UKMIX Top 100 Albums of the 90s [#1]

[Chun]

^ Yes that's what I meant.

[jimmypages59]

Titan3510 wrote;
"Now I know why I stay far, far away from Rolling Stone, NPR and Slant"

I don't even know what NPR and Slant are! I imagine you stay far away from them, not because of music elitism, but because they do not cater for your tastes in music, whatever music they may cater for.

I do not deny that certain magazines and lists persist in Music Elitism, but surely this site in general is a prime example of Diva Elitism.

I fail to see how bands like Metallica or Nirvana are elitist anyway, I could understand some obscure bands or albums, but not hugely popular acts like the two mentioned, who have managed to capture (and continue to) a wide audience beyond their original Metal, Grunge, Rock genre.

[NothingFails]

Titan3510 wrote;
"Now I know why I stay far, far away from Rolling Stone, NPR and Slant"

I don't even know what NPR and Slant are! I imagine you stay far away from them, not because of music elitism, but because they do not cater for your tastes in music, whatever music they may cater for.

I do not deny that certain magazines and lists persist in Music Elitism, but surely this site in general is a prime example of Diva Elitism.

I fail to see how bands like Metallica or Nirvana are elitist anyway, I could understand some obscure bands or albums, but not hugely popular acts like the two mentioned, who have managed to capture (and continue to) a wide audience beyond their original Metal, Grunge, Rock genre.

Jimmypages does have a point. Metallica and Nirvana are hardly "hipster bands". Now if we were arguing the merits of Neutral Milk Hotel (know their name but have never heard any of their music) when it comes to the 90s I could see it.

[Wardo]

but surely this site in general is a prime example of Diva Elitism.

Fact.

But I think there are some open-minded people too.

[JSparksFan]

Voted.

It's funny that people think Britney even has a chance at winning this. It's gon' be a clash of the 90's divas here: Mariah vs. Madonna vs. Whitney vs. Celine.

You've forgotten about 'The Velvet Rope', which I'm expecting to be one of the highest ranked diva albums.

I forgot about Janet, in general! Yes, add her to the diva list.

[Titan3510]

Okay, first of all, you guys use the "diva" term very loosely.

Diva is a woman with outstanding vocal talent...

So the only divas on this thread that are eligible for this game are Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Celine Dion and Toni Braxton.

Madonna, Britney Spears, Janet Jackson, Kate Bush (WE LOVE KATE BUSH REGARDLESS!!!), Yoko Ono, etc. are not divas.

Second of all, I never said that Metallica or Nirvana were elitist. A good chunk of their fans are...but the bands themselves? Of course not; they're the stuff of legends. I love their music.

I understand your point. Not every single Mariah Carey album released in the '90s should even be eligible.

But disliking or bashing something based on principle of it being "divaish" or "poppy" or whatever is not very cool.

All I'm saying is that you guys should stay tuned. You guys will probably be in for a big surprise.

[jio]

That's the classic dictionary definition. We all know diva doesn't imply that nowadays. Because if it does, then Susan Boyle should be considered a diva as well, and I know nobody who considers her such

[jimmypages59]

I agree with jio, the term Diva has clearly been re-appropriated in today's society and now holds a different meaning to it's classic(al) definition. Saying that, the terminology is loose and I kind of agree with Titan, that artists like Kate Bush and Yoko Ono do not fall into the Diva category, I still think Madonna, Spears and Jackson do fall into the newer definition and use of the term though.

I was merely commenting (originally) that there was an un-proportionately high number of albums by certain artists in the list, that I do not think are thought of (in the whole), as albums of that decade. Albums such as Dummy, Odelay, Ten, Screamadelica, Grace, The Downward Spiral and Blue Lines are left out, while we get 8 by Mariah and 5 by Madonna. This to me shows some form of elitism (in here, in reflection to what you see as music press snobbery) towards certain artists or styles, where people are not fully appreciating all the music of that decade, just the artists and albums they love, over what was and is a truer musical reflection of that decade.

And finally Titan, “But disliking or bashing something based on principle of it being "divaish" or "poppy" or whatever is not very cool.”

