European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 31, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Pops Best of �?T92 Are leftovers from �?T91 by Robert Hilburn los Angeles times pop music in 1992 lived for the most part in the creative Shadow of 1991. The greatest excitement was onstage rather than on record a and the most celebrated Tours relied heavily on material from 1991 albums u2 s zoo to extravaganza the guns n roses Metallica stadium marathons and the lollapalooza festival  Many of the year s most captivating singles were drawn from last year s albums a from u2 s reflective one to guns n roses melancholy november rain. A tits does t mean that 1992 was void of imagination and heart on record. The Best new music was simply harder to find than in 1991, when Many of the top artists a including u2 and nirvana a were also the top Sellers. Radio airplay and the sales charts the last 12 months were dominated by the likes of country lightweight Billy Ray Cyrus and pop sledgehammer Michael Bolton. Pop excellence meanwhile was achieved primarily by Veteran artists without a deep sales base or by newcomers too Radical for mainstream tastes. The 1992 list is headed by the fearless vision and Independent spirit of ministry s psalm 69. This Chicago Industrial Rock band specializes in a raw yet soulful sonic assault that May tap into the darkness of contemporary alienation and anger More uncompromisingly than anything else in Rock. Elements of social commentary and struggle were also present in other key albums of 1992, including those by arrested development los Lobos and the disposable heroes of hiphop Risy. But other noteworthy albums this year dealt with More personal and introspective matters a from Bruce Springsteen s Celebration of love and family to pm Harvey s fiery examination of the conflicts of relationships. Here is my list of the most accomplished and affecting albums of 1992 ministry psalm 69 sire Warner Bros. Al Jourgensen the group s Leader is the Keith Richards of Industrial Rock and this dark foreboding collection is his exile on main Street a an expression of alienation Neil Young so unbending that it makes the social disenchantment of most rival Rock bands seem like kids stuff. Likely to be one of the most influential works of the 90s, the album a a Complex mix of Jackhammer guitar Jolt hyperactive dance club pulse and almost symphonic Beauty a is so far from mainstream Rock sensibilities that it has sold less since its july release than the 410,000 that Whitney Houston s the bodyguard album sold in a single week this month. Rejecting language As insufficient to convey his intensity Jourgensen employs Only occasional outcries or sound bites As guideposts on a guitar driven instrumental assault that lashes out at a world that he Seesaw so mired in chaos and Compromise that it no longer seems to make sense to him. Bruce Springsteen Lucky town Columbia. Springsteen ran into such a backlash this year that there was grumbling from former supporters at virtually every turn. That the new band was too sterile that there weren t enough old songs in the shows even that he no longer showed desire on stage. But the most absurd complaint was that Springsteen was t saying anything new in his music. Until now Springsteen was the loner and underdog who spoke about reaching for the emotional Comfort of better Days. In the heart of this album and the companion human touch Springsteen a remarried and the father of two children a celebrates the better Days in some of the most moving songs he has Ever written. Los Lobos Kiko slash Warner Bros. In a stirring return by los Lobos to the eloquence and purpose of 1987 s by the Light of the Moon this collection was especially Welcome when it arrived in the stores last Spring just after the los Angeles riots. Kiko offered much of the Cross cultural warmth of Paul Simon s Graceland at a time when the City needed Healing. But time has t diminished its Heartfelt message and textures. Lou Reed magic and loss sire Warner Bros. The subject is death and Reed explores it with As penetrating and poetic an Eye As anyone in pop has Ever turned to it. In this moving exercise inspired by the deaths of two friends Reed emerges from his questioning and sadness with an even Richer appreciation of life. The Jesus and Mary Chain Honey s dead def american. One of Rock s great bands the Mary Chain bombed on the summer lollapalooza tour where Daylight backdrops and the band s rigid ant performance attitude caused much of the audience to tune out. So Brothers Jim and William Reid the London based band s guiding forces a continue to search for an audience in this country. Meanwhile they go on making extraordinary influential albums. . Automatic for the people Warner Bros. After the traces of mainstream frivolity in 1988 s Green it was hard to picture this band Ever regaining the . Rock leadership role it enjoyed during its remarkable murmur to document stretch. But this deftly crafted hauntingly introspective collection makes you wonder How you have Ever doubted their resolve. Neil Young Harvest Moon reprise. Far More than simply a sequel to 1972 s celebrated Harvest this acoustic album provides a tender series of looks on life s changing ideals and dreams. In from Hank to Hendrix Young could either be talking about a loved one or simply the Power of music itself Quot i always expected that you would see me through i never believed in much but i believed in you the disposable heroes of hiphop Risy hypocrisy is the greatest luxury 4th amp b Way Island. Rapper Michael Franti and deejay Rono tse Are a Bridge Between the musical sophistication of arrested development base head and others in rap s new alternative Wing and the sociopolitical urgency of Public  Char top a singles 1.1 will always love you from the bodyguard a Whitney Houston 2. Rump Shaker wreck a effect 3. If i Ever fall in love Shai 4. In the still of the Nite i la remember Boyz ii men 5. I d die without you from Boomerang a . Dawn 6. Rhythm is a dancer snap 7. Good enough Bobby Brown 8. Saving forever for you Shanice 9. How do you talk to an Angel the Heights 10. Real love Mary j Blig top a albums 1. Soundtrack to the bodyguard various artists 2. Home for Christmas Amy Grant 3. Timeless the classics Michael Bolton 4. The Chase Garth Brooks 5. Some gave All Billy Ray Cyrus 6. Unplugged Eric Clapton 7 a very special Christmas 2 various artists 8 Christmas album Neil Diamond 9. Breathless Kenny g. 10. Beyond the season Garth Brooks country a singles 1. Don t let our love Start Suppin away a Vina Hill 2. She s got the rhythm and i got the blues a Alan Jackson 3. Somewhere other than the night Liberty 4 sure love Hal Ketchum 5 Burn one Down Clint Black 6 i Cross my heart George Strait 7. Walkaway Joe a Trisha Yearwood 8 lost and found Brooks amp Dunn 9. When she cries a restless heart 10 somebody paints the Wall Tracy Lawrencer amp by singles 1 i will always love you from the bodyguard Whitney Houston 2 if i Ever fall in love Shal 3 Rump Shaker wreck neglect 4. In the still of the Nite i la remember Boyz ii men 5 Here we go again i portrait 6 Good enough Bobby Brown 7 slow and sexy a Shabba ranks 8 love should brought you Home from Boomerang a Toni Braxton 9 baby in a for real natural High Aher 7 10 flex mad cobra classical 1. If you love me Cecilia Bartoll 2 Kathleen Battle at Carnegie Hall Kathleen rattle 3. In concert Carreras Domingo Pavarotti 4. Baroque duet Kathleen Battle Wynton Marsalis 5. Horowitz discovered treasures a Vladimir Horowitz 6. Amore a Luciano Pavarotti 7 Shostakovich 24 preludes and fugues a Keith Jarrett 8. The last recital for Israel Artur Rubenstein 9 Bach sonatas Keith Jarrett Michaiah Petri 10 Gorecki symphony no 3 up6haw. London sin Lometta editor s note billboard did not update its weekly charts this week because of the holidays compiled by by Tooer december 31, 1992 stripes Magazine 13