Artist: The Orchids
Year: 1991
OK, we have finally reached Casey Kasem territory. For those keeping track, the Orchids are the fifth and final band* from the Sarah stable to appear on this list. To me, the songs and non-album singles surrounding the melancholy pop of the 'Lyceum' era will always be a cut above the rest, but there were a couple of singles, an EP and one long player (for some of you, perhaps two) from the '90s that are absolute must haves. My two just-miss candidates for the countdown were "Something For The Longing" and "Bemused, Confused and Bedraggled," but I decided to go off the board a bit with an album track from the 'Unholy Soul' album. Although this bugged the 7" purists that worshiped the label, yes, there were occasional full-length albums on Sarah. For those trivia buffs out there, I believe 'Lyceum' was Sarah's first ever 10", and 'Unholy Soul was the label's fifth 12".
If you were around for last year's list of my 50 favorite UK indie singles from the '80s, then you know the Orchids made the top 10. There were a couple of spirited comments on that particular post from some old friends who shared their favorite songs from this band. My choice of "Peaches" will please one of them, and I imagine I'm going to catch hell from the other. So, in advance, let me apologize to our pal Dirk. About this time a year ago I went on the record saying "Something For the Longing" was my No. 1 from the Orchids, but I have listened to "Peaches" many times since then, and I have grown to love the band's more mature sound... as well as the addition of Pauline Hynds' vocals. Yes, Friend of Rachel Worth, I'm backing you on this one.
The Orchids reunited about a decade ago and have released three albums since 2007. If anyone wants to put in the good word for any of these releases, I would love to hear about them.
*Technically, there is another Sarah band coming up, but my selection is from a time when they weren't on the label.
Top 100 Songs From the 1990s (So Far...)
100. Die Funf Fruende - JETZT!
99. Save Ferris - Come on Eileen (Night Mix)
98. World Party - Put the Message in the Box
97. Gorky's Zygotic Mynci - Merched Yn Neud Gwallt Eu Gilydd
96. The Ocean Blue - Sublime
95. Puffy Ami Yumi - Wild Girls on Circuit
94. The Muffs - Oh Nina
93. Smoking Popes - Need You Around
92. The Feelies - Sooner or Later
91. Luscious Jackson - Naked Eye
90. The Lemonheads - Into Your Arms
89. fIREHOSE - Disciples of the 3-Way
88. The Sugargliders - Letter From a Lifeboat
87. Brian Wilson and Van Dyke Parks - Orange Crate Art
86. Vegas - Walk Into the Wind
85. k.d. lang - Miss Chatelaine
84. Robert Crenshaw - All I Want to Do Is Be With You
83. The Pretenders - I'm Not in Love
82. Jeffrey Foskett - Thru My Window
81. Superchunk - Slack Motherfucker
80. Blondie - Maria
79. Sloan - Everything You've Done Wrong
78. Brighter - Does Love Last Forever?
77. The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion - History of Lies
76. Squeeze - Some Fantastic Place
75. Paul Weller - Uh Huh, Oh Yeh
74. Maria McKee - I'm Gonna Soothe You
73. Marine Research - Parallel Horizontal
72. Morrissey - Our Frank
71. Annie Lennox - No More 'I Love Yous'
70. Jellyfish - The King Is Half Undressed
69. The La's - Timeless Melody
68. Jonathan Richman - Surrender
67. Kirsty MacColl - Titanic Days
66. Roddy Frame - Reason for Living
65. The Divine Comedy - Becoming More Like Alfie
64. Siouxsie and the Banshees - Kiss Them For Me
63. Electronic - Get the Message
62. Scritti Politti - Brushed With Oil, Dusted With Powder
61. The Clean - Draw(in)g to a (W)hole
60. The Chamber Strings - Telegram
59. David Bowie - Something in the Air
58. Lambchop - Your Fucking Sunny Day
57. James - Laid
56. Suede - Metal Mickey
55. Blueboy - Popkiss
54. The Sundays - Here's Where the Story Ends
53. Brendan Benson - I'm Blessed
52. The Lucksmiths - Untidy Towns
51. Heavenly - Atta Girl
50. Freedy Johnston - Responsible
49. Neil Finn - She Will Have Her Way
48. Nick Heyward - Kite
47. Bjork - Big Time Sensuality
46. Velocity Girl - I Can't Stop Smiling
45. Buzzcocks - Innocent
44. Aztec Camera - Spanish Horses
43. Sugar - Gee Angel
42. Marshall Crenshaw - What Do You Dream Of?
41. The High Llamas - The Sun Beats Down
5 comments:
...and the hits (to some people, certainly) keep on coming! Kudos Brian for keeping up this great series!
This terrific series has introduced me to some choice music that I missed in the 1990's and re-introduced me to some that I'd half forgotten. There are a few names on my mental list that I'm expecting to see in your top 40, but as for the rest....? I can't wait to see what's over the horizon.
Boyracer...?
All 3 of the newer LPs are worth a listen. The latter 2 especially. Bit more polished a bit more grown up but a real mix of styles and full of creativity
Love this band, although my favorite song (hard to pick just one, man! They're liker aural potato chips!) would probably be Checking In Checking out. Have yet to pick up the newest and have heard great things.
Post a Comment