Best Albums of the 1990s
Explore the best albums of the 1990s, based on over 2 million album rankings across 60,000 charts.
Click to see how the rankings are calculated
Last updated: 3 hours ago
Last updated: 3 hours ago
"Close your eyes, throw on some headphones, and float away..." Reply
Year of Release:
1997
Appears in:
Rank Score:
59,871
Rank in 1997:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
2.
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"'IF this album were to be erased from history tonight, you would find little on what precious darlings of what is called "indie."' No! Nirvana did not invent indie rock, or even so-called alternative music. That would be Black Flag, Husker Du, The Replacements, R.E.M. The Pixies, Sonic Youth, Din..." [+] Reply
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Mr. Shankly | Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +15 votes (16 helpful | 1 unhelpful)
A maximum of 5 top-voted qualifying comments are selected for each album. To provide the best experience for visitors, comments are excluded if they refer to data corrections, contain excessive profanity, are written in all caps, are non-English, are too short, consist of conversations between users, or contain lists of best tracks etc.
Year of Release:
1991
Appears in:
Rank Score:
36,148
Rank in 1991:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
"I'd never even heard of this before my obsession with this website. I've only listened to it I think 5 times through now, but I can totally understand its ranking. Easily the most unique sounding album I've ever heard. His voice isn't great...it's raw and imperfect, and over time it becomes very ..." [+] Reply
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pearljammer13 | Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +15 votes (18 helpful | 3 unhelpful)
A maximum of 5 top-voted qualifying comments are selected for each album. To provide the best experience for visitors, comments are excluded if they refer to data corrections, contain excessive profanity, are written in all caps, are non-English, are too short, consist of conversations between users, or contain lists of best tracks etc.
Year of Release:
1998
Appears in:
Rank Score:
29,903
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Comments:
"There is no way I could ever have thought that Radiohead could produce 3 albums better than this one. The pure emotional outpouring, frenzied guitar crescendos, and contemplative lyrics all combined to create an album that would move a whole generation of emotionally intelligent music lovers. Tho..." [+] Reply
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Strangel | Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +10 votes (10 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
A maximum of 5 top-voted qualifying comments are selected for each album. To provide the best experience for visitors, comments are excluded if they refer to data corrections, contain excessive profanity, are written in all caps, are non-English, are too short, consist of conversations between users, or contain lists of best tracks etc.
Year of Release:
1995
Appears in:
Rank Score:
27,608
Rank in 1995:
Rank in 1990s:
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Average Rating:
Comments:
"It's funny. If you listen to just the melodies, you're not left with anything too memorable. Song structures are simple. The guitar sounds are pretty amazing, but you wouldn't listen only to that by itself. The lyrics, what you can decipher at least, are nothing to die for either. Somehow everyth..." [+] Reply
Year of Release:
1991
Appears in:
Rank Score:
26,771
Rank in 1991:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
"After years of hearing about Weaver D's--the Athens, Georgia, soul food eatery that spawned the catchphrase that R.E.M. borrowed for the title of this album--I finally had a chance to visit there in 2013, just a few months before they closed their doors for good. I can confirm that their fried ch..." [+] Reply
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buzzdainer | Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +6 votes (6 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
A maximum of 5 top-voted qualifying comments are selected for each album. To provide the best experience for visitors, comments are excluded if they refer to data corrections, contain excessive profanity, are written in all caps, are non-English, are too short, consist of conversations between users, or contain lists of best tracks etc.
Year of Release:
1992
Appears in:
Rank Score:
18,712
Rank in 1992:
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Average Rating:
Comments:
"Upon release it was like a breath of fresh rock air. Different from Nirvana but still very much a major force and factor in ushering in new rock music (call it grunge if you must). The residual influences can be seen very clearly decades later. Even today it stands on its own, and the strength of..." [+] Reply
Year of Release:
1991
Appears in:
Rank Score:
18,024
Rank in 1991:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
"General consensus would suggest you've got no idea Bobbyb. Sorry mate but Jeff was a sublime talent. With all the manufactured rubbish spewed out year after year since his death I think there are other artists you might want to reserve your disdain for. At 35/100 you haven't really left yourself ..." [+] Reply
- Strangel | Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +6 votes (6 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
A maximum of 5 top-voted qualifying comments are selected for each album. To provide the best experience for visitors, comments are excluded if they refer to data corrections, contain excessive profanity, are written in all caps, are non-English, are too short, consist of conversations between users, or contain lists of best tracks etc.
Year of Release:
1994
Appears in:
Rank Score:
17,457
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Comments:
"Tracks 3-10 may be the best the 8 track stretch I've ever heard." Reply
Year of Release:
1993
Appears in:
Rank Score:
17,179
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Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
"Opinion changed. This is superior when compared to unplugged, maybe because of its dark raw sound that shows us rage, sadness, revolt, anger, all in 12 songs. Sorry for the language, but i guess this album is a big "Fuck You" to everyone who thought Nirvana would only make one great album. 10/10" Reply
Year of Release:
1993
Appears in:
Rank Score:
17,077
Rank in 1993:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 1,000. Page 1 of 100
Best Albums of the 1990s composition
| Year | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 85 | 9% | |
| 1991 | 83 | 8% | |
| 1992 | 106 | 11% | |
| 1993 | 104 | 10% | |
| 1994 | 127 | 13% | |
| 1995 | 102 | 10% | |
| 1996 | 110 | 11% | |
| 1997 | 97 | 10% | |
| 1998 | 102 | 10% | |
| 1999 | 84 | 8% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| Blur | 6 | 1% | |
| Neil Young | 6 | 1% | |
| The Flaming Lips | 6 | 1% | |
| Pearl Jam | 5 | 1% | |
| Manic Street Preachers | 5 | 1% | |
| Autechre | 5 | 1% | |
| The Smashing Pumpkins | 5 | 1% | |
| Show all | |||
| Country | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
 |
533 | 53% | |
 |
269 | 27% | |
 |
39 | 4% | |
 |
28 | 3% | |
 |
23 | 2% | |
 |
16 | 2% | |
 |
12 | 1% | |
| Show all | |||
Best Albums of the 1990s chart changes
| Biggest climbers Biggest climbers in top 100 since last month |
|---|
Up 2 from 82nd to 80th |
Up 2 from 63rd to 61st |
Up 1 from 97th to 96th |
| Biggest fallers Biggest fallers in top 100 since last month |
|---|
Down 4 from 80th to 84th |
Down 2 from 60th to 62nd |
Down 1 from 24th to 25th |
