Albums of 1995
Post-grunge uncertainty: Mellon Collie, (What's the Story) Morning Glory?, The Great Escape, Dummy.
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1Me Against the World2Pac
Me Against the World
His most introspective and acclaimed record, reflective and wounded beneath the bravado. Deeply personal. Many fans' favourite.
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2Jagged Little PillAlanis Morissette
Jagged Little Pill
You Oughta Know and You Learn — the record that redefined confessional rock for a generation.
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3...I Care Because You DoAphex Twin
...I Care Because You Do
A textured, melodic peak balancing ambient and acid. Inventive and beloved. A high point.
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4Slaughter of the SoulAt the Gates
Slaughter of the Soul
The album that codified melodic death metal and inspired a generation of metalcore. Sharp and relentless. A genre cornerstone.
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5Tri RepetaeAutechre
Tri Repetae
A cold, intricate IDM landmark of machine rhythm and texture. Challenging and influential. A genre cornerstone.
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6Lifestylez ov da Poor & DangerousBig L
Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous
A sharp, punchline-heavy Harlem debut. Tough and beloved. A cult classic.
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7PostBjörk
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8The Great EscapeBlur
The Great Escape
A lavish, satirical peak of character-driven Britpop. Clever and tuneful. A snapshot of mid-90s Britain.
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9E. 1999 EternalBone Thugs-n-Harmony
E. 1999 Eternal
A melodic, rapid-fire peak of harmonised rap. Distinctive and huge. A genre landmark.
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10'Til ShilohBuju Banton
'Til Shiloh
A landmark shift from dancehall to roots-conscious reggae. Deep and acclaimed. His masterpiece.
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11Brown SugarD'Angelo
Brown Sugar
A warm, classicist neo-soul debut that helped launch the genre. Smooth and assured. An influential record.
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12The GalleryDark Tranquillity
The Gallery
A melodic death-metal landmark of Gothenburg craft. Sharp and influential. A genre cornerstone.
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13SymbolicDeath
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14AdrenalineDeftones
Adrenaline
A raw, heavy debut of early alt-metal intensity. Powerful and beloved. A strong start.
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15Storm of the Light's BaneDissection
Storm of the Light's Bane
A melodic black-death landmark of icy beauty. Sharp and influential. A genre cornerstone.
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16Wrecking BallEmmylou Harris
Wrecking Ball
A lush, Daniel Lanois-produced reinvention of atmospheric Americana. Bold and acclaimed. A creative peak.
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17King for a Day... Fool for a LifetimeFaith No More
King for a Day... Fool for a Lifetime
A wildly eclectic peak of genre-hopping invention. Bold and beloved. A creative high.
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18DemanufactureFear Factory
Demanufacture
A pioneering industrial-metal landmark of mechanical precision. Heavy and influential. A genre cornerstone.
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19Liquid SwordsGZA
Liquid Swords
The most coherent Wu-Tang solo album, GZA's dense lyricism over RZA's cinematic, chess-themed production. Dark and brilliant. A 90s essential.
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20TimelessGoldie
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21Soul FoodGoodie Mob
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22Alien LanesGuided by Voices
Alien Lanes
A scrappy, prolific lo-fi pop peak. Charming and beloved. A high point.
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23LeftismLeftfield
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24DaydreamMariah Carey
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25Destroy Erase ImproveMeshuggah
Destroy Erase Improve
A pioneering, polyrhythmic landmark that helped birth djent. Crushing and influential. A genre cornerstone.
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26The InfamousMobb Deep
The Infamous
Bleak, brilliant Queensbridge rap, all paranoia and hard-boiled detail over dusty beats. Definitive East Coast gloom. A 90s cornerstone.
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27Tragic KingdomNo Doubt
Tragic Kingdom
A ska-pop blockbuster of hooks and attitude, home to 'Don't Speak'. Bright and huge. A 90s staple.
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28(What's the Story) Morning Glory?Oasis
(What's the Story) Morning Glory?
The Britpop blockbuster that made Oasis a generational band, packed with singalong anthems from 'Wonderwall' to 'Champagne Supernova'. Huge and confident. A defining 90s UK record.
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29Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty VersionOl' Dirty Bastard
Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version
A wild, unhinged Wu-Tang solo debut of pure charisma. Chaotic and beloved. A cult classic.
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30To Bring You My LovePJ Harvey
To Bring You My Love
A dramatic, bluesy art-rock peak. Bold and acclaimed. A creative high.
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31Different ClassPulp
Different Class
Sharp, witty Britpop with class politics and kitchen-sink drama, peaking on 'Common People'. Clever and danceable. Jarvis Cocker's finest hour.
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32The BendsRadiohead
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33Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...Raekwon
Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...
The 'purple tape', vivid Mafioso storytelling over RZA's grimy beats, with Ghostface as co-star. Cinematic and influential. A Wu-Tang high point.
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34TraceSon Volt
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35Exit Planet DustThe Chemical Brothers
Exit Planet Dust
A grimy, funky big-beat debut. Loud and beloved. A genre landmark.
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36Mellon Collie and the Infinite SadnessThe Smashing Pumpkins
Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
A sprawling double album of grandeur and angst, ranging from delicate to ferocious. Maximalist and beloved. Their most ambitious statement.
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37MaxinquayeTricky
Maxinquaye
A murky, paranoid trip-hop landmark of blurred vocals and dread. Atmospheric and acclaimed. A genre cornerstone.
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38BergtattUlver