Albums of 1993
The records from 1993 that made our lists.
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1Midnight MaraudersA Tribe Called Quest
Midnight Marauders
Warmer and punchier than its predecessor, with sharper hooks and the same jazzy ease. Many fans rate it their finest. A perfect summer-evening record.
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2IncunabulaAutechre
Incunabula
A warm, melodic IDM debut. Inventive and beloved. A genre cornerstone.
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3DebutBjörk
Debut
A vibrant, eclectic solo debut blending pop, house and jazz. Inventive and beloved. A breakthrough.
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4Enta da StageBlack Moon
Enta da Stage
A grimy, foundational Brooklyn boom-bap landmark. Tough and beloved. A genre cornerstone.
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5Modern Life Is RubbishBlur
Modern Life Is Rubbish
The album where Blur found their English voice, a witty riposte to grunge. Tuneful and sharp. The blueprint for Britpop.
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6HeartworkCarcass
Heartwork
A melodic death-metal landmark of precision and hooks. Sharp and influential. A genre high point.
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7Black SundayCypress Hill
Black Sunday
A blunted, dark peak of stoner rap and Muggs's eerie beats. Heavy and huge. A 90s staple.
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8Buhloone MindstateDe La Soul
Buhloone Mindstate
A jazzy, low-key peak of mature craft. Smooth and beloved. A cult favourite.
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9Individual Thought PatternsDeath
Individual Thought Patterns
A technical, progressive death-metal peak. Sharp and acclaimed. A high point.
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10Songs of Faith and DevotionDepeche Mode
Songs of Faith and Devotion
A heavier, gospel-and-rock-tinged peak. Bold and acclaimed. A creative high.
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11Reachin' (A New Refutation of Time and Space)Digable Planets
Reachin' (A New Refutation of Time and Space)
A jazzy, bohemian debut, home to 'Rebirth of Slick'. Cool and beloved. A genre highlight.
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12CovenantMorbid Angel
Covenant
A polished, hooky death-metal peak that crossed over. Heavy and beloved. A high point.
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13In UteroNirvana
In Utero
Raw, abrasive and uncompromising, the band's response to sudden fame, recorded with Steve Albini for maximum bite. Beneath the noise are some of Cobain's strongest melodies. A harrowing, honest record.
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14Orbital 2Orbital
Orbital 2
A landmark of melodic, emotional techno, home to 'Halcyon'. Lush and immersive. A genre cornerstone.
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15Orbital (Brown Album)Orbital
Orbital (Brown Album)
A landmark debut of melodic, emotional techno. Immersive and acclaimed. A genre cornerstone.
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16Rid of MePJ Harvey
Rid of Me
A raw, abrasive Albini-recorded peak of fury and desire. Visceral and acclaimed. A landmark.
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17Vs.Pearl Jam
Vs.
A rawer, harder follow-up to Ten of urgent energy. Tough and beloved. A strong second record.
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18Pablo HoneyRadiohead
Pablo Honey
A raw debut best known for 'Creep'. Tuneful and earnest. A modest start before greatness.
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19Chaos A.D.Sepultura
Chaos A.D.
A groove-metal pivot toward tribal rhythm and politics. Heavy and acclaimed. A turning point.
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20SouvlakiSlowdive
Souvlaki
A gorgeous shoegaze landmark of drifting guitar and melody. Dreamy and beloved. A genre cornerstone.
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21DoggystyleSnoop Dogg
Doggystyle
Snoop's debut, draped over Dre's G-funk, is effortless cool from start to finish. The chemistry between MC and producer is total. A definitive early-90s West Coast record.
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2293 'til InfinitySouls of Mischief
93 'til Infinity
A breezy, jazzy West Coast debut, home to its title classic. Smooth and beloved. A genre favourite.
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23SuedeSuede
Suede
A glam-tinged debut that helped kick off Britpop. Dramatic and influential. A vital arrival.
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24Siamese DreamThe Smashing Pumpkins
Siamese Dream
Layered, cathartic alt-rock balancing crushing guitars with fragile melody. Ambitious and emotional. A defining 90s record.
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25UndertowTool
Undertow
A heavy, brooding debut of alt-metal intensity. Powerful and beloved. A strong start.
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26ZooropaU2
Zooropa
An experimental, electronic-leaning peak. Bold and acclaimed. A creative swerve.
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27Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)Wu-Tang Clan
Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
A gritty, kung-fu-soaked debut that introduced nine distinct voices over RZA's raw, dusty production. It rewrote the rules for group dynamics in hip-hop and launched a dynasty of solo careers. Essential East Coast canon.