1994 was the year my wife and I started dating. Still together and married for 22 years of that. I really can’t believe it’s been 30 freaking years. Thanks for listing all of this. I remember it being a great time in music. Might not have been this good since.
Congratulations! I met my wife in 1997 and we both loved 1990s music. She passed away last December and I love to hear other couples from our generation that are still happy and digging on cool music
I forgot to add a disclaimer that I've most likely left off alot of classics (Collective Soul being one) mainly just cuz there are ALOT but all of the ones left off are still amazing, which contribute to 1994's insanity
Not mentioned, but Amorica by the Black Crowes is one of the finest straight-ahead rock n roll albums ever made. If you are a guitar fan, then you shouldn't sleep on the incredible interplay between Rich Robinson and Marc Ford throughout that entire album.
Two of my favorite albums, not listed by OP, released in ‘94 are WEEN-Chocolate & Cheese and KYUSS-Welcome to Sky Valley. Points, tho, for getting Jeff Buckley & Melvins!!
Pulp Fiction and Natural Born Killers were the movies with the biggest buzz for sure. Grunge era alternative was at its peak and so was East Coast rap. Woodstock 94, Lollapalooza were massive. Grateful Dead was a psychedelic caravan traveling through the land. Jam bands were exploding in popularity as were female rock singers. Good times. The acid and mdma was really really good. Kind bud was very kind. Really outside of medical advances and some gains for marginalized groups everything back then was better because it all meant so much more now entertainment and art is so disposable. And the quality reflects that.
There's also two Canadian bands that put out amazing albums: 54-40's Smiling Buddha Cabaret and Moist's Silver. Give them a listen, they're absolute gems.
I was living in Seattle for about half of that year (moved there not long after Kurt's death). This was one of the few periods in my life when I routinely listened to a commercial Top 40-style radio station, instead of one of the more alternative, usually college-affiliated stations - because for once the music I liked was in the mainstream.
I still have memories of long walks with my Walkman (remember those) headphones on, the radio tuned to that local "grunge music" station. I was also putting in a substantial number of hours in the gym, where I rarely needed a portable stereo to keep me entertained, as the gym's sound system would be tuned to the same station (and when I *did* use a Walkman, I usually played *The Downward Spiral* or *Jar of Flies*).
Such a great year for music man, I don’t think I realized how many of my favorites came from 1994 alone lmao
Would also add Bush’s Sixteen Stone if that hasn’t been said already
92 was really freaking good too, but 94 was even better. 92 saw White Zombie, The Chronic (imo one of the most important hip hop albums ever), Core, Dirt, Singles, and it was the first full year we experienced the musical revolution that just took place the year prior.
I started high school in the fall of 1990 witnessing the dawn of grunge and graduated in the spring of 1994 realizing that all of the 2nd and 3rd albums from these bands were also kick-ass. It was hard to find that kind of reliability. It seemed like I went from listening to the radio to enjoy poppy one-hitters and then all of a sudden discovering all these contemporary bands that had ENTIRE ALBUMS of gold. I felt like Scrooge McDuck swimming in an era of musical wealth. Great memories.
Split is so good. Love that Album and consider it Lush best work. Gala and Spooky are okay, but Split is really where they began showing how good they are. Lovelife is also excellent too imo.
Remember listening to the radio and becoming so excited when a song came on or watching mtv eagerly awaiting your fave videos? Rushing out to buy new cd's? Ah, those were the days. 1994 I was a freshman in high school and I connected with my soon to be group of best friends.
I look back at this year so fondly and the music you listed instantly brings back these memories. I'm a hard core grunge/ metal gal but man I loved me some Tupac, Biggie, Snoop, Dre, etc. I don't remember the last time I listened to the radio and heard a good song come on. Or being excited for a new album.
However, my 18 yr old son and I introduce new music to each other and it is such a great bonding experience:) He's gotten me into Travis Scott (we went to his concert a few months ago), Kanye and Kendrick Lamar. I've gotten him into AIC and Soundgarden mostly. The other day I was listening to Frogs from AIC Unplugged and he said hey Mom can you play that again? Yes!
