group combined 60’s Pop, lounge music and Krautrock to create a wholly new mixture.  They released their first well known album “Transient Noise-Bursts…” as well as a handful of great singles.  James came out with the great single “Laid”, an actual U.S. hit destined to be in movie trailers forevermore.  The Boo Radleys, another band huge in Britain and unknown in the U.S., released their best record “Giant Steps”.  Synth-pop institution New Order had their biggest hit single ever with “Regret”.  Pet Shop Boys came out with “Very”, the next record after their excellent career-spanning released “Discography” and the chilled-out St. Etienne released their 2nd album “So Tough”, containing some of the best songs of their career.

I remember back in the day that 1993 was dubbed “The Year Of The Woman” in rock music, or something to that effect.  And despite the bit of condescension  that title implies, it’s pretty easy to see why.  Check it out.  Liz Phair’s debut album “Exile In Guyville”, Bjork’s debut “Debut”, The Breeders “Last Splash”, with the monstrous hit “Cannonball”, Mazzy Star’s (featuring lead singer Hope Sandoval) “So Tonight I Might See”, containing the enduring & romantic perennial mix-tape fave “Fade Into You”, PJ Harvey’s brilliant 2nd album “Rid Of Me” all came out in ’93.  Also the aforementioned Stereolab & St. Etienne, which both featured major contributions from female band members.  The hit driven Tanya Donnelly (formerly of Throwing Muses) led band Belly’s debut “Star” album was another biggie.  Not to mention the Riot Grrrrl movement which started in Olympia, WA, featuring Godmothers Bikini Kill, as well as other bands like Babes In Toyland and Bratmobile as well as Brit group Huggy Bear- all made contributions in ’93 laying the groundwork for later, more accessible music by bands like Hole and Sleater-Kinney.

It’s tough to think of a bigger year in Hip-Hop since 1988 than 1993.  The Native Tongues groups were nearing the end of their dominance but my favorite of the groups A Tribe Called Quest released “Midnight Marauders”, a close 2nd to their best album “Low End Theory”.  De La Soul’s “Buhloone Mindstate” was a lesser album than their last two but still a worthwhile listen.  it also contained one of their standout singles “Ego Trippin’ Out”.  Run-DMC released their last great single “Down With the King” though the album was lukewarm.  Other East Coast groups like Black Moon & Lords Of the Underground cut great tracks like “Who Got the Props”” and “Chief Rocka”.  Longtime Queens rap duo Salt-N-Pepa had a huge commercial hit with the album “Very Necessary”, containing smash singles “Shoop”, “None Of Your Business” and En Vogue collaboration “Whatta Man”.  East Orange, NJ native Queen Latifah had her biggest hit yet with single “U.N.I.T.Y.” off of the “Black Reign” album.  She would go on to bigger things later to say the least.  New York City also featured two absolute standout debut albums.  The first was “Reachin’: A New Refutation Of Time & Space” by jazzy, bugged out philosophical rappers Digable Planets.  The album was a hit and college dorm room staple but is strangely only truly appreciated by people around my age.  They sold far less with their 2nd album and disbanded shortly after.  Rapper Butterfly is now in the great Shabazz Palaces.  He relocated to Seattle, got older and releases even more bugged out music.  For those who don’t know Digable check them out.  It’s one of my favorite rap albums and a top 20 albums of the 90’s pick for me- so underrated!  The other group was a little known Staten Island outfit called Wu-Tang Clan.  Wu-Tang was a collective who would absolutely dominate the rap world in the mid to late 90’s- both as a group and as solo artists.  Unlike Digable I didn’t get into the Wu until well after they hit (around 1997), but their debut is an absolute masterpiece.  It’s in my conversation as one of the top 5 rap albums of all-time.  Check it.  Last but not least The Notorious B.I.G. released his debut single “Party and Bullshit” on a largely forgettable movie soundtrack.  It was a great song though and a sign of even better things to come.

