Albums of 1996
The records from 1996 that made our lists.
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1All Eyez on Me2Pac
All Eyez on Me
A sprawling double album of West Coast swagger and contradiction, recorded in a burst of energy. Hit-laden and definitive. Peak Pac.
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2One in a MillionAaliyah
One in a Million
A sleek, futuristic R&B landmark with Timbaland's innovative beats. Smooth and influential. Her breakthrough.
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3Richard D. James AlbumAphex Twin
Richard D. James Album
A frantic, melodic drill-and-bass peak of beauty and chaos. Inventive and beloved. A genre landmark.
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4OdelayBeck
Odelay
A genre-blending collage of folk, hip-hop, blues and noise produced with the Dust Brothers. Restless, witty and fun. A defining 90s record.
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5If You're Feeling SinisterBelle and Sebastian
If You're Feeling Sinister
A witty, literate indie-pop landmark of twee charm. Beloved and acclaimed. A cult classic.
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6Endtroducing.....DJ Shadow
Endtroducing.....
A landmark instrumental hip-hop record built entirely from samples. Cinematic and influential. A production milestone.
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7Dr. OctagonecologystDr. Octagon
Dr. Octagonecologyst
A surreal, sci-fi art-rap landmark with Dan the Automator. Bizarre and acclaimed. A cult classic.
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8Better Living Through ChemistryFatboy Slim
Better Living Through Chemistry
A fun, sample-heavy big-beat debut. Bouncy and beloved. A genre highlight.
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9IronmanGhostface Killah
Ironman
A vivid, soul-sampling Wu-Tang solo debut. Sharp and beloved. A genre highlight.
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10RevivalGillian Welch
Revival
A spare, traditional Americana debut of timeless craft. Beautiful and acclaimed. A genre cornerstone.
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11The Jester RaceIn Flames
The Jester Race
A melodic death-metal landmark of Gothenburg craft. Sharp and influential. A genre cornerstone.
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12Reasonable DoubtJay-Z
Reasonable Doubt
A coolly confident debut of mafioso storytelling and effortless flow. Polished and assured. Many fans' favourite.
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13Everything Must GoManic Street Preachers
Everything Must Go
A soaring, anthemic comeback after tragedy. Emotional and huge. Their commercial peak.
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14Antichrist SuperstarMarilyn Manson
Antichrist Superstar
A theatrical, industrial-metal concept record of shock and ambition that defined his notoriety. Heavy and provocative. His peak.
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15Maxwell's Urban Hang SuiteMaxwell
Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite
A smooth, sensual neo-soul concept album that helped define the genre. Warm and cohesive. An influential debut.
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16Hell on EarthMobb Deep
Hell on Earth
A bleak, hard-edged peak of Queensbridge gloom. Tough and beloved. A strong follow-up to The Infamous.
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17It Was WrittenNas
It Was Written
A glossier, commercially bigger follow-up to Illmatic, home to 'If I Ruled the World'. Polished and assured. A strong second act.
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18Through Silver in BloodNeurosis
Through Silver in Blood
A monolithic post-metal landmark of crushing atmosphere. Heavy and influential. A genre cornerstone.
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19Murder BalladsNick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Murder Ballads
A darkly funny collection of violent narratives, home to a famous Kylie duet. Bold and beloved. A cult favourite.
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20In SidesOrbital
In Sides
A lush, emotional techno peak of melodic depth. Immersive and acclaimed. A high point.
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21ATLiensOutKast
ATLiens
The Atlanta duo's spacey, soulful second album, where their Southern sound drifted cosmic and confirmed them as something genuinely singular.
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22The Great Southern TrendkillPantera
The Great Southern Trendkill
A brutal, abrasive peak of pure aggression. Heavy and beloved. A fan favourite.
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23New Adventures in Hi-FiR.E.M.
New Adventures in Hi-Fi
A sprawling, road-recorded late peak. Bold and acclaimed. A fan favourite.
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24Evil EmpireRage Against the Machine
Evil Empire
A fierce, funky follow-up of political fire. Tough and huge. A strong second record.
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25Nemesis DivinaSatyricon
Nemesis Divina
A sharp, melodic black-metal peak. Bold and acclaimed. A genre high point.
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26RootsSepultura
Roots
A groove-and-tribal-metal landmark fusing thrash with Brazilian percussion. Heavy and innovative. Their most influential record.
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27SpiceSpice Girls
Spice
A bright, irresistible debut that defined late-90s pop and 'girl power', hook after hook. Fun and enormous. A cultural phenomenon.
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28Feed Me Weird ThingsSquarepusher
Feed Me Weird Things
A frantic, jazzy drum-and-bass debut. Inventive and beloved. A genre highlight.
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29Emperor Tomato KetchupStereolab
Emperor Tomato Ketchup
A groovy, krautrock-pop peak of retro-futurist cool. Inventive and beloved. Their finest.
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30AenimaTool
Aenima
Dense, dynamic and cerebral progressive metal, swinging between rage and meditation across long, evolving tracks. Demanding and rewarding. A modern metal landmark.
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31Ridin' DirtyUGK
Ridin' Dirty
A definitive Southern rap landmark of smooth funk and street wisdom. Soulful and influential. A genre cornerstone.
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32PinkertonWeezer
Pinkerton
Raw, confessional and abrasive, panned on release and later revered as a cult classic. Painfully honest. A grower that became beloved.