{"id":5623,"date":"2016-03-18T09:49:26","date_gmt":"2016-03-18T09:49:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/192.168.3.178\/?p=5623"},"modified":"2024-02-06T14:31:11","modified_gmt":"2024-02-06T14:31:11","slug":"the-10-best-albums-of-the-90s-according-to-critics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/2016\/03\/18\/the-10-best-albums-of-the-90s-according-to-critics\/","title":{"rendered":"The 10 best albums of the 90s (according to critics!)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>What is the best 90s album of them all? It\u2019s a question that\u2019s impossible to answer, but we\u2019re going to try anyway.<\/p>\n<p>We took 9 \u201d\u02dcbest 90s albums\u2019 lists from respected outlets <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rollingstone.com\/music\/lists\/100-best-albums-of-the-nineties-20110427\">Rolling Stone<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/pitchfork.com\/features\/lists-and-guides\/5923-top-100-albums-of-the-1990s\/\">Pitchfork<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/absoluteradio.co.uk\/feature\/charts\/greatest-album-of-the-90s\/\">Absolute Radio<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2015\/10\/26\/radioheads-ok-computer-tops-poll-of-the-100-greatest-albums-of-the-90s-5462485\/\">Q<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pastemagazine.com\/blogs\/lists\/2012\/02\/the-90-best-albums-of-the-1990s.html\">Paste<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.factmag.com\/2012\/09\/03\/the-100-best-albums-of-the-1990s-100-81\/\">FACT<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/rateyourmusic.com\/list\/unj\/spin_magazines_top_90_albums_of_the_90s\/\">SPIN<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.slantmagazine.com\/features\/article\/best-albums-of-the-1990s\">Slant<\/a>\u00a0and <a href=\"https:\/\/rateyourmusic.com\/list\/unj\/spin_magazines_top_90_albums_of_the_90s\/\">Diffuser<\/a> and assigned each album in the top 10 a score based on their position. 1<sup>st<\/sup> gets 10 points, 2<sup>nd<\/sup> 9, and so on.<\/p>\n<p>From that, we worked out an overall score out of 90 (see what we\u2019ve done there?). Here are the top 10 albums of the 90s, according to some of the internet\u2019s finest music publications&#8230;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/1UHUU4lpv3s\" width=\"420\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><strong>10<sup>th<\/sup>: The Chronic \u201d\u201c Dr. Dre<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Squeaking in at number 10 is Dre\u2019s classic solo debut, a whirlwind of G-Funk and gangsta violence with a generous helping of Snoop Dogg.<\/p>\n<p>Despite its undisputed status as a classic, <em>The Chronic <\/em>only scored 12 points after appearing on 2 of our lists. It did come 2<sup>nd<\/sup> on Rolling Stone\u2019s list though.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RiDSr2uq2XU\" width=\"420\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><strong>9<sup>th<\/sup>: Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain\/Slanted and Enchanted \u201d\u201c Pavement<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Pavement are so good that they tied for 9<sup>th<\/sup> place with themselves. <em>Crooked Rain<\/em> appears on 3 \u201d\u02dcBest of 90s\u2019 lists (Diffuser, Rolling Stone and Pitchfork), while <em>Slanted<\/em>&#8230; appears on 2 (SPIN and Pitchfork, again). Both albums received 12 points, although <em>Crooked <\/em>wins out with most appearances.<\/p>\n<p>Weirdly, they would have placed much higher on this list if they\u2019d only released one brilliant album in the 90s.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/9vceAAeW0n0\" width=\"420\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><strong>8<sup>th<\/sup>: Post \u201d\u201c Bjork<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Bjork\u2019s second album scored 12 points and appears on 2 lists, scoring 2<sup>nd<\/sup> place on Slant\u2019s list. Ironically, she was beaten by&#8230;Bjork\u2019s <em>Homogenic<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>Bjork suffers from the same problem as Pavement; she released too many good albums in the 90s. As well as <em>Homogenic<\/em>, her debut also appears on Q\u2019s list.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/A53BDbV7m4Y\" width=\"420\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><strong>7<sup>th<\/sup>: Achtung Baby \u201d\u201c U2<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>In the early 90s, U2 \u201d\u02dcdid a Bowie\u2019 and sloped off to Berlin to reinvent themselves. And reinvent themselves they did, shedding their slightly naff arena rock for a leaner, meaner industrial-influenced sound.<\/p>\n<p>After the great iTunes debacle their last album sparked, perhaps another trip to Germany is due&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><em>Achtung <\/em>placed on 3 lists and scored 15 points in total, with its highest position being 4<sup>th<\/sup> on Rolling Stone\u2019s list.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/NUTGr5t3MoY\" width=\"420\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><strong>6<sup>th<\/sup>: Dookie \u201d\u201c Green Day<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Do you have the time, to listen to me whine, about one of the best pop-punk albums of the 90s not placing higher on this list?