The Best Folk & Singer-Songwriter Albums of the 1990s
Our pick of the essential folk & singer-songwriter records released in the 1990s, ranked.
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1GraceJeff Buckley
Grace
A soaring, romantic debut of extraordinary vocal range, home to the definitive 'Hallelujah'. His only studio album, and a treasure. Singular and beautiful.
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2Either/OrElliott Smith
Either/Or
Hushed, intricate songwriting of real darkness and melody, the album that brought him wider notice. Intimate and devastating. A cult masterpiece.
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3Mule VariationsTom Waits
Mule Variations
A grizzled, junkyard-blues comeback of beauty and grime. Warm and acclaimed. A late peak.
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4Bone MachineTom Waits
Bone Machine
A clattering, percussive peak of apocalyptic art-song. Bold and Grammy-winning. A creative high.
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5RevivalGillian Welch
Revival
A spare, traditional Americana debut of timeless craft. Beautiful and acclaimed. A genre cornerstone.
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6Harvest MoonNeil Young
Harvest Moon
A warm, autumnal sequel to Harvest of gentle reflection. Beloved and acclaimed. A late favourite.
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7Wrecking BallEmmylou Harris
Wrecking Ball
A lush, Daniel Lanois-produced reinvention of atmospheric Americana. Bold and acclaimed. A creative peak.
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8American RecordingsJohnny Cash
American Recordings
A stark, voice-and-guitar comeback produced by Rick Rubin. Raw and beloved. A late-career landmark.