Best 1990s Albums Ranked
Popular music in the 1990s saw the continuation of teen pop and dance-pop trends which had emerged in the 1970s and 1980s. Furthermore, hip hop grew and continued to be highly successful in the decade, with the continuation of the genre’s golden age. Aside from rap, reggae, contemporary R&B, and urban music in general remained extremely popular throughout the decade; urban music in the late-1980s and 1990s often blended with styles such as soul, funk, and jazz, resulting in fusion genres such as new jack swing, neo-soul, hip hop soul, and g-funk which were popular. The 1990s also saw a resurgence of older styles in new contexts, including third wave ska and swing revival, both of which featured a fusion of horn-based music with rock music elements. Here are the best 1990s albums ranked.
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12. Pinkerton – Weezer
“I have never seen an album as glorious of a cry of pain and despair than Pinkerton. This album wasn’t well received when it came out, but it has aged VERY well. It’s a timeless record that can evoke catharsis out of the hardest hardass. It is truly magnificent in it’s simplicity, and that’s the beauty of it.”
11. Dirt – Alice in Chains
“Layne’s voice attitude and lyrics penetrate right into the heart along with jerry’s amazing guitar creativity and songwriting on the other tracks and the harmonies they do together…out of this world! And we can’t forget about mike’s awesome bass tone and basslines and of course sean’s drumming which is so iconic to me”
10. In Utero – Nirvana
“Nirvana was prolific through the early 1990s until the death of Kurt Cobain in 1994, with their music strongly influencing the development of grunge, post-grunge, and punk rock long after they had disbanded. After the widespread commercial success of Nevermind, they released In Utero in 1993. The album was a massive success, despite the fact that it was a departure from Nirvana’s previous sound. It is best remembered for the singles Heart-Shaped Box and All Apologies.”
9. Superunknown – Soundgarden
“Superunknown, released in 1994, wasn’t Soundgarden’s first album, but it became their breakthrough work. The album included some of the biggest hits of their time as a group, including Black Hole Sun and Spoonman. It also won a rash of Grammy Awards, cementing Soundgarden in mainstream music and further popularizing grunge music beyond the Seattle niche.”
8. Blood Sugar Sex Magik – Red Hot Chili Peppers
“Red Hot Chili Peppers embraced a new sound with their fifth album, released in 1991. While using more overt elements of the metal genre, the album also emphasizes melodic instrumentals. Producing five hit singles, Blood Sugar Sex Magik catapulted the band to the international stage; it has been called the foundation of the alt-rock explosion throughout the decade. “
7. (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? – Oasis
“It’s impossible to talk about the music of the ‘90s without mentioning Britpop’s crowning achievement, Oasis’ (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?. The band’s second album is huge in every sense of the word—commercially and sonically. Its arena-ready melodies and Beatles-inspired choruses demand to be shouted into a crowd, whether it’s a group of friends stumbling from pub to pub or thousands of cheering fans. Singles like “Don’t Look Back in Anger,” “Some Might Say,” “Champagne Supernova” and the omnipresent “Wonderwall” powered the album to the top of the charts in the UK, where it sat pretty for a whopping 10 weeks.”
6. In the Aeroplane Over the Sea – Neutral Milk Hotel
“Neutral Milk Hotel made a timeless record by taking a snapshot of a reality that never existed. Lyrically, Jeff Mangum imagines ghosts and circus freaks and Jesus Christ dancing around burning Nazi propaganda, and the damaged sonic treatment furthers the vision; those horns on “Holland, 1945” sound like an imaginary Dr. Seuss-drawn instrument realized. But the most mythical character to develop from In The Aeroplane Over The Sea is Mangum himself, who avoided the limelight for a half decade following the album’s release.”
5. Dookie – Green Day
“Green Day’s third album, Dookie, was released in 1994. The album was a critical and commercial success and has been widely credited with moving punk into mainstream music. It was also responsible for making Green Day international stars, serving as a breakthrough for the band. The album won a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Performance and is one of the best-selling albums of all time. “
4. Achtung Baby – U2
“U2 was instrumental in developing alternative rock in the 1980s and 1990s. Their 1991 album Achtung Baby signaled a departure from their usual musical style, embracing the more popular genres of the new decade. With dark, philosophical lyrics and a musical technique that included electronic rock and industrial music, it is considered one of U2’s most successful albums, spawning five top hits.”
3. Ten – Pearl Jam
“Pearl Jam, the band that would become known as the kings of grunge music, released their debut album in 1991. Ten was slow at first to gain mainstream attention, but topped the charts by the end of the next year. The album was praised for its throwback style that evoked Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin. It was most famous for the tragic song Jeremy, which told the story of a school shooting.”
2. Ok Computer – Radiohead
“OK Computer was light years ahead of anything else in the 90’s. The music was so progressive that it still sounds recent after 20 years. There is a reason why Radiohead continues to play large venues and sell out shows to this day. They are amazing.”
1. Nevermind – Nirvana
“Nirvana had already established themselves as the leaders of the grunge genre with the release of their first album, Bleach. But it wasn’t until 1991’s Nevermind that they found mainstream popularity, becoming one of the most influential bands of the 1990s. The album’s top single, Smells Like Teen Spirit, has been called the anthem of Generation X.”