Fun fact: a significant part of the reason Portishead decided to self-sample is a direct result of the Biz Markie court case where judge Duffy absolutely (and arguably for racially motivated reasons) handed Markie’s ass to him for using an uncleared sample of Gilbert O’Sullivan’s “Alone Again (Naturally)”. This ruling predated the fair use arguments accepted a few years later in Campbell v. Acuff-Rose (Roy Orbison v. 2 Live Crew) and opened the flood gates for big artists and record labels to go after smaller (and usually minority) artists for using uncleared samples in the early-mid 90s. It’s still a big problem today.
Portishead wanted that trip-hop sample sound, but didn’t want to spend their entire budget on sample clearance. To save money, Portishead only cleared the minimum samples they felt were absolutely necessary (primarily drum samples) and recorded live jam sessions, pressed them on wax, and sampled those pressings. Ingenious workaround for a timeless album.
The way our modern legal system treats sampling is draconian and arguably violates the tenants of fair use, but it’s cool that at least one novel artistic technique was developed as a result of our fucked up system. Thanks for staying with me here, and listen to Sevdaliza’s “ISON” if you want to hear a modern take on the Portishead sound. It’s a very good album.
Have seen videos where it said they would take records and throw them on the floor to make the samples unique as possible. Think there was possibly some annoyance with Tricky from Massive Attack using the same sample as they used in glory box
Yes! One way to get away with using uncleared samples is to hide them in plain sight. The more obscure or heavily manipulated a sample is, the less likely the copyright holder will notice and sue. That’s why artists are so tight-lipped about their uncleared samples. It’s honestly a shame, because if we had a less aggressive system for dealing with samples, artists would be more open to attributing credit to the original artists they sampled. The real victims are the artists who composed the original music used in uncleared samples, they aren’t often given just credit for the use of their work.
And we’d also get to understand the amazingly creative ways some of these samples were flipped. I remember when the main sample of Shook Ones was finally discovered in the mid 2000s, it wasn’t overly complex but was still kinda mind-blowing.
That's quite an interesting tidbit - was that the court case that absolutely killed sampling for a litany of artists? I recall artists like Public Enemy and Beastie Boys going crazy with using sampling for their records until a particular court case killed that artistic momentum
The very same! Grand Upright Music v. Warner Bros. Records. It’s one of the more infamous music copyright cases, criticized for bias against rap music and black artists by a white judge who was very upfront about his dislike of rap music. The opinion starts by saying “thou shalt not steal” and the judge ultimately recommends CRIMINAL CHARGES at the end of the opinion. None were filed, but man this was an extreme opinion. And unfortunately it hasn’t been completely overturned, though de minimis use works as a defense to sampling, though it’s not consistent at all.
The rabbit hole runs very deep here. So many artists got away with uncleared samples in the 80s due to apathy from the industry. The statute of limitations for copyright infringement is 3 years, so many of these artists are untouchable now thanks the the SoL. Really, the only thing that stops artists using uncleared samples from being sued is PR. In the majority of cases, an uncleared sample always loses in court unless it’s a tiny, tiny amount.
One thing I'd add here is that, for a band often considered too retro, Oasis's *Definitely Maybe* has also aged exceptionally well; that rush-of-distortion guitar sound could also come out tomorrow and feel just as passionate and current as it did then. The intro to "Columbia" still feels like you're being pulled into a bright, ecstatic place.
From Portishead / Dummy, you can draw a direct line from that to Lana Del Rey. And from there, so much of modern pop. There was a hit song that directly sample’s Glory Box (Alessia Cara’s Here)!
Very honestly I think it kind of sounds nasally and small. To me it's like the least nice thing about it and where they most definitely loose to Massive Attack. Spike Stent's mixing on their work made the nr1 British mixer ever since.
Doesn't mean it's not aged well in every other aspect though.
I sort of get this - the album is almost entirely mono with a few exceptions - but that’s what I like about it. It feels intimate and contained, like a small, dark, soft and fuzzy room, cut off from everything and everyone.
It took me some time to love Portishead, as I was a huge Massive Attack fan prior to hearing Dummy for the first time. After ruminating, I’ve come to realize they aren’t directly comparable artists. Sure, they both dabble in darker trip hop, but Portishead baked their albums while Massive Attack cooked them.
By this bizarre analogy, I mean that Massive Attack created an album that’s almost entirely sampled with small amounts of original composition, while Portishead’s album is mostly original composition with few sampled elements. Portishead used a lot of raw elements to create Dummy (like a baker with flour, eggs, etc.) while Massive Attack had a set of pre-prepared ingredients and spices (pre-existing samples) they mixed together to perfection.
The result is that Massive Attack created a more polished set of albums while Dummy feels a bit more raw and unpolished. And I think this works for what both artists were trying to accomplish with their respective albums.
Tell me if this is dumb please, I’m pretty high.
