My Top 10 Favorite Albums from the 1990s (No Nirvana or Pearl Jam)

myself | 10/22/2006 | Pyro7480

[Pyro7480]

I was born in 1980, which is considered either to be the tail-end of Generation X, part of Generation Y, or part of the so-called "MTV Generation," or the XY Cusp. I was only a pre-teen when grunge appeared, and a teenager and/or college student when the current wasteland of music started.

There are ten albums, which after 8-14 years, are still great, at least to me. Some of them I actually found out about years after they came out, but I consider them to be "classics" of the decade.

Here are the ten albums, organized in alphabetical order by artist (not by ranking).

1.) Jeff Buckley - Grace
It was around the year 1995, when I was listening to the now-defunct rock station, WDRE, out of Philadelphia, that I heard a track called "Last Goodbye," which is track 3 off "Grace." Though I only heard a handful of times, it made a huge impression on me. Jeff Buckley had such a memorable/haunting voice. I heard the track again years later when I was in college, and I ended up buying the album. It was the only full album he release before his premature death in 1995. My favorite tracks are the title track, "Last Goodbye," "Corpus Christi Carol," and "Dream Brother."

2.) Foo Fighters - The Colour and the Shape
Released in 1997, this album is the second release for the Foo Fighters, who was founded by Dave Grohl, the former drummer of Nirvana (which means this isn't a "completely" Nirvana-free list, but I don't think this counts). While it has three or four well-known tracks, the rest of the album's track don't disappoint either. The highlight of the lesser-known tracks is "February Stars." Of course, most who followed rock at the time can't forget the track "Everlong," which is one of my all-time favorites from the 1990s.

3.) Gin Blossoms - New Miserable Experience
I was probably 13 years old when I first heard this entire album. I loved it then, and I love it now. I had it on tape at first, but when I lost my copy in 1997, during a trip to Europe, I bought the CD used. From start to finish, even with two weaker tracks ("Cajun Song," which I happen to like, and "Cheatin'"), is a work of art. Everyone remembers "Hey Jealousy," but I like "Found Out About You" much better. Of the lesser-known tracks, "29" (track 10 on the album) is my favorite.

4.) Dave Matthews Band - Under the Table and Dreaming
I remember when the track "What Would You Say" came out on the radio. It was definitely "different" from most stuff played on "alternative" radio. My sister and I got into their music soon after. Though a lot of modern music listeners aren't fond of DMB, for one reason or another, I truly like this album. It is well-crafted, and while all of the tracks have the same "sound," they all have unique qualities. My favorite tracks are "Warehouse" and "Satellite."

5.) Portishead - Roseland NYC Live
This album probably stands out from the rest, since it can't be categorized as "alternative" at all. It is also the only live album out of the ten I've chosen. During my last two years of high school, and in college, I got into the whole "electronica" music thing. While most of the music of that category from the 1990s were of the "danceable" type, Portishead cannot be labeled as such. The mix of a live orchestra, a DJ scratching on a turntable, electric organ, and other instruments is truly unique. I really don't have a favorite track on this album, except maybe the very first track, "Humming," since it's good from start to finish.

6.) Radiohead - The Bends
Other than hearing the tracks that received radio play, such as "High and Dry" and "Fake Plastic Trees," I didn't hear this entire album until a few years after it was release, probably around 1998. While the afforementioned tracks are great, the rest of album cannot be considered mediocre, in my opinion. "My Iron Lung" is my favorite of the lesser-known tracks. A friend of mine has said that a riff in that track is similar to Jimi Hendrix's "Foxy Lady," and I know what he means.

7.) Radiohead - Ok Computer
This is Radiohead's "masterpiece." I bought the album shortly after it came out in 1997, and actually wrote a review of it in my high school's student newspaper. While "Karma Police" is the most well-known of the tracks on this album, and I really like it, I consider "Airbag" and "Lucky" are my favorites on this album. Radiohead really changed their sound after this album, so "Ok Computer," when put in context of "The Bends" and the subsequent album, "Kid A," really is a transitional album.

8.)Stone Temple Pilots - Core
This album was actually one of the first CDs I ever got, after I got a CD boombox for Christmas, early in the 1990s. The Wikipedia article on the album (link above) states that some critics saw this album as a rip-off of the other grunge bands of the time, but I agree with the others who say that the album is "a true symbol of the movement, and it is generally thought of as a staple of the genre." Everyone remembers "Plush," of course, but that doesn't take away from the rest of the album.

