Top Ten Rock Albums of the 90s

Here is a list of the 10 rock albums of the 1990s I could not live without. Although any Top Ten list is quite subjective, I narrowed down a list of about 25 albums that most people I knew thought were essential in the 90s. I chose the ten that were my personal favorites and the ones I considered most important. I consider these to be the 10 most definitive albums of the 1990s; the ones that did the most to help shape the sound of that decade and influence future musicians. If you were around in the 90s, you should have no trouble identifying with all of these albums. Believe me, I know there are some other albums that belong on this list. But before you start considering replacements, think about whether those albums deserve to kick any one of these off first.

Oasis – What’s The Story Morning Glory?

This was the first tape I ever bought, back in 5th grade. I especially think this album is important, since the sound Oasis produced was synonymous with many Radiohead songs. It seems the two bands were on the same tangent and worked off each other at this time. That’s especially important today because ambient-rock bands, such as Coldplay and Keane, are influenced by the soft rock of Oasis. It’s relevant to the 90s because it took pop-rock to a new direction. It was a sort of pullback from the Beatles, yet hip and fresh at the same time. Surrounded by grunge, rap, and heavy metal, this form of rock gained a huge momentum and popularity because of Oasis. It was the precursor to today’s indie and folk-rock. This record also happened to be one of the most commercially successful in Britain.

Rage Against The Machine – Rage Against The Machine (Self-Titled)

To this day, I don’t know any band that’s similar to RATM. The fusion of rap and rock they started is completely different from the collaboration of Linkin Park and Jay-Z. They always had a real political agenda and a powerful message (only a few bands since, like System of A Down, can compare). I recently went to see Rage at Rock The Bells and noticed the crowd was very eclectic. People of all walks of life (and most-likely, walks of music) were really into the band. That’s what I remember about the album as a kid. No matter whom you spoke with, everyone liked Rage. They were an important band in the 90s and their voice was an essential contribution. This is still one of my favorite albums because every song on it is amazing.

Tool – Aenima

There comes a point in every band’s career, in my opinion, when a “super-album” is produced. The musicianship, creativity, innovation, and emotion that go into such an album are so powerful, it is virtually impossible for an artist to ever make a better record. This is the case for Tool, as much as it is for most of the bands I listen to. Aenima was a significant shift from early 90s Tool style. The bass became much more prominent, thanks to Justin Chancellor. The core group sound got deeper and more complex. Songs were longer and darker. The lyrics got more interesting; the message was more important. Tool went from a hard rock or metal band to progressive and beyond. With Aenima, Tool became an art rock band and gained popularity at the same time (they headlined Lollapalooza that year). To this day, they remain one of the most hard-working and original bands around.

Green Day – Dookie

Although punk usually annoys me really quickly, I have to contribute Dookie to the 90s. All I know is that before Green Day came around, punk barely existed in the mainstream. After Dookie came through, it was everywhere (Blink-182, Sum-41, or the countless more that exist today). Once again, people of all sorts of musical tastes were into this album when it came out. This makes Green Day especially important in the 90s because they influenced many bands down the line. They made the punk and pop-punk genre an important one, worthy of being aired on MTV.

Pearl Jam - Ten

Grunge and Seattle is what most people think of when they talk about 90s rock music. Pearl Jam must logically be a worthy mention. But that’s not why I would choose it. Pearl Jam didn’t sound like the other grunge bands. They were influenced a bit more by southern rock. Perhaps it was Eddie Vedder’s voice that set it apart. I would listen to any music placed under his singing. In the end, it’s probably his talent and rare voice that makes Pearl Jam so popular and definitive in the 90s. It’s a “perfect-album,” meaning every song on the album is really good and none should be skipped. It also happens to be Pearl Jam’s debut and “super-album.”

Guns N’ Roses – Use Your Illusion

“November Rain” should be considered as one of the best songs of the decade. Guns N’ Roses were not an 80s rock band, nor an 80s metal band. They started at the end of the 80s and brought a new wave of hard rock to the next decade. Their use of piano, multiple guitars, and a constant fight for the spotlight between singer and lead guitarist gave them a mighty and powerful sound. Even if you write off Slash as un-unique and “too much” like Joe Perry of Aerosmith, you have to give him credit for the solos on this album, especially “Don’t Cry.” As this was a double disc, both Use Your Illusion I and II are considered as the #5 best album. Although Appetite For Destruction put G’N'R in the forefront of global rock, these were the songs that made them gods in the 90s.

Metallica – Metallica (Black Album)

Although most critics would consider Master of Puppets to be Metallica’s best album, the Black Album was just as important. Metallica took the heavy metal of the 80s (which they pretty much defined) and transformed it into a sort of mainstream, pop formula: 4-5 minute length songs and catchy melodies that appealed to a greater audience. Not that they needed to reach out to people (by this time, the band had already reached global superstardom), but they did so anyways. “Nothing Else Matters” became a staple for guitar players. Many of the guitar players I know learned that song first, myself included. “The Unforgiven” was another ballad that defined rock music in the 90s. With the release of the Black Album and a multi-year tour, culminating in Woodstock ’94, Metallica became one of the definitive and important bands in the 90s.

Nirvana – Nevermind

This album is usually considered the best of the 90s. Quite frequently, “Smells Like Teen Spirit” is voted as the best rock song of all time on radio station countdowns. I chose it as 3 because I personally like the next two more, and don’t particularly love this style. However, I do recognize that it is one of the most important developments in rock music in the 90s. Grunge was an important style in that decade, and Kurt Kobain helped popularize it. The songs themselves are very catchy and addictive. The guitar lines and chord progressions are fairly simple; and that’s what makes them so appealing. Songs such as “Come As You Are” and “Lithium” have a lot of sentimental value for me and immediately bring me back to the 90s, even when I listen to them years later. This album is therefore a timeless classic and a time capsule which captures a piece of the last decade of the last millennium.

Sublime – Sublime (Self-Titled)

I’ve never met a person who dislikes Sublime, especially this album. From ska, punk, and rock, to dub, reggae, and easy listening, this album showcased what the band was capable of. The trio from California hit it big with this record. The CD was released, unfortunately, after Bradley Nowell’s death. This record shaped the styles of future rock bands such as Sugar Ray and Everlast. But it’s legacy is contained in its symbol of the decade it came from. Like Nevermind, this album captures a piece of the 90s; it should go along with any reminiscing of the past.

Red Hot Chili Peppers – Blood, Sugar, Sex, Magik

So much passion and energy came out of this band in 1991 and it was channeled in a talented and creative way. They brought rock, funk, and a dirty mouth to the forefront of the 90s. Their lyrics were very sexual and provocative for the time they were written and this greatly appealed to rebellious kids and teenagers. Give It Away and Under The Bridge have a very strong foundation in 90s rock. Apparently, the musical material was written under the influence of a lot of marijuana. How the album would have turned out otherwise will never be known. It is the best from a talented group of musicians who share a love for original and innovative music. Blood, Sugar, Sex, Magik is also a classic example of the “super-album.” It should be on any top ten of the 90s list.