Even more stuff was going on on the West Coast.  The Dr. Dre G-Funk sound was dominate.  Though Dre’s debut “The Chronic” was released in late ’92 it achieved cultural omnipresence in ’93 and along with co-rapper Snoop Doggy Dogg’s debut album Doggystyle” (also 100% produced by Dre) was THE biggest sound in early-mid 90’s rap.  Tupac Shakur was also becoming a force- his 2nd album “Strictly For My N.I.G.G.A.Z.” far outshone his debut and tracks like “Keep Ya Head Up” and “I Get Around” remain among his very best.  Hispanic gangsta-stoner rappers Cypress Hill released their 2nd album “Black Sunday”- lead single “Insane In the Brain” would become their most well known song.  San Fran rappers like Souls Of Mischief and vet rapper Too Short were holding it down in Northern Cali.

Techno & club music was also thriving in ’93.  One hit wonder Robin S. had a huge crossover House smash with “Show Me Love” and more esoteric artists like Moby (Move), Jaydee (Plastic Dreams), Orbital (II), Aphex Twin (On) and Underworld (Dubnobasswithmyheadman) came out with great tracks and even whole albums.  All but Robin S. would become hugely influential on so much of the techno music released throughout the decade and up into today.  Biggest band in the world U2, was coming off of their biggest reinvention yet and was still in the middle of the enormous “Zoo TV” worldwide tour when they released the follow-up to the 1991 smash “Achtung Baby!”.  Though the new album “Zooropa” is mostly thought of as a companion piece to Achtung (like “Amnesiac” to “Kid A” in Radioheadland) it had some great moments and took U2’s incorporation of electronic music further and into more experimental places.

So even a very mainstream group like U2 was pretty weird in 1993.  As far as mainstream rock goes there’s not much for me to say.  Tom Petty had a big hit with the great “Last Dance With Mary Jane”, a new single that went on his huge selling career spanning “Greatest Hits”.  Not much else to mention.  Though mainstream country was HUGE in the early to mid 90’s I didn’t listen to most of it.  Two artists I would like to mention are Dwight Yoakam, who along with Steve Earle had straddled the line between Alt-Country and Outlaw Country since the mid 80’s.  His “This Time” was another very solid album in a long line of solid to great albums since the beginning of his career.  Also Alt Country Gods Uncle Tupelo released their swan song “Anodyne”.  Tupelo would go on to split into Wilco and Son Volt, both important bands who would make noise later in the decade.  Tupelo was largely unknown by the general public but they released four great albums during their lifespan- all have endured and continue to sound great today.

So 1993- as great as I think?

 

 

SMASHING PUMPKINS- SIAMESE DREAM

Buy Siamese Dream (Deluxe Edition) – Smashing Pumpkins
Buy Siamese Dream (2011 – Remaster) [+Digital Booklet]Amazon

 

 

 

AFGHAN WHIGS- GENTLEMEN

Buy Gentlemen – The Afghan Whigs
Buy GentlemenAmazon

 

 

 

 

LIZ PHAIR- EXILE IN GUYVILLE

Buy Exile In Guyville (Deluxe Edition) – Liz Phair
Buy Exile In GuyvilleAmazon

 

 

 

 

THE BREEDERS- LAST SPLASH

Buy Last Splash – The Breeders
Buy Last SplashAmazon

 

 

 

TOOL- UNDERTOW

*Not available via iTunes
Buy UndertowAmazon
 

NIRVANA- IN UTERO

Buy In Utero – Nirvana
Buy In UteroAmazon

 

 

 

WU-TANG CLAN- ENTER THE WU-TANG: 36 CHAMBERS

Buy Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) [Deluxe Edition] – Wu-Tang Clan
Buy Enter Wu-TangAmazon

 

 

 

 

YO LA TENGO- PAINFUL

Buy Painful – Yo La Tengo
Buy PainfulAmazon

 

 

 

PJ HARVEY- RID OF ME

Buy Rid of Me – PJ Harvey
Buy Rid of MeAmazon

 

 

 

BJORK- DEBUT

Buy Debut – Björk
Buy DebutAmazon

 

 

 

PEARL JAM- VS.