9.) Sunny Day Real Estate - Diary
Real "emo" isn't the stuff that is often labeled as such by many music reviewers. Real "emo" is the music on "Diary," Sunny Day Real Estate's debut album from 1994. While they came out of the same Seattle scene as the more popular "alternative" bands (this album was released by "Sub Pop" Records, the same label Nirvana started out on), their sound can't really be considered to be grunge. I actually didn't hear this album until about a decade after it came out. But in retrospective, this album should be considered to be a "classic" of the 1990s. Most of the tracks follow a "standard" model of having a slow and/or soft section, alternated with a louder/faster section, which became common in the subsequent "emo," "screamo," and related bands.

Weezer - Weezer (The Blue Album)
Though I like all ten of the albums in this list, this album (or maybe Gin Blossom's "New Miserable Experience") is probably my favorite out of the bunch. I like all of the tracks. I don't think any of them are weak. I've seen Weezer the most times of any band in concert (out of the bands on the list, I never got to see Jeff Buckley and his band, Portishead, or Sunny Day Real Estate in concert; 7 out of 10 isn't bad at all). I can't say much more about it. If I had to pick a favorite track, it would be "My Name is Jonas."

[sully777]

Sublime: Wrong way

Cake: Going The Distance

[Pyro7480]

LOL! I was watching part of that Cake video recently. I saw them a couple years ago in DC. They were good live.

[sully777]

Cake is like listening to that buddy that's always screwing with your brain...

[I Hired Craig Livingstone]

I think your picks are good... "The Bends" just might be my favorite album of all time.

Some that jumped to mind that haven't been mentioned yet:

"The Downward Spiral", Nine Inch Nails. -- I'd rather say "Pretty Hate Machine" but that was 1989.

"Enema of the State", Blink 182 -- Overplayed, but captured the feeling of the time for me.

"Third Eye Blind", Third Eye Blind -- Same as above.

"Doggystyle", Snoop Doggy Dogg -- Because Dre's "The Chronic" has already been mentioned.

"You've Come a Long Way, Baby", Fatboy Slim -- The perfect piece of lighthearted party music.

"Jagged Little Pill", Alanis Morisette -- Some hate her, but I thought it had a lot of genuine honesty and feeling.

"Play", Moby -- Yeah, he's a hippie, but it's a good album.

[Pyro7480]

I just took a look at your profile page. I like how you have that picture of Beaky Buzzard and Bugs Bunny on there. That's one of my favorite classic Warner Bros. cartoons of all time.

[MotleyGirl70]

It's why I don't own any Audioslave, because Morello is blantly anti-America.

[lesser_satan]

Smash, Ixnay on the Hombre, and Americana by The Offspring
The Black Album by Metallica
All Shook Down by The Replacements
Use Your Illusion by Guns 'n' Roses
Get a Grip by Aerosmith
Live Through This by Hole
Social Distortion (self-titled)
Bloodletting and Mexican Moon by Concrete Blonde

[I Hired Craig Livingstone]

"Ill Communication", Beastie Boys
"Rage Against the Machine", Rage Against the Machine
"Siamese Dream", Smashing Pumpkins
"Black Sunday", Cypress Hill

These are really taking me back now...

[sully777]

Alanis' Ironic is probably one of the top songs of all time. It is so simple and yet pure genius.

Beastie Boys always a winner--always funny. They actually pioneered the fusion of metal and rap (despite what VH1 said concerning Anthrax). NWA changed Rap forever and if this was a rap oriented list I would pick them as top album. I would also place Eminem in the mix for no other reason than to shake up the music industry during the Britany/Boy Band/Techno era. I always appreciate a man that can mock Michael Jackson's lifestyle with reckless abandon.

[sully777]

My profile is a sure sign of my need for therapy

[lesser_satan]

If we're including rap, I got's to be representin' Black Sunday by Cyprus Hill.

[MotleyGirl70]

The Black Album by Metallica

Duh! How could I forget that one. It was their last good album.

I also forgot to add Shania Twain Come On Over (I listen to it often)

	1.	Man! I Feel Like A Woman!
		2.	I'm Holdin' On To Love (To Save My Life)
		3.	Love Gets Me Every Time
		4.	Don't Be Stupid (You Know I Love You)
		5.	From This Moment On - (with Bryan White)
		6.	Come On Over
		7.	When
		8.	Whatever You Do! Don't
		9.	If You Want To Touch Her, Ask!
		10.	You're Still The One
		11.	Honey, I'm Home
		12.	That Don't Impress Me Much
		13.	Black Eyes, Blue Tears
		14.	I Won't Leave You Lonely
		15.	Rock This Country!
		16.	You've Got A Way

[Clemenza]

Agree about Weezer. "Buddy Holly" was the GREATEST video of the 90s as well. Supposedly me and some buddies ran down Webster Avenue in the Bronx, drunk, screaming this song at 3AM as we stumbled back to our dorms. I really don't remember this, but will have to take my ex-girlfriends word.

