The Best Albums of 1990
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. By the start of the 1990s, the music industry was enticed by alternative rock’s commercial possibilities and major labels actively courted bands including Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, Jane’s Addiction, Dinosaur Jr, and Nirvana. In particular, R.E.M.’s success had become a blueprint for many alternative bands in the late 1980s and 1990s to follow; the group had outlasted many of its contemporaries and by the 1990s had become one of the most popular bands in the world. Here are all of the 1990 albums ranked.
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10. Fear Of A Black Planet (Public Enemy)
“Like a bomb ass three-legged table, if any individual leg were to break the entire structure would keel over. It’s remarkable how Terminator X, Chuck, and Flava Flav elevate and uplift one another’s talents, each accenting the others perfectly”
9. The La’s (The La’s)
“This is an interesting and enjoyable album – hasn’t quite landed as being great for me but rather a really good album. It has a real 60’s sound with Van Morrison and the Kinks coming out for me. Even the production has that low-budget 60’s sound – not in any bad way, it gives the album an authentic feel.”
8. Repeater (Fugazi)
“It just hits me that these guys knew exactly what they were aiming at aesthetically. This is a genuine punk album, and probably the definitive emo record of all time. They used heavy weapons here, I think it is their masterpiece, actually one of the most notorious and accomplished albums of that period and why not, of ever.”
See more: Fugazi Albums Ranked
7. Ritual De Lo Habitual (Jane’s Addiction)
“There are multiple moments in each song where I find myself cringing at Perry Farrell’s voice, especially at the beginning of Ain’t No Right. He’s not a good singer, whoever told him that he was was obviously playing some kind of cruel, cruel joke on him. But then I circle back around to the music, it’s really great here. They’re one of the pioneers of alternative metal, though they come off as more rock here than metal, and this was a jumping-off point for many other 90s bands.”
6. Goo (Sonic Youth)
“It’s an album more for the singles than the complete product like their two prior records, but that different approach doesn’t stop it from being a vital part of their discography. Proof that the band weren’t just about huge, screeching noise rock solos; they could own the more generic”
5. Bossanova (Pixies)
“There’s something special about this album. I like it almost as much as Doolittle and Surfer Rosa. The surf sound works for me, and I like that the songs are a little less aggressive. Gets overlooked for obvious reasons, but don’t forget about this one, it’s classic Pixies.”
4. Rust In Peace (Megadeth)
“This album is so well done it is tough to find anything negative to say. This is the album that forced Metallica to make the black album, and Anthrax to make Persistence of Time. Both of those records took a turn towards the more radio friendly. I think they understood that nobody was going to out thrash Megadeth at that stage. “
See more: Megadeth Albums Ranked
3. Nowhere (Ride)
“One of those albums where bonus tracks are an absolute must-have. Taste, Here And Now & Nowhere are 3 splendid tracks that add the icing on the top of an already incredible album. This album must have recorded in heaven. There’s no other way to explain this mysterious but at the same time so beautiful sound of it.”
2. Heaven Or Las Vegas (Cocteau Twins)
“Heaven or Las Vegas is the best album ever by the Cocteau Twins and ALL of their albums are amazing. Listening to this album will transport and uplift the listener. Absolutely gorgeous melodies, guitars, and vocals. Sublime!”
1. Violator (Depeche Mode)
“This whole album is just downright dark, bleak, and chilling in mood and nature and it shows that life is not always about being happy and sunny all the time. Every song here is just absolutely amazing and truly essential listening, all driven with amazing lyrics, brilliant songwriting, catchy, addictive, danceable beats and rhythms, dark melodies, creative sampling, and great usage of synthesizers, and piano lines, all topped off by lead singer David Gahan’s amazingly deep, and imposing voice which bring every single lyric to vibrant life, though chief songwriter Martin Gore does handle lead vocals on “Sweetest Perfection” and “Blue Dress”.