Buy Vs. & Vitalogy (Deluxe Edition) [Remastered] – Pearl Jam
Buy Vs.Amazon

 

 

 

 

FUGAZI- IN ON THE KILL TAKER

Buy In On the Kill Taker – Fugazi
Buy In On the Kill TakerAmazon

 

 

 

 

BLUR- MODERN LIFE IS RUBBISH

Buy Modern Life Is Rubbish (Special Edition) – blur
Buy Modern Life Is Rubbish (Special Edition)Amazon

 

 

 

STEREOLAB- TRANSIENT RANDOM- NOISE BURSTS WITH ANNOUNCEMENTS

Buy Transient Random-Noise Bursts With Announcements – Stereolab
Buy Transient Random-Noise Bursts With AnnouncementsAmazon

 

 

 

 

THE FLAMING LIPS- TRANSMISSIONS FROM THE SATELLITE HEART

Buy Transmissions from the Satellite Heart – The Flaming Lips
Buy Transmissions From The Satellite HeartAmazon

 

 

 

 

DIGABLE PLANETS-  REACHIN’ (A NEW REFUTATION OF TIME AND SPACE)

Buy Reachin’ (A New Refutation of Time & Space) – Digable Planets
Buy Reachin’ (A New Refutation Of Time And Space)Amazon

 

 

 

A TRIBE CALLED QUEST- MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS

Buy Midnight Marauders – A Tribe Called Quest
Buy Midnight MaraudersAmazon

 

 

 

SNOOP DOGG- DOGGYSTYLE

Buy Doggystyle – Snoop Dogg
Buy Doggystyle [Explicit]Amazon

 

 

 

SUEDE- SUEDE

Buy Suede (Deluxe Version) – The London Suede
Buy Suede (Deluxe Reissue)Amazon

 

 

 

UNCLE TUPELO- ANODYNE

Buy Anodyne – Uncle Tupelo
Buy AnodyneAmazon

 

 

 

 

 

Best of 1993 Volume 1 (2/9/02)

1.  Nirvana- Serve the Servants

Buy Serve the Servants – In Utero
Buy Serve The ServantsAmazon

 

2.  Fugazi- Smallpox Champion

Buy Smallpox Champion – In On the Kill Taker
Buy Smallpox ChampionAmazon

 

3.  Dinosaur Jr.- Start Choppin’

Buy Start Choppin – Where You Been
Buy Start Choppin’ (LP Version)Amazon

 

4.  Digable Planets- It’s Good To Be Here

Buy It’s Good to Be Here – Reachin’ (A New Refutation of Time & Space)
Buy It’s Good to Be HereAmazon

 

5.  A Tribe Called Quest- Electric Relaxation

Buy Electric Relaxation – Midnight Marauders
Buy Electric RelaxationAmazon

 

6.  U2- Stay (Faraway, So Close!)

Buy Stay (Faraway, So Close!) – Zooropa
Buy Stay (Faraway, So Close!)Amazon

 

7.  Mazzy Star- Fade Into You

Buy Fade Into You – So Tonight That I Might See
Buy Fade Into YouAmazon

 

strong>8.  Liz Phair- Fuck and Run

Buy F**k and Run – Exile In Guyville (Deluxe Edition)
Buy Fuck And RunAmazon

 

9.  PJ Harvey- Dry

Buy Dry – Rid of Me
Buy DryAmazon

 

10.  Suede- The Drowners

Buy The Drowners – Suede (Deluxe Version)
Buy The DrownersAmazon

 

11.  Radiohead- Creep

Buy Creep (Explicit Version) – Pablo Honey
Buy Creep [Explicit]Amazon

 

12.  Wu-Tang Clan- C.R.E.A.M.

Buy C.R.E.A.M. – Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
Buy C.R.E.A.M.Amazon

 

13.  2Pac- Keep Ya Head Up

Buy Keep Ya Head Up – Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z.
Buy Keep Ya Head Up [Explicit]Amazon

 

14.  The Breeders- Cannonball

Buy Cannonball – Last Splash
Buy CannonballAmazon

 

15.  Urge Overkill- Sister Havana

Buy Sister Havana – Saturation
Buy Sister HavanaAmazon

 

16.  Uncle Tupelo- Chickamauga

Buy Chickamauga – Anodyne
Buy Chickamauga (Album Version)Amazon

 

17.  Pearl Jam- Rearviewmirror

Buy Rearviewmirror – Vs.
Buy RearviewmirrorAmazon

 

18.  The Smashing Pumpkins- Mayonaise

Buy Mayonaise – Siamese Dream
Buy Mayonaise (2011 – Remaster)Amazon

 

 

Best of 1993 Volume 2 (2/26/02)

