As a music critic for a college newspaper, I am continually bombarded with new music, most of which falls in the genre of alternative.

But as 1997 winds down, the word alternative has come to mean very little, as the genre has expanded itself to include the amazingly original sounds of Chumbawamba, Forest For The Trees and Ashley MacIsaac.

It was definitely a unique year in music, which made it even harder to pick the best records, debuts, singles, soundtracks and performances of the year. But after days of narrowing the lists, I have compiled the Moss Pit Bests of 1997. Enjoy.

Best Albums of 1997

10. Radiohead, “OK Computer”

9. Deftones, “Around The Fur”

8. Ben Folds Five, “Whatever And Ever Amen”

7. House of Large Sizes, “Glass Cockpit”

6. Sugar Ray, “Floored”

5. Third Eye Blind, “3b”

4. Prodigy, “Fat Of The Land”

3. The Dear Janes, “No Skin”

2. Nerf Herder, “Nerf Herder”

1. Chumbawamba, “Tubthumper”

Best Debuts of 1997

10. Jane Jensen, “Comic Book Whore”

9. Bill White Acre, “Billy’s Not Bitter”

8. Forest For The Trees, “Forest For The Trees”

7. Ashley MacIsaac, “Hi, How Are You Today?”

6. Limp Bizkit, “Three Dollar Bill Y’All$”

5. Tonic, “Lemon Parade”

4. Bloodhound Gang, “One Fierce Beer Coaster”

3. Third Eye Blind, “3b”

2. The Dear Janes, “No Skin”

1. Nerf Herder, “Nerf Herder”

Best Singles of 1997

25. “The Perfect Drug,” Nine Inch Nails

24. “Sleepy Maggie,” Ashley MacIsaac

23. “The Battle Of Who Could Care Less,” Ben Folds Five

22. “Wrong Way,” Sublime

21. “If You Could Only See,” Tonic

20. “Medicine,” Orbit

19. “Fritz’s Corner,” Local H

18. “Dream,” Forest For The Trees

17. “She Cries Your Name,” Beth Orton

16. “Insinuation,” Folk Implosion

15. “Van Halen,” Nerf Herder

14. “Gap,” 311

13. “Chick Magnet,” MXPX

12. “Not An Addict,” K’s Choice

11. “Place Your Hands,” Reef

10. “Breathe,” Prodigy

9. “Semi-Charmed Life,” Third Eye Blind

8. “Can’t You Trip Like I Do,” Filter with The Crystal Method

7. “Jenny Says,” Cowboy Mouth

6. “Naked Eye,” Luscious Jackson

5. “Tubthumping,” Chumbawamba

4. “Eye,” Smashing Pumpkins

3. “Walkin’ On The Sun,” Smash Mouth

2. “That’s When I Reach For My Revolver,” Moby

1. “Fly,” Sugar Ray

Best Live Performances of 1997

10. The Urge, People’s

9. Sonia Dada, People’s

8. Metallica, Hilton Coliseum

7. Weezer, Westfair Amphitheatre

6. Rusted Root, Supertoad

5. 311, Westfair Amphitheatre

4. Nerf Herder, DotFest

3. Bob Mould, People’s

2. Cowboy Mouth, DotFest

1. Ashley MacIsaac, M-Shop

Best Soundtracks of 1997

5. “Romeo and Juliet Volume 2”

4. “Lost Highway”

3. “The Saint”

2. “A Life Less Ordinary”

1. “Spawn”

Buzzkills of 1997

10. Country music. Once again, I tried to enjoy it, but I just can’t. I did discover, however, that watching the Country Music Network without volume does hold some entertainment value.

9. Beastie Boys. I love ’em, but come on, stop messing with the Tibetans and record a damn album. How long has it been now since “Ill Communication”?

8. Covers of “Stayin’ Alive.” Wyclef Jean took a jump on the N-Trance bandwagon and I nearly lost all of the respect I had for the man. Counting soundtracks (“Hurricane Streets” and “Supercop”), there have been a half dozen “Stayin’ Alive” remakes in the last two years.

Here’s a suggestion for these people — originality.

7. Insane Clown Posse. These two jokers are exactly that — a joke. The duo’s first record was pulled from the shelf the day after it hit stores.

Apparently, Disney owned the record company that released the album and when parents across the country went nuts on the vulgar content of ICP, the company felt the band was ruining its reputation.

You just have to wonder why Mr. Disney Record Guy didn’t listen to the record before distributing thousands of copies it.

6. Bailey 7. I am amazed that KKDM’s pathetic-excuse-for-a-disc-jockey lasted as long as she did. If I wanted to listen to an annoying woman babble on about nothing, I would listen to Amy Sweet (at least she’s good-looking).

5. Marilyn Manson. The only person to make the Moss Pit Buzzkills list two years in a row, the shock rock headbanger gave a memorable performance of “Beautiful People” at the “MTV Video Awards” in September that ended in the announcement, “Christianity is fascism.”

Go back to the “Wonder Years,” freak.

4. Hanson. Although I sort of like Hanson and the brothers’ summer anthem “MMM Bop,” I must include them on the Buzzkills list because I am a member of the media, and the media is required to meet a certain quota of Hanson rips each month — I am a few behind.

3. Spice Girls. I am also responsible for a certain number of Spice Girls rips each month, which I have no problem with at all.

Here’s a good one for you: None of the incoherent rambling in the Spice Girls’ “Wannabe” resembles anything even close to a logical thought.

Everyone is now dumber for having heard that stupid song so many times.

2. Rusty Poehner. It’s no secret the M-Shop Coordinator is never happy with the media coverage of their shows, but hanging my articles up in her office with phrases like “you are a tool” and “asshole” markered over them is taking it a little far.

What is sad is that our university dollars are paying her to act in such a “professional” manner.

1. Vanilla Ice. My heart dropped last March when I heard about the Iceman’s spring break escapade in South Padre.

How could the man I have admired for years make his comeback as a gangsta? My answer: that wasn’t really his comeback. He was just doing a little experimenting (we all make mistakes) and he will be back to his old self for a real comeback in 1998.

Ahh yeah.

---

Corey Moss is a junior in journalism and mass communication from Urbandale.