10. Blur - Leisure
In 1991 Blur wasn't quite what it was going to be. All the signs of a great band were already there, but as a whole the album lacks that something. She's So High, Bad Day and There's No Other Way proof that Blur knew already how to make hits. The highest appreciation from me goes, however, to Sing. The atmosphere in this song is absolutely amazing! in fact, I think this is one of the best songs Blur has ever made. The song is featured in Trainspotting. many of the 80's bands had taken a very American way to sing and make music. Blur gave way to brit-pop with this great debut album. Damon Albarn's heavy British accent can not be mistaken to American singers. Listen to the album on Spotify.
9. Massive Attack - Blue Lines
Trip-hop wasn't really an established musical style, when Massive Attack released their debut album. After the release of this album, it was clear that a new movement in music was born. Dark and hypnotic sound worlds wit a lot of samples became to be a trademark of Bristol based bands such as Massive Attack, Tricky and Portishead. Blue Lines is not as good as a whole as the later albums, but it has one of the best songs of the whole Massive Attack career. The opening track Safe from Harm is an amazing piece of work and if that atmosphere would have stayed on in the rest of the songs, I would rate this album a lot higher. This album really relies on soft organ sounds, bass lines and whispery singing. Listen to the album on Spotify.
8. R.E.M. - Out of Time
R.E.M. had risen to be one of the biggest bands in the world by the 90's. Out of Time includes the band's probably biggest hit of all times, Losing My Religion. Everyone also knows Shiny Happy People. If you don't count these two super hits, Out of Time is mostly unknown to big crowds, but there's no reason for it. This is not by far the best album from R.E.M. but it deserves it's place on this list. In my opinion R.E.M. is a single band. Their albums are not amazing, but their individual songs are really great. Out of Time is a great example of this. At times it's among the best music you've ever heard, but at other times it's a bit dull. It's nevertheless an accomplishment to make such a single as Losing My Religion. Listen to the album on Spotify.
7. Queen - Innuendo
Queen is without a doubt one of the most well-known bands in the history of music. It's also one of the most personal and most talented bands. Their 70's albums were truly unique at the time. Throughout the 80's they managed to make good songs here and there but those albums all lack something. By Innuendo, Freddie Mercury knew he was going to die. The knowledge of that makes Show Must Go On extra fantastic. As a whole, Innuendo is better than any 80's album by Queen. In addition to Show Must Go On, Innuendo and I'm Going Slightly Mad are among the band's best songs. The sounds are not as 80's driven anymore and I think that gives this album a great touch. A great last album for a great band (I really don't think Made In Heaven is a proper album). Listen to the album on Spotify.
6. American Music Club - Everclear
American Music Club is one of the most underrated bands in the world. I think it was the Lemonator lead man Lasse Kurki, who said those words in radio Helsinki. AMC makes dreamy alternative music that sounds a bit like Elbow. Everclear is the band's fifth album and in my opinion it's one of their best albums. The music does not necessarily open with the first listen, but more you listen to it, the more you like it. AMC's music is timeless in the sense, that Everclear sounds a bit like the 80's, bit like the 90's and there's no reason why it couldn't have been made today. I only heard this band existed few years ago, but since then I've been glad to know this mostly forgotten jewel of 80's and early 90's. Listen to the album on Spotify.
5. Teenage Fanclub - Bandwagonesque
In the beginning of the 90's Nirvana was probably the biggest band in the world. After Teenage Fanclub released Bandwagonesque, Kurt Cobain said that in his opinion, Teenage Fanclub is the best band in the world. many people who have heard about Teenage Fanclub later on, think the sounds are not quite there on this album. I agree, but the songs are still really fantastic, with all the melodies. The ridiculous MS Paint-style album cover fits well in these lo-fi sounds. The opening song The Concept is one of the band's greatest songs. What You Do to Me and Metal Baby are also among the fan favourites. Teenage Fanclub is one of those bands, that really sound amazing live. They also have a lot of true fans in the audiences all over the world. Listen to the album on Spotify.
