1993’s Best Rock Albums

1993's Best Rock Albums

Photo: tammylo / CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)

We continue our look back at the 1990s with our 1993’s Best Rock Album’s List. 1993 defined a year that saw a record number of new releases and debut albums. The success of Nirvana and the popularity of grunge and alternative music fueled record companies to search for the next big thing. The term alternative music would cover more of a wider range of musical styles than ever before. Nirvana released their third album of the band’s career. The album In Utero would be hailed by many as their strongest work to date. Sadly, it would be the band’s final studio album they ever released. Pearl Jam who many feel were Nirvana’s main rivals for airplay and chart success would also release a fabulous album entitled VS.

Many people forget that as much as the 1990s, especially the early 1990s were dominated by grunge and alternative music, there were many great albums released by classic rockers from the 1960s and 70s. Many of these albums were not accepted that well when they were originally released, but have grown in stature over time. Some of these legends like Paul McCartney Elton John, The Ramones, Frank Zappa, Jimmy Page, Lynyrd Skynyrd and so many others were competing with their own legacies when they released new material in the 1990s.

1993 saw some great debut albums from a couple of artists who would have long careers. Sheryl Crow’s debut album Tuesday Night Music Club was released in 1993. The album did not initially do well but eventually became one of the biggest albums of the 1990s. As we all know, Sheryl Crow has had a long and very successful career. Another artist with the word Crow in their name also released their debut album. The Counting Crow’s first album entitled  August and Everything After was a huge success in 1993.

Aerosmith continued their great comeback with a fabulous album entitled Get a Grip. Donald Fagen of Steely Dan released his second solo album called Kamakiriad. 1993 also saw the return of the band Steely Dan as they began to tour once again. Meat Loaf shocked the world in 1993 when the sequel to Bat Out Of Hell was released and became one of the biggest albums of the year. Finally, 1993 saw the release of the final Billy Joel album entitled River of Dreams. I never believed when he sang the lyrics “these are the last words that I will ever write,” that he actually meant it.

