Best Albums of the 1990s

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Explore the best albums of the 1990s, based on over 2 million album rankings across 61,000 charts. Last updated: 5 hours ago

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

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31.

Pinkerton

Weezer

"If you think "The Good Life" is scandolous or filthy somehow, you've obviously never heard a rap song. Or anything released after 1967 really. And you probably don't understand anything about Rivers Cuomo's songwriting during this period either. Pinkerton was mostly written during River..." Reply

HyperBully | Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 11

Year of Release:

1996

Appears in:

1,105 charts

Rank Score:

9,381

Rank in 1996:

Rank in 1990s:

Overall Rank:

Average Rating:

Comments:

32.

"This is such a cool album. I just feel cool listening to it. Its simply so unique and out there. Its just bursting with creativity; it feels like a whole new take not just on hip hop or electronic, but music in general. It would be the post-rock equivalent of the genre, I suppose. Other than a fe..." Reply

JulianR | Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 4

Year of Release:

1996

Appears in:

1,001 charts

Rank Score:

8,856

Rank in 1996:

Rank in 1990s:

Overall Rank:

152

Average Rating:

84 (1,138 votes)

Comments:

33.

The Downward Spiral

Nine Inch Nails

"The textures on this album still shock me. There is a vision to this cd that I wonder if anyone else 'gets' the way I do. And each time I think of it, I feel like I must be a pompous ass. However, the awe remains and yet when discuss the record I rarely hear people digging to the heart of the alb...""The textures on this album still shock me. There is a vision to this cd that I wonder if anyone else 'gets' the way I do. And each time I think of it, I feel like I must be a pompous ass. However, the awe remains and yet when discuss the record I rarely hear people digging to the heart of the album. David Bowie's Low is often quoted as a reference point...and er, i suppose, but the larger point of the Eno era, late 70s Bowie as a whole I do observed as being a source of inspiration for Reznor as well has Brian Eno himself. This record is so full of paradox and conflict. Because Reznor's lyrical themes haven't changed in 20 years, he is often made fun of about them. "There goes Reznor again, hurt because his Young Life group rejected him. However, here on TDS Reznor melded pieces together that are opposites; lust, emptiness, yearning, hope, overwhelm & pride (both the constructive variety a/w/a destructive) but most especially the organic with the mechanical. He loves to write patterns associated with industrial using natural organic sounds. Truthfully, the intangibles on display here leave me in a place where at least 'my words' feel insufficient, so I'll merely highlight a section of this record that properly illustrates its power. The transition between A Warm Place & Eraser is notable for several reasons. First, A Warm Place is the first occasion Reznor gives for any kind of a break, replacing the intense frustration, fear and self-loathing to this point with mere meloncholy. A Warm Place is bittersweet, beautiful and above all, brief. However the way the listener is overcome again is utterly terrifying. Reznor starts subtly with the blowing through a reed. Not a 'reed instrument' but literally a blade of rivergrass (again, organic), or at least it sounds like it. This blowing pattern starts quietly but as it gets louder dread begins to creep again within the listener. Bees begin to buzz beneath the surface and then rise to add swarm to the swell. Finally, these thundering toms oppressively crash down on you as hard as anything you'd expect from John Bonham until finally the rest of the song kicks in. The Downward Spiral doesn't give you another break until the character in Reznor's story is has completed the descent detailed in the narrative. When taken in for all its power, TDS is among the most uncompromising discs I've heard. That it enjoyed the chart success it did still baffles me. However, if only taken for its surface level of hooks & adolescent-friendly narcisistic nihilism, much of this power is missed." Reply

- seraphlaim | Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 14

Year of Release:

1994

Appears in:

998 charts

Rank Score:

8,705

Rank in 1994:

Rank in 1990s:

Overall Rank:

159

Average Rating:

83 (1,261 votes)

Comments:

34.

MTV Unplugged In New York
Live

Nirvana

"The thing that makes this a great album as opposed to just another unplugged best-of jam is that it demonstrated Nirvana's talent once they were out from behind their mask of noise. It is also an endearing insight into Kurt's own self-consciousness, and how it could be subdued by his ability to i..." Reply

Strangel | Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 4

Year of Release:

1994

Appears in:

1,084 charts

Rank Score:

8,696

Rank in 1994:

Rank in 1990s:

Overall Rank:

Average Rating:

Comments:

35.

"179 isn’t near high enough for this fantastic record. Underrated on here. This is light years better than Nirvana and the only grunge album that gives it a run for its money is Dirt. Just look at that track list. Almost every song is an alternative rock classic. Half and kickstand are the only so..." Reply

micah88800 | Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 3

Year of Release:

1994

Appears in:

984 charts

Rank Score:

8,576

Rank in 1994:

Rank in 1990s:

Overall Rank:

163

Average Rating:

81 (1,241 votes)

Comments:

36.

