August, 1991

As everyone knows, "Nevermind" was released in August 1991.
Exactly 20 years ago.
Is there still something to add about this album?
Yes, I do think so. And I'm sure you're pining to know what it meant and still means to me, its role in my... musical education, and... and sooner or later your curiosity will be fulfilled. I'll write a post about it someday.
(omg, 1991... I was 16, my hair was longer than Eddie Vedder's, I weighed almost 20 kilos less than now, and... man, the 90s had just begun!)
Anyway...
in that very same month other milestones of (indie / pop / alt) music saw the light of day.
From my beloved brit bishops Blur and their first album "Leisure", to riot grrrl goddesses Hole ("Pretty on the inside"), from trip-hop fathers Massive Attack (monumental "Blue lines") to seminal "Ten" by Pearl Jam, not forgetting Metallica's "Black album", Cypress Hill, and... er... Spin Doctors.
Talking about singles that colored record shop shelves in that fiery August 1991, here are some.
Even some multi-million selling artists, for once.
Enjoy.

Smashing Pumpkins - Siva* (August 1991)

*: those colors, those blurred images, Billy Corgan's not bald head...
I think my heart stopped for some seconds

PJ Harvey - Dress** (August 1991)

**: Polly's first ever single.

Metallica - Enter sandman (August 1991)


R.E.M. - Near wild heaven*** (August 1991)

***: admit it, you do love "Out of time", as everbody else.
Pop at its best.

Hole - Teenage whore (August 1991)

Songs by numbers

It's all in the title of the post.
Songs, numbers.
Songs with a number, nothing else, in their titles.


Massive Attack - Three (1994)



Jimmy Eat World - Ten (1999)

Fan made video: don't know whether it captured the spirit of the song or not, but... I liked it.
(and "Clarity" is a great album indeed)

Cranberries - Twenty-one (1994)

I proudly admit it: I loved "No need to argue". Period. And songs like this or "Empty" still give me the shivers.
(I know, I know... this video basically is "Dreams" re-edited. But to me is new, because I've always thought this version was the only one existing. And, anyway, the 4AD atmosphere suits the song like a glove)

The Smashing Pumpkins - Thirty-three (1996)

smashing fantastic

this is the fantastic song "today" by the smashing pumpkins, released as a single and on the album siamese dream from 93. i've loved this song since first i heard it, which was actually on mtv 120 minutes sometime in 95. i remember cos it was at my then boyfriend's house. my parents didn't want to pay for extra channels back then so i just had the ones that were for free, which was 3 and no music. thank god for video recorders!

the album, siamese dream, is on my list of the best albums of all time, a list that's been in the making for as long as i can remember, and doesn't seem to ever make the light of day. we'll see.

enjoy the 90s when it was at its best: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHUd896Sur0 (embedding disabled by request)