50 Best Rock Albums of the ’90s
35. John Mellencamp – Whenever We Wanted (1991)
The ‘80s were good for John (Cougar) Mellencamp. The Indiana singer/songwriter/guitarist had multiple major pop hits: “Hurts So Good,” “Jack & Diane,” “Pink Houses,” “Small Town,” and “Paper in Fire” just to name a few. He is part of the decade’s fabric of great music. He kept going strong in the ‘90s; Whenever We Wanted is the first of multiple outstanding releases. The singles were every bit as good as what he put out in the ‘80s – “Get a Leg Up,” “Now More Than Ever,” the hard-rocking “Love & Happiness” and “Again Tonight” – are all stellar, but the Top 40 was far more resistant than it had been when he was scoring MTV hits like “Crumblin’ Down” and “R.O.C.K. in the USA.” It’s a lesson that just because something lacks crossover appeal or that what constitutes Top 40 crossover has changed, doesn’t make the music any less compelling.
34. Los Lobos – Kiko
Los Lobos enjoyed some critical acclaim and a certain degree of success with ‘80s albums like How Will the Wolf Survive? They also scored a #1 pop hit with their dead-on perfect cover of Richie Valens’ “La Bamba.” Originating in East Los Angeles, Los Lobos blends Latin influences with folk and rock to make a compelling whole. Their finest album overall is the low-key Kiko, a disc that weaves and sways between beautiful folk melodies and rock. “Saint Behind the Glass” is a highlight, an absolutely beautiful track. They are versatile enough to go from the searing blues/rock of “Just a Man” to the delicate, rhythmic folk of “Kiko and the Lavender Moon” – and whatever style they try, they sound great. The bluesy shuffle “That Train Don’t Stop Here Anymore” pays homage to all the great train songs over the years past and has a jaw-dropping guitar solo. “Whiskey Trail” is an old-style blues/rock rave-up. There are also ballads, like “Peace,” beautifully written and world wearily. Los Lobos tells stories that we as listeners are fortunate to hear.
33. Collective Soul – Collective Soul (1995)
Ed Roland and his band broke through with the inspirational single “Shine” in 1993, but it was their self-titled 1995 release that really brought them to the forefront of ‘90s rock. The album contained a series of strong singles: “Gel,” “December, “Smashing Young Man,” Where the River Flows,” and “The World I Know.” The rest of the album is very strong as well. The band captured a very distinct, unique sound with the record and the songwriting was so good it couldn’t help but be a hit. It still rocks as hard 20 years later. It also includes melancholy gems like “When the Water Falls” and “She Gathers Rain.” Collective Soul is a strong rock album by a band that has perhaps been unfairly maligned by some critics.
32. Pat Benatar – Gravity’s Rainbow (1993)
The last big radio hit for Pat Benatar was the rock anthem “All Fired Up” in 1988. Her Top 40 commercial success had been waning for several years. In 1991 she released an album of jazzy covers, True Love, and was back rocking out with her husband and guitarist Neil Geraldo only 2 years later. Unfortunately Gravity’s Rainbow, despite the presence of a number of strongly commercial songs, and despite it being arguably Benatar’s best album overall since her early-‘80s peak, didn’t catch on with a wide audience. Their loss. Gravity’s Rainbow is Pat Benatar at her best. Her voice sounds fantastic on a mix of catchy and passionate rock, pop, blues and Neil Giraldo’s superb guitar-work.
31. Deftones – Around the Fur (1997)
Around the Fur is like a great garage-rock album by an insanely tight 4-piece and a vocalist – Chino Moreno – who can either lay out the dark melodies as needed or let loose with primal screams that shake the listener to the soul. The band is gifted in knowing which approach to take. Around the Fur contains two absolutely essential rock singles of the ‘90s: “My Own Summer (Shove It)” and the remarkably powerful ”Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away)”. It’s a ferocious sonic assault that’s tight as fuck; you can’t listen to Deftones and come away feeling they are half-assing it in any way. Standout rockers include “Rickets,” “Lhabia,” and the frenetic “Lotion.” Deftones also know how to use dramatic dynamic shifts to built their songs, as with “Mascara” and “Around the Fur.” Deftones were really just getting rolling with Around the Fur – they’ve put out some great records in the 00’s as well.
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