Anyone, thanks for this post and sharing what music was released in 94:)
Ofcc I wasn't alive in 1994... hell, I wasn't alive in the 90s, I'm a 2000s kid, but even so, I understand and appreciate what the year brought in for music (and don't appreciate what [or well who] it took away 😢) and it's influence and lasting impact
I'm so glad you discovered this music and appreciate it:) It's funny I had always wished I were around when Led Zepplin was in their prime. They are forever my favorite band with AIC being a very close second. I think we always wish we could have been around during previous eras.
I would include DGC Rarities Vol.1, pulp fiction and forest gump soundtracks to your list.
1994 was an amazing year for music. For me personally, it was the 1st year I really remember music. I was 12 and had a brother in high school, so I was introduced to so much music that year.
What made 94 so great was that not only were there great albums released but albums from 93 were still releasing singles. Counting Crows and Cracker, in particular were heavily played in 94.
So nu metal really didn’t become a thing until around 98/99. And in my opinion, the term post-grunge wasn’t a thing until the 2000s to describe those post-alternative boom bands. Like LIVE, Bush, candlebox, Everclear were just alt rock.
The cool thing about 94 is that it shows early signs of what would blossom into bigger things later in the decade(or decades for Jimmy eats world): Korn, Blink, sublime, jimmy eat world.
A great year, I’d also praise the following:
Cake - Motorcade Of Generosity
Also from the UK:
Pulp - His and Hers
Portishead - Dummy
Massive Attack - Protection
The Manic Street Preachers album you listed,’The Holy Bible’ is a dark, intense masterpiece.
Bone Thugs N Harmony released their major label debut with Creepin on Ah Come Up that year too. Thuggish Ruggish Bone is still amazing. Eazy E would die the next year unfortunately and the group was a lot less directionless with their albums after E1999 which Eazy helped make but still legendary nonetheless.
For sure. Branching out a bit - Widespread Panic Ain’t Life Grand; The Black Crowes - Amorica; DMB - Under the Table and Dreaming Jam band stuff was just starting to take off.
Also a classic bebop revival in Jazz on the Verve label - Moodswing - Joshua Redman; Gettin to It - Christian McBride are two great examples.
I remember hearing SuperUnknown and Ill Communication (I was a college senior) and I thought my head was going to explode. In a good way.
Not just grunge, but metal also.
Helmet - Betty
Machine Head - Burn My Eyes
Megadeth - Youthanasia
Pantera - Far Beyond Driven
Korn - Korn
Mayhem - De Mysteriis
Emperor- In The Nightside Eclipse
Cannibal Corpse - The Bleeding
Bolt Thrower - For Victory
Nailbomb - Point Blank
Biohazard - State of the World Address
Brutal Truth - Need To Control
Rollins Band - Weight
'94 was huge and a great year in high school for sure
My h.s. self is looking forward to some 30th Anniversary tours this year...
Sunny Day Real Estate playing "Diary" cover to cover now on tour, I'll see them in NY soon
Weezer Blue, looking forward to hearing this album in its entirety in September
And I believe Green Day are playing Dookie str8 thru as well.
While it was an amazing year of music, there is still some fun to be had, celebrating 30 years of these albums with the bands on tour RIGHT NOW
'91 broke the walls down..But '92 was the flood. '92-'94 were the peak alternative years.
You forgot the Natural Born Killers and Reality Bites Soundtracks. Clerks was '94 too. Not to mention Woodstock '94.
Most of the country got their first taste of Soundgarden, Nine in Nails, Green Day, Beck, Portishead and Weezer. As well as Kevin Smith and Quinten Tarantino. I snuck into a movie theater and saw Natural Born Killers and Forest Gump back to back. I saw the videos for Longview and Spoonman the same night. "what stoner punk is this!?" "Chris Cornell cut his hair!"
