# The Very Best Rock Album Of The 1990's **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 21, 2017, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-very-best-rock-album-of-the-1990s/799478 "2017-10-21T21:13:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2017, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-very-best-rock-album-of-the-1990s/799478/41 "2017-10-22T00:40:22Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > That’s your entry? A concept album written at the very end of the decade comprised of love songs? Look, personal opinion matters, but shaping the genre of rock and record sales matter more. I don’t give the slightest shit if they sold one album, or kazillions. Plus your OP breathed nary a word about that, so it’s too late anyway to rage and cavil. And, on that exact note: > [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > It’s at least theoretically possible that the Very Best Rock Album of the 1990’s is quite obscure because for whatever reason it never got the attention it deserved. [It didn’t.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOw_SedsK0k) Fields of the Nephilim’s Elizium gets my vote for most unclassifiable album of the decade, at least, if not the best. If anyone knows about them at all, they will probably go, “Oh, those cowboy goth desperado guys wearing all of that flour dust on stage!” and instantly dismiss them as a gimmick (a la say Insane Cowboy Posse). Right as grunge was primed to take off, they come out with this utterly stunning magnum opus. Only to have it roundly ignored, leading shortly (in part) to the breakup of the band. The thing is, it gets tagged with the “goth” label, but unlike most goth bands most certainly does NOT indulge in the doom and gloom slit-your-wrists posturings typical of the genre here (tho to be sure it is deeply drenched in atmospherics). I find it to be the most uplifting and transcendent album I have ever heard (the singer basically spends 50 nonstop minutes celebrating his uncanny connection with this female spirit), which for me and my musical predilections is saying something. The musicianship is top-notch too. ---
**Author:** ![neofishboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/neofishboy/32/444_2.png) [@neofishboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neofishboy)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2017, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-very-best-rock-album-of-the-1990s/799478/42 "2017-10-22T00:55:06Z")
I’m a huge fan of _Exile_, but if you want to talk about the perfect storm of Quality+Influence+Album Sales, then I’d have to give it to _Nevermind_. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2017, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-very-best-rock-album-of-the-1990s/799478/43 "2017-10-22T01:27:43Z")
Can we do this experiment? This is my idea of what happened in the 90s in rough sketch and not definitive. Does the OP recognize any of these? Liz Phair – Exile… GBV – Bee Thousand, Alien Lanes Magnetic Fields – you name it Elliiot Smith – XO Freedy Johnston – This Perfect World (Produced by Butch Vig); and Never Home American Music Club – Mercury Robyn Hitchcock and the Egyptians – Respect Ween - Chocolate and Cheese Pavement – Crooked Rain Uncle Tupelo – Anodyne Wilco – being There Whiskeytown – Faithless Street Yo La Tengo – Fakebook I like the beatles, to characterize myself simply, and these are the records in the trad of the strongest original melodies and expression, that I could hear, to touch me, in that whole decade. I took a look at the top 200 for the 90s and it just seemed grim to me. Very uninspiring, to me anyway. I wonder what hard rock fans are looking for when they pass up records that are not in the genre. What is the barrier? What are your 90s consisting of if they don’t have these? ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2017, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-very-best-rock-album-of-the-1990s/799478/44 "2017-10-22T01:36:46Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > That’s definitely up there. I am thinking in a general sense as to the “soundtrack of the 1990’s”, but am furthering it with the quantifier about a “play and forget” album. I don’t think “Dookie” makes that cut, despite having some great and memorable songs. > > Pearl Jam “Ten”? > > Nirvana? Nevermind - Nirvana Siamese Dream - Smashing pumpkins Version 2.0 - Garbage ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2017, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-very-best-rock-album-of-the-1990s/799478/45 "2017-10-22T01:41:05Z")
green day’s dookie bad religion’s stranger than fiction no doubt tragic kingdom and elvis costellos mighty like a rose was more depressing than anything the grungers ever wrote ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2017, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-very-best-rock-album-of-the-1990s/799478/46 "2017-10-22T01:53:31Z")
Just happened to listen to one of the best from the 90s this afternoon: [\*Wildflowers \*](https://music.avclub.com/with-wildflowers-tom-petty-took-brilliant-advantage-of-1798272759) ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2017, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-very-best-rock-album-of-the-1990s/799478/47 "2017-10-22T02:59:31Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > Wait I’m gonna go get my _ **suitcase.** _ > > Robert Pollard is a true american treasure. If he’s obscure then, well that explains a lot about the world. (I’m talking guided by voices here) This guy writes like lennon, davies, and zappa, and he has put out 1000 songs. He would not have a singles career in any universe we know, but his songs would be the best, in the universe, and a lot of times they are. Agree - Lennon, Davies and Zappa, with occasional guitar by Townshend. One thing about Pollard is that you have to get past the fact that he’s simultaneously spewing out gems and clinkers now. He’s not polishing anything, so you’ll get some crap, but that lack of filter or reflection also produces amazing songs. ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2017, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-very-best-rock-album-of-the-1990s/799478/48 "2017-10-22T03:17:38Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > Liz Phair – Exile… > GBV – Bee Thousand, Alien Lanes > Magnetic Fields – you name it > Elliiot Smith – XO > Freedy Johnston – This Perfect World (Produced by Butch Vig); and Never Home > American Music Club – Mercury > Robyn Hitchcock and the Egyptians – Respect > Ween - Chocolate and Cheese > Pavement – Crooked Rain > Uncle Tupelo – Anodyne > Wilco – being There > Whiskeytown – Faithless Street > Yo La Tengo – Fakebook I vote for this as “Playlist Most Likely to Occupy All My Time This Weekend.” But I think I would have to add Loveless and Doolittle\* just for some balance. \*I am aware that Doolittle came out in 1989, but I didn’t really _hear_ it until 1990, to the point that I cannot separate my memories of that year from those songs. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2017, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-very-best-rock-album-of-the-1990s/799478/49 "2017-10-22T03:37:10Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > Courtney Love was more influential than Liz. Courtney Love is more TALENTED than Liz Phair. While I get the impression that I would like Liz Phair if I knew her personally, I do not understand her semi-legendary status, because the woman cannot sing. I’ve also heard that she’s terrible onstage. My favorite 1990s album, off the top of my head, is one that chances are nobody else here has ever heard of. It’s “Fun?” by the British power-pop band The Candy Skins. Great album from start to finish. ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2017, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-very-best-rock-album-of-the-1990s/799478/50 "2017-10-22T03:39:43Z")