1. The Smashing Pumpkins- Cherub Rock

Buy Cherub Rock – Siamese Dream
Buy Cherub Rock (2011 – Remaster)Amazon

 

2.  The Flaming Lips- Slow Nerve Action

Buy Slow Nerve Action – Transmissions from the Satellite Heart
Buy Slow Nerve ActionAmazon

 

3.  Suede- Metal Mickey

Buy Metal Mickey – Suede (Deluxe Version)
Buy Metal MickeyAmazon

 

4.  Archers Of Loaf- Web In Front

Buy Web in Front – Icky Mettle (Remastered)
Buy Web in FrontAmazon

 

5.  Digable Planets- Pacifics (NY Is Red Hot)

Buy Pacifics (From the Soundtrack to the Motion Picture ‘N.Y. Is Red Hot’) – Reachin’ (A New Refutation of Time & Space)
Buy Pacifics (Sdtrk “N.Y. Is Red Hot”)Amazon

 

6.  Frank Black- Los Angeles

Buy Los Angeles – Frank Black
Buy Los AngelesAmazon

 

7.  Cypress Hill- Insane In the Brain

Buy Insane In the Brain – Black Sunday
Buy Insane In The Brain (Explicit Album Version)Amazon

 

8.  Snoop Doggy Dogg- Gin & Juice

Buy Gin and Juice – Doggystyle
Buy Insane In The Brain (Explicit Album Version)Amazon

 

9.  U2- Some Days Are Better Than Others

Buy Some Days Are Better Than Others – Zooropa
Buy Some Days Are Better Than OthersAmazon

 

10.  The Boo Radleys- Take The Time Around

Buy Take the Time Around – Giant Steps
Buy Take The Time AroundAmazon

 

11.  The Afghan Whigs- Be Sweet

Buy Be Sweet – Gentlemen
Buy Be Sweet (LP Version)Amazon

 

12.  Nirvana- Rape Me

Buy Rape Me – In Utero
Buy Rape MeAmazon

 

13.  A Tribe Called Quest- Sucka Nigga

Buy Sucka N***a – Midnight Marauders
Buy Sucka NiggaAmazon

 

14.  Lords Of the Underground- Chief Rocka

Buy Chief Rocka – Here Come the Lords
Buy Chief Rocka (Explicit)Amazon

 

15.  Queen Latifah- U.N.I.T.Y.

Buy U.N.I.T.Y. – Black Reign
Buy U.N.I.T.Y.Amazon

 

16.  Belly- Slow Dog

Buy Slow Dog – Star
Buy Slow Dog (Album Version)Amazon

 

17.  Liz Phair- Never Said

Buy Never Said – Exile In Guyville (Deluxe Edition)
Buy Never SaidAmazon

 

18.  Pearl Jam- Elderly Woman Behind the Counter In a Small Town

Buy Elderly Woman Behind the Counter In a Small Town – Vs.
Buy Elderly Woman Behind The Counter in a Small TownAmazon

 

19.  Wu-Tang Clan- Can It All Be So Simple

Buy Can It Be All So Simple (Radio Edit) – Enter the Wu-Tang
Buy Can It Be All So Simple (Radio Edit)Amazon

Best of 1993 Volume 3 (11/1/04)

1.  Snoop Dogy Dogg- Who Am I (What’s My Name)?

Buy Who Am I (What’s My Name)? – Doggystyle
Buy Who Am I (What’s My Name)? [Explicit]Amazon

 

2.  Wu-Tang Clan- Method Man

Buy Method Man – Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
Buy Method ManAmazon

 

3.  Robin S.- Show Me Love

Buy Show Me Love – Show Me Love
Buy Show Me Love (LP Version)Amazon

 

4.  Bjork- Human Behavior

Buy Human Behaviour – Debut
Buy Human Behaviour (LP Version)Amazon

 

5.  PJ Harvey- 50 Ft. Queenie

Buy 50ft Queenie – Rid of Me
Buy 50ft QueenieAmazon

 

6.  The Flaming Lips- She Don’t Use Jelly

Buy She Don’t Use Jelly – Transmissions from the Satellite Heart
Buy She Don’t Use JellyAmazon

 

7.  Blue- Popscene

Buy Popscene – Modern Life IsRubbish (Special Edition)

