Top 5 - Andrew Duncan
1) Mr. Bungle, California (Warner). Mike Patton is a unique performer with an amazing vision. He has gone from the vocalist of hard rock/metal band Faith No More to chewing on a carrot and recording it for John Zorn's label to forming a band called The Fantomas and transforming an album and live show into an orchestrated comic book. However, Mr. Bungle could be the sanest motley crue out of the bundle, and California is the band's most talented and diverse release to date. Sounding like a cross between The Beach Boys, Christopher Cross, the Tom and Jerry cartoon and little niblets of every other musical style masterfully thrown together, California is a perfect listen all the way through.
2) Old Time Relijun, Uterus and Fire (K). Old Time Relijun defines rock and roll in its purist form. With Uterus and Fire, the Olympia band turns rock and roll into a catalyst of sexual frenzy. Their sound is sweaty, loud and raunchy. With song titles like "Dagger" and "Archaeopteryx Claw," you can not help but to move your hips from side to side like Linda Blair from "The Excorcist."
3) Blur, 13 (Virgin). With the simple outburst of "Song 2" from Blur's previous self-titled release, the band won over the fans of pop culture worldwide. With 13, it's back to business for the British pop group and a fantastic collection of catchy tunes in the weirdest sort of way. The gospel intro of "Tender" follows through with the quirky "Bugman." "Coffee & Tea" is neo-folk pop, while "B.L.U.R.E.M.I." makes off with a quick dash of punk. 13 takes the experience of their previous self-title release, and reverts back to the days of Parklife.
4) Boom Boom Satellites, Out Loud (Epic). Boom Boom Satellites has taken electronica to its extreme while giving nods to jazz influences like Miles Davis or Art Blakely. Each song contains a full palette of both electronic and human drumming effects, combined with various sampling and proto-metal guitars. "Push/Eject" may be the hitmaker from the bunch, but make sure the seat belt is fastened tight because each song is equally as good.
5) Nine Inch Nails, The Fragile (Nothing). For about two years, this album was eagerly anticipated to hit the mass market, and finally the two-CDs have been released just short of the Year 2000. The Fragile contains a more intelligent and less-angry Trent Reznor as he touches on early industrial and tints of minimalism. Don't worry, there is plenty of Reznor angst to go around, and CD Two really shines as some of NIN's greatest work.
