Fossils
Artist: Dinosaur Jr.
Community Score: 8.50

A brief, eight-song compilation of the group's SST singles, Fossils effectively sums up the power and vision of Dinosaur Jr.'s early work. Not only does it contain the two masterpieces from You're Living All Over Me and Bug -- "Little Fury Things" and "Freak Scene," respectively -- but it also gathers several excellent B-sides, including... Read More

Making Things with Light
Artist: Mr. T Experience

Produced by Kevin Army, Making Things With Light further refines MTX's melodic skills. Better recorded than their previous two albums, the guitars are more forceful and the vocals are pushed to the fore. Here Dr. Frank focuses on boy-girl relationships, most of which are dysfunctional. Some highlights are "She's No Rocket Scientist," "Psycho... Read More

Cracker
Artist: Cracker
Community Score: 5.33

Apart from David Lowery's tendency to slip in some smug, self-serving lyrics, Cracker's debut is a terrific rock & roll record, full of energetic three-chord bashers and surprisingly moving ballads. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide Read More

When in Rome Do as the Vandals
Artist: The Vandals
Community Score: 7.00

As snotty punk albums go, When in Rome seems unexceptional on the surface. There are the tasteless joke songs ("Viking Suite," about a man disturbingly fond of little boys in costumes, presented as a mock prog-style rock opera). There's the requisite cheesy cover ("Hocus Pocus" by Focus, renamed "It's Not Unusual," complete with tuneless howls... Read More

Puzzle
Artist: Dada

Guitar riffs permeate dada's pleasing debut Puzzle, wedded to thick slices of an equally important influence -- 60s psychedelia. The L.A. trio offers plenty to keep the ears busy: the orchestral sadness of "Timothy," and insidious melody of "Dog, " strung-out ravings of "Here Today, Gone Tomorrow, " and over-the-edge teen-angst of "Dizz Knee... Read More

The Playhouse
Artist: Skinner Box
My Brain Hurts
Artist: Screeching Weasel
Community Score: 7.50

A couple years after breaking up, Screeching Weasel return with a new lineup, a new sound and an album that would influence seemingly a million imitators. Labeled as their big comeback album, My Brain Hurts has a poppier, more mature sound rather than the teen-angst-ridden thrash-pop these guys were known for on their previous two records. And... Read More

Blood Sugar Sex Magik
Artist: Red Hot Chili Peppers
Community Score: 8.19

The Red Hot Chili Peppers' best album, Blood Sugar Sex Magik benefits immensely from Rick Rubin's production -- John Frusciante's guitar is less overpoweringly noisy, leaving room for differing textures and clearer lines, while the band overall is more focused and less indulgent, even if some of the grooves drag on too long. Lyrically, Anthony... Read More

Too Dumb to Quit
Artist: Jr. Gone Wild

Jr. Gone Wild's debut, Less Art More Pop, was a scattershot affair, flirting with Byrdsy country but without the chops to make it truly convincing. The follow-up took four years, and a lot happened during that time: two of the original members were let go, the band signed with hometown label Stony Plain, the band reunited with one of the sacked... Read More

Gold Mother
Artist: James
Community Score: 7.50

James completely revamped their lineup for Gold Mother, adding a violinist, a keyboardist, and a trumpeter to the band and attempting to write grand, ambitious arena-rock that recalled U2 and the Waterboys. Although a few of the tracks captured the sprawling, epic splendor that James wished to achieve, they have difficulty writing convincing... Read More

Platters du Jour
Artist: The Celibate Rifles

Although it isn't a greatest-hits collection (like 1993's Sofa), Platters du Jour presents a more well-rounded picture of the Celibate Rifles' talent and versatility (which has only increased over the years). It gathers together all of the Aussie clan's singles -- A-sides, B-sides, alternate takes, remixes, and live versions -- onto one... Read More