Polydistortion
Artist: Gus Gus
Community Score: 6.33

Gus Gus' first formal album as a full band was a quietly astonishing record -- the "new Sugarcubes" tag which the band gained was always misleading, since instead of that group's fractured avant-rock approach, Gus Gus always tended toward a mix of understatement and chilling power. Also, the collective had its roots much more firmly planted in... Read More

Homogenic - JAPAN BONUS TRACKS
Artist: Björk

By the late '90s, Björk's playful, unique world view and singular voice became as confining as they were defining. With its surprising starkness and darkness, 1997's Homogenic shatters her "Icelandic pixie" image. Possibly inspired by her failed relationship with drum'n'bass kingpin Goldie, Björk sheds her more precious aspects, displaying more... Read More

Exile on Coldharbour Lane - BONUS DISC
Artist: A3

While it wasn't a delayed smash hit on the level of the Proclaimers' "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)," when the loping, ominous "Woke Up This Morning" was selected as the theme for The Sopranos, the surprise success of that TV series meant that A3 finally got some American attention, a year after the release of this album, the band's debut. Exile's... Read More

Mezzanine
Artist: Massive Attack
Community Score: 7.93

Increasingly ignored amidst the exploding trip-hop scene, Massive Attack finally returned in 1998 with Mezzanine, a record immediately announcing not only that the group was back, but that they'd recorded a set of songs just as singular and revelatory as on their debut, almost a decade back. It all begins with a stunning one-two-three-four... Read More

Risingson
Artist: Massive Attack
Community Score: 10.00
Big Calm
Artist: Morcheeba
Community Score: 7.00

Realizing that trip-hop was a dead end, at least as far as hipness goes, Morcheeba expanded their sonic palette on their second album, Big Calm. Trip-hop and dance rhythms remain, but the trio has spent more time writing songs, crafting an album where pop, lounge, film soundtracks, reggae, jazz, and electronica all peacefully coexist.... Read More

Milight
Artist: DJ Krush
Community Score: 7.25

The follow-up to Krush's excellent Meiso was a slightly more unusual affair, consisting of a series of collaborative pieces throughout, with only one or two exceptions, and with each particular guest bookending their respective track with a brief reflection on what the future of the world will hold. The results are a touch mixed but still a... Read More

Exile on Coldharbour Lane
Artist: A3
Community Score: 7.27

While it wasn't a delayed smash hit on the level of the Proclaimers' "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)," when the loping, ominous "Woke Up This Morning" was selected as the theme for The Sopranos, the surprise success of that TV series meant that A3 finally got some American attention, a year after the release of this album, the band's debut. Exile's... Read More

Homogenic
Artist: Björk
Community Score: 7.95

By the late '90s, Björk's playful, unique world view and singular voice became as confining as they were defining. With its surprising starkness and darkness, 1997's Homogenic shatters her "Icelandic pixie" image. Possibly inspired by her failed relationship with drum'n'bass kingpin Goldie, Björk sheds her more precious aspects, displaying more... Read More

Formica Blues - BONUS CD
Artist: Mono

Caught like many other mid-'90s male instrumentalist/female singer duos were in the commercial slipstream of Portishead's success, Mono deftly steered clear of the trip-hop conundrum for the most part with Formica Blues. Certainly there was a certain shared sense of cinematic drama and haunting gloom that informs plenty of songs -- consider the... Read More