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5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
One cheer for even trying..., 12 Sep 2002
All credit should be given for so much as an attempt to make a CD of alternative 90s music.Part of the problem, though, stems from the sheer complexity of the 90s music scene. The term 'alternative' is so vague and encompasses so much, that to make a successful compilation needs a lot more thought than appears to have gone into this. 'Alternative' in 90s terms could mean anything from Grunge to Madchester, from Dreampop to Grebo, and from Britpop to the Britpop hangover acts of the very late 90s. And trying to represent them all on one album like this creates a bit of an awkward mish-mash that doesn't quite seem to work. Basically, this album isn't really sure what it's trying to be. Just when you think you're listening to a baggy Madchester retro soundtrack a la "Unbelievable", a unexpected bit of grunge or a Depeche Mode track from 1986 comes and slaps you in the face. Finally, you're thrown to the ground by Paul Weller and stabbed in the chest by Jamiroquai. Basically, this album would work better if it was more focused. There is much to like on it - the Madchester tracks, and even dare I say it, the Wonderstuff, can all be very pleased with themselves. But, for all their greatness, I couldn't help wondering whether the world really needs another compilation of the same early 90s student drinking songs. What with the fantastic "Unbelievable" series released last year, the Madchester and Grebo genres are already excellently catered for (indeed, the makers of Alternative 90s seem to have scabbed most of the tracks from that very source - even the oddball Depeche Mode track). What I really would like to have seen this album do is veer more towards early 90s grunge and dreampop. Nice to see the Breeders, but a few Belly, Throwing Muses, Ride, Slowdive or My Bloody Valentine tracks would have been lovely. Really, the people who put this CD together should have bought out two entirely separate compilations instead - one of early 90s dreampop and the other of mid 90s britpop...and perhaps cut out the Madchester bit altogether. So, why on earth have I given this album 3 stars? Basically because the sheer quality of some of the individual songs is not to be sniffed at. James, St Etienne, Suede and The Charlatans, to name but four, are adorable. The overriding gripe I have is that the songs don't necessarily belong together, and the whole concept of the album in the first instance makes it too problematic to be workable.
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~ Various Artists
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See all 20 tracks on this disc
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