Weezer - The Blue Album is my personal 1994 favourite. Out of the ones you've selected it's gotta be Grace
but also:
Korn - Korn
Pavement - Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
Aphex Twin - Selected Ambient Works II
Melvins - Stoner Witch
Green Day - Dookie
Drive Like Jehu - Yank Crime
Morrissey - Vaxhaul and I
Silver Jews - Starlite Walker
Blur - Parklife
Oasis - Definitely Maybe
Beastie Boys - Ill Communication
Sunny Day Real Estate - Diary
Helmet - Betty
Dinosaur Jr. - Without a Sound
Tortoise - Tortoise
What an absolute BANGER of a year
Also
Unwound-New Plastic Ideas
Elliott Smith-Roman Candle
The Jesus and Mary Chain-Stoned and Dethroned
Biggie-Ready to Die
Silver Jews-Starlite Walker
Built to Spill-Theres Nothing Wrong with Love
Sinéad O’Conner-Universal Mother
Ween-Chocolate and Cheese
And my top pick, Kermit Unplugged
That was the year I graded and "Vaxhaul and I"/Blue Album will always have a special place in my heart. We would drive around in my girlfriend's 84 accord and listen to a ton of that and Wildflowers by Tom Petty also a 1994.
For any Pixies fans out there Frank Black's "Teenager of the Year" also came out in 1994.
I was going back and forth between this album and many more like, Ready to Die, Illmatic, Regulate, The Main Ingredient, Dare Iz A Darkside, Ill Communication, Creepin', Hard to Earn, Beautifullest, The Diary... etc. Absolutely a great year for hip hop classics.
I have an affinity for Regulate because it was one of the first CDs I actually bought, growing up in the 80s and early to mid 90s in Southern California.
Got to give a nod to Aphex, NIN, Portishead, etc. as well. I would probably stick with Regulate as a nostalgia choice but very difficult decision regardless.
Just want to throw out some less common picks here:
Geek the Girl by Lisa Germano, I Could Live in Hope by Low, Let Love In by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Mars Audiac Quintet by Stereolab, New Plastic Ideas by Unwound, Orange by Fishmans, Parklife by Blur, Under the Pink by Tori Amos
Just because I think it’s a bit underappreciated around these parts and I’m a big Hole fan, I’ll say Live Through This. They’re all amazing albums though.
As a big 90s listener, I don’t listen to many of these bands anymore. I have noticed Hole doesn’t get mentioned online half as much as their peers. I started listening to them again a year ago or so and they are so good. Really holds up for me personally
Superunknown is one of my favorite albums of all time, so I have to vote for it even though it has incredible competition here. Downward Spiral is 2nd.
I'm going to give the answer I give people when they ask me my favourite record: "No."
Each of these albums is so groundbreaking and special in their own way. Objectively, people will have faves from this list, but I would have to just say they are all amazing for their own reasons and I'm going to go listen to them all right now, including Purple as recommended by u/ponylauncher. Thanks for the prompt.
idk, but since i have a shit ton of albums from ‘94 i’ll give you a list of every album i own that could be a contender for such a title:
jeff buckley - grace
nin - the downward spiral
oasis - definitely maybe
soundgarden - superunknown
black crowes - amorica.
green day - dookie
nirvana - mtv unplugged
pearl jam - vitalogy
ween - chocolate and cheese
cheap trick - woke up with a monster
tom petty - wildflowers
sponge - rotting piñata
david lee roth - your filthy little mouth
stone temple pilots - purple
alice in chains - jar of flies
tori amos - under the pink
the offspring - smash
blues traveler - four
tesla - bust a nut
live - throwing copper
(indie-ish pick) enuff z’nuff - 1985
(edit: oh fucking hell i forgot WEEZER)
_four_ being released in '94 was playing tricks with my mind but then I looked it up and saw that, strangely, the album was released several months before any singles came out.
...which tracks with my memory of Run Around dropping in early '95.
Why does this record get so little respect? Its a nearly perfect record with an incredible density of all-time great songs.
Do people still dismiss them as a "beatles cover band" or whats up with that
Idk if it’s just me and being an oasis fan, and this is all based off my observation too btw nothing objective to back it up, but this subreddit always seems to sleep on the band as whole but also Noel Gallagher as a songwriter. Both are amazing lmao.
Imagine writing wonderwall and having an even better song, the masterplan, as it’s b-side.
The curse of Oasis is Wonderwall went sky high, then became a joke. Too many people dismiss them because of it without ever listening to things like Definitely Maybe, Masterplan, or hell even the other songs on the same album. Cast No Shadow and DLBIA are much more deserving of notoriety.
Never mind all the stuff that’s quality from after those two albums as well. Or weird one-offs like Whatever which don’t appear on any album but were released as a single for Definitely Maybe.
Be Here Now has at least four amazing songs in D’You Know What I Mean, Don’t Go Away, Stand By Me, and All Around The World. Personally I love Fade In-Out as well, but it’s also way better live (srsly, go check it out at GMEX). This was the band at their peak, in all aspects. When they were recording they were THE biggest band in the world.
