The world is currently facing its biggest crisis since the World War II where the Coronavirus has spread worldwide to almost every country, causing a mass pandemic in the world. Authorities from most of the countries have introduced the national lock-downs in order to prevent the virus from spreading further and are urging the people to stay at home
During the past decade, this time of the year always meant a flashback to a certain year in the 80s decade and paying a 30 years anniversary tribute to some of the biggest albums and songs that were released back then, and also to see how they have stood the test of time.
This year it does not mean only returning to one specific year but also celebrating the shift of decades as we are entering the 90s terrain.
In the history, 1990 is mostly remembered for the start of reunification of Germany and demise of the Soviet Union and collapsing of the socialist governments in Easter European countries. While the Wind of changes was flowing throughout Europe, George Michael released his biggest hit "Freedom" and for Madonna it was her most scandalous year ever. As some of her live shows were condemned and the music video for "Justify My Love" banned from daily airplay on MTV. Apart from this despite the previous success of SAW production in the previous years, it saw a sharp decline in popularity where new dance forms were emerging, including Euro dance, house and acid jazz as well as Baggy / Madchester and the rise of Brit pop. Among the winning artist at the Brit awards were Phil Collins, Neneh Cherry, Annie Lennox and Fine Young Cannibals.
Based on the poll results in April, the following Top50 Album list was established.
Based on the poll results in April, the following Top50 Album list was established.
Violator is the seventh album by Depeche Mode released in March 1990 through Mute records. It reached number two on the UK Albums Chart, and was the band's first album to chart inside the top 10 of the Billboard 200. Violator featured the hit singles "Personal Jesus" and "Enjoy The Silence" which preceded the album release and "World in my Eyes" and Policy of Truth. The album is band's most successful album to date, and it was praised by music critics and included in several music lists, and of course, in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. As part of Mute's 2006 reissue schedule, Violator was re-released as a hybrid Super Audio CD + DVD-Video package.
02. Cocteau Twins - Heaven or Las Vegas [4AD]
Heaven or Las Vegas is the sixth studio album by Cocteau Twins, released in September 1990 by 4AD. This is band's most commercially successful and accessible release which sold 235,000 copies by 1996. The album featured the singles "Heaven or Las Vegas" and "Iceblink Luck". The album was listed as the 90th best album of the 1990s by Pitchfork, and it was also included in the 2008 edition of 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. A vinyl edition of the reissue was released in July 2014.
03. Pet Shop Boys - Behaviour [Parlophone]
Pet Shop Boys released their fourth studio album Behaviour in October 1990. Different than their work on previous albums and what will follow on Very, this album was dance pop as well but more downtempo, subtle and focused on details. Three singles were released from it, including “Being Boring” and “So Hard”. In 2001, the album was reissued along with the others of the group's first six studio albums as Behaviour/Further Listening: 1990–1991. Behaviour is featured in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.
04. Sonic Youth - Goo [DGC]
Goo is the sixth studio album by American alternative rock band Sonic Youth, in June 1990 by DGC Records. The album featured the singles “Kool Thing”, “Disappearer” and “Dirty Boots”. Goo expanded upon the alt-rock styling of Daydream Nation with far more deliberate pop culture references. Since Goo was first released, it has been viewed as one of the greatest and most important alternative rock records of all time, as well as a culturally significant work and as Sonic Youth's most accessible work to date. The album was reissued in 2005 as a deluxe edition with bonus tracks.
05. George Michael - Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 [CBS Records]
Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 is the second solo studio album by George Michael, released in September 1990 on Columbia Records. Disappointing album sales in the US led to Michael's legal battles against Sony Music, in which he accused the corporation of not fully supporting him as an artist. The album is largely devoted to ballads and folk-styled rock songs and departure of the style of from the previous LP. Even though the album sold eight million copies worldwide, it was viewed as a commercial disappointment in the US, in comparison to the sales of his debut album, Faith. The album produced five UK hit singles, out of which most remember “Praying for Time” as the first single and Michael's signature song “Freedom”. The album won the Best British Album award at the 1991 BRIT Awards and in October 2017, Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 was reissued as Listen Without Prejudice / MTV Unplugged.
