The year is 1994. Here we are in the middle of the 90s. This list of my favorite 10 albums of 1994 was not hard to come up with. But I honestly can't think of too many other albums that I loved this year other than these 10. I listened to a lot less music back in 1994. What I mean to say is that I listened to a lot less different bands. I listened to music a lot and it was a big part of my life. But in these mid 90s years I mostly listened to the same artists and albums over and over again. I was very into Britpop throughout the mid 90s. But there are really only two albums on this 1994 list that were really classified as Britpop. But there are some big albums missing from my list this year. Definitely Maybe by Oasis was of course also released in 1994. But I am saving them for my 1995 list. Blur released Parklife and Suede released Dog Man Star in 1994. And these albums was also a big part of my life and two of my favorites of the year. But I have already picked my favorite Blur and Suede albums for 1993. Split by Lush was another one of my favorites of 1994. But I already have them in my 1992 list. Maybe I should take another look at my self made rule of only putting one album by each band in my entire 90s list. But I still think it is a good idea. I don't need to keep talking about each band over and over again. And I always have my favorite one album for each band. There is just also usually a second album by each band that I love almost as much. Both 1993 and 1994 were two of my favorite years of the 90s. They were very similar and included many of the albums that I can't imagine my life without. Six of the albums on my list for 1994 were from bands from England. So no surprise there.
So here it is. My top ten albums of 1994...

One day at Amoeba Hollywood I proclaimed that Aztec Camera's 1983 release High Land, Hard Rain was one of the best records of the '80s. This single statement eventually led to over 200 Amoebites ranking their top 10 favorite albums from the ‘80s.

From the beginning we realized that it was impossible for most of us to condense our favorites from all genres into a tiny top ten list. So, we limited our lists to Rock/Pop and its sub-genres like punk, metal, goth, and new wave. Even so, it was a difficult selection process because not only are there hundreds of amazing records to consider, there is also the added dynamic of time.

The '80s were a long time ago and the music has had many years to gestate. We have a deep sense of nostalgia and sentiment with these albums as our fondest memories are associated with them. These are albums we LOVE.

- Henry Polk

P.S. We'll be posting new additions to the '80s list project from Amoeba staff members on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. See all entries in our '80s list series.

P.P.S. The '80s List Book is available for sale at Amoeba Hollywood.


Melody Hirose
Klaus Nomi – Klaus Nomi (1981)
Adam Ant – Friend Or Foe (1982)
Grauzone – Grauzone (1981)
Depeche Mode – Black Celebration (1986)
The Clash – Combat Rock (1982)
Judy Nylon – Pal Judy (1982)
Psychic TV – Pagan Day (1984)
Tones On Tail – Pop (1984)
Fad Gadget – Fireside Favourites (1980)
ESG – Come Away With ESG (1983)

One day at Amoeba Hollywood I proclaimed that Aztec Camera's 1983 release High Land, Hard Rain was one of the best records of the '80s. This single statement eventually led to over 200 Amoebites ranking their top 10 favorite albums from the ‘80s.

From the beginning we realized that it was impossible for most of us to condense our favorites from all genres into a tiny top ten list. So, we limited our lists to Rock/Pop and its sub-genres like punk, metal, goth, and new wave. Even so, it was a difficult selection process because not only are there hundreds of amazing records to consider, there is also the added dynamic of time.

The '80s were a long time ago and the music has had many years to gestate. We have a deep sense of nostalgia and sentiment with these albums as our fondest memories are associated with them. These are albums we LOVE.

- Henry Polk

P.S. We'll be posting new additions to the '80s list project from Amoeba staff members on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. See all entries in our '80s list series.

P.P.S. The '80s List Book is available for sale at Amoeba Hollywood.


Aaron Aldorisio
Spacemen 3 – The Perfect Prescription (1987)
Sonic Youth – Sister (1987)
The Go-Betweens – Liberty Belle & The Black Diamond Express (1986)
Felt – Forever Breathes The Lonely Word (1986)
The Frogs – It’s Only Right & Natural (1989)
The Stone Roses – The Stone Roses (1989)
The Fall – Hex Induction Hour (1982)
Galaxie 500 – On Fire (1989)
Psychic TV – Dreams Less Sweet (1983)
The Bats – Daddy’s Highway (1987)

One day at Amoeba Hollywood I proclaimed that Aztec Camera's 1983 release High Land, Hard Rain was one of the best records of the '80s. This single statement eventually led to over 200 Amoebites ranking their top 10 favorite albums from the ‘80s. 

From the beginning we realized that it was impossible for most of us to condense our favorites from all genres into a tiny top ten list. So, we limited our lists to Rock/Pop and its sub-genres like punk, metal, goth, and new wave. Even so, it was a difficult selection process because not only are there hundreds of amazing records to consider, there is also the added dynamic of time. 

The '80s were a long time ago and the music has had many years to gestate. We have a deep sense of nostalgia and sentiment with these albums as our fondest memories are associated with them. These are albums we LOVE.

-  Henry Polk

Today, November 22nd, is the release date of the CD version of Trent Reznor's remastered version of his group Nine Inch Nail's groundbreaking 1989 debut Pretty Hate Machine (the double vinyl version of this remastered  version follows in two weeks on December 7th). This remastered version of the 21 year old industrial rock album, fittingly retitled Pretty Hate Machine: 2010 Remaster, should not be confused with another reissue of the same album from five years ago by his old label (now out of print).

That 2005 version was not overseen by the ever meticulous Reznor, who completely wrote, arranged, programmed and performed the original album and who oversaw the new digital remastering from the newly unearthed original tapes with NIN engineer Tom Baker. The new remastered version (now an eleven song album) includes a bonus track, NIN's version of Queen's "Get Down Make Love." This song, as any true NIN fan will tell you, was originally the B-side to the single version of the album track "Sin" and was produced by Al Jourgensen under the alias Hypo Luxa. This brand new NIN remastered re-release follows Reznor's recent success at scoring, in collaboration with Atticus Ross, the soundtrack for David Fincher's popular movie The Social Network. But what makes this remastered version of Pretty Hate Machine worth getting, especially if you own(ed) the original, is that Reznor has totally cleaned up and revamped the sound. It's now louder and sparklier, with the vocals and instrumental mix sounding more clean and cohesive than ever. I say go to Amoeba and get it, or wait two weeks for the vinyl version to be released. Meantime, here is NIN doing a supercharged version of the album track "Sin" live at Woodstock 1994.