1989 Punk Album Steals All-Time Top Spot
Estonian punk band J.M.K.E's “Külmale maale” (To the Cold Country) has been named as the best ever album in Estonia by a jury of 102 experts. A public poll with the same question is due to be revealed on Friday.
Weekly Eesti Ekspress compiled rankings of 100 of the best albums with J.M.K.E's album beating Vaiko Eplik's “6: Varuelu” (6: Secret Life). The album of 12 songs was released in Estonia and Finland in 1989, at a time Estonia was breaking free of the Soviet Union.
Siim Nestor, a music critic for Eesti Ekspress, said most Estonian music during the end of the 1980s was political, criticizing the rulers and fighting for rights, but “To the Cold Country” was more apocalyptic, even making fun of perestroika, which gave Estonia a chance to escape the Soviet Union.
The rest of the top 10 are:
2. Vaiko Eplik “6: Varielu” (Secret Life), 2012
3. Gunnar Graps ja Magnetic Band “Roosid papale” (Roses for Papa), 1982
4. HU? “Film,” 2008
5. Ruja “Ruja,” 1982
6. Vaiko Eplik ja Eliit “3: Kosmoseodüsseia” (Space Odyssey), 2008
7. Metro Luminal “Metro Luminal/Coca Cola,” 1990
8. Sven Grünberg “Hingus” (Breath), 1981
9. Apelsin “Apelsin,” 1981
10. Röövel Ööbik “Popsubterranea,” 1992
The rest of the list can be viewed here.
ERR's Radio 2 has completed a public poll on the exact same question and will reveal the standings on Friday on a 10-hour special radio program, from 10 am, which can be listened to here.