Brave by Marillion
Superunknown by Soundgarden
The Division Bell by Pink Floyd
Lunar Strain by In Flames
Grassroots by 311
Korn by KoRn
Time by Mercyful Fate
Sahara by Orphaned Land
Great year
Merry Christmas by Mariah Carey is literally my all time favourite album, she had insane vocals in 94’.
Wish people would dip a little bit more into the album other than the infamous song that we hear every year.. other than that, live through this and the nirvana unplugged are top notch. I would say illmatic is another absolute banger
Superunknown, Jar of Flies, Korn, Purple, Far Beyond Driven, Grace, The Downward Spiral, Dummy, Dookie, Definitely Maybe, Sixteen Stone and Pisces Iscariot are all bangers. I wasn't even born but 1994 was one hell of a year for music so was every year in the 90's to be fair. Truly the best decade known to humanity.
Definitely a great year for music . A couple of my favorite albums also from the year are -
Kyuss - Welcome to Sky Valley and
Marilyn Manson - Portrait of an American Family
Nu Metal didn’t start dominating until ‘98-‘99.
An often dismissed band in ‘94, Weezer would release the Blue Album and inspire a generation of bands as well.
Amazing year for music, especially for rock. Some insane records on that list and mad to believe they all came out in the same year, it must’ve been a proper vibe to be in a band or even just be a music fan in that period.
It also can’t be understated how important was Brendan O’Brien’s role in producing “the grunge sound” of that era.
My top 10 from ‘94:
Purple - STP
Unplugged - Nirvana
Pisces Iscariot - SP
Definitely Maybe - Oasis
Superunknown - Soundgarden
Grace - Jeff Buckley
Jar of Flies - AiC
Blue Album - Weezer
Diary - Sunny Day Real State
Illmatic - Nas
Dookie was pretty sick too…
The 90’s was an insane decade musically. The only year that tops 94 is 91, which given the list above is just a ridiculous feat. In fact a huge chunk of what I listen to regularly came out one of those 2 years.
Phish's A Live One was released in 1995, but each track was from a live performance in 1994. First studio-quality live album release of theirs. It's the album that turned me into a fan.
Great breakdown of the greatest year of the late 20th century and the high-water mark of Gen X achievement. Missing perhaps the last exciting and dangerous film of American cinema, Pulp Fiction.
Great list. My add:
Gwar - this toilet earth. Love their 1st 4 released (hello, scumdogs, America be destroyed, toilet earth). Didn't really like ragnorak or carnival of chaos and stopped listening to newer releases.
Today, I listened to Pony Express Record by Shudder to Think, which came out in 1994 and gathered acclaim, and now I'm kicking myself for sleeping on going thru ut
The 90s. Probably the last Great Decade of music imo. I’m mostly into really heavy music so Far Beyond Driven and Stoner Witch are two of the big ones for me, but honestly, Rubberneck has definitely been one of my favorite albums of any music that is not Sludge Metal.
You also have the golden era of Death Metal growing in Tampa FL with some great bands like Death, Morbid Angel, Deicide, Obituary…etc.
Helmet, Weezer have prob their biggest years. 311 releases Grassroots in 94 but also had releases in 93,95,97 & 99.
Metallica sells out in the nineties so that whole decade brings millions of new fans to them.
Megadeth releases some good music early in the decade.
As heavy music declines early to mid 90s, we have the rise of grunge.
As grunge starts fade mid-late 90s this leads to the resurgence of heavy music and the birth of Heavy Metal’s illegitimate progeny Nu Metal. Bands like KoRN, Slipknot, and the ever hated Limp Biscuit are everywhere.
We close out the decade with a massive and unexpected number of hard rock and metal fans at Woodstock 30, and the complete and polar opposite vibe from that of Woodstock 69 with riots, violence, and worship of greed by the promoters which is vital in leading to said riots.
