# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2017, 10:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-very-best-rock-album-of-the-1990s/799478/61 "2017-10-22T10:12:19Z")
Really enjoying this popcorn ;). Interesting thread. Not really a lot to add; I was getting corporate back then so lost precious exploration time. - Would assume the “right” answers would be Nevermind and OK Computer, with Exile in Guyville as a critics’ darling. - At first blush, I’d go with Soundgarden’s Superunknown or Alice in Chain’s Dirt, with MBV’s Loveless as my critic’s darling. And any Top 90’s list that doesn’t include Public Enemy’s fear of a Black Planet, or A Tribe Called Quest’s The Low End Theory just doesn’t feel complete, even if they aren’t rock. ---
**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, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-very-best-rock-album-of-the-1990s/799478/62 "2017-10-22T10:55:47Z")
I thought of a few more that encapsulate the 90s for me, and are close to dud-free. In order from “pure rock” to “not really rock”: _Stunt_ (Barenaked Ladies), \*Joys and Concerns \*(The Negro Problem), \*Under the Table and Dreaming \*(Dave Matthews Band), \*Tigerlily \*(Natalie Merchant), _Wicked Game_ (Chris Isaak), _Bizarre Ride II_ (The Pharcyde), and the \*Dead Man Walking \*soundtrack (various, including Tom Waits, Bruce Springsteen, Patti Smith, and Eddie Vedder). ---
**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, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-very-best-rock-album-of-the-1990s/799478/63 "2017-10-22T11:15:37Z")
Correction: The Chris Isaak album is called _Heart-Shaped World._ ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2017, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-very-best-rock-album-of-the-1990s/799478/64 "2017-10-22T11:25:50Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > Correction: The Chris Isaak album is called _Heart-Shaped World._ Love this inclusion. _It Must Be Wrong to Love You_ is a personal favorite. You had to include Natalie Merchant? I have an irrational hatred for her - such a great vocal instrument, used in such a limp way. Her range is about 5 notes, and if she ever invested a lyric with emotional gravity, I’ve never heard it - she was too busy twirling onstage. Her version of Peace Train makes me want to to smack someone. ---
**Author:** ![Enlightening\_Meditation](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecc23a/32.png) [@Enlightening\_Meditation](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enlightening_Meditation)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2017, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-very-best-rock-album-of-the-1990s/799478/65 "2017-10-22T12:00:48Z")
My personal favorite as ‘best’ from the decade would be The Flaming Lips’ _Zaireeka_ album (1997). It definitely did not have high volume sales and exposure because the listener is required to use 4 sound systems to play each of the 4 CDs simultaneously (or 4 vinyl records beginning in April 2013). ---
**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, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-very-best-rock-album-of-the-1990s/799478/66 "2017-10-22T13:23:58Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > You had to include Natalie Merchant? I have an irrational hatred for her - such a great vocal instrument, used in such a limp way. Her range is about 5 notes, and if she ever invested a lyric with emotional gravity, I’ve never heard it - she was too busy twirling onstage. Her version of Peace Train makes me want to to smack someone. Given I agree with every word of this, it _might_ not be entirely irrational. 😉 ---
**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, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-very-best-rock-album-of-the-1990s/799478/67 "2017-10-22T13:34:05Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Love this inclusion. _It Must Be Wrong to Love You_ is a personal favorite. > > You had to include Natalie Merchant? I have an irrational hatred for her - such a great vocal instrument, used in such a limp way. Her range is about 5 notes, and if she ever invested a lyric with emotional gravity, I’ve never heard it - she was too busy twirling onstage. Her version of Peace Train makes me want to to smack someone. Sorry about that! 🙂 I don’t like her voice, either, but I like much of her songwriting, arrangements, and sound, especially on that particular album. ETA: I am enjoying MBV’s _Loveless_ at the moment, thanks to your heads-up. Not my absolute favorite genre, but I’m digging the LP, and appreciate its role in the evolution of rock. ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2017, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-very-best-rock-album-of-the-1990s/799478/68 "2017-10-22T13:43:50Z")
Ah, Rolling Stone … in which the Beastie Boys rate higher than Dylan and Tom Waits!!! And no mention of The Fall at all. cf: [The Fall - Ladybird (Green Grass) - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pC-5gsspKek&list=PLrQRSk_JRU4WKNhFhVBFdfsGwCj9prHWZ) ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2017, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-very-best-rock-album-of-the-1990s/799478/69 "2017-10-22T13:50:41Z")
Smashing Pumpkins “Siamese Dream” was pretty good. ---
