Albums of 1997
The records from 1997 that made our lists.
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1HomogenicBjörk
Homogenic
A bold, beat-driven art-pop peak of strings and volcanic emotion. Singular and acclaimed. Her masterpiece.
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2BlurBlur
Blur
A lo-fi, American-indie-inspired reinvention, home to 'Song 2'. Looser and rawer. A bold pivot away from Britpop.
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3Time Out of MindBob Dylan
Time Out of Mind
A weathered, atmospheric comeback of mortality and blues. Bold and Grammy-winning. A late masterpiece.
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4Perfect from Now OnBuilt to Spill
Perfect from Now On
A sprawling, ambitious indie peak of long guitar suites. Bold and acclaimed. Their masterpiece.
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5HomeworkDaft Punk
Homework
The raw, club-focused debut that helped define French house, built from looping funk and acid lines. 'Da Funk' and 'Around the World' still fill floors. Grittier than what followed and hugely influential.
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6Around the FurDeftones
Around the Fur
A heavier, sharper second album of dynamic alt-metal. Powerful and beloved. A breakthrough.
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7Ocean Machine: BiomechDevin Townsend
Ocean Machine: Biomech
An ambitious, atmospheric progressive-metal landmark. Bold and acclaimed. A cult classic.
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8Come My Fanatics...Electric Wizard
Come My Fanatics...
A fuzz-drenched doom landmark of occult heaviness. Crushing and beloved. A genre cornerstone.
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9Either/OrElliott Smith
Either/Or
Hushed, intricate songwriting of real darkness and melody, the album that brought him wider notice. Intimate and devastating. A cult masterpiece.
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10Anthems to the Welkin at DuskEmperor
Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk
A majestic symphonic black-metal peak. Grand and influential. A genre high point.
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11BaduizmErykah Badu
Baduizm
The debut that helped define neo-soul, jazzy and hypnotic with a singular voice. Cool and assured. A genre cornerstone.
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12The Colour and the ShapeFoo Fighters
The Colour and the Shape
The album that made the Foos a real band, balancing crushing rock with melody on 'Everlong'. Emotional and tuneful. Their definitive record.
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13WhoracleIn Flames
Whoracle
A melodic death-metal peak. Sharp and beloved. A high point.
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14The Velvet RopeJanet Jackson
The Velvet Rope
An intimate, adventurous record of identity and desire, her most personal. Sleek and acclaimed. A creative high.
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15ButterflyMariah Carey
Butterfly
A sophisticated R&B-pop peak that deepened her artistry. Smooth and acclaimed. Her finest.
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16Supa Dupa FlyMissy Elliott
Supa Dupa Fly
A futuristic debut with Timbaland's off-kilter beats and Missy's playful invention. Ahead of its time. A landmark of forward-thinking R&B-rap.
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17Young TeamMogwai
Young Team
A dynamic post-rock debut of quiet-loud crescendos. Powerful and influential. A genre cornerstone.
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18The Boatman's CallNick Cave and the Bad Seeds
The Boatman's Call
A hushed, piano-led record of heartbreak and faith, a stark turn toward intimacy. Beautiful and acclaimed. His most personal.
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19Too Far to CareOld 97's
Too Far to Care
A rowdy alt-country peak of twangy energy. Fun and beloved. A genre highlight.
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20OK ComputerRadiohead
OK Computer
A prescient album about alienation in a wired, accelerating world, expanding rock with electronics, odd time signatures and dread. 'Paranoid Android' and 'No Surprises' anchor a record that still sounds like the future arriving. Frequently named among the greatest ever made.
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21New FormsRoni Size
New Forms
A jazzy, ambitious drum-and-bass landmark that won the Mercury Prize. Bold and acclaimed. A genre cornerstone.
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22Come On OverShania Twain
Come On Over
The best-selling country album ever, a glossy pop-country blockbuster. Polished and huge. A crossover landmark.
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23SpiceworldSpice Girls
Spiceworld
A bright, hook-laden follow-up to Spice. Fun and huge. A commercial high.
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24Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in SpaceSpiritualized
Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space
A vast, gospel-and-drone space-rock peak of heartbreak. Immersive and acclaimed. Their masterpiece.
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25Hard Normal DaddySquarepusher
Hard Normal Daddy
A frantic, jazzy drill-and-bass peak. Inventive and beloved. A genre highlight.
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26CityStrapping Young Lad
City
A dense, extreme industrial-metal landmark. Brutal and acclaimed. A cult classic.
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27Dig Your Own HoleThe Chemical Brothers
Dig Your Own Hole
Big-beat at its peak, loud, psychedelic and built for festival fields, climaxing in the swirling 'The Private Psychedelic Reel'. Exhilarating. A defining 90s dance record.
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28Life After DeathThe Notorious B.I.G.
Life After Death
A sprawling double album of effortless range, released days after his murder. Hit-laden and definitive. A tragic peak.
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29The Fat of the LandThe Prodigy
The Fat of the Land
A loud, aggressive crossover smash that took rave energy to rock audiences. 'Firestarter' and 'Breathe' lead it. A defining big-beat record.
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30Urban HymnsThe Verve
Urban Hymns
A lush, string-laden peak of 90s British rock, anchored by 'Bitter Sweet Symphony'. Anthemic and melancholic. Their defining record.
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31My WayUsher
My Way
A slick, hit-laden R&B peak, home to 'Nice & Slow'. Smooth and huge. A breakthrough.
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32Strangers AlmanacWhiskeytown
Strangers Almanac
A polished alt-country peak of Ryan Adams's early songwriting. Tuneful and acclaimed. A genre highlight.
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33Wu-Tang ForeverWu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Forever
A sprawling, ambitious double-album sequel. Dense and acclaimed. A strong follow-up.
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34I Can Hear the Heart Beating as OneYo La Tengo
I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One
A warm, eclectic indie landmark of noise and tenderness. Beloved and acclaimed. A cornerstone.