Best Albums of the 1990s

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Listed below are the best albums of the 1990s as calculated from their overall rankings in over 53,000 greatest album charts.

Best albums by year or decade

Decade:

Year:

1990s decade summary

Year	Albums The number of albums from each year featuring in the greatest album charts.	Score Total rank score for each year (made up of the total rank score from all albums in that year)	Top Ranked Album The top ranked album from each year and where it ranks in the overall chart.
1990	2,865	133,291	Violator (115th)by Depeche Mode
1991	2,914	255,582	Nevermind (14th)by Nirvana
1992	3,064	168,369	Automatic For The People (48th)by R.E.M.
1993	3,292	190,118	Siamese Dream (54th)by The Smashing Pumpkins
1994	3,528	283,258	Grace (56th)by Jeff Buckley
1995	3,744	215,566	The Bends (24th)by Radiohead
1996	3,934	184,093	If You're Feeling Sinister (124th)by Belle And Sebastian
1997	4,112	256,133	OK Computer (1st)by Radiohead
1998	4,153	192,191	In The Aeroplane Over The Sea (16th)by Neutral Milk Hotel
1999	4,294	180,120	Ágætis Byrjun (77th)by Sigur Rós
Total	35,900	2,058,721

The best artists of the 1990s were Radiohead, Nirvana, Neutral Milk Hotel, The Smashing Pumpkins, My Bloody Valentine, Oasis, Pearl Jam, R.E.M., Weezer and Nick Cave.

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Loveless

My Bloody Valentine

Year of Release:

1991

Appears in:

2,120 charts

Rank Score:

33,190

Rank in 1991:

Rank in 1990s:

Overall Rank:

Average Rating:

86 (2,428 votes)

Comments:

311

32.

The Downward Spiral

Nine Inch Nails

Year of Release:

1994

Appears in:

935 charts

Rank Score:

9,811

Rank in 1994:

Rank in 1990s:

Overall Rank:

159

Average Rating:

83 (1,201 votes)

Comments:

131.

The Fragile

Nine Inch Nails

Year of Release:

1999

Appears in:

332 charts

Rank Score:

2,375

Rank in 1999:

Rank in 1990s:

131

Overall Rank:

753

Average Rating:

79 (512 votes)

Comments:

140.

Without You I'm Nothing

Placebo

Year of Release:

1998

Appears in:

290 charts

Rank Score:

2,301

Rank in 1998:

Rank in 1990s:

140

Overall Rank:

781

Average Rating:

77 (383 votes)

Comments:

178.

Dots And Loops

Stereolab

Year of Release:

1997

Appears in:

223 charts

Rank Score:

1,936

Rank in 1997:

Rank in 1990s:

178

Overall Rank:

929

Average Rating:

79 (242 votes)

Comments:

197.

Emperor Tomato Ketchup

Stereolab

Year of Release:

1996

Appears in:

298 charts

Rank Score:

1,758

Rank in 1996:

Rank in 1990s:

197

Overall Rank:

1,011

Average Rating:

80 (316 votes)

Comments:

205.

Woodface

Crowded House

Year of Release:

1991

Appears in:

289 charts

Rank Score:

1,654

Rank in 1991:

Rank in 1990s:

205

Overall Rank:

1,066

Average Rating:

77 (296 votes)

Comments:

246.

Transient Random-Noise Bursts With Announcements

Stereolab

Year of Release:

1993

Appears in:

190 charts

Rank Score:

1,287

Rank in 1993:

Rank in 1990s:

246

Overall Rank:

1,347

Average Rating:

79 (228 votes)

Comments:

352.

Placebo

Year of Release:

1996

Appears in:

153 charts

Rank Score:

875

Rank in 1996:

Rank in 1990s:

352

Overall Rank:

1,913

Average Rating:

76 (218 votes)

Comments:

364.

Mermaid Avenue

Billy Bragg & Wilco

Year of Release:

1998

Appears in:

175 charts

Rank Score:

837

Rank in 1998:

Rank in 1990s:

364

Overall Rank:

1,987

Average Rating:

77 (195 votes)

Comments:

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Total albums: 27. Page 1 of 3

Best Albums of the 1990s composition

Year	Albums	%

1990	86	9%
1991	80	8%
1992	103	10%
1993	107	11%
1994	126	13%
1995	113	11%
1996	109	11%
1997	96	10%
1998	94	9%
1999	87	9%

Artist	Albums	%

Blur	6	1%
The Flaming Lips	6	1%
Radiohead	5	0%
Sonic Youth	5	0%
Manic Street Preachers	5	0%
Alice In Chains	5	0%
Dream Theater	5	0%
Show all

Country	Albums	%

	546	55%
	258	26%
	40	4%
	27	3%
	22	2%
	15	1%
	13	1%
Show all

Compilation?	Albums	%
No	984	98%
Yes	17	2%

Live?	Albums	%
No	982	98%
Yes	19	2%

Soundtrack?	Albums	%
No	991	99%
Yes	10	1%

« View best albums of the 1980sView best albums of the 2000s »

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Best Ever Albums
1. OK Computer by Radiohead
2. The Dark Side Of The Moon by Pink Floyd
3. Abbey Road by The Beatles
4. Revolver by The Beatles
5. In Rainbows by Radiohead
6. Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd
7. Kid A by Radiohead
8. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles
9. The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars by David Bowie
10. The Velvet Underground & Nico by The Velvet Underground & Nico
11. Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys
12. Untitled (Led Zeppelin IV) by Led Zeppelin
13. The Beatles (The White Album) by The Beatles
14. Nevermind by Nirvana
15. Funeral by Arcade Fire
16. In The Aeroplane Over The Sea by Neutral Milk Hotel
17. The Queen Is Dead by The Smiths
18. To Pimp A Butterfly by Kendrick Lamar
19. Doolittle by Pixies
20. London Calling by The Clash