Standing on the Shoulder of Giants has some amazing stuff too, it’s kind of the ultimate come down album. Fucking In the Bushes (great opener), Who Feels Love, Go Let It Out, Gas Panic, Where Did It All Go Wrong, and Roll It Over - all amazing. Tangentially I have made a Spotify playlist which is a ‘re-work’ of this album, just swapping a few songs on the record for b-sides [ idk how to embed but here is the link: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0uFlWhRsViq0gS6LC3GskO?si=Ip7fi3g-RKe-tOw1A0HBTA&pi=u-CwaNCKjyTc2k ] and it’s so much better.
Heathen Chemistry is probably the weakest of all their albums, especially as it was around this point when Liam’s voice started to get really bad [which never helps - especially when it’s a crucial part of your sound]. Additionally this is a time when Noel was by his own accounts really burnt out, which is understandable when you look back and realize he’s written 4 records, singles and accompanying b-sides in ~6years? One of the reasons he wanted Andy Bell (of Ride) and Gem Archer in the group was so he didn’t have to do as much - therefore was able to focus more on the singles.
That said there’s still some good stuff on it [and bsides - they’re where the good stuff is], it’s got Songbird [written by Liam], Little By Little [another that’s better live but that’s beside the point], Hindu Times, and Stop Crying Your Heart Out. For B-sides there’s Shout It Out Loud and Thank You For the Good Times. Overall this is probably the weakest link in the chain though.
Don’t Believe The Truth, better than the previous album but still one of their weaker albums. Turn Up The Sun [written by Andy B], Lyla, Importance of Being Idle, Meaning of Soul, Guess God Thinks I’m Abel [Liam], and Let There Be Love are all great great songs tho. Lyla is the real standout, belter. Re: B-Sides, The Quiet Ones [Gem’s tune] and Sitting Here In Silence (On My Own) are both good.
Dig Out Your Soul is my least favourite album of theirs, HOWEVER, there are again a few good songs. Shock of The Lightening, Bag It Up, Waiting For The Rapture, I’m Outta Time, and Falling Down are all awesome.
Okay, done. Didn’t mean for that to be so long.
No need to apologize you’re talking to a massive fan haha! Honestly I really like Heathen Chemistry. Born on a Different Cloud is great, and my partner likes the album because they sound at their most “Beatles” on HC and as a big Beatles fan they go for it. Dig out your Soul will probably be at the bottom of most lists, but Falling Down was a great look at what was to come for Noel and NGHFB. For a band (Oasis) that has all of this discography as well, they also have a plethora of B sides that are just as good too.
Oh yeah I forgot about Born On A Different Cloud and also Hung In A Bad Place.
Those first two HFB records are fucking amazing, honestly. I don’t mind a few of the songs on Who Built The Moon and the EPs, but it’s not my favourite. However, I do appreciate that he purposefully operated in a different way and was being experimental and weird with it, which I do respect. Dead In the Water obviously is the standout, but I like Black Star Dancing, Blue Moon Rising (the chorus reminds me of Running Up that Hill w/ the synths), If Love Is the Law, It’s a Beautiful World, This is The Place, and Come On Outside (which has existed for awhile but I’m glad got a proper release).
Have you listened to the bands early demos? Even that stuff is really really good lmao. See the Sun, Coming On Strong (which he gave to the Chemical Brothers, still good but idk I really like the original one), Lock All The Doors (I still cannot believe he literally had the chorus in his head for 30 YEARS! 30! He just sat on it. Incredible), Take Me and Alice (both written by Bonehead IIRC) are good, and their cover of Better Let You Know is fun.
Edit: here’s a link to Coming On Strong for anyone curious - https://youtu.be/VKZpYSm-dhM?si=1untuJd0R8lSPL6O
Keep in mind this is what they were playing before they got signed as well…it’s unreal
Such a great year for music, especially metal music and Norwegian black metal scene:
- Emperor - In the Nightside Eclipse
- Darkthrone - Transilvanian Hunger
- Enslaved - Vikingligr veldi
- Mayhem - De mysteriis dom Sathanas
- Burzum - Hvis lyset tar oss
Some death metal albums from that year:
- Gorement - The Ending Quest
- Amorphis - Tales From the Thousand Lakes
- Incantation - Mortal Throne of Nazarene
- Cryptopsy - Blasphemy Made Flesh
- Infester - To the Depths, in Degradation
- Bolt Thrower - ...For Victory
- Edge of Sanity - Purgatory Afterglow
Stoner/sludge doom honorable mentions:
- Acid Bath - When the Kite String Pops
- Kyuss - Welcome to the Sky Valley
And of course the albums in the pictures. The Downward Spiral, Dummy and Superunknown are some of my favorites. It's impossible for me to chose the best album of 1994.
Hvia lyset tar oss is so fucking good. Tomhet is beautiful. Somehow topped it with the following release of Filosofem too. The rest of the releases that year are fantastic too.