Buy PopsceneAmazon

 

8.  Stereolab- Tone Burst

Buy Tone Burst – Transient Random-Noise Bursts With Announcements
Buy Tone BurstAmazon

 

9.  The Boo Radleys- Lazarus

Buy Lazarus – Giant Steps
Buy LazarusAmazon

 

10.  Urge Overkill- Positive Bleeding

Buy Positive Bleeding – Saturation
Buy Positive BleedingAmazon

 

11.  Morphine- Cure For Pain

Buy Cure for Pain – Cure for Pain
Buy Cure For Pain (Album Version)Amazon

 

12.  The Smashing Pumpkins- Quiet

Buy Quiet – Siamese Dream
Buy QuietAmazon

 

13.  Yo La Tengo- From a Motel 6

Buy From a Motel 6 – Painful
Buy From A Motel 6Amazon

 

14.  Dwight Yoakam- A Thousand Miles From Nowhere

Buy A Thousand Miles from Nowhere – This Time
Buy A Thousand Miles From Nowhere (Remastered LP Version)Amazon

 

15.  Uncle Tupelo- The Long Cut

Buy The Long Cut – Anodyne
Buy The Long Cut (Album Version)Amazon

 

16.  Digable Planets- Where I’m From

Buy Where I’m From – Reachin’ (A New Refutation of Time & Space)
Buy Where I’m FromAmazon

 

17.  A Tribe Called Quest- Award Tour

Buy Award Tour – Midnight Marauders
Buy Award TourAmazon

 

18.  Liz Phair- Divorce Song

Buy Divorce Song – Exile In Guyville (Deluxe Edition)
Buy Divorce SongAmazon

 

19.  The Breeders- Saints

Buy Saints – Last Splash
Buy SaintsAmazon

 

20.  Nirvana- All Apologies

Buy All Apologies – In Utero
Buy All ApologiesAmazon

Best of 1993 Volume 4 (11/4/04)

1.  Afghan Whigs- Gentlemen

Buy Gentlemen – Gentlemen
Buy Gentlemen (LP Version)Amazon

 

2.  Yo La Tengo- Big Day Coming

Buy Big Day Coming – Painful
Buy Big Day ComingAmazon

 

3.  Guided By Voices- Shocker in Gloomtown

Buy Shocker In Gloomtown – The Grand Hour – EP
Buy Shocker In GloomtownAmazon

 

4.  Uncle Tupelo- We’ve Been Had

Buy We’ve Been Had – Anodyne
Buy We’ve Been Had (Album Version)Amazon

 

5.  The Smashing Pumpkins- Disarm

Buy Disarm – Siamese Dream
Buy DisarmAmazon

 

6.  The Breeders- Divine Hammer

Buy Divine Hammer – Last Splash
Buy Divine HammerAmazon

 

7.  Frank Black- Czar

Buy Czar – Frank Black
Buy CzarAmazon

 

8.  De La Soul- Ego Trippin’ (Part 2)

*Track not available via iTunes or Amazon

 

9.  2Pac- I Get Around

Buy I Get Around (feat. Digital Underground) – Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z.
Buy I Get Around [Explicit]Amazon

 

10.  Salt-N-Pepa- Shoop

Buy Shoop – Very Necessary
Buy ShoopAmazon

 

11.  Suede- Animal Nitrate

Buy Animal Nitrate – Suede (Deluxe Version)
Buy Animal NitrateAmazon

 

12.  Lords Of the Underground- Funky Child

Buy Funky Child – Here Come the Lords
Buy Funky Child [Explicit]Amazon

 

13.  Wu-Tang Clan- Shame On a Nigga

Buy Shame On a N***a – Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
Buy Shame On A NiggaAmazon

 

14.  Fugazi- Public Witness Program

Buy Public Witness Program – In On the Kill Taker
Buy Public Witness ProgramAmazon

 

15.  Digable Planets- Time and Space (A New Refutation Of)

Buy Time & Space (A New Refutation Of) – Reachin’ (A New Refutation of Time & Space)
Buy Time & Space (A New Refutation Of)Amazon

 

16.  Blur- Chemical World

Buy Chemical World – Midlife: A Beginner’s Guide to Blur
Buy Chemical WorldAmazon

 

