Critic Score
Based on 1 review
User Score
Based on 672 ratings
1990 Ratings: #63
January 25, 1990 / Release Date
LP / Format
Shimmy Disc / Label
KramerProducer
lo-fi
Full Credits
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Critic Reviews

90
AllMusic
Daniel Johnston's only Shimmy Disc release provides a nice showcase of the kind of spare and blunt material he excels at and contains plenty of his own brand of preaching.
Geem
70

Daniel Johnston very radical and very cool dude.
This album sounds like a rotting sock-puppet theater. Sorta magical, a little creepy, but lovely all the same. A bunch of characters, decorated with their googly eyes, poof into life, do a little diddy, and they're off again. Exquisite.
Daniel Johnston very radical and very cool dude.

❀ 2400 ❀

thebrisklad
95

In light of recent events, a flood of recollections of me listening to his music, especially the album 1990, washed over me. The oddity and beauty that was Daniel Johnston and his music affected me and a large number of artists. This record is most likely his masterpiece; just a baring of the soul and beliefs, a passion for making music.

Rest in peace, Daniel Johnston. Thank you.

OldTask
90

"Sigh...he has such a way with words..." - Sandy Cheeks

There's just something about Daniel that just immediately draws me into his craft. It may be his district voice and cadence. It may be the minimalist but impactful instrumentation that gives room to appreciate each and every thing that's happening sonically. And maybe it's the fascinating poetry throughout that has me hanging onto every single word. It may be a combination of all of these factors, but damn is it ... read more

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CD06730
88

It's not quite on the level of Songs Of Pain, but 1990 is an emotionally heavy and occasionally bewildering listen that stands as a pretty vital part of lo-fi music. Daniel Johnston was a truly individual soul.

why_P
NR

This is the kind of album you just cannot rate.

This is the most weird, haunting and humanely real album i have ever heard. This is my first Daniel Johnston project i've heard and listen to it, i mean really LISTEN to it, some of these songs just struck a chord in you and it completely consumes you with it's very hard to explain personality.

This is honestly one of a kind, there some pretty ugly songs and some that makes you look at the sunset for hours. You can't really find ... read more

Tsmoes93
86

Daniel always seems to have so much life in soul in his work

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