Top Ten Best Albums Since 1990
Kurt Cobain always said that he felt Nevermind was too soft for his liking, yet for everyone else in the '90s, it sparked a revolution. A new game-changer of music that was never anticipated to be so influential caused such an unsettling of the mainstream. Alongside Pearl Jam's Ten, this album made grunge the new classic rock, even with Nirvana's short reign ending in 1994 following Cobain's death.
1. Smells Like Teen Spirit
2. In Bloom
3. Come as You Are
4. Breed
5. Lithium
6. Polly
7. Territorial Pissings
8. Drain You
9. Lounge Act
10. Stay Away
11. On a Plain
12. Something In the Way
This has to be the greatest album of the '90s. This is also my favorite album from Nirvana.
In 2004, Green Day was lurking on the fringes of world recognition, with several UK top 40 hits in the bag. However, nobody was expecting just how much of an impact the world's first so-called punk rock opera, American Idiot, would make. The album received such high publicity and critical acclaim that it catapulted Green Day straight into the mainstream.
Could have also put in Dookie, but chose American Idiot as it is such a complete album. No bad songs, all great ones. Jesus of Suburbia, American Idiot, and Holiday, plus, in my opinion, the best Green Day song, Boulevard of Broken Dreams.
This, in my opinion, is the best album of all time. It doesn't have a single bad track. From start to finish, it is amazing. Songs like Enter Sandman and Sad but True place it as an essential metal album. Other songs include Nothing Else Matters, maybe Metallica's best-known song, and my personal favorites, Of Wolf and Man and The God that Failed. An incredible album, a must-have for any music collection.
My favorite all-time punk album! Great songs, Self Esteem and Come Out and Play are the most notable, plus Bad Habit, Genocide, and Smash. An album that helps define the '90s and keep punk rolling on through the years.
Retro, raw, and undoubtedly a classic for a modern age, the Strokes' 2001 debut album completely redefined the indie genre from its humble underground roots into an explosion of extravagance, stylishness, and a sense of freedom. This paved the way for other indie bands such as the Libertines and Arctic Monkeys to follow. A single album rarely manages to turn the tables of the entire music industry, but this cool, classy, badass LP demonstrates that when the zeitgeist comes, it does just that.
Although it may be argued that their earlier effort Blood Sugar Sex Magik was the first standout funk rock album, this was the first one that caught people's attention. With roots heavily encompassing the blues and funk genres, Red Hot Chili Peppers turned what was once considered music for only black people into a near-perfect template. Many have attempted, less successfully, to mimic their style, enforcing the fact that this album is hard to beat.
2000 produced many great albums, none more so than Hybrid Theory. The Linkin Park debut album is one of history's greatest musical works. Great songs like In the End and Runaway, plus Crawling and One Step Closer. Definitely deserves to be labeled as one of the greatest albums of all time.
First word that comes to mind? Dance! This beautifully cagey, funky album spawned classics such as Take Me Out and Dark of the Matinée, twisting the Strokes' influence into a ridiculously catchy, fast-paced album that sticks in the memory for a long time after.
It's difficult to imagine how a band could ever become so successful yet so shunning of the mainstream. Pearl Jam's attempts to keep a low profile could have stayed that way, but were never maintained due to the popularity of this, their '91 debut, which in time brought them to become one of the most revered rock bands ever.
Amazing album. Pearl Jam, along with Nirvana and Alice in Chains, in my opinion, defined grunge, the breakthrough genre of the '90s. Ten has so many Pearl Jam classics: Once, Alive, Black, and Even Flow are the highlights for me.
The Newcomers
Dave Grohl and his band seemed to be going downhill slightly, and a Grammy-winning album was just what was required for a march back to the top. Grohl said that the album was about how he felt like a survivor and that it was a reflection of how, despite knowing time's grip, the feeling of rejuvenation was still there. It certainly feels like it in this album, where Foo Fighters' originality and flair seem as present as ever.
Breaking the record for the fastest-selling debut album of all time is quite something, but it is hardly a surprise when you listen to the album that did it in 2006. An unrelenting blend of rhythmic, incredibly catchy guitar riffs and the exceptional songwriting ability of frontman Alex Turner make this one of the most popular indie albums there is, and hard to argue against as one of the best.
An often overlooked album, this seems to whisper a hint of space rock, but is undoubtedly alternative. The vocal talent of frontman Matt Bellamy is matched by his guitar ability, as well as Chris Wolstenholme's bass playing and Dom Howard's drumming. Muse's flair gives them the right to be bombastic in every way, and the pure energy of this album alone makes it great.
Great album, great band. Disturbed has so many great songs, and a lot of them come from Indestructible. The title track Indestructible, Perfect Insanity, Inside the Fire, and The Night, all great songs.
Early Coldplay always seemed to prefer slow melodies. Their humble, refined, but sensationally popular second album could easily compare the band to a less depressed version of Radiohead, yet in time, they became all the more popular.
Fantastic album, amazing songs, amazing band.
Songs like The Scientist, Clocks, In My Place, Green Eyes, and the criminally underrated title track all make it a truly essential album for everyone.