388 of 1001 Albums: Guided By Voices' Alien Lanes

Guided By Voices has one of those staple 90's sound in it, and they seem to be the ones who drove it into existence. There are some obvious other bands from the 90's that seem like they took a note from their book and followed suit. Guided By Voices though has some really catchy sounds that stick to this raw formula. While I wished they would have cleaned it up a bit I think they sound good, and keep it chill.

History: The album has some of the most mixed reviews I've seen thus far on the list. With some claiming it was a huge failure, and others noting that it is one of the best albums of the 90's. I'm sure the musicians are happy with the turn out of the album though considering they claim that it cost more than a few dollars to make, and they earned all their money back and then some from the album.

Wednesday Movie Night: Tommy Boy (1995)

This movie came out in 1995 when I was 6, and not allowed to watch adult movies. It's understandable though. Even though I do believe I would have laughed more then than I did as an adult, as slapstick humor has become less appealing with age. What works though is the friendship between David Spade and Chris Farley who don't ever have to force the humor. For some reason Farley's character seems like a poor schmuck you just feel for.

Summary: Tommy is not too smart, he's immature, and isn't aspiring to much. He's also a heir to an auto part company, but after his father dies he's left having to battle out his relatives who are married into the family. His father has married a woman who's only goal is basically to earn more money from the empire, whether that means selling it and losing it from the family, she doesn't care. Tommy is determined to keep his dad's name alive through the business though, and sets out to keep it alive with the help of the man also working for his dad, Richard.

260 of 1001 Movies: Dead Man (1995)

So I did't know what type of Western Dead Man might be when I put it on to watch. It's definitely different and meshes the aspects of Western well with the unique way that Jim Jarmusch was also trying to convey his film. It also has these smaller stars who pop up throughout the movie who are recognizable faces, but if you're like me you're trying to place what movie you saw them in before, except unless those faces were John Hurt or Johnny Depp. The movie though has some really long and drawn out scenes though, so it could have been shorter.

Summary: Accountant's, William Blake, journey into the west has been anything but simple. After first not finding a good welcome at the place he was hoping to work he meets a lady that lifts some minor hopes, but after her fiance arrives home he finds her in bed with William, and shoots her dead. To defend himself William shoots her fiance, killing him. John though is upset at the death of his son and is determined to find William and bring him to justice. William meets a North American man, Nobody, who helps him though on the run, and guides him into a world unknown.

193 of 1001 Movies: Casino (1995)

It seems that Casino and The Departed rank at the top of Martin Scorsese directed mob films. I think that I liked Casino a bit more. You have characters that you just absolutely loathe, and then others that you just wish would stop making such terrible decisions. The three characters that the movies revolve around though are a mix of the good and bad, but all ultimately making decisions that break the law. What is intriguing is how the top character, Sam, blames everyone as he is suffering a downfall, but anyone watching can trace it to his own bad choices outside of the ones he blames.

Summary: There are two sides to Las Vegas in this movie. The glitzy, glamorous one that people go to for entertainment and winnings, and the darker side where violence, losing, and greed comes in. Sam has moved to Vegas and now basically manages a Casino, and not long after his friend Nicky follows along to keep the odds in place with his ruthless ability to be violent and scary. They both have their downfalls though. With Sam it becomes a woman he falls in love for,but doesn't return his love, Ginger. He'll do anything for her to keep her. For Nicky the violent power and the addictions he has become more and more apart of him to the point he doesn't care what happens to him.

Saturday Movies: Bad Boys (1995)

Michael Bay is known as a few things depending on your view of his movies. He modernized action movies or he killed the genre as you know it. It seems like people are split on his movies, but there is one that many can agree on, Bad Boys. The movie blends humor and action, and even steals a line from the famous tune that was the theme of the most popular reality show of the 90's, Cops.  Most would credit the leads though for making this one of the more popular Michael Bay movies outside of Transformers.

Summary:  When drugs are robbed from security, Michael and Marcus are sent on the case. Michael and Marcus are two different people though, and the clashing of the personalities can make it difficult to work together. Mike is single and still likes to the ladies man, and Marcus is settled down with a wife and children. The guys lead two different lives but a complicated situation is about to make them see things from the other's perspective. One witness has to be hidden, and the only way she way will go into hiding is if she is with Michael, but Marcus is the only one able to rescue her at the moment, so he must pretend to be Michael, this makes Michael have to spend time at Marcus' house as him.