4. The Levellers - Levelling the Land
I don't usually update these lists after I've made them, but now I simply must add this album. I'm glad I found this band, since it's absolutely amazing! The music is intense folk-punk with great melodies and even greater lyrics. The Riverfield is probably the best example of the intensity this music can achieve. The Game and Another Man's Cause are also among the best songs. The whole album is great though. The band's debut album already gave some idea what was coming, but it was only on this second album they really got loose. After this album, the sound shifted bit towards more conventional rock tunes, so I guess this is their finest album, but I have to listen to the band more to make up my mind on that. Listen to the album on Spotify.
3. Pearl jam - Ten
I was too young to get into Pearl Jam, when Ten was released. For some reason, I didn't get into it even later, when I really got into Nirvana. it was only some years ago I really understood how good their music can be. Ten is a masterpiece and one of the best albums of the whole 90's. It's weird that it's only number three on this list. But the two albums ahead of it are just super amazing. Ten is full of hits, of which Jeremy is probably best known. I think Pearl Jam succeeds in being true grunge band without being too heavy. Some of the same era's bands are too heavy for my taste and they lack good melodies, but Ten is an amazing album. The most amazing thing about Ten is that it's Pearl Jam's debut album. I don't know if there's a single debut album that would be as impressive as this. Listen to the album on Spotify.
2. Guns n' Roses - Use Your Illusion II
Use Your Illusion I should probably also be on this list, but since I only get to list 10 albums each year, I decided to write about the better one of these two. Guns n' Roses is definitely one of the most influential bands for me. It was the first band I listened to constantly. It also kindled a spark in me to want to play music myself. Both Use Your Illusion albums were most important albums to me at the age of ten to twelve. The volume II is full of amazing melodies. It is often described as hard rock, but I don't know if there's a single other band that makes similar kind of music. The melodies and sounds have influences from glam-rock, punk and 70's heavy music. I can't really be objective about this album. It changed the world for me when I was really young and made music a significant part of my life. Listen to the album on Spotify.
1. Nirvana - Nevermind
There is no question about it. Nevermind is one of the best albums of all times. It also made Nirvana the biggest band in the world after its release. It also lifted grunge to the mainstream and turned the focus of the music listeners' towards Seattle. I struggled to decide which of the top two I would grade first this year. I then decided that Nirvana should really get the first place, since the whole album is full of perfect songs. There's not one thing that could be changed (well actually I wouldn't mind getting rid of the hidden track in the end). The album cover and almost all the songs on the album are known to almost everyone who lived in the 90's. It's not just the popularity that makes this album number one. It's the amazing quality of the songs, the attitude and Kurt Cobain as a person. Listen to the album on Spotify.
R.E.M. had risen to be one of the biggest bands in the world by the 90's. Out of Time includes the band's probably biggest hit of all times, Losing My Religion. Everyone also knows Shiny Happy People. If you don't count these two super hits, Out of Time is mostly unknown to big crowds, but there's no reason for it. This is not by far the best album from R.E.M. but it deserves it's place on this list. In my opinion R.E.M. is a single band. Their albums are not amazing, but their individual songs are really great. Out of Time is a great example of this. At times it's among the best music you've ever heard, but at other times it's a bit dull. It's nevertheless an accomplishment to make such a single as Losing My Religion. Listen to the album on Spotify.
7. Queen - Innuendo
Queen is without a doubt one of the most well-known bands in the history of music. It's also one of the most personal and most talented bands. Their 70's albums were truly unique at the time. Throughout the 80's they managed to make good songs here and there but those albums all lack something. By Innuendo, Freddie Mercury knew he was going to die. The knowledge of that makes Show Must Go On extra fantastic. As a whole, Innuendo is better than any 80's album by Queen. In addition to Show Must Go On, Innuendo and I'm Going Slightly Mad are among the band's best songs. The sounds are not as 80's driven anymore and I think that gives this album a great touch. A great last album for a great band (I really don't think Made In Heaven is a proper album). Listen to the album on Spotify.
