Gladiator made gobs of money and a slew of awards thanks to thrilling action sequences and compelling drama that captured the imagination of millions.
Favorite Albums | Honorable Mention: Massive Attack – Blue Lines (1991)
When I was counting down my list of favorite albums in late 2011 and early 2012, I still hadn’t really heard much electronic music, and the only trip-hop I was familiar with was the Sneaker Pimps’ song “6 Underground” and DJ Shadow’s amazing album Endtroducing..…,...
Favorite Albums | Honorable Mention: Alice in Chains – Dirt (1992)
During the grunge explosion of the early ’90s, Alice in Chains never quite became the “it” band the way their Seattle peers Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden (in that order) ultimately managed. While Nirvana caught the brunt of the initial fireball, that band’s...
Favorite Albums | Honorable Mention: The Verve – Urban Hymns (1997)
Every once in a while, I’ll come across an album whose first track is so good it takes me days, months, or even years to get past it. My Bloody Valentine’s Loveless and its opening track “Only Shallow” is certainly one that falls into the “days” category for me. I...
Favorite Albums | Honoroable Mention: Pearl Jam – Backspacer (2009)
This may be a little hard to believe, but Pearl Jam -- the most popular rock band of the '90s -- actually had a very impressive second decade, turning in four quality albums in the new century's first ten years of existence, despite the fact that they had whittled...
Favorite Albums | Honorable Mention: Nirvana – In Utero (1993)
Two years ago, when I finalized my 100 favorite albums list, Nirvana's Nevermind weighed in at #95, which is pretty low for a Millennial who has continuously devoured all things alternative rock since the age of eleven. But by the time I bought Nevermind in high...
Favorite Albums | Honorable Mention: Depeche Mode – Violator (1990)
I can still remember the first time I heard Depeche Mode. Shortly after the '90s wrapped up in, say, the fall of 2002, the now-defunct radio station 99.1 WHFS in the Annapolis/Washington/Baltimore area debuted a "Nineties at Noon" feature, where they played nothing...
Favorite Albums | Honorable Mention: Adele – 21 (2011)
In retrospect -- a word I use loosely here, since 21 was released less than two and a half years ago -- 21's astonishing success in a supposedly post-music-buying era makes a lot of sense, for I can think of three blockbuster albums in particular that struck three...
Favorite Albums | Honorable Mention: R.E.M. – Lifes Rich Pageant (1986)
Artistically and commercially, R.E.M.'s first nine albums can be pretty cleanly divided into three groups. Murmur (1983), Reckoning (1984) and Fables of the Reconstruction (1985) share a murky, mysterious quality and are firmly rooted in the alternative underground....
Favorite Albums | Honorable Mention: Creedence Clearwater Revival – Green River (1969)
Green River came so close to making my 100 favorite albums list. I know I have said that about several albums I have profiled so far with these honorable mentions, but Green River was easily one of the last five -- or even two or three -- albums I had to leave off the...