377 of 1001 Albums: The Verve's A Northern Soul

The Verve has to be one of the biggest bands of the 90s. This album doesn't contain the song you're probably thinking of though, "Bittersweet Symphony." We all loved it, and the vocals are recognizable anywhere, even on this album that was released prior. The band has a staple sound though that would only become stronger on following ones. The very nasal based vocals, the Oasis inspired indie rock sound, and so seem to be something the band was good at crafting to make work for themselves and give them their own distinct sound.

History: The band seemed to have a lot of friction throughout their duration of recording together. This album featured that very divided sound that seems to be happening behind the scenes in the band. From smashed windows, to drug use, the guys sounded like they were living like out of control rock stars. This album does show the progression of the band into the sound that would become their own though from the previous works that you would never even recognize them from. At the time of it's release the reception was better in the US than the UK, though it has become more critically acclaimed in the UK over time.

140 of 1001 Movies: Clueless (1995)

So Amy Heckerling is behind some of the more popular 80's and 90's films you've heard of like Look Who's Talking and Fast Time at Ridgemont High. She also directed Clueless, and I have to say if this is the type of comedy she directs I'm looking forward to the Sean Penn led movie. Clueless is goofy, but there is something about the cast that pulls you in, and gets you to laughing at times. Perhaps, because there is a bit of truth in the dynamics she has created in the characters, and she throws together the most awkward of high school situations to make a movie that really highlights the 1990's.

Summary: Cher is a high school living in Beverly Hills, and she feels she is just an everyday teen that wants to improve the lives of others, particularly if this can lead to her own gain as well. While Cher is dim in a lot of ways she also does seem to have intelligence in socializing and a passion for helping others in her own misguided way. She lives with her dad, and her ex-stepbrother often visits. She also has the companionship of her friend, Dionne, and finds a new project to makeover in new student, Tai. Cher finds the more she involves herself in others lives though, that maybe it is her own life that needs analyzing.

138 of 1001 Movies: The Brave Hearted Will Take Away the Bride (1995)

So I had my first Bollywood experience. It really is almost it's whole genre on it's own. What more appropriate way to be introduced to Bollywood than with it's biggest hit ever to come from that area of film than, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenege, or translated The Brave Hearted Will Take Away the Bride. This film is very different in tone than anything you would watch from any other country I've seen movies from. It's colorful, it's very positive, musical, and over the top romantic with no holding back. The director, Aditya Chopra just wanted to force as much goodness into a film as he could. I will say it definitely makes sense now as to how much Baz Luhrmann is inspired by Bollywood, so when you watch The Great Gatsby just think it's Bollywood's version of it, except without any Hindu.

Summary: Two Indians living in London are phasing out of their youth, and moving into adulthood. They both value their heritage, but their fathers respond very differently to how they adhere to their values. Simran's father has raised her in a very conservative Hindu household, while Raj's father is more liberal about the approach of his culture, and has allowed his son to enjoy the life of living in London's atmosphere as well. When the two go on a tour of Switzerland together, they both fall in love, but Simran is already arranged to marry another man in India preventing Raj from being able to be with her. Raj will stop at nothing to make it possible for the two to be together, and travels to India to win over her family to have her hand in marriage.

134 of 1001 Movies: Braveheart (1995)

Long before the likes of Apocolypto and The Passion of the Christ, was Braveheart. Not only did he star in Braveheart, but he directed the film, which would go on to win five academy awards. In the line of his other movies it seems to depict much of the same thing. A strong male lead who is out to free to his people. With a cast that lets mainly Mel Gibson shine, it is a well built movie that will be for those who enjoy a good empowering man movie.

After William Wallace has his newly bride executed by the English he begins to lead an uprising against Edward Longshanks, who rules Scotland with an iron fist. Not only does he invade villages to rule, but he allows his soldiers to take women from their husbands in the places they are stationed. William already knows the price paid to try to free their country, and he hasn't forgotten the death of his father and brother.  During his conquests he makes unlikely allies and finds unknown enemies.

368 of 1001 Albums: Oasis' (What's the Story) Morning Glory?

Due to a shake up on the list everything got moved around, so I'm just starting at the current top, and that lands me in 1995 with Oasis. Their follow up to Definitely Maybe is what landed the band from indie to a worldwide success proving to be a huge leap for British Indie music. Critics weren't as hot about it though. If you're familiar with the 90s though this sounds right up the alley of what tunes you would have been hearing around then.

The Gallagher brothers are sort of known for their spats not only with others, but most notably each other, so when recording this album it's no surprise that the had one when disputing over vocals for the songs, "Wonderwall" and "Don't Look Back in Anger. First and foremost though, Oasis seems passionate about the music they are making, and you can hear that throughout the album.