Discovolante's Best of: 1997
From the beginning of the year to the end, via the Sputnik release calendar. |
| 1 |  | Murder Inc. (Hip-Hop)
Let’s Die 2-Gether
Murder Inc. was a cult hardcore rap group from New Orleans that released some solid stuff during their short run. Their best by far though is their second and final album "Let’s Die 2-Gether", which fantastically amps up their horrorcore overtones to make them a full-time feature of the group, which works to their benefit greatly. An album that has since gone down as one of the best albums from the early days of horrorcore. |
| 2 |  | Gypsy Grind
Tattle Tales
Another hidden gem from the Philippines, Gypsy Grind was an underground alternative rock band that made a bit of ruckus with their debut "Tattle Tales", which was released on cassette only. Light with a slight sense of humor, the album is indie pop brilliance at its finest. |
| 3 |  | Idiot Flesh
Fancy
One of the most ingenious albums in the avant-garde underground. Just awesome. |
| 4 |  | The Prodigy
The Fat of the Land
A diverse masterpiece that, along with their 1992 debut "Experience", proves just why The Prodigy were one of the best electronica acts of the decade. |
| 5 |  | Busta Rhymes
When Disaster Strikes...
A rap classic that shows Busta Rhymes on top of his game, full of some of his most memorable tracks and production that arguably tops his debut "The Coming". |
| 6 |  | Blur
Blur
A far darker and more bareboned effort from the legendary Britpop quartet, Blur's self-titled album is hands down one of their finest albums in their catalog, and my personal second favorite. |
| 7 |  | Atari Teenage Riot
The Future Of War
One of the most beloved and greatest albums in the digital hardcore subgenre, "The Future of War" takes the strong potential of their 1995 debut "Delete Yourself!" and ceases it to its fullest. Never did they sound as on point and badass as on "The Future of War". |
| 8 |  | Bis
The New Transistor Heroes
The sound of a band taking over the world, Bis's debut full length "The New Transistor Heroes" is one of the most solid and successful albums from a Scottish band, having great success in Japan in particular where the band became overnight superstars. Electro-tinged pop punk with an edge that remains one of my all time favorite albums. |
| 9 |  | Squarepusher
Hard Normal Daddy
Without a doubt one of the very best albums in drum-and-bass history. |
| 10 |  | Foo Fighters
The Colour and the Shape
The best and ultimate Foo Fighters album. Alt rock greatness. |
| 11 |  | Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Forever
While it never matched up in its quality, it still serves as a strong follow-up to their undisputed debut. |
| 12 |  | Human Waste Project
E-lux
One of the most unique and signature sounding albums from the 90s alt metal flood, Human Waste Project's sole album "E-lux" is one that, although was a commercial flop, quickly garnered a strong following by word-of-mouth. |
| 13 |  | Limp Bizkit
Three Dollar Bill Y'all
Limp Bizkit's debut "Three Dollar Bill Y'all" is one of the most radical debuts of the year, and showed the beginnings of a band with a sound like no one else with aggression cranked to the max. Their heaviest album in their catalog and probably the fan favorite. |
| 14 |  | Missy Elliott
Supa Dupa Fly
An album with a reputation for going against the grain, Missy Elliott's debut "Supa Dupa Fly" catapulted her to the top of the rap stratosphere with a daring production style and a sound that blends melodic R&B with at-times quite abstract hip hop, most noticeably on the smash self-titled single. A total homerun that she would never quite measure up to again. |
| 15 |  | Jack Off Jill
Sexless Demons and Scars
The album that blew Jack Off Jill up from being infamous Florida shock rockers to expanding a cult following across the country (and outside, to some degree), "Sexless Demons and Scars" is a great debut that blends elements of punk, alt rock and goth rock. An underground classic. |
| 16 |  | Dubstar
Goodbye
While not exactly as fantastic as their debut "Disgraceful" from two years prior, "Goodbye" is still an amazing effort from one of the most painfully underrated bands of the 90s. |
| 17 |  | Bjork
Homogenic
Perfection. The best electronica album of all time, by far, in my eyes. |
| 18 |  | The Cure
Galore
The younger brother to the "Staring at the Sea/Standing on a Beach" compilation from 1986, "Galore" compiles most of the best songs from The Cure's second-half of their golden streak. Fantastic stuff. |
| 19 |  | Soundgarden
A-Sides
A killer 17-track compilation that is proof as to how much of a great band Soundgarden were. |
| 20 |  | Twiztid
Mostasteless (OG)
The best thing that happened to Twiztid since their departure from Psychopathic Records is that now people are finally starting to evaluate their material as-is, and are finally starting to realize how fantastic a lot of their albums are. Their best moment by far is their debut "Mostasteless", which is both street-savvy and bitingly dark. An album that bordered on the edges of horrorcore and plain hardcore rap like no other. |
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