Top 10 Albums of 1990
As new wave and hair metal faded out, 1990 had new plans for the music industry. Join http://www.Watchmojo.com as we count down our picks for the top ten albums of 1990. Seeing as how it's 2015, we are counting down the best albums of past years in 5-year intervals. For this list, we're looking at the critically acclaimed and commercially successful, and counting down what we consider to be the seminal albums of 1990.
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#10: "Bossanova" (1990)
Pixies
Inspired by the popular surf rock genre of the 1960s, Pixies began to experiment with a more punk rock sound, and was all the more successful for it. With material written mostly by frontman Black Francis, the Pixies memorably sang about aliens and UFOs. While the music was more mainstream than Pixies' earlier releases, it was still original and eccentric enough to stay away from public popularity, peaking only at #70 on the Billboard 200. But, it is the music that makes an album, and Bossanova has plenty of quality rock to go around.
#9: "Nowhere" (1999)
Ride
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It's rare that a band makes such an impact on a debut album, but British band Ride pulled it off with their popular shoegaze album Nowhere. Released to critical acclaim, the album was one of music lovers' secrets; an unpopular but enormously influential and powerful record. Just the genre title of shoegaze is enough to make many scratch their heads. Often considered one of the greatest albums of the genre of all time, Nowhere appeared on various year-end lists and started an influential movement that is still being referenced today.
#8: "The Razors Edge" (1990)
AC/DC
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After some questionable material throughout the 1980s, AC/DC returned with a bang with The Razors Edge, which brought the band back to mainstream popularity and positive critical reception. The album peaked at #2 on the Billboard 200 and has sold over five million copies in the US alone, proving the love that the fans have towards the album. It also features the popular singles "Thunderstruck" and "Moneytalks," songs which have been considered some of the band’s best. Without this album, it is possible that AC/DC would have faded into obscurity, and we just couldn't have that.
#7: "Mama Said Knock You Out" (1990)
LL Cool J
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While LL Cool J may be resorting to hosting a lip-synching television show today, in the late 80s and early 90s, he was one of rap's biggest icons. Released in August, this rapper's fourth album debuted to critical acclaim and commercial success, eventually selling over two million copies in the US. Today, it is often considered one of hip hop's most seminal albums and won LL a Grammy award for Best Rap Solo Performance. With four of its five singles charting on the Billboard Hot 100, it’s no doubt that LL Cool J was a major factor in making hip hop a serious genre.
#6: "Ritual de lo habitual" (1990)
Jane's Addiction
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What proved to be the band's final album before their disbanding in 1991, at least Jane's Addiction went out on a high note with this seminal rock album. Released to critical acclaim, the album is broken into two parts, with the first five songs being straight forward rock, and the final four containing a more progressive sound in memory of Perry Ferrell’s friend who died of a heroin overdose. What this created was an album with a stellar range of music, and one that influenced musicians old and new, including Kurt Cobain and Alice Cooper.
#5: "Goo" (1990)
Sonic Youth
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Their major label debut, acclaimed New York City experimental rock band Sonic Youth made themselves known with Goo, which is often considered their best and most accessible album. With hit lead single "Kool Thing" to help the band's success, the album debuted to critical acclaim, even if it's commercial success was a little lagging. However, once grunge and alternative began to become popular in the early 90s, Goo instantly became popular. What is considered one of the pioneers of the alternative music scene of the 90s, Goo helped usher in a completely new style of music.
#4: "Mariah Carey" (1990)
Mariah Carey
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What was perhaps the biggest album of 1990, Mariah Carey made herself known across the world with her debut album of the same name. Released to generally positive reviews, it was also a commercial smash, topping the Billboard 200 for eleven consecutive weeks. It has since sold over 15 million copies worldwide, and Carey became the first artist since The Jackson 5 to have their first four singles become #1 hits. With its slow ballads and its energetic dance tracks, Mariah Carey proved popular with listeners around the world, and the artist has never looked back.
#3: "Fear of a Black Planet" (1990)
Public Enemy
Helping to usher in hip hop to mainstream success, Public Enemy released a masterpiece when this album was introduced in April of 1990. The music throughout is a complex arrangement of loops and rhythms, and the lyrics are deep and emotional, often regarding the treatment of African Americans in the USA. It was such a significant record at the time that many hailed it as hip hop's greatest, and it has since been added to the National Recording Registry. It's a historic album, and one that finalized hip hop's importance in American culture.
#2: "Rust in Peace" (1990)
Megadeth
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One of the biggest names in heavy metal released their finest material on Rust in Peace and helped them gain mainstream popularity. The album is considered to be one of the greatest metal albums of all time, and was a huge influence on the genre. It's two singles, "Holy Wars… The Punsishment Due" and "Hangar 18" are still played live to this day, and remain fan favourites. With complex musical arrangements and fierce instrumentation, this album had a huge impact, and brought Megadeth to popularity in heavy metal culture.
Before we look at our best album of 1990, here are a few honorable mentions.
"Seasons in the Abyss" (1990)
Slayer
"People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm" (1990)
A Tribe Called Quest
"Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em" (1990)
MC Hammer
"Painkiller" (1990)
Judas Priest
"Repeater" (1990)
Fugazi
"I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got" (1990)
Sinead O'Connor
#1: "Violator" (1990)
Depeche Mode
The album that launched the band into international stardom, Violator was not only Depeche Mode's finest album, but one of the greatest of the genre. A dark, brooding pop record, Depeche Mode's hit singles helped their popularity, including the ever-famous "Personal Jesus," which can still be heard on rock stations today. The album helped change what the pop genre could accomplish, and it has since appeared on many best albums of all time lists. It remains a true classic to this day and was 1990's finest outing.
Do you agree with our list? What album from 1990 do you consider to be the best? For more musical top tens published every day, be sure to subscribe to Watchmojo.com.
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