The Best Country & Americana Albums of the 1990s
Our pick of the essential country & americana records released in the 1990s, ranked.
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1No FencesGarth Brooks
No Fences
A massive blockbuster that took country to the mainstream, home to 'Friends in Low Places'. Tuneful and enormous. A landmark.
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2Ropin' the WindGarth Brooks
Ropin' the Wind
A blockbuster that cemented Brooks as country's biggest star. Tuneful and enormous. A commercial peak.
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3Come On OverShania Twain
Come On Over
The best-selling country album ever, a glossy pop-country blockbuster. Polished and huge. A crossover landmark.
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4Wide Open SpacesThe Chicks
Wide Open Spaces
A bright, harmony-rich blockbuster that revived mainstream country. Tuneful and huge. A breakthrough.
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5FlyThe Chicks
Fly
A hit-stuffed peak, home to 'Goodbye Earl'. Tuneful and huge. A commercial high.
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6Car Wheels on a Gravel RoadLucinda Williams
Car Wheels on a Gravel Road
A weathered Americana masterpiece of vivid Southern detail and hard-won emotion. Beautifully written. Her defining record.
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7No DepressionUncle Tupelo
No Depression
The debut that helped name alt-country, fusing punk energy with country roots. Raw and influential. A scene-defining record.
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8TraceSon Volt
Trace
A weathered alt-country debut of road-worn beauty. Raw and acclaimed. A genre cornerstone.
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9Hollywood Town HallThe Jayhawks
Hollywood Town Hall
A harmony-rich alt-country peak. Warm and acclaimed. A genre highlight.
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10Strangers AlmanacWhiskeytown
Strangers Almanac
A polished alt-country peak of Ryan Adams's early songwriting. Tuneful and acclaimed. A genre highlight.
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11Too Far to CareOld 97's
Too Far to Care
A rowdy alt-country peak of twangy energy. Fun and beloved. A genre highlight.