17.  A Tribe Called Quest- Steve Biko (Stir It Up)

Buy Steve Biko (Stir It Up) – Midnight Marauders
Buy Steve Biko (Stir It Up)Amazon

 

18.  Bjork- Big Time Sensuality

Buy Big Time Sensuality – Debut
Buy Big Time Sensuality (LP Version)Amazon

 

19.  Liz Phair- Glory

Buy Glory – Exile In Guyville (Deluxe Edition)
Buy GloryAmazon

 

20.  Belly- Feed the Tree

Buy Feed the Tree – Star
Buy Feed The Tree (Album Version)Amazon

 

21.  The Lemonheads- Into Your Arms

Buy Into Your Arms – Come On Feel the Lemonheads
Buy Into Your ArmsAmazon

 

22.  Nirvana- Dumb

Buy Dumb – In Utero
Buy DumbAmazon

 

23.  Saint Etienne- Mario’s Cafe

Buy Mario’s Cafe – So Tough
BuyMario’s Cafe (Album Version)Amazon

Best of 1993 Volume 5 (6/5/08)

1.  U2- Zooropa

Buy Zooropa – Zooropa
Buy ZooropaAmazon

 

2.  Catherine Wheel- Crank

Buy Crank – Chrome
Buy CrankAmazon

 

3.  Yo La Tengo- Sudden Organ

Buy Sudden Organ – Painful
Buy Sudden OrganAmazon

 

4.  Saint Etienne- You’re In a Bad Way

Buy You’re In a Bad Way – So Tough
Buy You’re In A Bad Way (Album Version)Amazon

 

5.  Liz Phair- Stratford-On-Guy

Buy Stratford-On-Guy – Exile In Guyville (Deluxe Edition)
Buy Stratford-On-GuyAmazon

 

6.  Underworld- Cowgirl

Buy Cowgirl – Dubnobasswithmyheadman
Buy CowgirlAmazon

 

7.  Moby- Move (You Make Me Feel So Good)

Buy Move (You Make Me Feel So Good) – Songs 1993-1998
Buy Move [You Make Me Feel So Good] [LP Version]Amazon

 

8.  A Tribe Called Quest- Oh My God

Buy Oh My God – Midnight Marauders
Buy Oh My GodAmazon

 

9.  Run-DMC- Down With the King

Buy Down With the King – Run-DMC: Greatest Hits
Buy Down With The KingAmazon

 

10.  Wu-Tang Clan- Protect Ya Neck

Buy Protect Ya Neck – Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
Buy Protect Ya NeckAmazon

 

11.  Tool- Prison Sex

*Track not available via iTunes or Amazon

 

12.  Archers Of Loaf- Wrong

Buy Wrong – Icky Mettle (Remastered)
Buy WrongAmazon

 

13.  James- Laid

Buy Laid – Laid
Buy Laid (Album Version)Amazon

 

14.  Blur- For Tomorrow

Buy For Tomorrow – Modern Life Is Rubbish (Special Edition)
Buy For TomorrowAmazon

 

15.  Afghan Whigs- Debonair

Buy Debonair – Gentlemen
Buy Debonair (LP Version)Amazon

 

16.  Digable Planets- Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)

Buy Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat) – Reachin’ (A New Refutation of Time & Space)
Buy Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)Amazon

 

17.  The Smashing Pumpkins- Soma

Buy Soma – Siamese Dream
Buy Soma (2011 – Remaster)Amazon

Best of 1993 Volume 6 (6/6/08)

1.  Snoop Doggy Dogg- Gz & Hustlaz

Buy Gz and Hustlas – Doggystyle
Buy Gz And Hustlas [Explicit]Amazon

 

2.  Black Moon- Who Got Da Props?

Buy Who Got da Props? – Enta da Stage
Buy Who Got Da Props (LP Version)Amazon

 

3.  Wu-Tang Clan- Da Mystery Of Chessboxin’

Buy Da Mystery of Chessboxin’ – Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
Buy Da Mystery Of Chessboxin’Amazon

 

4.  The Boo Radleys- Butterfly McQueen

Buy Butterfly McQueen – Giant Steps
Buy Butterfly McQueenAmazon

 

5.  Pearl Jam- Daughter

Buy Daughter – Vs.
Buy DaughterAmazon

 

