1991: The Year In Music

1991 – The Gulf War ends after Iraq accepts a ceasefire following their retreat from Kuwait. A cyclone strikes the Chittagong district in Bangladesh, killing 139,000 people and leaving 10 million homeless. Pablo Escobar surrenders to police. The climactic eruption of the Mount Pinatubo volcano occurs in the Philippines – the second-largest volcanic eruption of the 20th Century. A tidal wave of news … but how did the music fare?

I’ll be looking at the popular and highest-rated songs / albums of the year, giving my opinions on their musicality and longevity as well as an overall verdict for the year as a whole.

Before we begin, you can check out some of my related blog posts below:

Billboard Top 10 (Popular) Singles

Source: Wikipedia

10 – Baby Baby (Amy Grant)

Unfortunately, I think we’ve hit the point where the popular hits will really start to annoy me.

It’s too bright, the vocal performance is too nasal, and the simple synths and lyrics give me a headache.

9 – The First Time (Surface)

A boring ballad, but there are some nice chords here and there.

8 – I Like the Way (The Kissing Game) (Hi-Five)

It spawned a popular game, but otherwise “I Like the Way” is nothing of note.

7 – More Than Words (Extreme)

It’s rare to get an acoustic, laid-back track in the Billboard Top 10, but “More Than Words” is sweet enough for it to stick.

The guitar playing and vocal harmonies are divine, and the lyrics are endearing.

6 – Unbelievable (EMF)

It’s not going to win any awards in the songwriting department, but “Unbelievable” is the most fun song of the year.

5 – One More Try (Timmy T)

I like how deep and wet the bass synth sounds, but otherwise “One More Try” is unremarkable.

4 – Rush Rush (Paula Abdul)

More like “Skip Skip”.

3 – Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now) (C+C Music Factory)

Like “Unbelievable” by EMF, “Gonna Make You Sweat” by C+C Music Factory is a song designed to make you move.

It’s a bit cheesy and one-note, but it does its job well.

2 – I Wanna Sex You Up (Color Me Badd)

Proper 90’s feelgood cheese, and I dig it.

1 – (Everything I Do) I Do It for You (Bryan Adams)

“(Everything I Do) I Do It For You” was a song that topped the charts for weeks upon weeks, so I imagine everyone got fed up of it by the end.

It’s far from the best Bryan Adams song, but it has a certain charm.

FAVOURITE – “More Than Words” (Extreme)

LEAST FAVOURITE – “Baby Baby” (Amy Grant)

Top-Rated Songs

Source: http://www.besteveralbums.com

10 – Unfinished Sympathy (Massive Attack)

I always called this song “Unfinished Symphony“, and now I feel stupid.

“Unfinished Sympathy” is Massive Attack at their best – the production is incredible, and I love how dramatic it is.

9 – Come As You Are (Nirvana)

1991 was very much Nirvana’s year, but weirdly only two tracks made it onto this top ten.

“Come As You Are” would definitely make my top three on “Nevermind” for its bassline and moody choruses alone.

8 – Sometimes (My Bloody Valentine)

“loveless” – and My Bloody Valentine by extension – is an album I’ve heard great things about recently, but I only just listened to it for the first time.

I’ll get to my overall review later, but as for “Sometimes” I can say I enjoy the rough guitars and subdued vocals.

7 – Under The Bridge (Red Hot Chili Peppers)

“Under The Bridge” is a song I’ve been on a journey with – at first I loved it so much I overplayed it and eventually hated it, but now I’m back to loving it again.

Fruscianti’s guitar playing is so emotive, and the lyrics and vocals hit that sweet spot of sincerity.

6 – Losing My Religion (R.E.M.)

Another all-time classic. I forgot how plentiful the bangers were in 1991.

“Losing My Religion” is the one R.E.M. song that everyone knows, and I’m okay with that.

5 – Black (Pearl Jam)

Time for a hot take – “Black” is a good Pearl Jam song, but it wouldn’t make my personal top three on the album.

Where’s “Alive”? “Even Flow”? Are you telling me they didn’t include “Jeremy” in these top ten highest-rated songs?!?

4 – When You Sleep (My Bloody Valentine)

“when you sleep” is very much the centrepiece of “loveless”.

It’s not necessarily my favourite on the album, but it’s definitely the most accessible and immediately catchy.

3 – Good Morning, Captain (Slint)

The album “Spiderland” starts heavy, but by the time Slint reach the closer “Good Morning, Captain” they’ve shifted towards a spookier, more unsettling kind of Rock.

This track weaves a really fascinating nautical tale, and the simple beat and bass work wonders.

2 – Only Shallow (My Bloody Valentine)

I wasn’t familiar with My Bloody Valentine prior to this retrospective, so you can imagine how taken aback I was by “only shallow”.

It’s an amazing, energetic start to their album “loveless”, and I can see why many call them pioneers of their era.

1 – Smells Like Teen Spirit (Nirvana)

I don’t give out “song of the decade” awards, but “Smells Like Teen Spirit” may have already destroyed competition before the decade has even begun.

It’s moody, heavy, filled with iconic lines and riffs, and I want to break everything in the near vicinity whenever that chorus hits.

BEST SONG OF 1991 – “Smells Like Teen Spirit” (Nirvana)

Top-Rated Albums

Source: http://www.besteveralbums.com

5 – Achtung Baby (U2)

Even in 1991 I feel U2’s best work is behind them.

I like “One” and “Mysterious Ways”, but otherwise I don’t care about this album.

4 – Spiderland (Slint)

Slint are, for the most part, yet another chapter in the Post-Rock / Noise pantheon. That being said, they put their own spin on the genre.

“Spiderland” is only six tracks in length but they make every hard-hitting and introspective song count.

3 – Ten (Pearl Jam)

Pearl Jam were one of the “Big Four” Grunge acts, and their magnum opus is undoubtedly “Ten”.

I really like Eddie Vedder’s vocals and lyrics across the whole album. Personal favourites include “Even Flow”, “Black”, “Alive” and especially “Jeremy”.

2 – Loveless (My Bloody Valentine)

Nirvana may get all the 1991 plaudits, but My Bloody Valentine were the other band making waves.

They make every discordant noise count on “loveless”, and tracks like “only shallow” and “when you sleep” linger long in the eardrums.

1 – Nevermind (Nirvana)

Usually when I talk about great albums I pick out a few songs that stood out, but “Nevermind” is the first album in ages where I love almost every song.

The big ones like “Smells Like Teen Spirit”, “In Bloom”, “Lithium” and “Come As You Are” always hit, but underrated songs such as “Polly”, “Lounge Act” and “Something In The Way” strike a chord with me too.

BEST ALBUM OF 1991 – “Nevermind” (Nirvana)

Final Thoughts

The Billboard hits did nothing to impress me, but the musical innovation in the high-rated songs and albums of 1991 have left a long-lasting impression on the musical landscape.

Overall Grade: B

Aaaaand that’s my list! You can check out some of my latest blog posts below: