Top 100 Music Albums of the 1990s by PeterSmith

The 1990's saw me largely switch off from new bands and albums. I got new albums from old favourites like Bowie and Floyd and U2. I let in R.E.M., Travis and Oasis at the time.
I did like some singles I was hearing from bands like Eels, Suede, Blur, Pulp, Happy Mondays, Stone Roses, Moby, The Verve, Primal Scream, Portishead, Air, Garbage, Beck amongst others - but wasn't inclined to get their albums and really let them into my life.

I totally missed Radiohead, Muse, Pixies, Modest Mouse, Smashing Pumpkins, Flaming Lips, Sigur Ros, Grandaddy, Mogwai, Belle & Sebastion, Elliot Smith amongst others.

My views on the 90's would have been so different if I had let them in at the time.
Still it is great to look back and discover the material now and to hear it for the first time and judge it without any hype or influences around at the time.
I have included the year I got round to getting the album and giving it a proper listen.

As at end of June 2019 this chart has:
18 big classics - appear in >1000 charts
20 mid level classics - appear in >500 - 1000 charts
26 low level classics - appear in >250 - 500 charts
18 minor - appear in >100 - 250 charts
12 rare - appear >10 - 100 charts
2 super rare - appear in <10 charts
Just thought I'd share that

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Ireland U2
Buy album United States
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First heard 1992.
Grew up with U2 and loved this more mature sound - starting to sound like the international mega band that they became
[First added to this chart: 06/30/2019]
Year of Release:
1991
Appears in:
Rank Score:
12,308
Rank in 1991:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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First heard 2005
Took almost a decade of badgering from my brothers to finally listen to this. Finally relented when it started showing up as the best ever album all over the place. How good can it be? Very Good - excellent. Exit Music - his voice and delivery at "we hope your wisdom chokes you" - wow.
Caught them live on the In Rainbows tour
[First added to this chart: 06/30/2019]
Year of Release:
1997
Appears in:
Rank Score:
68,296
Rank in 1997:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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First heard 2016.
Drawn to the album cause it featured in a chart. Intrigued by the band name - never heard anything about them. First listens were a bit disorientating - his voice isn't a classical beauty and tuneful, but over a few listens you get the emotion. His lyrics and delivery are amazing throughout - why use one word to describe something when 100 words can do it lol
[First added to this chart: 06/30/2019]
Year of Release:
1998
Appears in:
Rank Score:
35,394
Rank in 1998:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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First heard 1999
Loved this Scottish Band at the time with their singles and interesting videos. One of the few "new" bands I let in at the time. Nice poppy tunes.
Caught them live on the 20 year anniversary tour of this album.
[First added to this chart: 06/30/2019]
Year of Release:
1999
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,882
Rank in 1999:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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  • #Sponsored
First heard 2019.
There were only 2 things I knew about them before listening to this album.
1. They stopped an X Factor winner getting to number 1 following a social media campaign - yahoo.
2. They were loud and noisy.
It wasn't my cup of tea back then, but in recent times I have been open to new genre and styles. This album grabbed me straight away and I loved the beats, delivery and lyrics.
[First added to this chart: 06/30/2019]
Year of Release:
1992
Appears in:
Rank Score:
12,091
Rank in 1992:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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  • #Sponsored
First heard 2017.
My brothers had been telling me to get into them for years but took till 2009 when I finally got Daisies of the Galaxy. I really liked them and over the years caught up their back catalogue. Not sure why but seemed to not get this until recently despite actually having heard their singles and really liking them at the time from this album. Anyway got it now and it's pushed to my favourite Eels album.
Caught them live quite a few times.
[First added to this chart: 06/30/2019]
Year of Release:
1996
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,987
Rank in 1996:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
  • Amazon
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  • iTunes
  • Spotify
  • #Sponsored
First heard 2019.
Only recently heard them - saw positive reviews about them and thought I'd give them a bash. First song first listen reminded me a bit of Pixies.
Took a couple of listens to really start to get them - currently loving them and working through their back catalogue.
[First added to this chart: 06/30/2019]
Year of Release:
1997
Appears in:
Rank Score:
8,325
Rank in 1997:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
  • Amazon
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  • iTunes
  • Spotify
  • #Sponsored
First heard 2018.
Had started with their Surfer Rosa album which took a wee while to penetrate - this album is much more accessible and would have been an easier start.
[First added to this chart: 06/30/2019]
Year of Release:
1990
Appears in:
Rank Score:
4,070
Rank in 1990:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
  • Amazon
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  • iTunes
  • Spotify
  • #Sponsored
First heard 2018.
In saying that I did recognise the singles here. Think I recall finding the singles interesting at the time but not where I was in my musical taste at that time (which was fairly narrow). This album did entrance me after only a few listens.
[First added to this chart: 06/30/2019]
Year of Release:
1994
Appears in:
Rank Score:
17,004
Rank in 1994:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
  • Amazon
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  • iTunes
  • Spotify
  • #Sponsored
First heard 2018.
Picked this band up from this site. Immediately loved the atmospheric and spacious songs - straight away it was my cup of tea. The Icelandic lyrics (and made up language he uses - but I couldn't obviously tell what was legit) adds another level of intrigue and other worldliness for me. Beautiful chill album.
[First added to this chart: 06/30/2019]
Year of Release:
1999
Appears in:
Rank Score:
15,881
Rank in 1999:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 100. Page 1 of 10

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Top 100 Music Albums of the 1990s composition

Year Albums %


1990 7 7%
1991 11 11%
1992 4 4%
1993 8 8%
1994 15 15%
1995 14 14%
1996 10 10%
1997 11 11%
1998 8 8%
1999 12 12%
Artist Albums %


Radiohead 5 5%
David Bowie 4 4%
Blur 4 4%
Elliott Smith 3 3%
Oasis 3 3%
Belle And Sebastian 3 3%
Pulp 3 3%
Show all
Country Albums %


United Kingdom 50 50%
United States 40 40%
Mixed Nationality 3 3%
Iceland 3 3%
Ireland 2 2%
Canada 1 1%
France 1 1%
Compilation? Albums %
No 98 98%
Yes 2 2%
Live? Albums %
No 99 99%
Yes 1 1%

Top 100 Music Albums of the 1990s chart changes

New entries
New entryCamelot Poems
by U2
TitleSourceTypePublishedCountry
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1990salbum guru joe1990s decade chart2012
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1990s Pastiche1990s decade chart2025
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1990selton2291990s decade chart2012
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1990sMaxStorm981990s decade chart2018
Los 100 mejores discos de los años 90Diariocrítico1990s decade chart2016Spain
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1990sMadrocker1990s decade chart2019
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1990s RasmV1990s decade chart2023
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1990s imacgill1990s decade chart2025
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1990s StefanR101990s decade chart2020
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1990s JR1990s decade chart2024

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Top 88 Music Albums of the 2010sPeterSmith2010s decade chart2022
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Top 100 Music Albums of the 1990sPeterSmith1990s decade chart2021
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Top 76 Music Albums of the 1960sPeterSmith1960s decade chart2021

Top 100 Music Albums of the 1990s ratings

Average Rating: 
88/100 (from 4 votes)
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95/100
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05/17/2023 20:03 chavaloricardin  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 1683/100
 
90/100
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07/24/2022 09:36 Bach  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 95678/100
 
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12/30/2021 04:50 Rhyner  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 1,44399/100
  
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11/13/2019 15:04 TheSmiths82-87  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 1,83683/100

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Top 100 Music Albums of the 1990s comments

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Rating:  
95/100
From 05/17/2023 20:03
Great Picks. "The Man Who" as number 4 is Insane... i loved.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

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Best Albums of the 1960s
1. Abbey Road by The Beatles
2. Revolver by The Beatles
3. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles
4. The Velvet Underground & Nico by The Velvet Underground & Nico
5. Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys
6. The Beatles (The White Album) by The Beatles
7. In The Court Of The Crimson King (An Observation By King Crimson) by King Crimson
8. Highway 61 Revisited by Bob Dylan
9. Rubber Soul by The Beatles
10. The Doors by The Doors
11. Blonde On Blonde by Bob Dylan
12. Are You Experienced by The Jimi Hendrix Experience
13. Led Zeppelin II by Led Zeppelin
14. Electric Ladyland by The Jimi Hendrix Experience
15. Let It Bleed by The Rolling Stones
16. Led Zeppelin by Led Zeppelin
17. Astral Weeks by Van Morrison
18. A Love Supreme by John Coltrane
19. Forever Changes by Love
20. Magical Mystery Tour by The Beatles
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