Author Archives

by

Song of the Day #3,891: ‘Under the Bridge’ – Red Hot Chili Peppers

Red Hot Chili Peppers’ breakthrough 1991 album Blood Sugar Sex Magik sold 7 million copies in the U.S. and doubled that worldwide. It was the commercial peak of a career that has been remarkably consistent. I was surprised to see that every one of the half-dozen albums they’ve released since this one has gone Gold or Platinum.

I’ve never been much of a Chili Peppers fan, but I gave this album a lot of attention in 1991. If you’re in the mood for the band’s brand of L.A. soulful funk, this record is a minor masterpiece.

Continue reading →

by

Song of the Day #3,890: ‘Remember the Time’ – Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson’s Dangerous is the top-selling 1991 album worldwide, though it has sold “only” 8 million copies in the United States. Jackson’s follow-up to Bad and Thriller doesn’t have as many hits as those albums but it certainly found an audience.

I remember listening to this album a fair amount when it came out, though skimming it now I don’t recognize most of the songs. The exceptions are ‘Black and White,’ ‘Heal the World,’ ‘Dangerous,’ and today’s SOTD, ‘Remember the Time.’ I don’t much like any of those other than this one, but I like this one a lot.

Continue reading →

by

Song of the Day #3,889: ‘In Bloom’ – Nirvana

I can’t write about the music of 1991 without mentioning Nirvana’s Nevermind, the smash hit that ushered in the grunge era and defined the sound of the decade to come.

I was never a Nirvana fan, though I do like the album’s four hit singles: ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit,’ ‘Come As You Are,’ ‘Lithium‘ and today’s SOTD, ‘In Bloom.’ This might be the best of them.

Continue reading →

by

Song of the Day #3,888: ‘By the Time I Get to Arizona’ – Public Enemy

Welcome to the early 90s and the latest edition of my Decades series, wherein I look at the albums released in a given year in the 70s, 80s, 90s and 00s. Most recently I’ve covered 1971 and 1981, which brings us to our current focus: 1991.

This is the year I turned 19, and a time when I was actively buying new music. It was also a very strong year for album releases in general. So I will spend more time than usual on 1991 releases — three weeks on my own favorites from the year and another two or three weeks on critically acclaimed albums I don’t know well.

Continue reading →

by

Song of the Day #3,887: ‘Sue Me Jack’ – Pavement

This is the third Pavement song served up by the Random iTunes Fairy in the past two years, and not a one of them has been worth a damn.

That might be because the only Pavement album in my library is the extended two-disc version of their celebrated 1992 release Slanted and Enchanted, which contains 49 songs, most of which are outtakes and unreleased tracks.

Continue reading →