Undertow. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2017, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-very-best-rock-album-of-the-1990s/799478/51 "2017-10-22T03:58:02Z")
_Bringing Down The Horse_ was fucking great, too. Not “The Best”, but deserves a mention. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2017, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-very-best-rock-album-of-the-1990s/799478/52 "2017-10-22T04:02:05Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > Courtney Love is more TALENTED than Liz Phair. A Proclamation To Encourage A Pit Thread! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![sweepkick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/87869e/32.png) [@sweepkick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweepkick)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2017, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-very-best-rock-album-of-the-1990s/799478/53 "2017-10-22T04:08:21Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > FWIW, _Rolling Stone_’s list of the [100 Best Albums of the 90s](http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-best-albums-of-the-nineties-20110427) has _Exile in Guyville_ at #20 and _Blood Sugar Sex Magic_ at #19. That Tool’s Aenima and Undertow albums are completely missing from RS’s list seriously kills its credibility. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2017, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-very-best-rock-album-of-the-1990s/799478/54 "2017-10-22T04:39:37Z")
> [@sweepkick](#): > > That Tool’s Aenima and Undertow albums are completely missing from RS’s list seriously kills its credibility. Being totally bored and it’s half-time of the late game, I finally got around to looking at that list. Yeah, pretty fucking lame. Ah, but what do I know? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2017, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-very-best-rock-album-of-the-1990s/799478/55 "2017-10-22T06:13:53Z")
_Exile in Guyville_ and _69 Love Songs_ are among my favorite albums of the 90s. But I don’t really think of them as “rock” albums. I would vote My Bloody Valentine’s _Loveless_, but I suspect that’s not mainstream enough for the OP. My favorite mainstream rock album is probably _Siamese Dream_ by the Smashing Pumpkins. I don’t know about “best,” but favorite is the best I can answer. ETA: Actually, for best of reasonably mainstream acts, I’d be pretty happy with going with _OK Computer_. ---
**Author:** ![Moris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moris/32/2846_2.png) [@Moris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moris)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2017, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-very-best-rock-album-of-the-1990s/799478/56 "2017-10-22T06:27:34Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > FWIW, _Rolling Stone_’s list of the [100 Best Albums of the 90s](http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-best-albums-of-the-nineties-20110427) has _Exile in Guyville_ at #20 and _Blood Sugar Sex Magic_ at #19. Meh. My favourite albums of the 90s don’t appear on that list at all. RKL’s “Reactivate” is too obscure, I get it. But no PJ Harvey’s “To Bring You My Love”? Or Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds “Let Love In”? No Cave at all? No Future Sound of London? The Orb? ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2017, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-very-best-rock-album-of-the-1990s/799478/57 "2017-10-22T07:19:53Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > Who didn’t tap their feet and sing along with the anthemic choruses of [Very Emergency](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IK3bG1OQeLw) by the Promise Ring? This gives me a chance to mention their fantastic cover of Adele’s “Rumour Has It.” [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/BxeENTvTM2A/hqdefault.jpg "The Promise Ring covers Adele's "Rumour Has It"") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxeENTvTM2A) I know it’s a hijack, as it’s not relevant to the thread. But I like it anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2017, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-very-best-rock-album-of-the-1990s/799478/58 "2017-10-22T08:51:23Z")
I’m going to cheat for my quintessential album of the 90s. I pick “The Real Thing” by Faith No More, although it was released in 1989. It didn’t really pick up steam until MTV started showing “Epic” and “Falling to Pieces” in heavy rotation. Stylistically, it was all over the place. Combined elements of rock, funk, pop, rap, swing, and other genres of music into a fusion that no one had ever heard before. And the songs on that album still kick ass today. It kinda burst down a lot of walls, and showed people that music doesn’t have to be pigeonholed into a specific genre. The closest thing to that around that time (in my memory) was Aerosmith/Run DMC, or Anthrax and the other “speed metal/thrash metal” bands, but even they didn’t combine musical elements from more than a couple of styles. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2017, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-very-best-rock-album-of-the-1990s/799478/59 "2017-10-22T09:54:04Z")
I first thought of _ **Blood Sugar Sex Magik** _ as well. Also \ ***OK Computer** \*(Radiohead), \*\*\*Mellow Gold \*\*\*(Beck – not really “rock,” but still), _ **Re** _ (Café Tacuba – diverse styles, but plenty of rock), and _ **Hoist** _ (Phish). R.E.M. had some good, influential, mostly-rock albums (e.g., _ **Automatic for the People** _), but none were free of dud tracks. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2017, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-very-best-rock-album-of-the-1990s/799478/60 "2017-10-22T10:11:51Z")
I just looked at that Rolling Stone list, and it reminded me how huge \*\*\*Jagged Little Pill \*\*\*(Alanis Morisette) was. Definitely worthy of mention in this thread. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-very-best-rock-album-of-the-1990s/799478.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-very-best-rock-album-of-the-1990s/799478.md?page=4)