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Best (music) Albums of the 1990's part 2

40.Red Hot Chili Peppers - Blood Sugar Sex Magik -1991-USA

Why: The start of the departure from heavy noise that characterized the band previously. Expansion of the themes too, withe 'Under the Bride' showing that RHCP could do serious songs as well as the fun stuff.

Example Tracks: Suck My Kiss, Under The Bridge

39.
Santana - Supernatural -1999- USA

Why: It was the first album I'd heard that had a guest artist on every song. So it was like listening to a playlist. Not the best work Santana has ever done (I like the 70's and 80's stuff) but it was a creative concept that he's been carrying forward ever since.

Example Tracks : Maria Maria, Smooth


38.Modest Mouse - The Lonesome Crowded West -1997 -USA

Why: The best indie album of the 90's probably. Awesome overdriven guitars as a backdrop to polarizing themes of overconfidence and vulnerability; the country and the city. The worries of the disenfranchised youth is all over this album.

Example Tracks: Heart Cooks Brain, Jesus was An Only Child

37.
R.E.M - Out of Time -1991 - USA

Why: The album that sent R.E.M. from supporting to lead. A cornerstone of 90's alternative rock. And, though not very recognized, Radio Song with KRS-One is a very important track.

Example Tracks: Radio Song, Losing My Religion

36.
The Smashing Pumpkins - Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness-1995-USA

Why: A 28 song album is usually a disaster. But not this time. It's a huge album but there's no wasted space. The lyrics are a bit of a downer but you kind of expect that from Smashing Pumpkins.

Example Tracks: Zero, Bullet With Butterfly Wings

35.
Pavement - Slanted and Enchanted - 1996-USA

Why: Very influential, with it's blending of music bordering on noise rhythms. Lots of complex themes and the record itself feels like they put together a million different things in one. It's that eclectic.

Example Tracks : Summer Babe, Loretta's Scars

34.
2pac - All Eyez on Me -1996 -USA

Why: Money, guns, heirarchy. As always with Tupac the lyrical content is miles above everyone else, though at times the flow needs work. It is, without doubt a brilliant record, one which defines gangsta rap.

Example Tracks: No more Pain, Only God Can Judge Me


33. Pulp -Different Class- 1995 -England

Why: Britpop was an awesome era. Pulp continued to do the daily life observation routine with clever and sometimes sinister lyrics and this time they got it perfect.

Example Tracks: Something Changed, Common People

32.
Primal Scream - Screamadelica- England-1991

Why: The departure from indie rock and into house music (probably drug influenced). It's a pretty uplifting album with lots of over-the -top splendor. It also seems pretty much perfect no matter where you're listening to it, anywhere from chillout to hyped up.

Example Tracks: Movin' on Up, Loaded

31.
Pearl Jam -ten -1991- USA

Why: Depression, suicide, loneliness, murder, homeless people. Not exactly the most fun record in the world, this one. Very guitar-riff heavy which goes with the heaviness of the whole album. The themes are deep without becoming overbearing.

Example Tracks: Black, Jeremy

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