06. Sinead O' Connor - I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got [Ensign / Chrysalis Records]
I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got is the second album by Irish singer Sinéad O'Connor, released in March 1990 on Ensign/Chrysalis Records. It features her biggest hit “Nothing Compares 2 U” which was one of the best-selling singles that year, but also the songs “Three Babies” and "Emperor's New Clothes". The album was nominated for four Grammy Awards in 1991 for the Record of the Year and went twice platinum in the US and UK. In 2012, the album was ranked number 408 on Rolling Stone Magazine's list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.
07. Angelo Badalamenti - Twin Peaks OST [Warner Bros]
Soundtrack from Twin Peaks is a soundtrack album by American composer Angelo Badalamenti that was released on September 11, 1990, by Warner Bros Records It is the official soundtrack to the television series Twin Peaks (1990–1991) mostly remembered by the title track “Falling” performed by Julee Cruise. The series was co-produced by David Lynch and upon its release, it was placed in several international charts, and it went Platinum in Australia and Gold in US and across Europe.
08. Ride – Nowhere [Creation Records / Sire]
Nowhere is the debut album by the English shoegaze stars Ride which was released in October 1990. The album featured two singles, “Vapour Trail” and “Kaleidoscope”, both released in the US only, in 1991. It is highly regarded among the music critics, in particular Pitchfork who named it "one of shoe gazing's enduring moments" and Rolling Stone calling it as one of the fines masterpieces. The album was remastered as part of 20th and 25th anniversary editions.
09. Pixies - Bossanova [4AD]
Bossanova is the third studio album by Pixies released in August 1990. To promote it, two singles were released from the album, "Velouria" and "Dig for Fire". Bossanova's sound was inspired by surf rock and space rock, and there are also lyric references to subjects such as aliens and unidentified flying objects. The album was also included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. In 2008, the album was remastered from the original analog master tapes
10. The Sundays - Reading, Writing and Arithmetic [Rough Trade]
Reading, Writing and Arithmetic is the debut album by the Sundays, which was released in January 1990. This album is mostly remembered by their biggest hit “Here’s Where the Story Ends” which is also one of the classic hits of this era. The center point of the record is Harriet Wheeler's ethereal, soaring vocals which plays very fine with jangly guitars composing a very pleasant dream pop sound. The album was reissued on LP in 2018 by Geffen Records.
11. Marc Almond -Enchanted [Parlophone]
12. The House of Love - The House of Love [Fontana]
13. INXS - X [Atlantic / Mercury]
14. Mazzy Star - She Hangs Brightly [Capitol Records]
15. Happy Mondays - Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches [Factory]
16. Deee Lite - World Clique [Elektra]
17. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - The Good Son [Mute]
18. The La's - The La's [Go! Discs]
19. Pale Saints - Comforts of Madness [4AD]20. The Chills - Submarine Bells [Flying Nun / Slash]
21. Galaxie 500 - This Is Our Music
22. Dead Can Dance - Aion
23. World Party - Goodbye Jumbo
24. Prefab Sprout - Jordan: The Comeback
25. The Breeders - Pod
26. The KLF – Chill Out
27. Inspiral Carpets - Life
28. A-ha -East of the Sun, West of the Moon
29. Suzanne Vega - Days of Open Hand
30. The Beloved - Happiness
31. They Might Be Giants - Reading, Writing and Arithmetic
32. Snap – World Power
33. The Sisters of the Mercy- Vision Thing
34. The Charlatans – Some Friendly
35. Enigma - MCMXC a.D.
36. The Shamen – En Tact
37. Black Box- Dream Land
38. Psychic TV - Towards Thee Infinite Beat
39. Lightning Seeds, The - Cloudcuckooland
40. Cathy Dennis – Move to This
41. The Beautiful South – Choke
42. Mock Turtles, The - Turtle Soup
43. Kylie Minogue - Rhythm of Love
44. Everything but the Girl - The Language of Love
45. Anything Box - Peace
46. Little Nemo - Turquoise Fields
47. Church, The - Gold Afternoon Fix
48. Cause & Effect - Cause & Effect
49. The Killing Joke - Killing Joke - Extremities, Dirt and Various Repressed Emotions
50. Kim Wilde –Love Moves