Albums of 1994

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1. 1
   AmberAutechre

   Amber

   Autechre · 1994 · Electronic

   A warm, melodic early IDM peak. Inventive and beloved. A genre cornerstone.

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2. 2
   Ill CommunicationBeastie Boys

   Ill Communication

   Beastie Boys · 1994 · Hip-Hop

   A funky, eclectic peak, home to 'Sabotage'. Fun and beloved. A high point.

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3. 3
   Mellow GoldBeck

   Mellow Gold

   Beck · 1994 · Alternative & Indie

   A scrappy, genre-mashing breakthrough, home to 'Loser'. Quirky and fun. A 90s slacker landmark.

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4. 4
   ParklifeBlur

   Parklife

   Blur · 1994 · Alternative & Indie

   The album that defined Britpop's wry, observational English pop, bursting with hooks and character sketches. Playful and sharp. A 90s landmark.

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5. 5
   Transilvanian HungerDarkthrone

   Transilvanian Hunger

   Darkthrone · 1994 · Metal

   A raw, hypnotic black-metal landmark of lo-fi tremolo. Cold and influential. A genre cornerstone.

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6. 6
   In the Nightside EclipseEmperor

   In the Nightside Eclipse

   Emperor · 1994 · Metal

   Symphonic black metal of grandeur and fury, layered with keyboards and blast beats. Majestic and influential. A landmark debut.

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7. 7
   Hard to EarnGang Starr

   Hard to Earn

   Gang Starr · 1994 · Hip-Hop

   A gritty, peak boom-bap record of Premier's beats. Tough and beloved. A high point.

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8. 8
   DookieGreen Day

   Dookie

   Green Day · 1994 · Alternative & Indie

   A snotty, hook-laden pop-punk blockbuster that took the genre mainstream. Fast and fun. A 90s landmark.

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9. 9
   Bee ThousandGuided by Voices

   Bee Thousand

   Guided by Voices · 1994 · Alternative & Indie

   A lo-fi indie landmark of fragmentary pop brilliance. Scrappy and beloved. A cult masterpiece.

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10. 10
    GraceJeff Buckley

    Grace

    Jeff Buckley · 1994 · Folk & Singer-Songwriter

    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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11. 11
    The Sun Rises in the EastJeru the Damaja

    The Sun Rises in the East

    Jeru the Damaja · 1994 · Hip-Hop

    A lyrical, Premier-produced peak of dusty boom-bap. Tough and beloved. A cult classic.

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12. 12
    American RecordingsJohnny Cash

    American Recordings

    Johnny Cash · 1994 · Folk & Singer-Songwriter

    A stark, voice-and-guitar comeback produced by Rick Rubin. Raw and beloved. A late-career landmark.

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13. 13
    Keb' Mo'Keb' Mo'

    Keb' Mo'

    Keb' Mo' · 1994 · Blues

    A warm, modern country-blues debut. Smooth and acclaimed. A breakthrough.

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14. 14
    KornKorn

    Korn

    Korn · 1994 · Metal

    The debut that launched nu-metal, heavy and raw with detuned dread. Influential and huge. A genre origin point.

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15. 15
    Welcome to Sky ValleyKyuss

    Welcome to Sky Valley

    Kyuss · 1994 · Metal

    A heavy, hypnotic desert-rock peak. Fuzzy and beloved. A stoner-metal cornerstone.

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16. 16
    Burn My EyesMachine Head

    Burn My Eyes

    Machine Head · 1994 · Metal

    A crushing groove-metal debut. Heavy and acclaimed. A genre landmark.

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17. 17
    My LifeMary J. Blige

    My Life

    Mary J. Blige · 1994 · Soul & R&B

    A raw, confessional hip-hop-soul landmark of pain and survival. Honest and beloved. Her masterpiece.

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18. 18
    De Mysteriis Dom SathanasMayhem

    De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas

    Mayhem · 1994 · Metal

    A foundational, notorious black-metal album of icy tremolo riffs and raw atmosphere. Historically pivotal. A genre touchstone.

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19. 19
    TicalMethod Man

    Tical

    Method Man · 1994 · Hip-Hop

    A grimy, raw Wu-Tang solo debut. Tough and beloved. A genre highlight.

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20. 20
    IllmaticNas

    Illmatic

    Nas · 1994 · Hip-Hop

    Ten tracks, no filler, widely held to be the greatest rap album ever made. Nas's vivid Queensbridge storytelling sits over production from Premier, Pete Rock, Q-Tip and Large Professor. The benchmark every lyricist measures against.

