I was not born in the 90s. In fact, I was born close to a decade after the 90s. Despite not being around for the release dates of some of the greatest albums ever, I still LOVE 90s music. Which decade gave humanity the best music is a heavily debated topic. But I’m here to advocate for the 90s. The 90s gave us grunge, hip-hop, noise, punk, the list goes on. More and more representation from women and people of color was released. Out of all this new music, three albums stood out to me. These albums represent the wide range that the sound of the 90s sprawled across.

Starting off, the sophomore album from shoegaze legends Slowdive, their 1993 album Souvlaki. Souvlaki has a the sound of a haunting, disorienting, space odyssey. Rachel Goswell on certain vocals almost sounds as if she is weeping, not singing. Some could relate the sound of this to my bloody valentine’s legendary album Loveless. The two are undeniably similar in the aspect of their shoegaze sounds. But what makes the two significantly different are the two albums focuses on vocals. In Loveless, the vocals act as a separate instrument, with lyrics having vague and unimportant meanings. However, in Souvlaki, the vocals/lyrics are important. They tell a story of heartbreak and self-discovery. These beautiful lyrics are backed by even more beautiful instrumentation that feels like the score to a space documentary. This album is absolutely incredible.

 

Notable songs: Alison, Machine Gun, When the Sun Hits

Next up is the debut album from California rapper Nas. His album Illmatic is a highly refined compilation of soul samples and homemade beats. With his irreplaceable flow on top, he is proven to be a pioneer in the 90s rap field. Anyone is able to identify the song N.Y. State of Mind, and to be able to produce universally recognized music is a major accomplishment. One of the most impressive parts of Nas’s Illmatic is that he was 19 when he started working on it. Also, the fact that this was his debut album makes this an even more impressive feat.

 

Notable songs: N.Y. State of Mind, The World Is Yours

The third album that made the most impact in the 90s music atmosphere is F#A#∞ by Godspeed You! Black Emperor. This shoegaze epic takes on a post apocalyptic journey. Starting off with the haunting line “The car is on fire, and there’s no driver at the wheel,” you know you are in for a cinematic listening experience unlike anything else you’ve ever heard. This album comes in at only 3 songs but a whole hour. If you’re looking for something a little out of the ordinary, or looking to spice up your music taste, I definitely recommend checking this album and other albums by GY!BE.

Notable songs: The Dead Flag Blues