Top 10 Albums of the 1990s

By Jeremy Bednarsh

1. In Utero Nirvana (1993)

After Nirvana released “Nevermind” in 1991, their popularity rose meteorically. Nonetheless, frontman Kurt Cobain thought the final product

was too “polished” for his taste, and for his next album he enlisted the notoriously abrasive and minimalist Steve Albini as a producer. The

ultimate product was an angry, loud greasefire that perfectly summed up not only the band, but the grunge movement as a whole.

2. Ready to Die Notorious B.I.G. (1994)

Although rap had been around since the 1970s, it wasn’t until the 90s that it really hit the mainstream. While the West Coast dominated the rap scene from the late 80s until the early 90s, that grip was broken in

1994 after Brooklyn’s “Biggie” released his debut. Thanks to impeccable production and excellent lyrical flow, the album took the country by storm, and cemented Biggie’s status as a hip hop icon.

3. Too Far to Care Old 97’s (1997)

While the Old 97’s have always had a loyal cult following, their diverse influences (country, rock, punk) have made it difficult for

them to appeal to a mainstream audience. One of the leaders of the “alt-country” genre of the 90s, their undisputed masterpiece came with “Too Far to Care”. The album starts out roaring, and maintains

an unflappable energy over 13 tracks.

4. Sublime Sublime (1996)

Unfortunately, Sublime only released three albums until the untimely death of frontman Brad Nowell cut the band’s career short. The laid-back, friendly California attitude of Sublime can be felt no better in

this, their third, self-titled album. While Nowell died before the band was to go on tour, his music touched the hearts of countless

listeners.

5. Jagged Little Pill Alanis Morissette (1995)

In the early 1990s, Canadian teen-pop singer Alanis Morissette’s career took a hiatus after she felt disillusioned with what her record company was doing to

her. After a three-year hiatus, she returned to music with this instant classic, a complete 180-degree turn from her previous work that instantly won the hearts of pop and rock radio. From the notoriously angry “You Oughta Know” to the happy-go-lucky “Hand in My Pocket”, the sounds and tones on this album are

diverse indeed.

6. Dookie Green Day (1994)

Even as frontman Billie Joe Armstrong has been making a fool of himself in the media recently, Green Day was once the undisputed

king of the pop-punk scene. Their third album, “Dookie”, skyrocketed them to popularity and brought both the band and the entire punk genre to the attention of a mainstream audience, thanks

to its rocking sound and tight singles.

7. Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness Smashing Pumpkins (1995)

While 1993’s “Siamese Dream” got the Smashing Pumpkins noticed, it was their double album “Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness” two years later that

propelled the band to alternative superstardom, thanks to such hits as “1979” and “Bullet with Butterfly Wings”.

8. The Chronic Dr. Dre (1992)

After the breakup of N.W.A. in the early 1990s, producer Dr. Dre continued to prove his worth in the rap game with the release of his 1992 solo debut, “The Chronic”. While he was never an exceptional rapper, Dre was a revolutionary producer, who was great at playing his strengths and finding excellent guest rappers to be featured on

his tracks, including a young Snoop Dogg.

9. Billy Breathes Phish (1996)

While Phish had been making music for 10 years by the time “Billy Breathes” came out, and had a strong cult following, it was this,

their sixth album, that solidified them as more than just a jam band from Vermont. If any aspiring Phish phan is looking for a place to

start, then this album is without a doubt the best place to start.

10. (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? Oasis (1995)

While the band-members of Oasis are notoriously moody, they’re still fantastic musicians. Starting out as a crossover Indie band, their second album made them an international phenomenon, and it’s

considered a classic of both Indie and Britpop. To this day, some 20 years after the album first hit the radio, it’s hard to not hear one of its

songs on the radio.