The Best Rock Albums of the 1990s
Our pick of the essential rock records released in the 1990s, ranked.
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1Achtung BabyU2
Achtung Baby
A bold reinvention into irony, distortion and dance textures, recorded in Berlin. 'One' is its heart. A brave, brilliant pivot.
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2Blood Sugar Sex MagikRed Hot Chili Peppers
Blood Sugar Sex Magik
The funk-rock breakthrough produced by Rick Rubin, balancing party energy with the tender 'Under the Bridge'. Loose and huge. Their defining record.
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3CalifornicationRed Hot Chili Peppers
Californication
A melodic, reflective comeback after years of turmoil, their most song-focused record. Warm and massive. A late-90s staple.
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4The Colour and the ShapeFoo Fighters
The Colour and the Shape
The album that made the Foos a real band, balancing crushing rock with melody on 'Everlong'. Emotional and tuneful. Their definitive record.
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5TenPearl Jam
Ten
A passionate, anthemic debut that helped define grunge's mainstream, from 'Alive' to 'Jeremy'. Earnest and huge. A 90s cornerstone.
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6Time Out of MindBob Dylan
Time Out of Mind
A weathered, atmospheric comeback of mortality and blues. Bold and Grammy-winning. A late masterpiece.
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7WildflowersTom Petty
Wildflowers
A warm, sprawling solo peak of mature songcraft. Tuneful and acclaimed. A fan favourite.
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8ZooropaU2
Zooropa
An experimental, electronic-leaning peak. Bold and acclaimed. A creative swerve.
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9SuperunknownSoundgarden
Superunknown
A heavy, psychedelic grunge peak of dark melody, home to 'Black Hole Sun'. Ambitious and huge. Their masterpiece.
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10BadmotorfingerSoundgarden
Badmotorfinger
A heavy, riff-driven grunge peak before Superunknown. Powerful and acclaimed. A high point.
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11DirtAlice in Chains
Dirt
A bleak, sludgy grunge landmark about addiction, Cantrell's riffs and Staley's voice intertwined. Heavy and harrowing. Their defining record.
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12CoreStone Temple Pilots
Core
A heavy, hook-laden grunge debut. Tough and huge. A breakthrough.
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13Ritual de lo HabitualJane's Addiction
Ritual de lo Habitual
A sprawling, theatrical alt-rock peak, home to 'Been Caught Stealing'. Bold and beloved. Their finest.
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14Vs.Pearl Jam
Vs.
A rawer, harder follow-up to Ten of urgent energy. Tough and beloved. A strong second record.
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15VitalogyPearl Jam
Vitalogy
A raw, experimental peak of anti-fame defiance. Bold and beloved. A high point.