Jamwise #39 · Years · 1992 (Part 1)
Best Albums of 1992 (Part 1)
The best albums of 1992, part one — Dr. Dre's The Chronic, R.E.M.'s Automatic For The People, Pavement, Rage Against the Machine, Tori Amos, and Sade. An absurdly stacked year.
I’m starting to realize that the best part of poring through lists of the best albums ever isn’t necessarily the lists themselves. The more fun part is the endless debate over what else should have been included, or are included on other lists. The list I’m following at any given time is arbitrary - it’s the discussion afterwards that really makes this fun. Maybe the real “best albums ever” list is the friends we make along the way.
Part 1 of my examination of the year 1992 includes the Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums entries from the year, and part 2 (and maybe part 3?) will include a selection of albums that were left off and perhaps shouldn’t have been.
As always, I’d love to hear your favorite albums from 1992 that didn’t make the list!
The Chronic — Dr. Dre
This is the album that helped launch Snoop Dogg into the world - and funnily enough, I’m writing this during what can only be called Snoop Dogg’s Olympic Games, which might be launching his fame even higher worldwide.
Automatic For The People — R.E.M.
I’ll make an admission that the internet will likely roast - I held a long, powerful dislike of REM for years. It’s undoubtedly been over ever since I listened to Out Of Time as an adult many years ago, but I still think back on that time with interest.
Slanted and Enchanted — Pavement
The early 90’s indie rock parade continues! This album was Pavement’s debut with a now-familiar slacker rock feel; somewhat sloppy out of tune guitars, bored-sounding vocals, production that makes it sound like it was recorded in a basement with moldy gray carpets and a cracked leather couch.
Rage Against The Machine — Rage Against The Machine
Rage Against the Machine’s debut album is a combination of genres that captures the best of each of them. Unforgettable metal guitar riffs.
Little Earthquakes — Tori Amos
This album is very obviously genius. I’ll admit I found myself disliking small, surface-level things - I’m not a fan of her frequent over-emoting or her unusual vibrato, for example - but at the same time I realize that level of critique is way too reductive for songs of this scope and magnitude.
Love Deluxe — Sade
I did Sade a disservice last time I listened to them by not taking the time to sit down and appreciate their music. But in the meantime, and while listening to this album, I think I’ve started to understand why.
Check Your Head — Beastie Boys
It feels like the Beasties just do whatever the hell they feel like. This album is all over the place - they funk and they groove and they party, and they even alt-rock a little bit.
What’s The 411? — Mary J. Blige
I reviewed this one before and couldn’t get into it. A re-listen improved nothing for me.
Bizarre Ride ii the Pharcyde — The Pharcyde
This is where listening to albums alongside their peers really pays off. The Pharcyde feels like such a breath of fresh air compared to the gangsta rap that was prevalent in the early 90’s.