Rock critic KEN TUCKER picks the best pop music of 1994. He reviews his ten favorite new albums: The Mavericks, "What a Crying Shame" (MCA); Sam Phillips, "Martinis and Bikinis" (Virgin); L7, "Hungry for Stink" (Warner Bros.); Joni Mitchell, "Turbulent Indigo" (Warner Bros.); Pearl Jam, "Vitalogy" (Epic); Liz Phair, "Whip-Smart" (Atlantic); Sugar, "File Under Easy Listening" (Rykodisc); Oasis, "Definitely Maybe" (Sony); Madonna, "Bedtime Stories" (Warner Bros.); and Pretenders, "Last of the Independents" (Warner Bros.). His runners-up include Sheryl Crow's "Tuesday Night Music Club", Richard Thompson's "Mirror Blue", and Mark Chesnutt's, "What a Way to Live". TUCKER plays some samples of the top ten and talks about what's alternative and what's mainstream.
Copyright 1994 Fresh Air