Different Class

Pulp

"I hold this album in a ridiculously high regard. I love it so much and listening to it makes me so happy. Every track brings something to the table, but it is the one-two punch of Disco 2000 and Common People that separate this album from the rest of the brit-pop albums of the 90's. One of my fav..." Reply

- saltysurprise | Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 5

Year of Release:

1995

Appears in:

955 charts

Rank Score:

8,325

Rank in 1995:

Rank in 1990s:

Overall Rank:

170

Average Rating:

82 (1,071 votes)

Comments:

37.

Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain

Pavement

"I really don't see how Sonic Youth going into a punctuation mark can be compared to the song Cut Your Hair." Reply

- | Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 14

Year of Release:

1994

Appears in:

939 charts

Rank Score:

8,227

Rank in 1994:

Rank in 1990s:

Overall Rank:

176

Average Rating:

83 (1,166 votes)

Comments:

38.

Laughing Stock

Talk Talk

"After the first listen, Laughing Stock seems to be composed of pleasant songs that would make nice background music but does not have much of an edge. The songs ultimately lack progression. I do intend to listen to the album again in a different setting to try to appreciate it. The one standout t..." Reply

- GeorgeW49 | Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 5

Year of Release:

1991

Appears in:

792 charts

Rank Score:

8,066

Rank in 1991:

Rank in 1990s:

Overall Rank:

178

Average Rating:

83 (921 votes)

Comments:

39.

Blood Sugar Sex Magik

Red Hot Chili Peppers

"Some musicians are just meant to play together and Blood Sugar Sex Magik is the perfect example of this. The Chili Peppers had to go through a lot of lineup changes before they finally found their ultimate incarnation, the one who proved to be their most inspired and composed as a group, an absol..." Reply

- chivocosmico | Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 2

Year of Release:

1991

Appears in:

1,128 charts

Rank Score:

7,887

Rank in 1991:

Rank in 1990s:

Overall Rank:

184

Average Rating:

79 (1,778 votes)

Comments:

101

40.

Dirt

Alice In Chains

""I want you to scrape meeeeeeee, from the walls" Damn no matter how many times I hear it it still gives me shivers. This album is a fantastic portrayal of addiction and the workings of an addicts mind. It does a fantastic job at showing (or reminding) you what it feels like. The album's outlook i..." Reply

- Gonzalese | Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 6

Year of Release:

1992

Appears in:

896 charts

Rank Score:

7,511

Rank in 1992:

Rank in 1990s:

Overall Rank:

200

Average Rating:

82 (1,170 votes)

Comments:

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Total albums: 1,000. Page 4 of 100

Best Albums of the 1990s composition

Year	Albums	%

1990	85	9%
1991	83	8%
1992	106	11%
1993	104	10%
1994	125	13%
1995	103	10%
1996	111	11%
1997	95	10%
1998	102	10%
1999	86	9%

Artist	Albums	%

Neil Young	6	1%
Blur	6	1%
The Flaming Lips	6	1%
Nick Cave	5	1%
Beck	5	1%
Suede	5	1%
Tori Amos	5	1%
Show all

Country	Albums	%

	532	53%
	270	27%
	39	4%
	28	3%
	24	2%
	16	2%
	13	1%
Show all

Compilation?	Albums	%
No	985	99%
Yes	15	2%

Live?	Albums	%
No	980	98%
Yes	20	2%

Soundtrack?	Albums	%
No	991	99%
Yes	9	1%

Best Albums of the 1990s chart changes

Biggest climbers Biggest climbers in top 100 since last month
Up 3 from 102nd to 99th Purple by Stone Temple Pilots
Up 2 from 84th to 82nd Soundtracks For The Blind by Swans
Up 2 from 44th to 42nd Metallica by Metallica

Biggest fallers Biggest fallers in top 100 since last month
Down 3 from 80th to 83rd The Chronic by Dr. Dre
Down 2 from 42nd to 44th The Lonesome Crowded West by Modest Mouse
Down 2 from 85th to 87th Goo by Sonic Youth

New entries New entries in top 100 since last month
Up 3 from 102nd to 99th Purple by Stone Temple Pilots

Leavers Leavers from top 100 since last month
Down 2 from 99th to 101st The Division Bell by Pink Floyd

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

Best Artists of 1964

1. The Beatles

2. Bob Dylan

3. Stan Getz & João Gilberto

4. Eric Dolphy

5. The Ronettes

6. The Rolling Stones

7. Sam Cooke

8. The Supremes

9. Charles Mingus

10. The Kinks