Ben Folds released a trio of EPs during 2003-04 featuring a mix of cover songs, throwaway tracks and a few very good original songs. ‘There’s Always Someone Cooler Than You,’ from the Sunny 16 EP, is one of the the good ones.
This track is a cross between a pep talk and a fuck you. Folds sings about how little the opinions of others matter and extols the virtues of self-confidence and security with your own shortcomings.
It’s a bit of a cheat to list Tori Amos’ debut album Little Earthquakes this week, because the album isn’t new to me. In fact, when it came out I was convinced it was close to a masterpiece.
But Amos lost me somewhere down the line… perhaps on her sophomore album, Under the Pink. Not only did I never own another of her records, but I haven’t listened to this one since the year it came out.
Another celebrated 1992 debut album, Pavement’s Slanted and Enchanted is considered one of the most influential alternative rock records of the decade.
I actually own this album — having downloaded it for free somewhere along the way — but I’ve never played it. I’ve always had a bit of a struggle getting into early alt-rockers. R.E.M. is the notable exception.
One of rap’s most influential albums was released in late 1992 — on my birthday, December 15, in fact.
Dr. Dre’s The Chronic was his first solo album after leaving NWA. It’s also the album that introduced Snoop Doggy Dogg to the world, rocketing him to superstar status before he’d even released a single of his own.
I must not have been paying much attention to the music scene in 1992. Usually I’m aware of the artists making a critical splash, even if I haven’t heard their music. But many of the acts dominating critics lists that year are completely new to me.
Take The Orb, a British electronic music band, whose album U.F. Orb showed up on many top ten lists from the year. I had no idea this band even existed. But they’ve released 15 albums since 1991, including this sophomore release that truly impressed critics.