6.  Bikini Kill- Rebel Girl

Buy Rebel Girl – Singles
Buy Rebel GirlAmazon

 

7.  Porno For Pyros- Cursed Female

Buy Cursed Female – Porno for Pyros
Buy Cursed Female ( LP Version )Amazon

 

8.  Nirvana- Heart Shaped Box

Buy Heart Shaped Box – In Utero
Buy Heart Shaped BoxAmazon

 

9.  PJ Harvey- Highway 61 Revisited

Buy Highway 61 Revisited – Rid of Me
Buy Highway ’61 RevisitedAmazon

 

10.  Bjork- Violently Happy

Buy Violently Happy – Debut
Buy Violently Happy (LP Version)Amazon

 

11.  Orbital- Lush 3-2

*This version is not available via iTunes or Amazon

 

12.  Mazzy Star- 5 String Serenade

Buy Five String Serenade – So Tonight That I Might See
Buy Five String SerenadeAmazon

 

13.  New Order- Regret

Buy Regret – Singles
Buy RegretAmazon

 

14.  The Smashing Pumpkins- Hummer

Buy Hummer – Siamese Dream
Buy HummerAmazon

 

15.  Tool- Sober

*Track not available via iTunes or Amazon

 

16.  Cypress Hill- Hits From the Bong

Buy Hits from the Bong – Black Sunday
Buy Hits From The BongAmazon

 

17.  Digable Planets- Swoon Units

Buy Swoon Units – Reachin’ (A New Refutation of Time & Space)\
Buy Swoon UnitsAmazon

 

18.  Fugazi- Great Cop

Buy Great Cop – In On the Kill Taker
Buy Great CopAmazon

 

19.  Tom Petty- Last Dance With Mary Jane

Buy Mary Jane’s Last Dance – Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers: Greatest Hits
Buy Mary Jane’s Last DanceAmazon

Best of 1993 Volume 7 (8/23/12)

1.  Wu-Tang Clan- Bring Da Ruckus

Buy Bring da Ruckus – Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
Buy Bring Da RuckusAmazon

 

2.  Notorious BI.G.- Party and Bullshit

Buy Party and B******t – Hip Hop Classics (Volume 1)
Buy Party And Bulls**t (Soundtrack Version) (Explicit) [Explicit]Amazon

 

3.  Souls Of Mischief- ’93 ‘Til Infinity

Buy 93 ‘Til Infinity – Best of da Bay
Buy 93 ‘Til Infinity (LP Version)Amazon

 

4.  Swervedriver- Last Train to Satansville

Buy Last Train to Satansville – Mezcal Head
Buy Last Train To SatansvilleAmazon

 

5.  The Smashing Pumpkins- Today

Buy Rocket – Siamese Dream
Buy RocketAmazon

 

6.  Flying Saucer Attack- Soaring High

Buy Soaring High – Distance
Buy Soaring HighAmazon

 

7.  The Flaming Lips- Pilot Can at the Queer of God

Buy Pilot Can At the Queer of God – Transmissions from the Satellite Heart
Buy Pilot Can At The Queer Of GodAmazon

 

8.  Sebadoh- Soul and Fire

Buy Soul and Fire – Bubble and Scrape
Buy Soul And Fire (Album)Amazon

 

9.  Bjork- Venus As a Boy

Buy Venus As a Boy – Debut
Buy Venus As a Boy (LP Version)Amazon

 

10.  Stereolab- Jenny Ondioline Part 1

Buy Jenny Ondioline (Part One) (2006 Remastered 7″ Version) – Serene Velocity – a Stereolab Anthology
Buy Jenny OndiolineAmazon

 

11.  Liz Phair- 6’1″

Buy 6’1″ – Exile In Guyville (Deluxe Edition)
Buy 6’1″Amazon

 

12.  The Breeders- No Aloha

Buy No Aloha – Last Splash
Buy No AlohaAmazon

 

13.  Huggy Bear- Her Jazz

*Track not available via iTunes

Buy Huggy Bear – Her Jazz – [7″]Amazon

 

14.  Bikini Kill- New Radio

Buy New Radio – Singles
Buy New RadioAmazon

 

15.  Blur- Advert

Buy Advert – Modern Life Is Rubbish (Special Edition)
Buy AdvertAmazon

 