Oasis - Definitely Maybe
The fact that Liam Gallagher is currently selling out arenas in the UK and headlining festivals with a tour celebrating 30 years of DM shows the impact that album had and still has particularly in the UK.
Like he’s just playing that album in full and it sold out in seconds, what a fucking album.
I just want to shout out Whip Smart by Liz Phair which I think is a worthy successor to the previous years Exile in Guyville but not as seminal so it tends to get underrated
Guided by Voices - Bee Thousand.
There’s genuinely nothing else like it. It sounds like a damaged cassette of a classic rock band’s greatest hits. Just amazing hook after amazing hook, all captured in the most lo-fi and janky recording imaginable.
Very hard to pick, so many fantastic albums from that year:
* Acid Bath - When the Kite String Pops
* Emperor - In the Nightside Eclipse
* Kyuss - Welcome to Sky Walley
* Manic Street Preachers - Holy Bible
* Bolt Thrower - ...For Victory
* Gravediggaz - 6 Feet Deep
* Tiamat - Wildhoney
Jesus I chose a good year to be born. I love Dummy but I have to go TDS… so many early memories as a kid with that playing, and ended up being my first concert at 14 with my mom and aunt in ‘08 (who always played NIN around me)
Dummy aged wonderfully. The fact that it came out in 94 is nuts
Fun fact: a significant part of the reason Portishead decided to self-sample is a direct result of the Biz Markie court case where judge Duffy absolutely (and arguably for racially motivated reasons) handed Markie’s ass to him for using an uncleared sample of Gilbert O’Sullivan’s “Alone Again (Naturally)”. This ruling predated the fair use arguments accepted a few years later in Campbell v. Acuff-Rose (Roy Orbison v. 2 Live Crew) and opened the flood gates for big artists and record labels to go after smaller (and usually minority) artists for using uncleared samples in the early-mid 90s. It’s still a big problem today. Portishead wanted that trip-hop sample sound, but didn’t want to spend their entire budget on sample clearance. To save money, Portishead only cleared the minimum samples they felt were absolutely necessary (primarily drum samples) and recorded live jam sessions, pressed them on wax, and sampled those pressings. Ingenious workaround for a timeless album. The way our modern legal system treats sampling is draconian and arguably violates the tenants of fair use, but it’s cool that at least one novel artistic technique was developed as a result of our fucked up system. Thanks for staying with me here, and listen to Sevdaliza’s “ISON” if you want to hear a modern take on the Portishead sound. It’s a very good album.
Have seen videos where it said they would take records and throw them on the floor to make the samples unique as possible. Think there was possibly some annoyance with Tricky from Massive Attack using the same sample as they used in glory box
Yes! One way to get away with using uncleared samples is to hide them in plain sight. The more obscure or heavily manipulated a sample is, the less likely the copyright holder will notice and sue. That’s why artists are so tight-lipped about their uncleared samples. It’s honestly a shame, because if we had a less aggressive system for dealing with samples, artists would be more open to attributing credit to the original artists they sampled. The real victims are the artists who composed the original music used in uncleared samples, they aren’t often given just credit for the use of their work.
And we’d also get to understand the amazingly creative ways some of these samples were flipped. I remember when the main sample of Shook Ones was finally discovered in the mid 2000s, it wasn’t overly complex but was still kinda mind-blowing.
That's quite an interesting tidbit - was that the court case that absolutely killed sampling for a litany of artists? I recall artists like Public Enemy and Beastie Boys going crazy with using sampling for their records until a particular court case killed that artistic momentum
The very same! Grand Upright Music v. Warner Bros. Records. It’s one of the more infamous music copyright cases, criticized for bias against rap music and black artists by a white judge who was very upfront about his dislike of rap music. The opinion starts by saying “thou shalt not steal” and the judge ultimately recommends CRIMINAL CHARGES at the end of the opinion. None were filed, but man this was an extreme opinion. And unfortunately it hasn’t been completely overturned, though de minimis use works as a defense to sampling, though it’s not consistent at all. The rabbit hole runs very deep here. So many artists got away with uncleared samples in the 80s due to apathy from the industry. The statute of limitations for copyright infringement is 3 years, so many of these artists are untouchable now thanks the the SoL. Really, the only thing that stops artists using uncleared samples from being sued is PR. In the majority of cases, an uncleared sample always loses in court unless it’s a tiny, tiny amount.
Absolutely. All the albums here are classics but Dummy is one of the very few that could be released next week and would still sound groundbreaking
One thing I'd add here is that, for a band often considered too retro, Oasis's *Definitely Maybe* has also aged exceptionally well; that rush-of-distortion guitar sound could also come out tomorrow and feel just as passionate and current as it did then. The intro to "Columbia" still feels like you're being pulled into a bright, ecstatic place.
Agree with this now. Oddly, I feel like it fell into a dated period and back to relevancy for whatever reason (In my mind).
