1995: THE YEAR IN REVIEW : MIKE BOEHM’S TOP 10 ALBUMS OF 1995

1. (Tie) Mark Cutler, “Mark Cutler & Useful Things” (Potter’s Field Records, P.O. Box 521, Astor Station, Boston, MA 02123) and Mark Davis, “You Came Screaming” (Cutlet Records, 1101 Douglas St., Los Angeles, CA 90026). The two albums I couldn’t stop listening to in ’95 were do-it-yourself releases. Cutler, former front man of Boston’s Raindogs, works in a classic Dylan/Petty mode; there’s something fearsomely wild in his grim visions of frustration and loss. Davis’ first album is graced by superb melodies and hall-of-fame influences. His intensely realized subject is the embattled condition of idealism in a fallen world.

* 3. Garbage, “Garbage” (Almo Sounds). Techno beats and pop-rock hooks make relationship hell a place worth revisiting.

* 4. Neil Young, “Mirror Ball” (Reprise). A roaring meeting between an old master and young lions (Pearl Jam) who fell in with him splendidly.

* 5. Yo La Tengo, “Electr-o-pura” (Matador). This New Jersey band discovered fresh and alluring variations on the Velvet Underground’s influential brand of artistically ambitious garage rock.

* 6. Elastica, “Elastica” (DGC). Just an updating of ‘70s New Wave influences, but with lots of zing.

* 7. Matthew Sweet, “100% Fun” (Zoo). Another miner of the melodic pop-rock tradition, with tunes strong enough and voice distinctive enough to find his own place within it.

* 8. Tricky, “Maxinquaye” (Island). A brooding merger of pop with hip-hop that recalls the inward ache and social malaise of Sly’s “There’s a Riot Goin’ On.”

* 9. Sonny Landreth, “South of I-10” (Zoo). Soulful singing and writing, ace guests and Landreth’s bold, bracing slide guitar made for a spicy and meaningful package of Louisiana rock.

* 10. PJ Harvey, “To Bring You My Love” (Island). Her understanding of the blues and her dramatic sound palette set Harvey apart from the rest of our alterna-rock divas.

MIKE BOEHM’S FAVORITE

LOCAL ALBUMS

* 1. Mark Davis, “You Came Screaming” (Cutlet).

* 2. One Hit Wonder, “Tug of War” (Lethal) and “Where’s the World?” (Rockworld). Two EPs of intelligent, tuneful and hard-hitting punk-pop.

* 3. Rick Shea, “The Buffalo Show” (Major Label). Lovely, tradition-steeped country music that left the beaten path to probe involving mysteries.

* 4. Chris Gaffney, “Loser’s Paradise” (HighTone). A typically versatile sampling of country, rock and R & B.

* 5. Water, “Nipple” (MCA). A well-crafted song cycle that undulated between peaks of inspiration and troughs of gloom.

* 6. Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys, “Swingin’ West” (HighTone). Funny, exuberant, infectiously playful swingin’ country music.

* 7. D/Railed, “D/Railed” (no label). An nice mix of driving psychedelia and folk- and country-rock jaunts.

* 8. Willoughby, “Be Better Soon” (Fuzz Harris). Equally at home with clenched rockers and wistful balladry.

* 9. The Joykiller, “The Joykiller” (Epitaph). A careening, slam-banging punk album that you can sing along to.

* 10. Lutefisk, “Deliver From Porcelain: Theme and Variations” (Bong Load). Proof that a good enough pop song will be impervious to almost any amount of rough and noisy handling.

MIKE BOEHM’S FAVORITE POP CONCERTS

* 1. Ray Davies, Galaxy Concert Theatre, Oct. 9 and 11.

* 2. Patti Smith, Coach House, Sept. 8.

* 3. The Kinks, House of Blues, July 12.

* 4. Linda’s Doll Hut, with any prime local band playing.

* 5. Willie Nelson/Leon Russell, Coach House, Dec. 18.

* 6. The Border Tour, with Tish Hinojosa, Butch Hancock, Don Walser and Santiago Jimenez Jr., Galaxy, March 23.

* 7. Jann Browne/Chris Gaffney & the Cold Hard Facts, Coach House, Feb. 3.

* 8. Hole/Mike Watt at Lollapalooza, Irvine Meadows, Aug. 14.

* 9. The Offspring at Bren Events Center, March 24.

* 10. Social Distortion at “Board in O.C.,” Olympic Velodrome, Cal State Dominguez Hills, May 6.