Must Own Albums of the 90's

Here's my list of must own albums from the 90's. Basically if you don't own all of these albums you are missing out on some of the best music recorded in the last 20 years.

Slayer. SEASONS IN THE ABYSS

Slayer at their most approachable. I would put a Slayer album in the best of list from the 80's, 90',s and 00's simply because they are about as influencial and as serious a musical force as you can possibly get. Half the bands playing a downtuned heavy guitar riff owe a debt to these true masters of metal. This album is no exception to the fast, dark insanely fast and intelligent music they became known for.

Weezer. THE BLUE ALBUM.

This was Weezer's debut album and by far their best. Crunching guitars, some really tight playing, lyrics that drag you along for the fun ride, half celebratory and half the longings of a kid picked on at school by the football boys while wearing the buddy holly glasses and the red sweatshirt. Still one of my most loved albums nearly 15 yrs on thanks to excellent production from Ric Ocasek from The Cars.

Pavement. CROOKED RAIN

Not a big commercial success but one of those bands that if you knew who they were then you were immediately cool in the 90's. These guys were all about the muddy guitars, valium lyrics and converse shoes. A great 90's band with their own sound who gave the impression they were always playing in their bedrooms and never really cared who liked them. Luckily many did and they probably deserved a wider audience.

Snoop Dogg. DOGGYSTYLE

Snoop Dogg's first ablum and by far the best. Produced by Dr.Dre and a match made in heaven. A lot of this album just sounds like great 70's soul, the rest is some of the best hip hip ever recorded. Check the flow of Corrupt in Doggy Dog World for the groundwork of later stars such as the Wu Tang. Spark the blunt this one's for the smokers. A pinnacle of hip hop which has barely been matched since.


Kruder & Dorfmeister. K & D SESSIONS

This is one of the few electronica albums that has and will continue to stand the test of time. A precursor to just about every chill out jazz inspired electronica album released ever since. Another 90's trailblazer. The kind of electronica for long days with beers on the beach in Thailand. Killer disc.



Tool. AENIMA

My mate Dean was right, this album should have made the cut. Tool are one of those bands that on their day can turn the world upside down. This is one of those albums and probably their strongest in terms of listen-ability, accessibility and head nodding ability. Great production, stiff riffs and inspired lyrics from a band with things to get off their chest such as the idea of praying for earthquakes in the hope of having California flushed away into the ocean like a giant turd. Very interesting album that works on many levels.



Radiohead. OK COMPUTER and THE BENDS
Two albums here from one brilliant band - geat song-writing and the dropping off point for all those fans that just couldn't get a handle on the post-OK Computer Radiohead who shortly after seemed to disappear up their own musical arses in a quest for avant garde-ism. So go back to this album or their earlier one The Bends to see what all the fuss was about.


Red Hot Chilli Peppers. BLOOD SUGAR SEX MAGIC.

These guys took their sound and their mental health to the extreme at about this time and this album was the product. Energetic, frenetic, happy, intense and occasionally reflective George Clinton, Funkadelic all over it with those intimate yet generic lyrics that only the Peppers seem to be able to pull off with sincerity.



Janes Addiction. RITUAL DE LO HABITUAL.

This album is part post-funk, post-punk and all rock. Its music for wasted ears with lots of reverb, crushing lows and strung out highs, bleak open spaces and happy sing along ballads. The whole trip right here anytime you want it.




Nirvana. NEVERMIND

People who saw Nirvana shit me beacause I am very jealous - I was a too chicken shit to skip school on that Friday in 1993 to go to the Gold Coast to see them play at Fisherman's Wharf. Oh well. That's 2 high school regrets. This album inspires massive beer drinking efforts probably just to get just depressed enough to tune into the hopelessness of the lyrics. Probably the quintessential 90;s album and certainly one of the all-time great recordings.


Guns ’n Roses. APPETITE FOR DESTRUCTION.

Ok Ok this album was released 3 years before the 90's started but its just too good to not include because this album more than any on the list says is all about the 90's - chew it up, taste it, spit it out and go back for more. The perfect blend of big hair, shiny pants and kick arse guitar riffs all with Axl Rose screaming his guts out like there is no tomorrow - like I said, it sums the 90's up. Like 4 shots of Vodka - start your party with this.



Soundgarden. BADMOTORFINGER.

Grunge music defined the 90's and therefore features heavily on this list. Soundgarden's Badmotorfinger was about the most produced, most thought-out grunge of the bunch. If you like that kind of thing you will love this album. I do, so here it is.



Massive Attack. MEZZANINE.

This is an album for late night smokey card games, weeny eyed 3am wine drinking sessions complete with best-mate D&M's, one minute its background music the next minute it interrupts your train of thought grabs your imagination takes you on a journey and dumps you back in your lounge for the next drink. Great stuff.



Rage Against the Machine.

Own this album, you must. Rage were known for mixing their rap style lyrics with metal inspired guitar riffs despite not being the first to do it, they were probably the best and certainly the most funky; all this with anti-establishment lyrics and you have the perfect high school graduation album, indeed I recall clearing the floor with my headbanging routine to Killing in the Name Of at my high school formal but as they say on Hammy Hampster, thats another story.




Pearl Jam. TEN.

Eddie Vedder at his most raw. True emotion, a real edgy album, some great riffs, some undisputed 90's anthems like Once, Even Flow and Jeremy. Pearl Jam never came close to this level of intensity again in their careers but who could blame them nobody wants to dredge up the tough stuff endlessely.