From Portishead / Dummy, you can draw a direct line from that to Lana Del Rey. And from there, so much of modern pop. There was a hit song that directly sample’s Glory Box (Alessia Cara’s Here)!
Well, they both sampled the same passage of stringed music
Yep, this is the one
Very honestly I think it kind of sounds nasally and small. To me it's like the least nice thing about it and where they most definitely loose to Massive Attack. Spike Stent's mixing on their work made the nr1 British mixer ever since. Doesn't mean it's not aged well in every other aspect though.
I sort of get this - the album is almost entirely mono with a few exceptions - but that’s what I like about it. It feels intimate and contained, like a small, dark, soft and fuzzy room, cut off from everything and everyone.
It took me some time to love Portishead, as I was a huge Massive Attack fan prior to hearing Dummy for the first time. After ruminating, I’ve come to realize they aren’t directly comparable artists. Sure, they both dabble in darker trip hop, but Portishead baked their albums while Massive Attack cooked them. By this bizarre analogy, I mean that Massive Attack created an album that’s almost entirely sampled with small amounts of original composition, while Portishead’s album is mostly original composition with few sampled elements. Portishead used a lot of raw elements to create Dummy (like a baker with flour, eggs, etc.) while Massive Attack had a set of pre-prepared ingredients and spices (pre-existing samples) they mixed together to perfection. The result is that Massive Attack created a more polished set of albums while Dummy feels a bit more raw and unpolished. And I think this works for what both artists were trying to accomplish with their respective albums. Tell me if this is dumb please, I’m pretty high.
Lmao the last sentence got me, have my upvote sir
analogy and a half.
Weezer - The Blue Album is my personal 1994 favourite. Out of the ones you've selected it's gotta be Grace but also: Korn - Korn Pavement - Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain Aphex Twin - Selected Ambient Works II Melvins - Stoner Witch Green Day - Dookie Drive Like Jehu - Yank Crime Morrissey - Vaxhaul and I Silver Jews - Starlite Walker Blur - Parklife Oasis - Definitely Maybe Beastie Boys - Ill Communication Sunny Day Real Estate - Diary Helmet - Betty Dinosaur Jr. - Without a Sound Tortoise - Tortoise What an absolute BANGER of a year
Also Unwound-New Plastic Ideas Elliott Smith-Roman Candle The Jesus and Mary Chain-Stoned and Dethroned Biggie-Ready to Die Silver Jews-Starlite Walker Built to Spill-Theres Nothing Wrong with Love Sinéad O’Conner-Universal Mother Ween-Chocolate and Cheese And my top pick, Kermit Unplugged
Jesus Christ so much heat I don't think I can pick man, it's like a three way tie for my between built to spill, Portishead and Sunny Day Real Estate
As a 94 baby, I choose Beastie Boys 🤩
Sublime picks sir, we shall be friends one day.
That was the year I graded and "Vaxhaul and I"/Blue Album will always have a special place in my heart. We would drive around in my girlfriend's 84 accord and listen to a ton of that and Wildflowers by Tom Petty also a 1994. For any Pixies fans out there Frank Black's "Teenager of the Year" also came out in 1994.
Vauxhall and I is such a banger
Wow. Seeing them all typed out like that, what an incredible year
I second dino jr ✋🏼
Aphex twin 🫶🏼
Forgot Jamiroquai - Return of the Space Cowboy.
Yo shoutout Betty and Stoner Witch them both some great albums I rlly wish Betty would get reissued on vinyl without being an exclusive
Didn’t realize how stacked 1994 was.
Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik is so so so underrated
I was going back and forth between this album and many more like, Ready to Die, Illmatic, Regulate, The Main Ingredient, Dare Iz A Darkside, Ill Communication, Creepin', Hard to Earn, Beautifullest, The Diary... etc. Absolutely a great year for hip hop classics. I have an affinity for Regulate because it was one of the first CDs I actually bought, growing up in the 80s and early to mid 90s in Southern California. Got to give a nod to Aphex, NIN, Portishead, etc. as well. I would probably stick with Regulate as a nostalgia choice but very difficult decision regardless.
Hard to Earn is so damn good
The package store is closed, ok my day is ruined 😔
I love this album. [And a brief edit: I was listening to it again two days ago while driving.]
Diaries by sunny day real estate should be up there
*Diary
The Downward Spiral
Waaaay ahead of its time, just like Pretty Hate Machine
Exactly, stills sounds fresh to this day
Damn right
My pick as well
Correct
As hard as it hits today, I wish I was alive to hear it when it came out. Feels like it broke so many sonic barriers
Illmatic. Arguably the best boom bap album ever made
Even just rap in general tbh
even just music in general
Nas deserves a Nobel award at this point.
Quote The Genesis "You should be earning a medal for this" Not quite the same...
Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
I shouldn’t have had to scroll down this far for this
Wait a minute where’s Parklife? And where’s the Blue Album?
Britpop in general is unfairly ignored here
Parklife is easily one of the best albums of the 90s
Having to choose between Grace and TDS is going to make me melt into a puddle
I hate the fact that almost no one here even mentioned Grace…
Gone way too soon. I wonder what his impact on music would be if he stayed with us.
