1. Boards of Canada- Music has the Right to Children (1998): This album has a devout, cult following. However, as the best electronica album ever released, I'd say that justice has not been served. If you even have a remote affinity to electronic music, you must get this album.

   Best songs on this album: Roygbiv, Telephasic Workshop and Turqoise Hexagon Sun.

   See top 10 songs by Boards of Canada Here

2. Luna- The Days of our Nights (1999): Among Dean Wareham's many projects, Galaxie 500 surely gets the most recognition. In my opinion, Luna is the better band and this forgotten classic remains my go to.

   Best songs on this album: Four Thousand Days, Superfreaky Memories and Hello Little One.

   See top 20 songs by Luna Here

3. Old 97s- Too Far to Care (1997): I talk to a lot of people about music. Probably 50% of people I talk to say that they enjoy everything but country music. I immediately tell these people to listen to this album. Let's just say that I've managed to convert a decent number of them.

   Best songs on this album: Streets of Where I'm from, Barrier Reef and Niteclub.

   See top 20 songs by Old 97s Here

4. Smashing Pumpkins- Adore (1998): Tough to call any album by these legends underrated, however Adore is just shockingly under-appreciated. I'm not crazy enough to say that Adore is better than Siamese Dream or Mellon Collie but it's closer than many people think.

   Best songs on this album: Ava Adore, To Sheila and Crestfallen.

   See top 40 songs by Smashing Pumpkins Here

5. REM- Monster (1994): A recent poll conducted by the British newspaper, Guardian showed that 3.6% of REM's fans voted Monster as their favorite album by the band. For an album so unique and strong top to bottom that is just criminal.

   Best songs on this album: What's the Frequency, Kenneth, Bang and Blame and Strange Currencies.

   See top 40 songs by REM Here

6. Magnetic Fields- Get Lost (1995): Any conversation about Magnetic Fields normally starts and ends with their landmark 69 Love Songs album. If you have nearly 3 hours to kill, I would indeed recommend that album. However, in my book Get Lost will always be their best record.

   Best songs on this album: Smoke and Mirrors, All the Umbrellas in London and The Desperate Things you Made me do.

   See top 10 songs by Magnetic Fields Here

7. Screaming Trees- Sweet Oblivion (1992): So overlooked were the Screaming Trees that even their biggest album deserves mention as one of the overlooked jewels of the 90s. Sadly many people consider this awesome band a one hit wonder in relation to modern rock staple “Nearly Lost you.”

   Best songs on this album: Nearly Lost you, Julie Paradise and Dollar Bill.

   See top 10 songs by Screaming Trees Here

8. Failure- Fantastic Planet (1996): I could have made an entire list of bands that got lumped in to the Post-Grunge label and were left to rot because of the jaded music climate of the mid 90s. Fantastic Planet remains one of my favorite Space Rock albums.

   Best songs on this album: Stuck on you, Another Space Song and The Nurse who Loved me.

9. Morphine- Cure for Pain (1993): Morphine had a really tough time finding their niche. They were neither mainstream nor indie. They used a lot of saxophone and not a lot of electric guitars. In spite of truly being one of the most unique bands of the 90s they were almost entirely ignored.

   Best songs on this album: Cure for Pain, I'm Free Now and Candy.

10. Pixies- Trompe le Monde (1991): After the string of three albums that the Pixies put out in the three years prior to Trompe le Monde's release it was going to be tough to live up to expectations. Unlike most, I believe that Trompe met those high expectations and produced some of their best songs.

    Best songs on this album: Motorway to Roswell, Bird Dream of the Olympus Mons and Trompe le Monde.

    See top 30 songs by the Pixies Here

Posted 11/4/11 by the Rock Czar