My favorite single of the 90s: "Never Met a Girl Like You Before." I can't remember the name of the artist, however.

[I Hired Craig Livingstone]

Alanis' Ironic is probably one of the top songs of all time. It is so simple and yet pure genius.

I feel that way about a lot of her songs...

Beastie Boys always a winner--always funny. They actually pioneered the fusion of metal and rap (despite what VH1 said concerning Anthrax). NWA changed Rap forever and if this was a rap oriented list I would pick them as top album. I would also place Eminem in the mix for no other reason than to shake up the music industry during the Britany/Boy Band/Techno era. I always appreciate a man that can mock Michael Jackson's lifestyle with reckless abandon.

Agreed on all counts. The thing about NWA (and Eminem)that seems lost on a lot of modern rap music (at least to my eyes from afar) is a sense of humor. NWA rapped about the most over-the-top stuff, but you still got the vibe that most of it was tongue in cheek. Dre and Ice Cube didn't run around having their "boys" gunning down their rap rivals. They took their success and went mainstream.

[dirtboy]

In no particular order, Seal's debut album, Chris Whitley's Living with the Law, the Levellers Zeitgeist, Robbie Robertson's Contact from the Underworld of Red Boy, Tori Amos Little Earthquakes, Lucinda Williams Car Wheels on a Gravel Road, Live Throwing Copper, Grant Lee Buffalo Fuzzy, Bodeans Black and White, Not Drowning, Waving Circus.

[CaliPhant]

Why no Pearl Jam; at least Ten should be included. Weezer's Blue Album is one of the best ever.

[Rocko]

69 Love Songs by Magnetic Fields.

[Yardstick]

Good list. Interesting comments.

I agree with your Jeff Buckley, Portishead, and Radiohead picks. The rest I could take or leave. Funny how people have different tastes (One reason I hope God exists is that he'll be able to settle these aesthetic controversies once and for all. It'll finally be settled what the best 80's hair metal album was, etc.).

I would add Cake's Fashion Nugget to the list, because it's hilarious, and because the guitar riff in "Going the Distance" makes me drive 90 miles an hour. Also Richard Thompson's Mock Tudor, which has beautiful songs and some incredibly unorthodox, cathartic guitar work.

If you go here and click "Listen to him now", then scroll down a little, there's a free download of Thompson's song "Hard On Me". The solo totally comes out of left field but is perfect for the song.

[Caramelgal]

I’m forty-five and technically old enough to be your mom (wow - that’s a scary thought).

While a lot of my friends stayed stuck musically in the late seventies and early eighties, (OK like I can only listen to Journey so many times), in the nineties I “rediscovered” music. And I stay pretty current. The most recent CD’s I bought: Evanescence – The Open Door (Amy Lee – probably one of the best female rock voices ever), Pete Yorn – Nightcrawler, Little Big Town – The Road to Here (yea it’s country) and Sarah Vaughan – the Millennium Collection. Yep, I’m pretty eclectic.

My 90’s picks, not all inclusive or in any particular order:

Counting Crows, August and Everything After (1993)
Actually anything by Counting Crows makes my list.
REM, Automatic for the People (1992)
It’s hard to pick just one
U2, Achtung Baby (1991)
Have you come here to play Jesus to the lepers in your head?
Dave Matthews Band, Under the Table and Dreaming (1994)
I’ve seen DMB twice on concert. Will go see them again
Alice in Chains, MTV Unplugged (1996)
What amazing vocal harmonies
Nirvana, In Utero (1993)
I never liked Nirvana until I heard Tori Amos’s cover of Teen Sprit but Heart Shaped Box is my favorite Nirvana song.
Morphine, Cure for Pain (1993)
Rock band featuring Alto Sax
Tori Amos, Little Earthquakes (1992)
She’s a bit out there but she has a beautiful voice and writes the most haunting songs
Aimee Mann, I'm With Stupid (1995)
Forget Til Tuesday, listen to her later solo stuff, greatly under recognized song writer
Blues Traveler, Four (1994)
John Popper plays a mean harmonica
Alanis Morrisette, Jagged Little Pill (1995)
Yes she’s a bit angry but heck, we’ve all been there at least once.

[Pyro7480]

"The Downward Spiral", Nine Inch Nails.

That's another honorable mention. I never owned it, but between "Hurt" (though Johnny Cash's version is great) and "March of the Pigs" (great to just go crazy to), there are some great tracks on there. "Broken," though I haven't listened to it years, from what I remember, was pretty good too.