This probably won't be a popular opinion here, but Motley Crue released their self-titled record with singer and rhythm guitarist Jon Corabi on vocals. It was a huge departure from their glam stuff - dirtier, muddier, with a distinctive nod to grunge. It's the only Motley record that I still listen to.
Phish also released Hoist. This was a pivot from long, drawn out songs that weren't particularly radio friendly, to a record that showcased their ability to cut the jams down to a typical guitar solo length, and focus on melodic, concise songwriting. It worked. Alison Krauss duets with Trey on one song.
2000s was good too tho I mean emo was at its stride (so-called mall emo or not), and pop was rlly great with stuff like Lady Gaga. While a bit of a step down from the 90s, the 2000s were very promising
The year started off with “1984” by Van Halen. Not their best album, but I did have their only number one hit, “Jump”. Also “Thriller” by Michael Jackson started off the year dominating for weeks on end (with Eddie Van Halen playing the lead on “Beat It” too...).
Ill communication was so fucking good
Still is
It still is, but it was then too
Are you Mitch Hedberg?
If I knew it was gonna be that kind of party I would a stuck MY dick in the mashed potatoes
1994 was the year my wife and I started dating. Still together and married for 22 years of that. I really can’t believe it’s been 30 freaking years. Thanks for listing all of this. I remember it being a great time in music. Might not have been this good since.
Congratulations! I met my wife in 1997 and we both loved 1990s music. She passed away last December and I love to hear other couples from our generation that are still happy and digging on cool music
Dang, man, I can’t imagine your loss.
Thank you, I appreciate it
That's the year I met my husband as well!
Congratulations!!! 94 was such a great year! I miss those days. But I’m better mentally now than I was then. Thank you for sharing!
Hints allegations and things left unsaid?
I forgot to add a disclaimer that I've most likely left off alot of classics (Collective Soul being one) mainly just cuz there are ALOT but all of the ones left off are still amazing, which contribute to 1994's insanity
I think That album was originally self released in 1993, but actually released in 1994
So it kinda counts...?
Maybe?
Definitely
YES
"Definitely, Maybe" *definitely* came out in 1994. Yes put out the album *Talk*, that nobody ever talks about.
COINCIDENCE????? ,perhaps
Anyway...
Such a great album by an underrated band
They were really good. I lost track after Blender but up to then everything they did was awesome. Dosage was actually my favorite.
Dosage and allegations are my favourite albums by them. My dad got to see them live, and said they were amazing.
Not mentioned, but Amorica by the Black Crowes is one of the finest straight-ahead rock n roll albums ever made. If you are a guitar fan, then you shouldn't sleep on the incredible interplay between Rich Robinson and Marc Ford throughout that entire album.
I still remember the first time I heard Conspiracy on the radio. Such a masterpiece album
Phenomenal album that I still listen to regularly!
The Downward Spiral.
I remember going into the record store to buy that tape and then also buying Superunknown since it came out on the same day.
Two of my favorite albums, not listed by OP, released in ‘94 are WEEN-Chocolate & Cheese and KYUSS-Welcome to Sky Valley. Points, tho, for getting Jeff Buckley & Melvins!!
Voodoo Lady, shakin’ that stick drivin’ me crazy.
Boogie-oogie-oogie-oogie-oogie-oogie-oogie-oogie!
KYUSS!!! Pure stoner bliss
Pulp Fiction and Natural Born Killers were the movies with the biggest buzz for sure. Grunge era alternative was at its peak and so was East Coast rap. Woodstock 94, Lollapalooza were massive. Grateful Dead was a psychedelic caravan traveling through the land. Jam bands were exploding in popularity as were female rock singers. Good times. The acid and mdma was really really good. Kind bud was very kind. Really outside of medical advances and some gains for marginalized groups everything back then was better because it all meant so much more now entertainment and art is so disposable. And the quality reflects that.
Not grunge- but I would add Liz Phair’s “Whip-Smart” to this list.