16.  PJ Harvey- Missed

Buy Missed – Rid of Me
Buy MissedAmazon

 

17.  Morphine- All Wrong

Buy All Wrong – Cure for Pain
Buy All Wrong (Album Version)Amazon

 

18.  Snoop Doggy Dogg- Murder Was the Case

Buy Murder Was the Case (Death After Visualizing Eternity) – Doggystyle
Buy Murder Was The Case [Explicit]Amazon

 

19.  Nirvana- Pennyroyal Tea

Buy Pennyroyal Tea – In Utero
Buy Pennyroyal TeaAmazon

 

Best of 1993 Volume 8 (8/23/12)

1.  Tool- Intolerance

*Track not available via iTunes or Amazon

 

2.  His Name Is Alive- Sick

Buy Sick – Mouth By Mouth
Buy SickAmazon

 

3.  The Smashing Pumpkins- Today

Buy Today – Siamese Dream
Buy TodayAmazon

 

4.  Aphex Twin- On

*Track not available via iTunes or Amazon

 

5.  Jaydee- Plastic Dreams (Radio Edit)

Buy Plastic Dreams (Radio Edit) – Plastic Dreams
Buy Plastic Dreams (Original Mix)Amazon

 

6.  Stereolab- French Disko

Buy French Disko (2006 Remastered Single Version) – Serene Velocity – a Stereolab Anthology
Buy French Disko (2006 Remastered Single Version)Amazon

 

7.  Pet Shop Boys- Can You Forgive Her?

Buy Can You Forgive Her? – Very
Buy Can You Forgive Her?Amazon

 

8.  Slowdive- Alison

Buy Alison – Souvlaki
Buy AlisonAmazon

 

9.  PJ Harvey- Rid Of Me

Buy Rid of Me – Rid of Me
Buy Rid Of MeAmazon

 

10. Afghan Whigs- When We Two Parted

Buy When We Two Parted – Gentlemen
Buy When We Two Parted (LP Version)Amazon

 

11.  A Tribe Called Quest- Lyrics To Go

Buy Lyrics to Go – Midnight Marauders
Buy Lyrics To GoAmazon

 

12.  Wu-Tang Clan- Ain’t Nuthin’ To Fuck Wit

Buy Wu-Tang Clan Ain’t Nuthing ta F’ Wit – Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
Buy Wu-Tang Clan Aint Nuthing Ta F’ WitAmazon

 

13.  Too $hort- Money In the Ghetto

Buy Money In the Ghetto – Get In Where You Fit In
Buy Money In The GhettoAmazon

 

14.  Snoop Doggy Dogg- Tha Shiznit

Buy Tha Shiznit – Doggystyle
Buy Tha Shiznit [Explicit]Amazon

 

15.  Digable Planets- Jimmi Diggin Cats

Buy Jimmi Diggin Cats – Reachin’ (A New Refutation of Time & Space)
Buy Jimmi Diggin’ CatsAmazon

 

16.  Fugazi- Cassavetes

Buy Cassavetes – In On the Kill Taker
Buy CassavetesAmazon

 

17.  Girls Against Boys- Bullet Proof Cupid

Buy Bullet Proof Cupid – Venus Luxure No. 1 Baby
Buy Bullet Proof CupidAmazon

 

18.  Uncle Tupelo- Acuff-Rose

Buy Acuff-Rose – Anodyne
Buy Acuff-Rose (Album Version)Amazon

 

1. Lenny Kravitz- Are You Gonna Go My Way
2. Cracker- Low
3. Smashing Pumpkins- Geek USA
4. The Cranberries- Dreams
5. Unrest- Make Out Club
6. Slowdive- When The Sun Hits
7. Catherine Wheel- Strange Fruit
8. U2- Lemon
9. Tears For Fears- Break It Down Again
10. The Lemonheads- It’s About Time
11. Sub Sub (Feat. Melanie)- Ain’t No Love (Ain’t No Use)
12. Bjork- Crying
13. Liz Phair- Help Me Mary
14. Morphine- I’m Free Now
15. Digable Planets- Escapism (Gettin’ Free)
16. Us3- Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)
17. Wu-Tang Clan- Clan In Da Front
18. Nirvana- Frances Farmer Got Her Revenge On Seattle
19. Blur- Turn It Up