247 Album Verdict
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30th Anniversary · 1996

30th Anniversary Albums (1996)

Thirty years and still essential. The class of 1996 helped define a decade and holds up on every listen.

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Emperor Tomato KetchupStereolab
1996 · Alternative & Indie

Emperor Tomato Ketchup

Stereolab

A groovy, krautrock-pop peak of retro-futurist cool. Inventive and beloved. Their finest.

Vinyl → CD →
Endtroducing.....DJ Shadow
1996 · Electronic

Endtroducing.....

DJ Shadow

A landmark instrumental hip-hop record built entirely from samples. Cinematic and influential. A production milestone.

Vinyl → CD →
Ridin' DirtyUGK
1996 · Hip-Hop

Ridin' Dirty

UGK

A definitive Southern rap landmark of smooth funk and street wisdom. Soulful and influential. A genre cornerstone.

Vinyl → CD →
RevivalGillian Welch
1996 · Folk & Singer-Songwriter

Revival

Gillian Welch

A spare, traditional Americana debut of timeless craft. Beautiful and acclaimed. A genre cornerstone.

Vinyl → CD →
The Jester RaceIn Flames
1996 · Metal

The Jester Race

In Flames

A melodic death-metal landmark of Gothenburg craft. Sharp and influential. A genre cornerstone.

Vinyl → CD →
Through Silver in BloodNeurosis
1996 · Metal

Through Silver in Blood

Neurosis

A monolithic post-metal landmark of crushing atmosphere. Heavy and influential. A genre cornerstone.

Vinyl → CD →
OdelayBeck
1996 · Alternative & Indie

Odelay

Beck

A genre-blending collage of folk, hip-hop, blues and noise produced with the Dust Brothers. Restless, witty and fun. A defining 90s record.

Vinyl → CD →
SpiceSpice Girls
1996 · Pop

Spice

Spice Girls

A bright, irresistible debut that defined late-90s pop and 'girl power', hook after hook. Fun and enormous. A cultural phenomenon.

Vinyl → CD →
Reasonable DoubtJay-Z
1996 · Hip-Hop

Reasonable Doubt

Jay-Z

A coolly confident debut of mafioso storytelling and effortless flow. Polished and assured. Many fans' favourite.

Vinyl → CD →
It Was WrittenNas
1996 · Hip-Hop

It Was Written

Nas

A glossier, commercially bigger follow-up to Illmatic, home to 'If I Ruled the World'. Polished and assured. A strong second act.

Vinyl → CD →
All Eyez on Me2Pac
1996 · Hip-Hop

All Eyez on Me

2Pac

A sprawling double album of West Coast swagger and contradiction, recorded in a burst of energy. Hit-laden and definitive. Peak Pac.

Vinyl → CD →
Richard D. James AlbumAphex Twin
1996 · Electronic

Richard D. James Album

Aphex Twin

A frantic, melodic drill-and-bass peak of beauty and chaos. Inventive and beloved. A genre landmark.

Vinyl → CD →
AenimaTool
1996 · Metal

Aenima

Tool

Dense, dynamic and cerebral progressive metal, swinging between rage and meditation across long, evolving tracks. Demanding and rewarding. A modern metal landmark.

Vinyl → CD →
RootsSepultura
1996 · Metal

Roots

Sepultura

A groove-and-tribal-metal landmark fusing thrash with Brazilian percussion. Heavy and innovative. Their most influential record.

Vinyl → CD →
Everything Must GoManic Street Preachers
1996 · Alternative & Indie

Everything Must Go

Manic Street Preachers

A soaring, anthemic comeback after tragedy. Emotional and huge. Their commercial peak.

Vinyl → CD →
Maxwell's Urban Hang SuiteMaxwell
1996 · Soul & R&B

Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite

Maxwell

A smooth, sensual neo-soul concept album that helped define the genre. Warm and cohesive. An influential debut.

Vinyl → CD →
Better Living Through ChemistryFatboy Slim
1996 · Electronic

Better Living Through Chemistry

Fatboy Slim

A fun, sample-heavy big-beat debut. Bouncy and beloved. A genre highlight.

Vinyl → CD →
In SidesOrbital
1996 · Electronic

In Sides

Orbital

A lush, emotional techno peak of melodic depth. Immersive and acclaimed. A high point.

Vinyl → CD →
Evil EmpireRage Against the Machine
1996 · Metal

Evil Empire

Rage Against the Machine

A fierce, funky follow-up of political fire. Tough and huge. A strong second record.

Vinyl → CD →
Antichrist SuperstarMarilyn Manson
1996 · Metal

Antichrist Superstar

Marilyn Manson

A theatrical, industrial-metal concept record of shock and ambition that defined his notoriety. Heavy and provocative. His peak.

Vinyl → CD →
IronmanGhostface Killah
1996 · Hip-Hop

Ironman

Ghostface Killah

A vivid, soul-sampling Wu-Tang solo debut. Sharp and beloved. A genre highlight.

Vinyl → CD →
Hell on EarthMobb Deep
1996 · Hip-Hop

Hell on Earth

Mobb Deep

A bleak, hard-edged peak of Queensbridge gloom. Tough and beloved. A strong follow-up to The Infamous.

Vinyl → CD →
One in a MillionAaliyah
1996 · Soul & R&B

One in a Million

Aaliyah

A sleek, futuristic R&B landmark with Timbaland's innovative beats. Smooth and influential. Her breakthrough.

Vinyl → CD →
Feed Me Weird ThingsSquarepusher
1996 · Electronic

Feed Me Weird Things

Squarepusher

A frantic, jazzy drum-and-bass debut. Inventive and beloved. A genre highlight.

Vinyl → CD →
Nemesis DivinaSatyricon
1996 · Metal

Nemesis Divina

Satyricon

A sharp, melodic black-metal peak. Bold and acclaimed. A genre high point.

Vinyl → CD →
ATLiensOutKast
1996 · Hip-Hop

ATLiens

OutKast

The Atlanta duo's spacey, soulful second album, where their Southern sound drifted cosmic and confirmed them as something genuinely singular.

Vinyl → CD →
PinkertonWeezer
1996 · Alternative & Indie

Pinkerton

Weezer

Raw, confessional and abrasive, panned on release and later revered as a cult classic. Painfully honest. A grower that became beloved.

Vinyl → CD →
New Adventures in Hi-FiR.E.M.
1996 · Alternative & Indie

New Adventures in Hi-Fi

R.E.M.

A sprawling, road-recorded late peak. Bold and acclaimed. A fan favourite.

Vinyl → CD →
Murder BalladsNick Cave and the Bad Seeds
1996 · Alternative & Indie

Murder Ballads

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

A darkly funny collection of violent narratives, home to a famous Kylie duet. Bold and beloved. A cult favourite.

Vinyl → CD →
The Great Southern TrendkillPantera
1996 · Metal

The Great Southern Trendkill

Pantera

A brutal, abrasive peak of pure aggression. Heavy and beloved. A fan favourite.

Vinyl → CD →
If You're Feeling SinisterBelle and Sebastian
1996 · Alternative & Indie

If You're Feeling Sinister

Belle and Sebastian

A witty, literate indie-pop landmark of twee charm. Beloved and acclaimed. A cult classic.

Vinyl → CD →
Dr. OctagonecologystDr. Octagon
1996 · Hip-Hop

Dr. Octagonecologyst

Dr. Octagon

A surreal, sci-fi art-rap landmark with Dan the Automator. Bizarre and acclaimed. A cult classic.

Vinyl → CD →