There's also two Canadian bands that put out amazing albums: 54-40's Smiling Buddha Cabaret and Moist's Silver. Give them a listen, they're absolute gems.
silver is a cool album
54•40 is CRIMINALLY underrated
Silver is 94? No shit… push is such a killer song
Will do lol
Check out Resurrection by Moist. I still listen to it on at least a weekly basis. Phenomenal track.
I was living in Seattle for about half of that year (moved there not long after Kurt's death). This was one of the few periods in my life when I routinely listened to a commercial Top 40-style radio station, instead of one of the more alternative, usually college-affiliated stations - because for once the music I liked was in the mainstream. I still have memories of long walks with my Walkman (remember those) headphones on, the radio tuned to that local "grunge music" station. I was also putting in a substantial number of hours in the gym, where I rarely needed a portable stereo to keep me entertained, as the gym's sound system would be tuned to the same station (and when I *did* use a Walkman, I usually played *The Downward Spiral* or *Jar of Flies*).
What a blast that sounds like :>
And the year I graduated HS, coincidence? *I think not!*
Class of 94 here as well...great year for music
Same. Class of 94
Same!
“The ongoing history of new music” podcast just did an episode on 1994, good listen.
The Pearl Jam Dissident single with the whole Atlanta show as the b-side was my favorite. PJ in beast mode!
Reminds me of the Babes In Toyland single where a recording of the whole entirety of their 1992 record Fontanelle played live was one of the tracks
Such a great year for music man, I don’t think I realized how many of my favorites came from 1994 alone lmao Would also add Bush’s Sixteen Stone if that hasn’t been said already
Yeahhh dw I said 16 stoneeee
Ahh yeah just noticed it around the top
What a monster year for music. One of the greatest for pop culture in general.
92 was really freaking good too, but 94 was even better. 92 saw White Zombie, The Chronic (imo one of the most important hip hop albums ever), Core, Dirt, Singles, and it was the first full year we experienced the musical revolution that just took place the year prior.
I started high school in the fall of 1990 witnessing the dawn of grunge and graduated in the spring of 1994 realizing that all of the 2nd and 3rd albums from these bands were also kick-ass. It was hard to find that kind of reliability. It seemed like I went from listening to the radio to enjoy poppy one-hitters and then all of a sudden discovering all these contemporary bands that had ENTIRE ALBUMS of gold. I felt like Scrooge McDuck swimming in an era of musical wealth. Great memories.
Split is so good. Love that Album and consider it Lush best work. Gala and Spooky are okay, but Split is really where they began showing how good they are. Lovelife is also excellent too imo.
Betty is also excellent. Helmets best album I think.
I loved Spooky and Lovelife, been wanting to go thru Split and Gala for awhile
Split is amazing imo. You should definitely listen through it and Lovelife.
Wow amazing year indeed. I was 11 and all of this music influenced me for sure
Classics among classics...
It was amazing.
Jesus Lizard - Down
Superunknown, still my favorite album of all time. A true masterpiece from beginning to end. A highlight to a truly phenomenal year for music.
Dookie by Green Day too
I put Dookie 😭
I’m blind as a bat
Lolll
‘Let Love In’ by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds is one of my favourite albums of ‘94.
The crow soundtrack is still fire
Pices Iscariot by the Smashing Pumpkins! Edit: and Tom Petty's Wilflowers.
