1997: Music

This is the next post in my random review of my favorite CD's released in my lifetime that began with 1978.


5). The Tragically Hip - Live Between Us

In my original post, when I set up the rule I would use when choosing the CD's to write about, I said that I wouldn't disqualify live albums, and this disc is makes me glad that I didn't.  The Tragically Hip (also known simply as "The Hip") is a Canadian rock band that has a huge following in their native country (they were inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 2005), but are virtually unknown in this country (except for areas that are close enough to get some Canadian crossover, like my hometown of Erie, PA).  It really is a crime that they never really discovered in this country, as I think they would have been a fairly popular staple of alternative/college radio back in the 90's.


Live Between Us was released after their 5th studio album (1996's Trouble at the Henhouse) at the height of their popularity - the week this disc was released, it put 8 songs on the Canadian top 20 list.  It contains live versions of my 2 favorite songs by The Hip - "Springtime In Vienna" and "Ahead By A Century".  Listening to this disc always takes me back to the late 90's in Erie, when the only way to get decent music on the radio was to pick up the Canadian alternative station from Hamilton, Ontario when conditions were right over Lake Erie...






4). Belle & Sebastian - Dog On Wheels/Lazy Line Painter Jane/3.. 6.. 9 Seconds of Life EPs

While none of these are full length CD's, they were all released in the same year and, had they instead been released as one disc, would probably be Belle & Sebastian's best album.  Belle & Sebastian play what is known as "twee pop", probably the least masculine form of alternative music there is (although Emo is a lot more whiny, so it might take that title).  Twee is a cute, soft-sounding, totally white person version of indie pop that, while not very "rock 'n' roll", nevertheless is some of the most beautiful-sounding pop music ever produced, and Belle & Sebastian are the  flag bearers.

B&S had 2 albums under their belt when they released this trio of EP's in 1997, and their fame in the indie music world was still mostly ahead of them.  However, these EP's contain some of my favorite songs of theirs, including my #1 favorite "Lazy Line Painter Jane". 



3). Sleater-Kinney - Dig Me Out

Sleater-Kinney is one of the greatest female rock bands in music history (not just in indie rock).  They managed to do something that very few female acts were able to accomplish - they were able to make serious rock music on their own terms, without resorting to turning themselves into a bunch of over-sexed versions of the male fantasy "rocker chick" stereotype.  And, man, do these women ROCK.  They went on hiatus in 2006, which is a shame, because the music world definitely needs more women like these.







2). The Notorious B.I.G. - Life After Death

Its pretty amazing that Biggie is considered one of the greatest rappers of all time based off of only 2 albums.  That just goes to show how incredibly talented he was.  He had the perfect combination of lyrics and rapping ability and was equally adept at firing off the angriest "life in the ghetto" song or the smoothest R&B-tinged song about his skills with the ladies.  It has been 13 years since his death and he is sorely missed.  

Life After Death is considered one of the top hip hop albums of all time, and was certified Diamond, meaning it sold over 10 million copies.  It was nominated for and won a ton of awards when it was released. Unfortunately, Biggie didn't get to enjoy any of that, as it wasn't released until after his death.





1). Radiohead - OK Computer 

We move from one of the to Hip Hop records of all time to what is considered by many to be the greatest alternative  album of all time (1997 was a pretty good year in music apparently).  This was Radiohead's third album, and it marked their transition away from the more straight forward rock-based music of their first 2 albums and showed that they were not afraid to totally reinvent themselves to keep their music on the cutting edge of creativity.  From this point forward, Radiohead positioned themselves at the top of the Alternative music world and left a sea of imitators (I'm looking at you, Coldplay) trying to keep up, and while many of them made good music, none of them were as good or as innovative as Radiohead was over their next few albums.