Some interesting records nominated in the impromptu Guess 1997’s Top Three Albums thing that’s been occurring hereabouts for the last day. Some interesting records, plus Aquarium by Aqua, which I so wish was a correct suggestion (I was still working in a record store in this year; must have sold hundreds of copies of that LP, all without it thawing my frozen heart). That so many different albums were mentioned in dispatches goes to bolster the argument that ’97 was an astonishingly fertile plateau for recorded music – as well as highlighting just how subjective our sonic understanding can be.
Homework, the début Daft Punk album, received a couple of recommendations – I can tell why; that sense of slightly slanted, life-affirming electronica segued with voguish appreciation. Similarly, Primal Scream’s Vanishing Point was a common selection – albeit not something for my tastes (subjective, see). I was particularly intrigued by Bryan Drummond’s choice of Bob Dylan’s Time Out Of Mind as his most significant album of the year – that’s something I’m going to have to follow up.
To my surprise, no-one hit upon all three records – this week on LGM: articles on each, in a little more detail than usual. Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space is a given, whilst the cultural impact of OK Computer means that I’d be negligent for not including. As for the third – well, there’ll be words appearing here in a few days. In the meantime, congrats to @maffrj, the first person to get two out of three correct – a significant album from 1997 will be in the post just as soon as I receive your selection.
Primal Scream / Trainspotting
Lazer Guided Melody - Tangents From Listening To Too Many Records 
super furry animals
A band I could never get to grips with. Made a real effort – an ex was a fan – but lost in the subjective swash, alas.
An ouragously remiss comment. SFA are one of the most important, progressive and original British bands of the last 20 years. I’ve enjoyed your blog, but such a simple dismissal of the SFA wares has me spewing vitriol at my ipad
@BartGunn – ack…well… you can’t please all of the punters all of the time. That’s the subjective nature of music appreciation I guess. Eye of the beholder, and all that (albeit no dismissals are every simple, at least hereabouts).
Still, if I’m wrong, do tell – always open to rebuttals, especially if well argued. Guest posts always welcome.
My preference would be for LGM to go and listen to SFA’s ‘Radiator’ and reasses it’s omission from the Best Albums of 1997! Allmusic 4.5/5; Pitchfork 8.6/10; Tiny Mix Tapes 5/5……..
Hmm – maybe you’d be on slightly stronger ground with Guerilla, which I’d argue is their most engaging LP.
Radiator isn’t a bad album by any stretch, but it’s still the sound of a band honing their craft, en route to their own particular summit, not yet fully formed. It’s not helped by a dated, ’90’s production (which many bands of that time suffer from). Compare this record to – for example – Giant Steps by the Boo Radleys (similar ground and all that), and there’s only one winner.
“Hermann loves Pauline and Pauline loves Hermann
They made love giving birth to a little German
They called him MC Squared because he raps like no other
An asthma sufferer, like Ernesto Guevara”
You won’t find a better opening verse to many songs. Not sure I agree about the poor production or that Guerilla is a better album as a whole, though it most definitely has some top notch tracks on it.
We’ll agree to differ on this one then!
@BartGunn – another lyric from a 1997 record to compare and contrast?
You stalk the house in a low-cut blouse :
“Oh Christ, another stifled Friday night !”
And the Fulham Road lights stretch and invite into the night
Well, I was fifteen, what could I know ?
But yeah, let’s agree to differ. 1998 soon. Some interesting choices.