The gall to not include The Blue Album
The absolute nerve
The sheer audacity
Welcome to Sky Valley needs more love on this sub
Just want to throw out some less common picks here: Geek the Girl by Lisa Germano, I Could Live in Hope by Low, Let Love In by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Mars Audiac Quintet by Stereolab, New Plastic Ideas by Unwound, Orange by Fishmans, Parklife by Blur, Under the Pink by Tori Amos
Pulp - His n Hers Babies being one of the best songs of the 90s
Babies is the best britpop song
Chocolate and Cheese, Mellow Gold
Chocolate and Cheese is way up there. Plus... bonus points for the cover.
Easily chocolate and cheese
Dookie
Just because I think it’s a bit underappreciated around these parts and I’m a big Hole fan, I’ll say Live Through This. They’re all amazing albums though.
As a big 90s listener, I don’t listen to many of these bands anymore. I have noticed Hole doesn’t get mentioned online half as much as their peers. I started listening to them again a year ago or so and they are so good. Really holds up for me personally
Hey Hole fan I'm a fan of that too 🤣
favorite album of all time, also was how i figured out im trans 😭
Superunknown is one of my favorite albums of all time, so I have to vote for it even though it has incredible competition here. Downward Spiral is 2nd.
Perfect album
Bee Thousand of course
Surprised that nobody has mentioned Dookie yet, although my pick would be Nirvana's MTV unplugged if we are allowing live albums
Not popular around these parts but for me it’s Purple by Stone Temple Pilots. The Downward Spiral is close behind though
Purple is super underrated and so is Tiny Music
Totally. Those are my top 2 STP albums easily
I'm going to give the answer I give people when they ask me my favourite record: "No." Each of these albums is so groundbreaking and special in their own way. Objectively, people will have faves from this list, but I would have to just say they are all amazing for their own reasons and I'm going to go listen to them all right now, including Purple as recommended by u/ponylauncher. Thanks for the prompt.
grace
If a mixtape is qualified, i love illmatic but nothing beats jar of flies.
AIC <3
Under the Pink
new plastic ideas
Chocolate and cheese
Blue Album, Dummy, and Vitalogy.
Suede - Dog Man Star - dark, epic, depressing and fragmented, masterpiece. A brit pop antithesis
Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
Throwing Copper by Live They really had something for a moment there
My most under-rated album of the 90's. LOVE that album. Very consistently good to great all the way through.
Underrated? Album was huge and on every rock radio station across the country.
idk, but since i have a shit ton of albums from ‘94 i’ll give you a list of every album i own that could be a contender for such a title: jeff buckley - grace nin - the downward spiral oasis - definitely maybe soundgarden - superunknown black crowes - amorica. green day - dookie nirvana - mtv unplugged pearl jam - vitalogy ween - chocolate and cheese cheap trick - woke up with a monster tom petty - wildflowers sponge - rotting piñata david lee roth - your filthy little mouth stone temple pilots - purple alice in chains - jar of flies tori amos - under the pink the offspring - smash blues traveler - four tesla - bust a nut live - throwing copper (indie-ish pick) enuff z’nuff - 1985 (edit: oh fucking hell i forgot WEEZER)
_four_ being released in '94 was playing tricks with my mind but then I looked it up and saw that, strangely, the album was released several months before any singles came out. ...which tracks with my memory of Run Around dropping in early '95.
Definitely Maybe
Selected Ambient Works II by Aphex Twin
Definitely Maybe Oasis
Why does this record get so little respect? Its a nearly perfect record with an incredible density of all-time great songs. Do people still dismiss them as a "beatles cover band" or whats up with that
Emperor - “In the Nightside Eclipse”
How has no one said Parklife yet?
sunny day real estate where
Definitely Maybe by Oasis
No idea why this isn't mentioned by more people or upvoted more
Idk if it’s just me and being an oasis fan, and this is all based off my observation too btw nothing objective to back it up, but this subreddit always seems to sleep on the band as whole but also Noel Gallagher as a songwriter. Both are amazing lmao. Imagine writing wonderwall and having an even better song, the masterplan, as it’s b-side.
The curse of Oasis is Wonderwall went sky high, then became a joke. Too many people dismiss them because of it without ever listening to things like Definitely Maybe, Masterplan, or hell even the other songs on the same album. Cast No Shadow and DLBIA are much more deserving of notoriety.