**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, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-very-best-rock-album-of-the-1990s/799478/70 "2017-10-22T13:54:00Z")
> [@jaycat](#): > > Ah, Rolling Stone … in which the Beastie Boys rate higher than Dylan and Tom Waits!!! > > And no mention of The Fall at all. cf: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pC-5gsspKek&list=PLrQRSk\_JRU4WKNhFhVBFdfsGwCj9prHWZ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pC-5gsspKek&list=PLrQRSk_JRU4WKNhFhVBFdfsGwCj9prHWZ) I was going to mention The Fall, but their best and most influential album, _Hex Enduction Hour_, was from 1982. (Admittedly I’m not familiar with all their stuff). ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2017, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-very-best-rock-album-of-the-1990s/799478/71 "2017-10-22T14:01:16Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Love this inclusion. _It Must Be Wrong to Love You_ is a personal favorite. > > You had to include Natalie Merchant? I have an irrational hatred for her - such a great vocal instrument, used in such a limp way. Her range is about 5 notes, and if she ever invested a lyric with emotional gravity, I’ve never heard it - she was too busy twirling onstage. Her version of Peace Train makes me want to to smack someone. I had never heard Merchant singing Peace Train. Now I have. I will never forgive you for this. mmm ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2017, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-very-best-rock-album-of-the-1990s/799478/72 "2017-10-22T14:12:57Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > I had never heard Merchant singing Peace Train. Now I have. I will never forgive you for this. > mmm Iknowright?? **JKelly** - Merchant and the Maniacs sure had their day then. That doesn’t mean we have to like it. Loveless - it’s like an immersive pillow of distortion, right? It’s the only use of whisper lyrics I can handle because that whole package works as intended. MBV were known for playing at intentionally damagingly high volume - the mastermind of their sound, Kevin Shields, is trying to trip some neurological triggers our Brain has when confronted by so much. He talks about nailing some specific Hertz or something - leaves stars in your eyes due to the volume. Folks who went to the show’s describe getting to that point as transcendent - a Mark Rothko-like accessing the void by tickling the fringes of your perception. I am glad I can only imagine. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2017, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-very-best-rock-album-of-the-1990s/799478/73 "2017-10-22T14:31:44Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > You had to include Natalie Merchant? I have an irrational hatred for her - such a great vocal instrument, used in such a limp way. Her range is about 5 notes, and if she ever invested a lyric with emotional gravity, I’ve never heard it - she was too busy twirling onstage. Her version of Peace Train makes me want to to smack someone. > [@Maserschmidt](#): > > Given I agree with every word of this, it _might_ not be entirely irrational. 😉 Back in the '80s, when I was in college, my friend Lance once stumbled into the living room in a state of, oh, lets just say _total inebriation_ and asked us if we wanted to listen to a thousand screaming maniacs. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2017, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-very-best-rock-album-of-the-1990s/799478/74 "2017-10-22T14:37:58Z")
On further reflection, I’m pretty sure his exact words were “Hey, you guys wanna hear a thousand screaming maniacs?” ---
**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, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-very-best-rock-album-of-the-1990s/799478/75 "2017-10-22T14:43:10Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Loveless … a Mark Rothko-like accessing the void… Well put. I can see this in it. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2017, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-very-best-rock-album-of-the-1990s/799478/76 "2017-10-22T15:27:10Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > I had never heard Merchant singing Peace Train. Now I have. I will never forgive you for this. > mmm So listen to [“Trouble Me”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zfYFJVdL6U) as an antidote. “Songwriting, arrangements, and sound” as JKellyMap said. Then we can both kick him out the door. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2017, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-very-best-rock-album-of-the-1990s/799478/77 "2017-10-22T15:36:54Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > So listen to [“Trouble Me”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zfYFJVdL6U) as an antidote. To me, that’s a very beige song ---
**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, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-very-best-rock-album-of-the-1990s/799478/78 "2017-10-22T15:49:59Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > So listen to [“Trouble Me”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zfYFJVdL6U) as an antidote. “Songwriting, arrangements, and sound” as JKellyMap said. Then we can both kick him out the door. 🙂 I’m not much of a Maniacs fan, actually. I was referring mainly to the following tracks on _Tigerlily_: [Wonder](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xGtZcln39o) [San Andreas Fault](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcG9r86bIZ0) [Beloved Wife](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3y9voj18XU0) ---
**Author:** ![infinitii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e8c25b/32.png) [@infinitii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/infinitii)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2017, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-very-best-rock-album-of-the-1990s/799478/79 "2017-10-22T16:18:59Z")
> [@nightshadea](#): > > no doubt tragic kingdom YES. Especially WRT the OPs requirement to just put it on at a party and let it go. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2017, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-very-best-rock-album-of-the-1990s/799478/80 "2017-10-22T16:26:34Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > To me, that’s a very beige song Yeah, but you’re one of the cool kids. 🆒 And I stopped caring about what the cool kids thought decades ago. 😛 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-very-best-rock-album-of-the-1990s/799478.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-very-best-rock-album-of-the-1990s/799478.md?page=5)