The music of 1994 was little more than a rehashing of past years, for the most part. Alternative music continued to make progress, surviving the suicide of "generational spokesman" and Nirvana leader Kurt Cobain, prompting tribute albums/songs from just about everyone.

Dinosaur rockers returned from the grave yet again as the Rolling Stones left the nursing home for the year's biggest concert tour, the Eagles reunited with concert tickets that cost more than the price of their entire music catalog and Pink Floyd released its first album in years and toured to sell-out crowds.

Vinyl made a slight comeback, as Pearl Jam's latest entry on the black circle met mixed reviews from many. College favorite Phish journeyed to Happy Valley, and Rusted Root graduated from fraternity parties to the national H.O.R.D.E. tour.

There was more than enough product of grunge, doo-wop, rap, folk, hip-hop and good old dinosaur rock for just about anyone. The quality is always in question, but we tried our best to sludge through the haystack to find the few proverbial needles.

-- Ill Communication by The Beastie Boys -- The rap/funk/punk/pop/etc. trio are back and have once again proven that they can jam, rock and keep the party pumpin'. They do not break any new ground with this album, but then again, they do not need to. They just keep doing what they've always been doing, except they do it even better. If the style's not old, why change it?(JS)

-- Teenager of the Year by Frank Black --A pop-rock masterpiece! Black's sophomore effort makes up for his so-so solo debut, with 22 tracks that will put you on an abstract plain with the former frontman of The Pixies. Songs such as "Headache," "Superabound" and "Freedom Rock" build to stirring conclusions with their catchy hooks. The brief punk of "Thalassocracy" was the only song from '94 worthy of a solo dance in front of one's mirror.(JD)

-- Muse Sick-N-Hour Mess Age by Public Enemy -- The original prophets of rage storm back into the world of rap and score a direct hit on gangsta. With classics such as "Give It Up" and "Bedlam 13:13" Chuck D. proves, once again, that he is one of the most intelligent people in the entertainment world. Sure, it does not quite match up to It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, but what does?(MC)

-- Live Through This by Hole -- Forget all the interviews, flack and buzz clips that surrounded Courtney Love last year and take a listen to Hole's blistering sophomore release. An angry, introspective yet hopeful album, Love pulls the listener through her own catharsis with such sonic attacks as "Violet," "Rock Star" and the painstakingly honest "I Think That I Would Die." One listen to "Softer. Softest" should easily dispel any further Yoko Ono references.(JD)

-- The Downward Spiral by Nine Inch Nails --Trent Reznor's angry and melodic compositions incorporate industrial power chords, snarling keyboards and a '90s attitude that is guaranteed to disturb, distress and delight upon repeated listenings. Check out the groove in such gems as "Piggy" and "Closer," as well as brutal poetry of the closing track "Hurt."(DS)

-- Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain by Pavement -- This seminal indie-rocker band comes of age with this powerful middle finger attack at anyone who will listen. The band's breakout single "Cut Your Hair," complete with MTV video, sets the tone for the album. The band refuses to compromise its music for big-time success. Singer Stephen Malkmus' vocals tear and screech while leading the band through such epics as "Range Life" and the closing snub "Filmore Jive."(DS)

-- Carnival of Light by Ride -- In the same genre as the Stone Roses, this Oxford-based group's fourth album, following Going Blank Again of 1992, is much more of an even, unified album than its predecessor, with most tracks flowing one into the other and a traceable, coherent mood throughout the work. Most of the album is slow and dreary, like the two releases, "Birdman" and "I Don't Know Where It Comes From," neither of which got much air play. Upbeat tracks like "Crown of Creation" and "From Time to Time," however, prove that Ride still have the capacity to write the catchy, poppy tunes that composed the previous album, and the guitar-fueled "Moonlight Medicine" displays their ability to rock.(JS)

-- Weight by Rollins Band -- Henry Rollins got big this year, and not just in terms of his muscles. Since his start with hardcore punks Black Flag, Rollins has branched out considerably, but his varied efforts have not curtailed his ability to make good music. Weight is one of the loudest, most intense, furious albums the Rollins Band has put forth. With this album in particular, it is evident that beneath the rage and fury of Henry's howls and guitarist Chris Haskett's crunches, the core of the Rollins Band is a man who is frighteningly intelligent, topical, insightful and full of unmitigated motivation.(JS)

-- If I Were a Carpenter by Various Artists -- In 1994, the tribute album became as overused as the heading "alternative music." Everyone from the Eagles to Tom Petty got one, but the Carpenters tribute was the only one that expanded on its source. Stirring renditions by Sonic Youth ("Superstar"), Bettie Serveert ("For All We Know") and Johnette Napolitano ("Hurting Each Other") among others redefined the songs of siblings Karen and Richard.(JD)

Honorable mention: At Action Park, Shellac; Hips and Makers, Kristin Hersh; G. Love and Special Sauce, G. Love and Special Sauce; God Don't Make No Junk, The Halo Benders; Blowout Comb, Digable Planets; Dookie, Green Day; Holiday, Magnetic Fields; Alien I-D, Kicking Giant; One Foot In the Grave, Beck; and Bakesale, Sebadoh.

This critics' round table consists of Dave Schneiderman, music beat reporter; Jake Stuiver, music general assignment reporter; James Doolittle, music general assignment reporter and Mark Correa, arts editor.