Rolling Stone readers' top 10 albums of the '90s

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Rolling Stone's Top 10 Albums of the '90s

No. 1: Nirvana, "Nevermind." Was there ever even a debate over which album would take the top spot? The defining act of the 90s alternative scene, Nirvana knocked Michael Jackson's "Dangerous" off the top of the charts and put Seattle on the map.

No. 2: Radiohead, "OK Computer." The band's third album produced "Karma Police" and "Paranoid Android" and proved that they were more than just the band that produced "Creep," the ultimate ode to insecurity.

No. 3: Pearl Jam, "Ten." Known to many as that "other" alternative band from Seattle, Pearl Jam was nipping at Nirvana's heels when they released "Ten" in 1991, spawning "Jeremy" and "Alive." Unlike Nirvana, however, the band stayed together and continues to tour and record.

No. 4: U2, "Achtung Baby." Before Bono dedicated himself to trying to save the world and to producing the much-maligned musical version of "Spider-Man," he was putting out classics like "Achtung Baby" with U2. The band continues to record and perform--their latest release went five times platinum.

No. 5: Oasis, "(What's the Story) Morning Glory?" Before band infighting--mostly between brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher--started stealing more headlines than their music, "What's the Story" put the Brits in the states with "Wonderwall" and "Champagne Supernova."

No. 6: Smashing Pumpkins, "Siamese Dream." One of two Smashing Pumpkins albums on the list, "Siamese Dream" announced the arrival of an important presence on the burgeoning alt-rock scene, spawning hits like "Disarm" and "Today."

No. 7: Metallica, "Metallica (The Black Album)." The only metal album on the list, "The Black Album" is also the best-selling disc of Metallica's career.

No. 8: Jeff Buckley, "Grace." Years after the release of "Grace," television shows and movies continue to use Buckley's cover of "Hallelujah" to death, but it doesn't take away from the haunting tone of his voice or the tragedy of his death in 1997.

No 9: Smashing Pumpkins, "Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness." The album was the last time the original Pumpkins lineup recorded together before lead singer Billy Corgan reportedly became too much for the rest of the band to handle, but talk about going out on a high note--the album produced "1979," "Tonight, Tonight" and "Zero."

No. 10: Guns & Roses, "Use Your Illusion 1 and 2." Essentially a double album, the "Use Your Illusion" discs featured "November Rain," (inspiring the epic video wherein a shadowy Slash plays guitar on a hill) and also marked the last time the original lineup recorded together.

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No. 1: Nirvana, "Nevermind." Was there ever even a debate over which album would take the top spot? The defining act of the 90s alternative scene, Nirvana knocked Michael Jackson's "Dangerous" off the top of the charts and put Seattle on the map.

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