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21. 21
    The Downward SpiralNine Inch Nails

    The Downward Spiral

    Nine Inch Nails · 1994 · Metal

    A harrowing, abrasive industrial-rock masterpiece of self-destruction, home to 'Hurt' and 'Closer'. Bold and influential. A defining 90s record.

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22. 22
    MTV Unplugged in New YorkNirvana

    MTV Unplugged in New York

    Nirvana · 1994 · Alternative & Indie

    A hushed, haunting acoustic set that revealed the band's tenderness, recorded months before Cobain's death. Intimate and poignant. A beloved farewell.

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23. 23
    Definitely MaybeOasis

    Definitely Maybe

    Oasis · 1994 · Alternative & Indie

    A swaggering debut of rock'n'roll dreams and wall-of-sound guitars, instantly iconic in Britain. Raw and euphoric. The sound of a band announcing itself.

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24. 24
    SnivilisationOrbital

    Snivilisation

    Orbital · 1994 · Electronic

    A politically tinged, intricate techno peak. Immersive and acclaimed. A high point.

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25. 25
    Far Beyond DrivenPantera

    Far Beyond Driven

    Pantera · 1994 · Metal

    A brutal, chart-topping peak of groove-metal heaviness. Relentless and huge. A 90s landmark.

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26. 26
    VitalogyPearl Jam

    Vitalogy

    Pearl Jam · 1994 · Rock

    A raw, experimental peak of anti-fame defiance. Bold and beloved. A high point.

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27. 27
    DummyPortishead

    Dummy

    Portishead · 1994 · Electronic

    Smoky, cinematic trip-hop built from scratchy samples, spy-film guitar and Beth Gibbons's wounded vocals. Atmospheric and singular. A defining record of the Bristol sound.

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28. 28
    His 'n' HersPulp

    His 'n' Hers

    Pulp · 1994 · Alternative & Indie

    The album where Pulp's witty, sexual kitchen-sink pop crystallised. Sharp and tuneful. A breakthrough.

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29. 29
    The DiaryScarface

    The Diary

    Scarface · 1994 · Hip-Hop

    A vivid, introspective Southern-rap peak. Sharp and acclaimed. A genre highlight.

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30. 30
    SuperunknownSoundgarden

    Superunknown

    Soundgarden · 1994 · Rock

    A heavy, psychedelic grunge peak of dark melody, home to 'Black Hole Sun'. Ambitious and huge. Their masterpiece.

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31. 31
    CrazySexyCoolTLC

    CrazySexyCool

    TLC · 1994 · Soul & R&B

    A smooth, hugely successful R&B landmark, home to 'Waterfalls' and 'Creep'. Polished and beloved. A 90s staple.

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32. 32
    Ready to DieThe Notorious B.I.G.

    Ready to Die

    The Notorious B.I.G. · 1994 · Hip-Hop

    Biggie's debut pairs cinematic street narratives with effortless flow and undeniable hooks, balancing menace and humour. The storytelling and presence are extraordinary for a first album. A New York cornerstone.

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33. 33
    Music for the Jilted GenerationThe Prodigy

    Music for the Jilted Generation

    The Prodigy · 1994 · Electronic

    A dark, aggressive rave-to-rock pivot. Loud and acclaimed. A genre high point.

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34. 34
    Second ComingThe Stone Roses

    Second Coming

    The Stone Roses · 1994 · Alternative & Indie

    A long-delayed, blues-rock-leaning follow-up to a beloved debut. Heavier and divisive. A flawed but interesting record.

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35. 35
    WildflowersTom Petty

    Wildflowers

    Tom Petty · 1994 · Rock

    A warm, sprawling solo peak of mature songcraft. Tuneful and acclaimed. A fan favourite.

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36. 36
    DubnobasswithmyheadmanUnderworld

    Dubnobasswithmyheadman

    Underworld · 1994 · Electronic

    A landmark of intelligent dance music, hypnotic and emotional, stream-of-consciousness vocals over deep techno. Immersive and acclaimed. A 90s classic.

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37. 37
    Weezer (Blue Album)Weezer

    Weezer (Blue Album)

    Weezer · 1994 · Alternative & Indie

    A power-pop debut of crunchy guitars and geeky charm, hook after hook. Instantly likeable. A 90s alt-rock staple.

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38. 38
    WeezerWeezer

    Weezer

    Weezer · 1994 · Alternative & Indie

    The Blue Album: twelve tracks of hook-laden power-pop that arrived fully formed and made nerd-rock a viable thing.

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