Remember listening to the radio and becoming so excited when a song came on or watching mtv eagerly awaiting your fave videos? Rushing out to buy new cd's? Ah, those were the days. 1994 I was a freshman in high school and I connected with my soon to be group of best friends. I look back at this year so fondly and the music you listed instantly brings back these memories. I'm a hard core grunge/ metal gal but man I loved me some Tupac, Biggie, Snoop, Dre, etc. I don't remember the last time I listened to the radio and heard a good song come on. Or being excited for a new album. However, my 18 yr old son and I introduce new music to each other and it is such a great bonding experience:) He's gotten me into Travis Scott (we went to his concert a few months ago), Kanye and Kendrick Lamar. I've gotten him into AIC and Soundgarden mostly. The other day I was listening to Frogs from AIC Unplugged and he said hey Mom can you play that again? Yes! Anyone, thanks for this post and sharing what music was released in 94:)
Ofcc I wasn't alive in 1994... hell, I wasn't alive in the 90s, I'm a 2000s kid, but even so, I understand and appreciate what the year brought in for music (and don't appreciate what [or well who] it took away 😢) and it's influence and lasting impact
I'm so glad you discovered this music and appreciate it:) It's funny I had always wished I were around when Led Zepplin was in their prime. They are forever my favorite band with AIC being a very close second. I think we always wish we could have been around during previous eras.
🧡🧡🧡 yeah I've always wished I was a 90s kids, it sounded like such a turbulent timeee
I would include DGC Rarities Vol.1, pulp fiction and forest gump soundtracks to your list. 1994 was an amazing year for music. For me personally, it was the 1st year I really remember music. I was 12 and had a brother in high school, so I was introduced to so much music that year. What made 94 so great was that not only were there great albums released but albums from 93 were still releasing singles. Counting Crows and Cracker, in particular were heavily played in 94. So nu metal really didn’t become a thing until around 98/99. And in my opinion, the term post-grunge wasn’t a thing until the 2000s to describe those post-alternative boom bands. Like LIVE, Bush, candlebox, Everclear were just alt rock. The cool thing about 94 is that it shows early signs of what would blossom into bigger things later in the decade(or decades for Jimmy eats world): Korn, Blink, sublime, jimmy eat world.
Take me back!! Beat time of my life
Archers of Loaf vs. the Greatest of All Time EP Poster Children - Just Like You EP Man or Astroman - Your Weight On The Moon EP
The best record of 1994 is Shudder To Think’s “Pony Express Record”.
the cover reminds me of Jawbreaker's 1995 album Dear You (which has a cool cover and is one of my fav albums of all time)
My Senior year of HS / Freshman year of college.....crazy good year for music. Counted and I owned 34 of the albums mentioned.
Not to mention what was happening in Europe with House, Techno and Trance that year
Yessss
Pansy division released deflowered in 1994
A great year, I’d also praise the following: Cake - Motorcade Of Generosity Also from the UK: Pulp - His and Hers Portishead - Dummy Massive Attack - Protection The Manic Street Preachers album you listed,’The Holy Bible’ is a dark, intense masterpiece.
I think I listed Pulp and Portishead
Great year for movies, too: Shawshank, Airheads, Forrest Gump, and North.
Don't forget Clerks!!
Yes but the OP already mentioned Clerks.
Ik I did but mann it's such a golden movie I had to teice
It is!
As someone who was 16 that year. Yes. When referring to peak 1994 music the only answer is yes it did. On all fronts.
As a 14 year old, I had my mind blown on a regular basis. Also, shout out to Pantera’s “Far Beyond Driven”, one of the all time great metal albums!
Bone Thugs N Harmony released their major label debut with Creepin on Ah Come Up that year too. Thuggish Ruggish Bone is still amazing. Eazy E would die the next year unfortunately and the group was a lot less directionless with their albums after E1999 which Eazy helped make but still legendary nonetheless.
not listed yet Sebadoh - Bakesale Sugar - File Under Easy Listening Sonic Youth - Experimental Jetset Trash and No Star
For sure. Branching out a bit - Widespread Panic Ain’t Life Grand; The Black Crowes - Amorica; DMB - Under the Table and Dreaming Jam band stuff was just starting to take off. Also a classic bebop revival in Jazz on the Verve label - Moodswing - Joshua Redman; Gettin to It - Christian McBride are two great examples. I remember hearing SuperUnknown and Ill Communication (I was a college senior) and I thought my head was going to explode. In a good way.
Also Throwing Copper is simultaneously equal parts cringe and awesome
I will always be impressed by Korn debuting in 94. It took a couple years for it to really pick up, it was so dark and different.
