In my opinion, the 1990s brought us some of the best albums of all time, and this list certainly doesn’t name them all. The decade is increasingly being regarded as a last hurrah for the classic rock album, as well as a new dawn for many other genres. It’s a shame that when people talk about the greatest era of music, the 90s rarely come up. I think critics need to take a second look. Here are a few albums that I consider to be some of the best released throughout the course of the 90s.
Counting Crows, ‘August and Everything After’
I mean simply the fact that this album holds the best song EVER MADE, “Mr. Jones,” has to make this album one of the best released throughout the 1990s. “Round Here” is another honorable mention and these songs have become icons of this decade. Adam Duritz, the lead singer, has a beautiful and calming voice and his songwriting skills are one of a kind. If you take a closer look at the lyrics of the songs contained on this album, you’ll realize it’s actually an incredibly sad album. However, it relatable for people of all ages and that’s what makes it a true work of art.
Alanis Morissette, ‘Jagged Little Pill’
The feminist power this album holds is undeniable. With songs like “You Oughta Know” “Ironic” and “Hand In My Pocket” this album is my go-to when I need to release my anger or just sing at the top of my lungs with my girlfriends. This album is the definition of the 1990s: angsty and filled with rage. This album isn’t filled with smiley faces and rainbows, the lyrics are raw, about the bad things in life, and filled with personal feelings. But because of that, Morissette’s songs are relatable and have a greater impact on people. Honestly, anyone who disses this album has apparently lived their best white-pickett fence life or is just too fricken happy.
Green Day, ‘Dookie’
I would argue that this is one of the best albums of all time, not just the 1990s. There is no better person to sing the songs on this album than Billie Joe Armstrong. His voice is raspy and foggy and filled with attitude making the songs on this album that much better. Armstrong talks about the crappy side of life, but almost makes fun of it and does it in a comical way, which makes us that much more willing to sing these songs at the top of our lungs. Sometimes singing about the serious things in life – depression, anxiety, and loss of identity – is that much easier when you do it in a comical way. This album embodies pop-punk and the slacker-kid we can all relate to. This album looks life if the eye and calls it how it is, no other albums at this time had the guts to do this.
Sublime, ‘Sublime’
This album has a sound like none other. It’s almost like they took punk, reggae, hip-hop and smashed them all together, which I didn’t even know was really possible, and I don’t think it will ever be replicated again. This album is a bit different because even though it talks about the hardships we face in life, like most 90s albums did, Sublime tries to look at the glass half full and takes the sunny side up approach. Many say that lead singer Bradley Nowell’s death in 1996 is what ultimately gave this album its stardom, but this is simply not true. It’s the relatable lyrics and unique sound that gave this album the fame it so rightfully earned and has even inspired bands today such and The Dirty Heads and Twenty One Pilots.
Nirvana, ‘Nevermind’
Okay, I’m sure you all could have guessed this album was going to make the list, I mean it would just be offensive if I didn’t put the album that basically DEFINED the 1990s on this list. This album had a tremendous influence on the mainstream rock that followed. It’s hard to think of another album that sounds much like Nirvana’s Nevermind, a record with so much more pop and punk punch than any music it inspired. Nirvana certainly never made another album like it. Cobain’s discomfort tone of voice was unnerving because it sounded as wrong as anything allowed on the radio could get. But it wasn’t the way Nevermind exposed Cobain’s mental wounds that provided support for those who related to him. It was the fact that, as messed up as he was, Cobain still found pleasure in rock and making music and wasn’t afraid to put his own spin on it.