2013 was like a walk down memory lane for many music fans as big records like Nirvana’s In Utero (TFN Review), The Breeders’ Last Splash (TFN Review), Pearl Jam’s Vs., The Smashing Pumpkins’ Siamese Dream, and Radiohead’s Pablo Honey all turned 20 years old.
There were also some lesser known albums that turned 20 this year that still hit my playlist today like Morphine’s Cure For Pain, Uncle Tupelo’s Anodyne, Guided By Voices’ Vampire on Titus, and The Afghan Whigs’ Gentlemen to just name a few.
Even more interesting, 1993 also was a big year for several debuts that I still hold close to my player like Come’s 11:11 (TFN Review) which was already celebrated this year with a special edition reissue. With that said, this week’s top ten covers 20 year old debuts that still hold up in today’s scene. Hope you enjoy the list and feel free to shout out the ones I missed!
Happy 20th birthday to the following…
Honorable Mention
The Auteurs
New Wave
Hut Records
February 22, 1993
Ok so we cheated here with the honorable mention but I could not leave The Auteurs debut New Wave off the list. This is a guitar record from England that has solid three minute songs with deep lyrics and pop undertones. Luke Haines, the group’s guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter could do it all and played in The Servants which has recently had their records reissued by Captured Tracks. The Auteurs never caught on the US (big surprise) but released several really good albums and it all started here with New Wave.
Honorable Mention 2
Paw
Dragline
A&M Records
May 4, 1993
I know – we cheated again! Grunge was still king in 93’ and even though Lawrence, Kansas was many miles from the Pacific Northwest, Paw’s debut Dragline hits the right notes. Singer Mark Hennessy always sings with strength and on their small hit “Jessie” you can’t resist taking notice with his gruff delivery of the line “Aw, but Jessie; It’s cold outside; And i’m not comin’ home.” Dragline was not nearly as special as some of the mammoths of grunge but it has a big heart which carries it a long way!
#10
Possum Dixon
Possum Dixon
Interscope Records
October 19, 1993
Possum Dixon was part of the early 90’s alternative blow up based on the strength of this debut. Catchy wordplay melodic indie rock sums it up and their self-titled record is a fun sing along 32 minute ride. This was one of those bands that could have easily risen with Beck and Weezer but just didn’t have things go their way. Regardless – this record still sounds great loud today!
#9
Bikini Kill
Pussy Whipped
Kill Rock Stars
October 26, 1993
How about this – Bikini Kill is the reason that the Riot Grrrl genre even exits. One listen to “Rebel Girl” is all the proof you need!
#8
Quicksand
Slip
Polydor Records
February 9, 1993
If anyone ever listened to New York hardcore band Gorilla Biscuits then you were crazy excited that Walter Schreifels had a new band with Quicksand. Their debut, Slip, is still one of my favorite “turn it on and let roar” type of records in my collection. One listen to “Fazer” and I think you will hear what I am talking about.
#7
Grant Lee Buffalo
Fuzzy
Slash Records
February 23, 1993
I still remember Michael Stipe of R.E.M. calling this record from GLB the best of the year. If it was good enough for Stipe then it was good enough for me. It also helps that singer Grant-Lee Phillips has one of the smoothest voices in indie rock. As the group continued their sound their albums expanded as well. This was probably expected but Fuzzy is where it all started and it grabs you by just being simple, clear and dynamic.
#6
Belly
Star
Sire/Reprise Records
January 25, 1993
With a resume that included the Throwing Muses and The Breeders how could Tanya Donnelly’s Belly be bad? Guess what – it wasn’t. Their debut Star not only plays well with songs like “Feed The Tree” and “Gepetto” but actually went Gold in the US. The album also had two Grammy nominations which I still find surprising thinking about it today – not because the record wasn’t good but 1993 had a much different mindset as Belly’s sound was a new thing!
#5
Suede
Suede
Nude Records
March 29, 1993
Suede (or London Suede to the States) had one of the fastest selling debuts in British history and is considered one of the first records in the 90’s Britpop movement. It is a record that instantly turned my ear to the scene and I have never turned away.
#4
Rancid
Rancid
Epitaph Records
May 10, 1993
I am not sure what people expected from Rancid’s debut. The album cover was scary and I know that some people were let down when the ska sounds of Armstrong’s previous group, Operation Ivy, were nowhere to be found. Instead this debut was a full throttle punk rock kick in the face and still is today. It proudly helped launch the re-surge of punk music in the 90’s.
#3
Brainiac
Smack Bunny Baby
Grass Records
July 1993
Here is a debut that lit the Midwest indie scene on fire as people found out about Dayton, Ohio’s Brainiac. At the time, Smack Bunny Baby sounded like the band was still looking for their final sound – today it sounds like Brainiac was ahead of their time. This record laid the groundwork for their next two solid LPs but unfortunately everything came to an abrupt end when lead singer Timmy Tailor tragically was killed in a 1997 car crash.
#2
Archers Of Loaf
Icky Mettle
Alias Records
November 23, 1993
“Web in Front” and “Might” are still songs that get the volume cranked on my player. Archers of Loaf were such a tight group musically and each track here is an exciting listen anytime you spin it. With noisy guitar and quick indie rock flurries this is a debut that I believe gets even more respect today as it plays with the same burning intensity.
#1
Liz Phair
Exile In Guyville
Matador Records
June 22, 1993
Like so many debut records, Exile In Guyville will be an album that Liz Phair will never top. This female fronted lo-fi recording feels so indie and with memorable tracks like “Never Said” and “Stratford-On-Guy” it is never easy to turn off. This record is so raw and tough but also leaves Phair exposed to all that listen. That vibe is hard to create and Exile In Guyville not only still holds up to being 20 years old today but is now an alternative classic!
-Feature by Christopher Anthony
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What a great feature!!! 1993 kind of ruled, huh?
It did Dollar Man – It did!
Nice job Chris! Makes me want to find and take a walk down memory lane.
Glad to see Brainiac ranked so highly, and since I also adore the two ranked above it, I got no beefs. I caught on from the very start with that album and stayed on til the untimely end (and latched onto Enon when Schmersal kept making music). They were WAY ahead of their time.