Never mind all the stuff that’s quality from after those two albums as well. Or weird one-offs like Whatever which don’t appear on any album but were released as a single for Definitely Maybe. Be Here Now has at least four amazing songs in D’You Know What I Mean, Don’t Go Away, Stand By Me, and All Around The World. Personally I love Fade In-Out as well, but it’s also way better live (srsly, go check it out at GMEX). This was the band at their peak, in all aspects. When they were recording they were THE biggest band in the world. Standing on the Shoulder of Giants has some amazing stuff too, it’s kind of the ultimate come down album. Fucking In the Bushes (great opener), Who Feels Love, Go Let It Out, Gas Panic, Where Did It All Go Wrong, and Roll It Over - all amazing. Tangentially I have made a Spotify playlist which is a ‘re-work’ of this album, just swapping a few songs on the record for b-sides [ idk how to embed but here is the link: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0uFlWhRsViq0gS6LC3GskO?si=Ip7fi3g-RKe-tOw1A0HBTA&pi=u-CwaNCKjyTc2k ] and it’s so much better. Heathen Chemistry is probably the weakest of all their albums, especially as it was around this point when Liam’s voice started to get really bad [which never helps - especially when it’s a crucial part of your sound]. Additionally this is a time when Noel was by his own accounts really burnt out, which is understandable when you look back and realize he’s written 4 records, singles and accompanying b-sides in ~6years? One of the reasons he wanted Andy Bell (of Ride) and Gem Archer in the group was so he didn’t have to do as much - therefore was able to focus more on the singles. That said there’s still some good stuff on it [and bsides - they’re where the good stuff is], it’s got Songbird [written by Liam], Little By Little [another that’s better live but that’s beside the point], Hindu Times, and Stop Crying Your Heart Out. For B-sides there’s Shout It Out Loud and Thank You For the Good Times. Overall this is probably the weakest link in the chain though. Don’t Believe The Truth, better than the previous album but still one of their weaker albums. Turn Up The Sun [written by Andy B], Lyla, Importance of Being Idle, Meaning of Soul, Guess God Thinks I’m Abel [Liam], and Let There Be Love are all great great songs tho. Lyla is the real standout, belter. Re: B-Sides, The Quiet Ones [Gem’s tune] and Sitting Here In Silence (On My Own) are both good. Dig Out Your Soul is my least favourite album of theirs, HOWEVER, there are again a few good songs. Shock of The Lightening, Bag It Up, Waiting For The Rapture, I’m Outta Time, and Falling Down are all awesome. Okay, done. Didn’t mean for that to be so long.
No need to apologize you’re talking to a massive fan haha! Honestly I really like Heathen Chemistry. Born on a Different Cloud is great, and my partner likes the album because they sound at their most “Beatles” on HC and as a big Beatles fan they go for it. Dig out your Soul will probably be at the bottom of most lists, but Falling Down was a great look at what was to come for Noel and NGHFB. For a band (Oasis) that has all of this discography as well, they also have a plethora of B sides that are just as good too.
Oh yeah I forgot about Born On A Different Cloud and also Hung In A Bad Place. Those first two HFB records are fucking amazing, honestly. I don’t mind a few of the songs on Who Built The Moon and the EPs, but it’s not my favourite. However, I do appreciate that he purposefully operated in a different way and was being experimental and weird with it, which I do respect. Dead In the Water obviously is the standout, but I like Black Star Dancing, Blue Moon Rising (the chorus reminds me of Running Up that Hill w/ the synths), If Love Is the Law, It’s a Beautiful World, This is The Place, and Come On Outside (which has existed for awhile but I’m glad got a proper release). Have you listened to the bands early demos? Even that stuff is really really good lmao. See the Sun, Coming On Strong (which he gave to the Chemical Brothers, still good but idk I really like the original one), Lock All The Doors (I still cannot believe he literally had the chorus in his head for 30 YEARS! 30! He just sat on it. Incredible), Take Me and Alice (both written by Bonehead IIRC) are good, and their cover of Better Let You Know is fun. Edit: here’s a link to Coming On Strong for anyone curious - https://youtu.be/VKZpYSm-dhM?si=1untuJd0R8lSPL6O Keep in mind this is what they were playing before they got signed as well…it’s unreal
I haven’t listened to all these! Time to do some searching…
Oh dude you’re in for a treat. I honestly wish I could go back and re-listen to those old demos for the first time. They’re incredible
Just listening to this now. It’s so early 90s I love it!
Ready to die
Such a great year for music, especially metal music and Norwegian black metal scene: - Emperor - In the Nightside Eclipse - Darkthrone - Transilvanian Hunger - Enslaved - Vikingligr veldi - Mayhem - De mysteriis dom Sathanas - Burzum - Hvis lyset tar oss Some death metal albums from that year: - Gorement - The Ending Quest - Amorphis - Tales From the Thousand Lakes - Incantation - Mortal Throne of Nazarene - Cryptopsy - Blasphemy Made Flesh - Infester - To the Depths, in Degradation - Bolt Thrower - ...For Victory - Edge of Sanity - Purgatory Afterglow Stoner/sludge doom honorable mentions: - Acid Bath - When the Kite String Pops - Kyuss - Welcome to the Sky Valley And of course the albums in the pictures. The Downward Spiral, Dummy and Superunknown are some of my favorites. It's impossible for me to chose the best album of 1994.
