Albums of 1990
The records from 1990 that made our lists.
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1People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of RhythmA Tribe Called Quest
People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm
A playful, jazzy debut of bohemian energy and invention. Warm and fresh. A great beginning.
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2Persistence of TimeAnthrax
Persistence of Time
A darker, heavier thrash peak. Tight and acclaimed. A high point.
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3One for AllBrand Nubian
One for All
A jazzy, conscious-rap debut of warm craft. Smooth and beloved. A genre highlight.
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4Heaven or Las VegasCocteau Twins
Heaven or Las Vegas
A luminous dream-pop peak of ethereal vocals and chiming guitar. Beautiful and beloved. Their masterpiece.
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5DeicideDeicide
Deicide
A ferocious, blasphemous death-metal debut. Brutal and influential. A genre cornerstone.
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6ViolatorDepeche Mode
Violator
The album that made them stadium-sized, marrying dark synth-pop to real songcraft on 'Personal Jesus' and 'Enjoy the Silence'. Sleek and brooding. Their peak.
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7Left Hand PathEntombed
Left Hand Path
A foundational Swedish death-metal landmark of buzzsaw guitar. Heavy and influential. A genre cornerstone.
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8RepeaterFugazi
Repeater
A taut, principled post-hardcore landmark of tension and melody. Sharp and influential. A genre cornerstone.
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9No 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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10Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1George Michael
Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1
A serious, mature follow-up to Faith, home to 'Freedom! '90'. Sophisticated and acclaimed. A creative peak.
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11Pills 'n' Thrills and BellyachesHappy Mondays
Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches
A baggy, dance-rock peak of Madchester hedonism. Loose and beloved. Their finest.
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12AmeriKKKa's Most WantedIce Cube
AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted
A furious solo debut of sharp social commentary and Bomb Squad production. Raw and influential. A genre landmark.
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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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14PainkillerJudas Priest
Painkiller
A ferocious, speed-driven late peak with thunderous drums and screaming vocals. Relentless and precise. A metal essential.
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15Mama Said Knock You OutLL Cool J
Mama Said Knock You Out
A hard-hitting comeback peak of braggadocio and hooks. Tough and tuneful. His best.
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16Rust in PeaceMegadeth
Rust in Peace
Technical thrash at its most dazzling, all intricate riffs and breakneck solos. Widely regarded as their masterpiece. Precise and savage.
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17Cause of DeathObituary
Cause of Death
A heavy, groove-laden death-metal landmark. Brutal and beloved. A genre cornerstone.
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18Cowboys from HellPantera
Cowboys from Hell
The arrival of groove metal, swapping glam for sheer power and Dimebag Darrell's riffs. Heavy, tight and hugely influential. A 90s metal cornerstone.
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19BossanovaPixies
Bossanova
A surf-and-space-rock peak of sharp invention. Tuneful and beloved. A high point.
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20NowhereRide
Nowhere
A swirling shoegaze debut of melody and wall-of-sound guitar. Dreamy and acclaimed. A genre classic.
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21Seasons in the AbyssSlayer
Seasons in the Abyss
A balanced peak of speed and atmosphere. Ferocious and beloved. A genre high point.
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22GooSonic Youth
Goo
A sharp, accessible major-label peak of melodic noise. Bold and beloved. A high point.
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23No DepressionUncle Tupelo
No Depression
The debut that helped name alt-country, fusing punk energy with country roots. Raw and influential. A scene-defining record.