1. Teardrop
Liz Fraser's voice on this just wraps around you, doesn't it? It’s pure mid-90s trip-hop, the kind that felt like a secret language being broadcast from some foggy, neon-lit city. The beat is so understated yet profoundly heavy, a perfect example of how electronic music could convey deep emotional weight without screaming about it. Still sends shivers.
2. Paranoid Android
This one still feels like a benchmark. It’s so ambitious, shifting gears three times without ever losing its unsettling grip. Thom Yorke’s wail, those jarring guitar breaks, the whole thing just builds and crumbles in a way that truly redefined what alternative rock could be. A chaotic masterpiece that felt like the future back then.
3. Windowlicker
Richard D. James was always pushing boundaries, but 'Windowlicker' felt like a direct transmission from another dimension. That bassline, those chopped-up vocals, the sheer, audacious weirdness of it all. It wasn't just music; it was an experience, a statement that electronic sounds could be both utterly alien and strangely, morbidly groovy. Pure brain-melt.
4. The Satanic Satanist
Before they hit the mainstream, this album was a revelation. It had this wild, psychedelic energy, but with melodies that just dug right into your brain. It felt like a band figuring out how to blend classic rock swagger with indie sensibilities, crafting something both familiar and totally fresh. A definite 00s indie gem.
5. Diamond Stitching
The guitars on this are just ridiculous in the best way. Maps & Atlases had this ability to weave incredibly complex, almost impossible-sounding patterns that were still undeniably catchy. It's math rock that never feels academic, always energetic and alive. The rhythmic interplay here still makes my head spin, trying to track each part.
6. DAYLIGHT DOOM
HEALTH always hits different, and 'DAYLIGHT DOOM' is just this raw, grinding, industrial electronic assault. It’s got that aggressive, almost confrontational energy that some of the best 00s experimental electronic and noise acts had. It's not pretty, but it's utterly compelling, a visceral sonic punch that demands your attention.
7. Inertiatic ESP (Unfinished Original Recordings Of De-Loused In The Comatorium)
Hearing these early versions of *De-Loused* tracks is like peering behind the curtain. 'Inertiatic ESP' here is even raw, the frantic energy almost overwhelming. It highlights the sheer, unbridled chaos and brilliance that defined The Mars Volta, a band that pushed progressive rock into genuinely uncharted, intense territory. Still feels vital.
8. Sour Times
This track is just dripping with atmosphere. Beth Gibbons’ voice is so haunting, perfectly complemented by that dusty, cinematic beat and those signature scratches. Portishead created a sound world here that felt both timeless and deeply rooted in the 90s electronic scene. It's melancholic beauty, pure and unfiltered.