<\/p>\n<p><em>Dookie <\/em>influenced countless bands throughout the decade and beyond but only appears on 2 of our \u201d\u02dcBest of\u2019 lists. It came 4<sup>th<\/sup> on Paste\u2019s list and 2<sup>nd<\/sup> on Absolute\u2019s, scoring 16 points.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/A3adFWKE9JE\" width=\"420\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><strong>5<sup>th<\/sup>: Grace \u201d\u201c Jeff Buckley<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>There\u2019s no doubt the world lost Jeff Buckley too soon, and it\u2019s a shame we\u2019ll never get to hear what could have been.<\/p>\n<p>He only left us one full length album (<em>Sketches For My Sweetheart, The Drunk<\/em> was only half finished, while his \u201d\u02dcunearthed\u2019 newer materials consists of covers and demos) but it left an indelible footprint on music, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gigwise.com\/photos\/96123\/jeff-buckley-new-covers-album-you-and-i-listen-online-in-full\">influencing everyone from Radiohead to Adele<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><em>Grace <\/em>scored 18 points, appearing on 3 lists.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/XLaFLztnL84\" width=\"420\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><strong>4<sup>th<\/sup>: In The Aeroplane Over the Sea \u201d\u201c Neutral Milk Hotel<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Undoubtedly one of the best indie albums of the 90s, <em>In The Aeroplane Over The Sea <\/em>is equal parts uplifting and upsetting. The lyrics have widely been interpreted as being about Anne Frank, although the band has never confirmed it. It scored 21 points, appearing on 3 lists.<\/p>\n<p>Despite the critical acclaim <em>In The Aeroplane&#8230; <\/em>received, Neutral Milk Hotel disbanded less than a year later and only reunited again in 2013.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/aa3rBVb3v4g\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><strong>3<sup>rd<\/sup>: Odelay \u201d\u201c Beck <\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><em>Odelay <\/em>is widely considered one of the best alternative rock albums of all time and is Beck\u2019s most successful album to date; it has sold over 2 million copies in the US and is certified platinum in the UK.<\/p>\n<p>Despite its status, <em>Odelay <\/em>still only managed to muster 22 points despite appearing on 5 of our lists. It\u2019s not a bad score, but nothing compared to&#8230;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/hTWKbfoikeg\" width=\"420\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><strong>2<sup>nd<\/sup>: Nevermind \u201d\u201c Nirvana<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><em>Nevermind <\/em>is one of the most influential rock albums ever released, inspiring a generation of teens to grow their hair long, strap on a guitar and scream their lungs out like Kurt Cobain.<\/p>\n<p>Over 20 years later, <em>Nevermind <\/em>is still just as powerful. It absolutely destroyed the competition too, scoring 50 points and topping 3 of the lists (SPIN, Rolling Stone and Diffuser).<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/sPLEbAVjiLA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><strong>#1: OK Computer \u201d\u201c Radiohead<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Radiohead\u2019s paranoid masterpiece is widely regarded as one of the best albums ever made, with some claiming the band have never topped it.<\/p>\n<p>Regardless of your opinion, there\u2019s no doubt the critics love it: it topped 3 of our lists and scored 57 points, appearing on every single list but two.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><em>So there you have it: the best albums of the 90s according to the critics. There are quite a few big omissions on there, so let us know what your top 10 is in the comments!<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Don\u2019t forget to check out the musicMagpie Store, we\u2019ve got 1000s of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/store\/category\/music\/cd\/\">CDs for sale<\/a> or check out our range of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/store\/music\/vinyl\">cheap vinyl records<\/a>. You&#8217;ll even get free delivery on all orders.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What is the best 90s album of them all? It\u2019s a question that\u2019s impossible to answer, but we\u2019re going to try anyway. We took 9 \u201d\u02dcbest 90s albums\u2019 lists from respected outlets Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, Absolute Radio, Q, Paste, FACT, SPIN, Slant\u00a0and Diffuser and assigned each album in the top &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":5484,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[159],"tags":[1603,1581,1703,1661],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5623"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5623"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5623\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16835,"href":"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5623\/revisions\/16835"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5484"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5623"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5623"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5623"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}