I wasn’t disliking or bashing the principle of being “Divaish” or “Poppy”, I was disliking and bashing the uber love of them on here, where there does seem to be a much similar perception (to them) of what you feel exist, within elitist music magazine and lists. The majority on here, have no time or love for rockier acts and dislike or bash on the principle of it being “heavy”, “noise”, “not music” or just show no consideration whatsoever.

“You guys will probably be in for a big surprise.” I hope so, but I doubt it!

[NothingFails]

I think once you accept that UKMix is a haven for divas and make peace with it (for instance, some Keri Hilson comment got five times the posts in "News" than the news that Davy Jones of The Monkees passed away back in Feb), its okay. Personally I am just glad to see that the likes of Metallica, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Radiohead, etc... actually make the final list.

But I do think that the media has completely changed "diva" from a big voiced female to a powerful successful female... people like Britney, Madonna, Janet, J. Lo and others are certainly divas even if they aren't big belting vocalists. OTOH Bjork, Kate, Yoko, Tori and the sort aren't divas.

Honestly the snobbery can go both ways. I see rock fans who swear up and down that Madonna doesn't have the credentials to be in the Hall Of Fame, nevermind that nobody complained over any of the other "big 80's artists" who were inducted (U2, MJ, Prince, Police, Bruce, Metallica...) because they are still hung up on bets they made in 1985 that she would be forgotten by 1987 and are still bitter about it. While I don't believe Britney is talented like her fans make her out to be, a lot of rock snobs still act like she's a pop fad on her first album. Come on, she's been around 13 years, like it or not, that is an amazing longevity and a fantastic career to have in pop music, but some people lump her with Justin Bieber and One Direction.

[Star]

Can people stop crying about divas such as Janet Jackson, Madonna, Mariah, Celine, Britney!!!!

It's Jennifer Lopez that's doing outstandingly well in the countdown!

[space75]

A lot of the Pitchfork/Rolling Stone bands are pretentious wankery, but there's been a lot of acts I've checked out because of glowing reviews and fell in love with.

agree but you should not mention rolling stone anymore.imo, now its a magazine for...divas,old men n sales and has almost nothing to do with real music

[NothingFails]

A lot of the Pitchfork/Rolling Stone bands are pretentious wankery, but there's been a lot of acts I've checked out because of glowing reviews and fell in love with.

agree but you should not mention rolling stone anymore.imo, now its a magazine for...divas,old men n sales and has almost nothing to do with real music

This is true. According to Rolling Stone, U2 and Bruce are the two most relevant bands in 2012. I love them both (and Wrecking Ball is the best album of 2012 so far IMO) but seriously, they are the most important *current* acts?

[Play]

Can people stop crying about divas such as Janet Jackson, Madonna, Mariah, Celine, Britney!!!!

It's Jennifer Lopez that's doing outstandingly well in the countdown!

Now you said that, all the btches will change their votes and omit j.lo from their lists!

[jimmypages59]

Oh believe me Nothingfails, I am well aware that this place is a Diva love in, I just felt like voicing an opinion about it for once. I feel that a lot of the polls etc (on here) do not represent a full picture of music as a whole, but who has the most Diva fans voting on it.

I personally see Madonna, as out on her own, due to her cultural impact and the way her music I think transcended just pure pop and managed to attract listeners from many genres, in a way that I just do not think Celine, Britney, Mariah etc has or ever will. These artists may have better sales, better chart statistics (certainly in the US, not the UK) but they do not come close to the impact and obvious influence of Madonna. I also do not hold the likes of Tori, Bjork, Bush, Ono (and kind of Madonna) in the same light as those previously mentioned and really enjoy a lot of their music (Ono, I have to admit, I find a bit hard work) having many albums by all of them…Tori is actually Top 5 in my list.

Yes, I know snobbery can go both way, but also see it as ignorance or personal taste, with either side not willing or wanting to acknowledge or appreciate other styles, genres etc.

Again I agree with you on the talent thing as well, I see a lot of them as just good/great interpreters of others songs, in a way that say Elvis was and not “true” musical artists. Not that I am knocking this, just that I personally have more time and regard for artists who lyrically and musically compose their own material, as I like the fact that what we get from them, is a full expression of themselves.

