The Best Albums of 1991
Pearl Jam released its debut album, Ten, a month before Nevermind in 1991, but sales only picked up a year later. In the early 1990s, the thrash metal genre achieved break-out success, mainly due to the massive success of Metallica’s eponymous 5th album which was released in 1991 and brought thrash metal to the mainstream for the first time. Michael Jackson achieved continued critical and commercial success in the 1990s with his 1991 album Dangerous which sold 32 million copies. Trisha Yearwood was one of the top new singers of 1991, while Diamond Rio blended traditional and bluegrass styles and Brooks & Dunn provided a driving honky-tonk sound. Here are all of the 1991 albums ranked.
Relive the music of one of the most notable years of rock and roll. Click below and listen to the songs of the year 1991!
10. Screamadelica (Primal Scream)
“What a classic album, who would have thought Bobby Gillespie could put this together following his departure from Jesus and Mary Chain. This album hooks you from the opening bars of Movin’ On Up and never lets up. Loaded is one of the best songs of all time, yes of all time, and to this day I still find it incredible after hundreds/thousands of listens .”
9. Metallica (Metallica)
“So much debate over this album within the ‘true metal community’ on the merit of it. It became commercial, it introduced a whole new audience to metal, it wasn’t as ferocious as their previous work. So because Metallica seemed to of sold out, the hardcore metallers dismissed it. But this is a stone-cold great hard rock/metal album. All killer, no filler. Some of the tracks are up there with the best they’ve done. Worthy of its a place in history, the metal album that woke the musical drones up”
8. Laughing Stock (Talk Talk)
“Almost as good as Spirit of Eden, which is impressive. Laughing Stock doesn’t do anything that their previous record didn’t do better, but it still has some amazing passages and shouldn’t just be considered the album they did after Spirit of Eden.”
See more: Red Hot Chili Peppers Albums Ranked
7. Blood Sugar Sex Magik (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
“This is more melodic than the Red Hot Chili Pepper’s previous outings, but is still fueled by their signature funk and punk style. The lyrics are also more touching on a couple songs, but are still mostly about sex; Anthony Kiedis even mocks his own image in “Sir Psycho Sexy.”
6. The Low End Theory (A Tribe Called Quest)
“The album starts off on a high, with full-on laid back chill vibes with the fat bass and jazzy makeup. The album has the energy and poke but it remains playful. Of course, the incredible Ron Carter can’t be ignored. It’s just uplifting, groovy, chill, and incredibly skillful. It’s timeless, it’s the real shit. An utter masterpiece.”
5. Achtung Baby (U2)
“Amazing album, U2’s best. A beautiful combination of heart-wrenching personal drama and flippant embraces of ironic 90s culture. Ultra Violet is U2’s best song, in my opinion. Manages to balance between something deeply beautiful and incredibly facetious. Masterpiece.”
4. Spiderland (Slint)
“One of the most skin-crawlingly uncomfortable recordings of all time, but one of the most amazing and beautiful. With its dark jangly guitars, whispered and shouted vocals, and unconventional melodies, this album is a world entire, a creepy place where there’s something unexpected around every corner. If you like post-rock (Godspeed You, Black Emperor!, Sigur Ros) then this album is for you!”
See more: Pearl Jam Albums Ranked
3. Ten (Pearl Jam)
“Ten was a juggernaut of an album that came out in the early 90’s. Every track is great!! I personally like the new remix album better than the original Ten, except Jeremy and Oceans. Jeremy and Oceans lose their ambience in exchange for more clearer clarity, essentially throwing away the allure of the songs, and that giving the listener the experience of being in a room alone and singing, yelling and feeling something into a room with no walls.”
2. Loveless (My Bloody Valentine)
“I would definitely let my ears be ripped in pieces by this album being played at unhealthy volumes. It’s so much fun, deep at the same time, it’s crushing and the originality is priceless on this one. Just wanting to make music, saying ‘fuck it’ and making this, must be a delightful feeling. Amazing work of an album. One of my favorites by far.”
1. Nevermind (Nirvana)
“There was an immediacy, an urgency, to Nirvana’s sound, combined with a clarity of production values, that made it, unlike anything I’d ever heard before. Obviously, Nirvana had a huge influence on other bands, especially those from the Seattle area, but I still can’t say I’ve heard anything quite like Nevermind since.”