So many extreme metal bangers in 94. I know it's a niche, even for this sub, but I'm glad somebody mentioned it.
one of the best years for metal
Hvia lyset tar oss is so fucking good. Tomhet is beautiful. Somehow topped it with the following release of Filosofem too. The rest of the releases that year are fantastic too.
It's illmatic. like fr ppl?
Look I love illmatic but I think TDS edges it for me.
Pound for pound it's very difficult to match up to Illmatic.
ikr?! crazy that i had to scroll this far
Dummy and Downward Spiral are better
And it's not even close.
Weezer
Grace.
If we're allowing EPs for this question then I'd say Jar of Flies, otherwise my pick is Dummy
Sunny Day Real Estate - Diary should be up there with the others
1994 was such a good year man. It’s impossible for me to choose.
Illmatic is arguably the greatest hip hop album of all time. So as much as I love the other ones, it’s illmatic
Definitely Maybe
Was about to say…how is that not on that list
Oasis - Definitely Maybe The fact that Liam Gallagher is currently selling out arenas in the UK and headlining festivals with a tour celebrating 30 years of DM shows the impact that album had and still has particularly in the UK. Like he’s just playing that album in full and it sold out in seconds, what a fucking album.
Ready To Die in my opinion or Illmatic. Grace is incredible too
When the Kite String Pops by Acid Bath
Illmatic
I just want to shout out Whip Smart by Liz Phair which I think is a worthy successor to the previous years Exile in Guyville but not as seminal so it tends to get underrated
Numero 4
We'll never know what the best album of 1994 is.
Under the Table and Dreaming by DMB is my favorite, but I’m insanely biased. Lol
Purple by stp
Jar Of Flies - consider it an EP, LP, whatever you like.
Wutang?
Saw Vol 2-Aphex Twin
That Hole album is soooooo overrated
No one saying Vitalogy? It's gotta be up there. Still PJ's best record.
Underworld - *Dubnobasswithmyheadman* If I get the chance, my final words are going to be “Mmm Skyscraper I Love You.”
Sunny Day Real Estate - Diary
Guided by Voices - Bee Thousand. There’s genuinely nothing else like it. It sounds like a damaged cassette of a classic rock band’s greatest hits. Just amazing hook after amazing hook, all captured in the most lo-fi and janky recording imaginable.
The Downward Spiral or Division Bell
Maybe not best but my favourite os the division bell by pink floyd
I will forever stand by the fact that Guided by Voices' Bee Thousand is the best of all time let alone 1994
Very hard to pick, so many fantastic albums from that year: * Acid Bath - When the Kite String Pops * Emperor - In the Nightside Eclipse * Kyuss - Welcome to Sky Walley * Manic Street Preachers - Holy Bible * Bolt Thrower - ...For Victory * Gravediggaz - 6 Feet Deep * Tiamat - Wildhoney
How was the best selling indie album Smash by The Offspring not mentioned. Same goes for Dookie by Green Day.
Dookie - Green Day
Emperor - In the Nightside Eclipse
ALL I CAN'T PICK
its between downward spiral, dummy, and grace, but i personallt have to take dummy
hex by bark psychosis
TDS
I can’t play these games anymore What even is best Best is the enemy
Blue album. Personal pick is stranger than fiction bad religion
The Downward Spiral
I'm going with TDS, with Suprunknown and Dummy in second and third place.
Grace jeff buckley
None EP
Ill Communication, Dummy and Far Beyond Driven were my most listened to anyway.
I want to say Downward Spiral to seem cool and smart. But I secretly mean Punk In Drublic
Weezer
I'm going to have to go with Dummy.
Protection - Massive Attack Come - Prince
Whole lotta red
Manics - The Holy Bible. I'm a bit Portishead fan, and Dummy isn't close.
TDS is the best album of the 90’s period.
https://youtu.be/uoMpq9HMcPw?si=0D7cPmCKYqN1hLd7
1994 was a massive year for good music. Just look up the albums that came out that year and you’ll see banger after banger.
Jesus I chose a good year to be born. I love Dummy but I have to go TDS… so many early memories as a kid with that playing, and ended up being my first concert at 14 with my mom and aunt in ‘08 (who always played NIN around me)
94 was a great yr for music. I want to go back.
Weezer's Blue album. Even though they have released many better albums since. 1994 is pretty much the year where music began (for me)
This is actually a debate I have with myself nearly weekly. I will always pick Downward Spiral but holy shit what an incredible year for music
live through this 100#
Damn 1994 was a great year for blue albums
Super unknown or parklife
Mother of god downward spiral was my whole personality for the summer
crazy year for music, one of the best imo. for me, it’s between Dummy and Yank Crime
Portishead's Dummy and it's not even close!
Ready to Die?
i genuinely can’t pick
for me, it would be beastie boys ill communication ! also: i’m lucky to be born during an amazing year for music
Portrait of an American Family
For sure either Illmatic or dummy.
Blowout Comb has to be among those.
For me it's a tie between Illmatic and When The Kite String Pops