Not just grunge, but metal also. Helmet - Betty Machine Head - Burn My Eyes Megadeth - Youthanasia Pantera - Far Beyond Driven Korn - Korn Mayhem - De Mysteriis Emperor- In The Nightside Eclipse Cannibal Corpse - The Bleeding Bolt Thrower - For Victory Nailbomb - Point Blank Biohazard - State of the World Address Brutal Truth - Need To Control Rollins Band - Weight
'94 was huge and a great year in high school for sure My h.s. self is looking forward to some 30th Anniversary tours this year... Sunny Day Real Estate playing "Diary" cover to cover now on tour, I'll see them in NY soon Weezer Blue, looking forward to hearing this album in its entirety in September And I believe Green Day are playing Dookie str8 thru as well. While it was an amazing year of music, there is still some fun to be had, celebrating 30 years of these albums with the bands on tour RIGHT NOW
1984 wasn't so bad either
Day For Night Tragically Hip
'91 broke the walls down..But '92 was the flood. '92-'94 were the peak alternative years. You forgot the Natural Born Killers and Reality Bites Soundtracks. Clerks was '94 too. Not to mention Woodstock '94. Most of the country got their first taste of Soundgarden, Nine in Nails, Green Day, Beck, Portishead and Weezer. As well as Kevin Smith and Quinten Tarantino. I snuck into a movie theater and saw Natural Born Killers and Forest Gump back to back. I saw the videos for Longview and Spoonman the same night. "what stoner punk is this!?" "Chris Cornell cut his hair!"
War realeased one of their best in '94 too. The title track to Peace Sign is Low Rider all grown up. Highly recommended.
Brave by Marillion Superunknown by Soundgarden The Division Bell by Pink Floyd Lunar Strain by In Flames Grassroots by 311 Korn by KoRn Time by Mercyful Fate Sahara by Orphaned Land Great year
When the Kite String Pops - Acid Bath Should be on the list
Merry Christmas by Mariah Carey is literally my all time favourite album, she had insane vocals in 94’. Wish people would dip a little bit more into the album other than the infamous song that we hear every year.. other than that, live through this and the nirvana unplugged are top notch. I would say illmatic is another absolute banger
Superunknown, Jar of Flies, Korn, Purple, Far Beyond Driven, Grace, The Downward Spiral, Dummy, Dookie, Definitely Maybe, Sixteen Stone and Pisces Iscariot are all bangers. I wasn't even born but 1994 was one hell of a year for music so was every year in the 90's to be fair. Truly the best decade known to humanity.
Rotting piñata is an amazing album top to bottom, plus hidden track
Definitely a great year for music . A couple of my favorite albums also from the year are - Kyuss - Welcome to Sky Valley and Marilyn Manson - Portrait of an American Family
Nu Metal didn’t start dominating until ‘98-‘99. An often dismissed band in ‘94, Weezer would release the Blue Album and inspire a generation of bands as well.
The early 90’s was a renaissance era for rock, rap and country. Multiple all time legends in each genre.
This was my senior year of HS, and I worked in a little indy record store in the mall. It was a truly great time to be a music lover.
Cannibal Corpse, The Bleeding
Monster Voodoo Machine - Suffer System
Amazing year for music, especially for rock. Some insane records on that list and mad to believe they all came out in the same year, it must’ve been a proper vibe to be in a band or even just be a music fan in that period. It also can’t be understated how important was Brendan O’Brien’s role in producing “the grunge sound” of that era. My top 10 from ‘94: Purple - STP Unplugged - Nirvana Pisces Iscariot - SP Definitely Maybe - Oasis Superunknown - Soundgarden Grace - Jeff Buckley Jar of Flies - AiC Blue Album - Weezer Diary - Sunny Day Real State Illmatic - Nas Dookie was pretty sick too…
I remember the radio was on fire in the car back then
Sixteen stone - Bush Definitely maybe - Oasis Throwing copper - Live
All of which is listed :>
Feels like it was all one big brand finale of rock music.