[NothingFails]

Good post all around. I think there's room for both the serious rock acts and the "fun divas" stuff. There are a lot of rock fans who usually don't participate in Games and the sort who hang out on the rock section.

[urbanmusik]

I think you have to find a good middle ground in regards to the whole Diva/Music Press thing.

While there's a lot of music snobbery within the press in against pop/R&B (especially female) singers, UKMix is on the whole very biased towards female singers.

If people are accepting other's tastes and don't get too elitist about it then it's all fine. Unless you're a fan of Justin Bieber, Westlife or Keri Hilson. Then we're allowed to make fun of you as much as we like.

This list isn't as Diva as some people are making out. It has plenty of albums from the big four genres. While I'm gutted that certain albums I love (Massive Attack, 2Pac, Notorious B.I.G, Nas, Red Hot Chili Peppers) didn't make it, you've just got to except that not everyone loved them. Mariah Carey was absolutely massive during the 90s, and let's not forget this isn't NME or Pitchfork's top 100 albums of the decade.

We've got everything from Enigma from to Aqua, Rage Against The Machine to Brandy, Public Enemy to M People. There's plenty of variety.

[jimmypages59]

You a Hun or a Fenian Urban’ or does it all just pass you by? Blood Sugar’, Blue Lines, I agree how can they not be in a best albums of the 90’s. I’ll tell you why, discrimination, sectarianism or just plain lack of a depth of knowledge about music or a want to have a depth.

She wasn’t in the UK...bands like Oasis, (where Star and Wayne are from) absolutely shat upon this relatively unknown US warbler.

No you’re correct, it is not NME or Pitchfork or Spin…it’s the pop version of it!

Ok, probably not sectarianism!

[urbanmusik]

You a Hun or a Fenian Urban’ or does it all just pass you by?

You see that I'm from Northern Ireland and that's the first thing you say? Really? Just because this is a countdown of the 90s, doesn't mean you have to have some warped backwards view of Northern Ireland.

Blood Sugar’, Blue Lines, I agree how can they not be in a best albums of the 90’s. I’ll tell you why, discrimination, sectarianism or just plain lack of a depth of knowledge about music or a want to have a depth.

Discrimination? Sectarianism? Gosh. I get that many people won't have heard those albums, but this countdown is about personal taste. While I would have liked certain albums to make it over others, I'm not going to kick up a fuss because people didn't agree with me.

She wasn’t in the UK...bands like Oasis, (where Star and Wayne are from) absolutely shat upon this relatively unknown US warbler.

I know she wasn't the biggest singer of the 90s in the UK. But at the end of the day people from all over the world voted in this countdown and clearly liked her. Besides, all 3 Oasis albums made this list as well - even "Be Here Now", which was received no better than a Mariah album critically. Not that that even matters.

No you’re correct, it is not NME or Pitchfork or Spin…it’s the pop version of it!

UKMix may predominantly ignore certain types of music, but at least posters on the whole don't belittle people who have a different taste in music on here. Besides, there's plenty of posters with a wide taste in music......not that it matters.

[jimmypages59]

Where is our list?

You must be a Hun urban!

[urbanmusik]

You must be a Hun urban!

Gosh you're such a troll.

[Titan3510]

So...when does this joint kick off?

I actually can't wait to talk about the actual albums that were chosen...

Are we starting off with the Top 100 or are we starting with 50?

[Chun]

Announcement!

The countdown will begin after a few weeks. Firstly, there were a lot of last minute entries to count and secondly I will be presenting UKMIX Hall Of Fame 2011 so would rather focus on one project at a time.

Luv Star

[CrazyCrazy]

Look forward to discussing all of the albums coming up.

[Lemo]

Look forward to discussing all of the albums coming up.

I look forward to discussing them with you. Although I'm young, I may not know them all

[CrazyCrazy]

Look forward to discussing all of the albums coming up.

I look forward to discussing them with you. Although I'm young, I may not know them all

Well I'm still young too (23) and won't know them all either, how old are you?