6. American Music Club - Everclear
American Music Club is one of the most underrated bands in the world. I think it was the Lemonator lead man Lasse Kurki, who said those words in radio Helsinki. AMC makes dreamy alternative music that sounds a bit like Elbow. Everclear is the band's fifth album and in my opinion it's one of their best albums. The music does not necessarily open with the first listen, but more you listen to it, the more you like it. AMC's music is timeless in the sense, that Everclear sounds a bit like the 80's, bit like the 90's and there's no reason why it couldn't have been made today. I only heard this band existed few years ago, but since then I've been glad to know this mostly forgotten jewel of 80's and early 90's. Listen to the album on Spotify.
5. Teenage Fanclub - Bandwagonesque
In the beginning of the 90's Nirvana was probably the biggest band in the world. After Teenage Fanclub released Bandwagonesque, Kurt Cobain said that in his opinion, Teenage Fanclub is the best band in the world. many people who have heard about Teenage Fanclub later on, think the sounds are not quite there on this album. I agree, but the songs are still really fantastic, with all the melodies. The ridiculous MS Paint-style album cover fits well in these lo-fi sounds. The opening song The Concept is one of the band's greatest songs. What You Do to Me and Metal Baby are also among the fan favourites. Teenage Fanclub is one of those bands, that really sound amazing live. They also have a lot of true fans in the audiences all over the world. Listen to the album on Spotify.
4. The Levellers - Levelling the Land
I don't usually update these lists after I've made them, but now I simply must add this album. I'm glad I found this band, since it's absolutely amazing! The music is intense folk-punk with great melodies and even greater lyrics. The Riverfield is probably the best example of the intensity this music can achieve. The Game and Another Man's Cause are also among the best songs. The whole album is great though. The band's debut album already gave some idea what was coming, but it was only on this second album they really got loose. After this album, the sound shifted bit towards more conventional rock tunes, so I guess this is their finest album, but I have to listen to the band more to make up my mind on that. Listen to the album on Spotify.
3. Pearl jam - Ten
I was too young to get into Pearl Jam, when Ten was released. For some reason, I didn't get into it even later, when I really got into Nirvana. it was only some years ago I really understood how good their music can be. Ten is a masterpiece and one of the best albums of the whole 90's. It's weird that it's only number three on this list. But the two albums ahead of it are just super amazing. Ten is full of hits, of which Jeremy is probably best known. I think Pearl Jam succeeds in being true grunge band without being too heavy. Some of the same era's bands are too heavy for my taste and they lack good melodies, but Ten is an amazing album. The most amazing thing about Ten is that it's Pearl Jam's debut album. I don't know if there's a single debut album that would be as impressive as this. Listen to the album on Spotify.
2. Guns n' Roses - Use Your Illusion II
Use Your Illusion I should probably also be on this list, but since I only get to list 10 albums each year, I decided to write about the better one of these two. Guns n' Roses is definitely one of the most influential bands for me. It was the first band I listened to constantly. It also kindled a spark in me to want to play music myself. Both Use Your Illusion albums were most important albums to me at the age of ten to twelve. The volume II is full of amazing melodies. It is often described as hard rock, but I don't know if there's a single other band that makes similar kind of music. The melodies and sounds have influences from glam-rock, punk and 70's heavy music. I can't really be objective about this album. It changed the world for me when I was really young and made music a significant part of my life. Listen to the album on Spotify.
1. Nirvana - Nevermind
There is no question about it. Nevermind is one of the best albums of all times. It also made Nirvana the biggest band in the world after its release. It also lifted grunge to the mainstream and turned the focus of the music listeners' towards Seattle. I struggled to decide which of the top two I would grade first this year. I then decided that Nirvana should really get the first place, since the whole album is full of perfect songs. There's not one thing that could be changed (well actually I wouldn't mind getting rid of the hidden track in the end). The album cover and almost all the songs on the album are known to almost everyone who lived in the 90's. It's not just the popularity that makes this album number one. It's the amazing quality of the songs, the attitude and Kurt Cobain as a person. Listen to the album on Spotify.
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