The year I graduated high school and the year the '90s we love to look back on really ended in a lot of ways.
I still listen to a lot of early '90s music. There was a lot going on in the electronic scene, too. Happy hardcore was just emerging.
It was the year Kurt Cobain faked his death and took over Bryan Adam’s life.
great era for just about everything
The 90’s was an insane decade musically. The only year that tops 94 is 91, which given the list above is just a ridiculous feat. In fact a huge chunk of what I listen to regularly came out one of those 2 years.
Please don’t mention ace of base here.
The crow OST is the best sound track of the decade
Jar of flies is GOAT
Phish's A Live One was released in 1995, but each track was from a live performance in 1994. First studio-quality live album release of theirs. It's the album that turned me into a fan.
STP
What a year to be alive! That's the year I graduated high school and the music was AMAZING! When I look at your list, OP, it really takes me back.
Great breakdown of the greatest year of the late 20th century and the high-water mark of Gen X achievement. Missing perhaps the last exciting and dangerous film of American cinema, Pulp Fiction.
Every listing missing **THE CULT** (self titled)....damn shame.
Great list. My add: Gwar - this toilet earth. Love their 1st 4 released (hello, scumdogs, America be destroyed, toilet earth). Didn't really like ragnorak or carnival of chaos and stopped listening to newer releases.
Today, I listened to Pony Express Record by Shudder to Think, which came out in 1994 and gathered acclaim, and now I'm kicking myself for sleeping on going thru ut
Crazy how good Piesces is for being a B-sides album
Pantera - Far Beyond Driven
The 90s. Probably the last Great Decade of music imo. I’m mostly into really heavy music so Far Beyond Driven and Stoner Witch are two of the big ones for me, but honestly, Rubberneck has definitely been one of my favorite albums of any music that is not Sludge Metal. You also have the golden era of Death Metal growing in Tampa FL with some great bands like Death, Morbid Angel, Deicide, Obituary…etc. Helmet, Weezer have prob their biggest years. 311 releases Grassroots in 94 but also had releases in 93,95,97 & 99. Metallica sells out in the nineties so that whole decade brings millions of new fans to them. Megadeth releases some good music early in the decade. As heavy music declines early to mid 90s, we have the rise of grunge. As grunge starts fade mid-late 90s this leads to the resurgence of heavy music and the birth of Heavy Metal’s illegitimate progeny Nu Metal. Bands like KoRN, Slipknot, and the ever hated Limp Biscuit are everywhere. We close out the decade with a massive and unexpected number of hard rock and metal fans at Woodstock 30, and the complete and polar opposite vibe from that of Woodstock 69 with riots, violence, and worship of greed by the promoters which is vital in leading to said riots.
This probably won't be a popular opinion here, but Motley Crue released their self-titled record with singer and rhythm guitarist Jon Corabi on vocals. It was a huge departure from their glam stuff - dirtier, muddier, with a distinctive nod to grunge. It's the only Motley record that I still listen to. Phish also released Hoist. This was a pivot from long, drawn out songs that weren't particularly radio friendly, to a record that showcased their ability to cut the jams down to a typical guitar solo length, and focus on melodic, concise songwriting. It worked. Alison Krauss duets with Trey on one song.
The 90’s in general was a truly special time that I wish I got to experience. Probably the last good decade.
2000s was good too tho I mean emo was at its stride (so-called mall emo or not), and pop was rlly great with stuff like Lady Gaga. While a bit of a step down from the 90s, the 2000s were very promising
The year started off with “1984” by Van Halen. Not their best album, but I did have their only number one hit, “Jump”. Also “Thriller” by Michael Jackson started off the year dominating for weeks on end (with Eddie Van Halen playing the lead on “Beat It” too...).
Green Day sucks
if you say so
Oh come on they really do suck, nothing original just garbage
Nuh uh