TOP 10 LIST John Walker (Canada)
1. Suede Dog Man Star (Nude/Columbia) The return of glam. Flaunting influences ranging from Bowie's Diamond Dogs to mega-balladizing Scott Walker, Dog Man Star was the year's most completely realized musical effort.
2. Jeff Buckley Grace (Columbia) Yeah, he's the son of Tim, and they share a certain exploratory sensibility. But, Jeff's his own man, and this is one of the most striking debuts in years.
3. The Auteurs Now I'm A Cowboy (Vernon Yard) Luke Haines is a cynical bastard and one helluva songwriter. Devastatingly witty, hard-rocking and decadent. "Chinese Bakery" is a classic single.
4. Love Spit Love Love Spit Love (Imago) Former head of the Psychedelic Furs, Richard Butler returns to the form he displayed back when creating one of rock's greatest albums with Talk Talk Talk. Welcome back!
5. Tim Buckley Live At The Troubadour, 1969 (Bizarre/Straight) Yeah, he's Jeff's dad, and he's a hard act to follow. This set of recently unearthed tunes highlights a jazzy, intense, goose-bump raising Buckley.
6. Bryan Ferry Mamouna (Virgin): In a year when neo-glam artists like Suede and the Auteurs ruled, the old master checks in with a classic of his own. Brooding in silk!
7. American Music Club San Francisco (Reprise): Mark Eitzel gets happy? An exaggeration--but there's more light and shade here than on past releases, and this set shows off the rocking side of this great band.
8. Killing Joke Pandemonium (Zoo): Still crazy after all these years. Jaz Coleman and the boys show up industrial metal acts for the posers that they are. Trent who?
9. Stereolab Mars Audiac Quintet (Elektra): Quirky but good. Blew The Fall away live. Laetitia Sadier is an androgynous sex symbol for the 90s. Velvets meet the Cocteaus.
10. Cop Shoot Cop Release - (Interscope): Criminally ignored. Nobody does big city angst like the Coppers. They mean it, man!