# 100 – Objection Overruled – Accept

Objection Overruled - Accept

# 99 – Spilt Milk – JellyFish

Spilt Milk - Jelly Fish

# 98 – Songs from the Rain – Hothouse Flowers

Songs from the Rain - Hothouse Flowers

# 97 – Tribal Thunder – Dick Dale

Tribal Thunder – Dick Dale

# 96 – Dusk – The The

Dusk - The The

# 95 – Frosting on the BeaterThe Posies

Frosting on the Beater - The Posies

# 94 – RiseBad Brains

Rise - Bad Brains

# 93 – Cure for PainMorphine

Cure for Pain - Morphine

# 92 – Become What You AreThe Juliana Hatfield Three

Become What You Are - The Juliana Hatfield Three

# 91 – Pussy WhippedBikini Kill

Pussy Whipped - Bikini Kill

# 90 – Rift – Phish

Rift - Phish

# 89 – Spinning Around the Sun – Jimmie Dale Gilmore

Spinning Around the Sun - Jimmie Dale Gilmore

# 88 – Perverse – Jesus Jones

Perverse - Jesus Jones

# 87 – Believe in Me – Duff McKagan

Believe in Me - Duff McKagan

# 86 – Last SplashThe Breeders

Last Splash - The Breeders

# 85 – Native Tongue – Poison

Native Tongue - Poison

# 84 – Every Day – Widespread Panic

Every Day - Widespread Panic

# 83 – Superstar Car WashGoo Goo Dolls

Superstar Car Wash - Goo Goo Dolls

# 82 – Dream Harder – The Waterboys

Dream Harder - The Waterboys

# 81 – Elemental – Tears for Fears

Elemental - Tears for Fears

# 80 – Pull – Winger

Pull - Winger

# 79 – The Wedding Album – Duran Duran

The Wedding Album - Duran Duran

# 78 – Music – 311

Music - 311

# 77 – Full Moon, Dirty HeartsINXS

Full Moon, Dirty Hearts - INXS

# 76 -Debut – Bjork

Debut - Bjork

# 75 – Real – Belinda Carlisle

Real - Belinda Carlisle

# 74 – CyberpunkBilly Idol

Cyberpunk - Billy Idol

# 73 – Hints Allegations and Things Left UnsaidCollective Soul

Hints Allegations and Things Left Unsaid - Collective Soul

# 72 – WhateverAimee Mann

Whatever - Aimee Mann

# 71 – Rid of MeP J Harvey

Rid of Me - P J Harvey

# 70 – World Gone WrongBob Dylan

World Gone Wrong - Bob Dylan

# 69 – Pork SodaPrimus

Pork Soda - Primus

# 68 – Beaster – Sugar

Beaster - Sugar

# 67 – For the Beauty of Wynona – Daniel Lanois

# 66 – Some Fantastic PlaceSqueeze

Some Fantastic Place - Squeeze

# 65 – Duets – Elton John

Duets - Elton John

# 64 – Winter Light – Linda Ronstadt

Winter Light - Linda Ronstadt

# 63 – Both SidesPhil Collins

Both Sides - Phil Collins

# 62 – San Francisco DaysChris Isaak

San Francisco Days - Chris Issak

# 61 –Try Anything OnceAlan Parsons

Try Anything Once - Alan Parsons

# 60 – Fumbling Towards EcstasySarah McLachlan

Fumbling Towards Ecstasy - Sarah McLachlan

# 59 – Face the HeatThe Scorpions

Face the Heat - The Scorpions

# 58 – Altered BeastMatthew Sweet

Altered Beast - Matthew Sweet

# 57 – Porno for PyrosPorno for Pyros

Porno for Pyros - Porno for Pyros

# 56 – Taxi – Bryan Ferry

Taxi - Bryan Ferry

# 55 – Colour of Your DreamsCarole King

Colour of Your Dreams - Carole King

# 54 – Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We?The Cranberries

Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We? - The Cranberries

# 53 – Hey Zeus! – X

Hey Zeus! - X

# 52 – The Black Rider – Tom Waits

The Black Rider - Tom Waits

# 51 – Edge of ExcessTriumph

Edge of Excess - Triumph

# 50 – Traffic from ParadiseRickie Lee Jones

Traffic from Paradise - Rickie Lee Jones

# 49 – Yes I Am – Melissa Etheridge

Yes I Am - Melissa Etheridge

# 48 – LiberatorOrchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

Liberator - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

# 47 – Together Alone  – Crowded House

Together Alone  - Crowded House

# 46 – Human Wheels John Mellencamp

Human Wheels - John Mellencamp

# 45 – The Spaghetti Incident? – Guns N’ Roses

The Spaghetti Incident? - Guns N' Roses

# 44 – Acid EatersThe Ramones

Acid Eaters - The Ramones

# 43 – Remember Two Things – The Dave Matthews Band

Remember Two Things - The Dave Matthews Band

# 42 – The Last RebelLynyrd Skynyrd

The Last Rebel - Lynyrd Skynyrd

# 41 – Desire Walks OnHeart

Desire Walks On - Heart

# 40 – Haircut – George Thorogood

Haircut - George Thorogood

# 39 – 14 Songs –  Paul Westerberg

14 Songs -  Paul Westerberg

# 38 РBastards РMoțrhead

Bastards - Motörhead

# 37 – The Red Shoes – Kate Bush 

The Red Shoes - Kate Bush 

# 36 – American CaesarIggy Pop

American Caesar - Iggy Pop

# 35 – No World OrderTodd Rundgren

No World Order - Todd Rundgren

# 34 – Crazy Legs – Jeff Beck

Crazy Legs - Jeff Beck

# 33 – Too Long in ExileVan Morrison

Too Long in Exile - Van Morrison

# 32 – Harbor LightsBruce Hornsby

Harbor Lights - Bruce Hornsby

# 31 – Sex & ReligionSteve Vai

Sex & Religion - Steve Vai

# 30 – Sound of White NoiseAnthrax

Sound of White Noise - Anthrax

# 29 – PsychoderelictPete Townshend

Psychoderelict - Pete Townshend

# 28 – I’m Alive –  Jackson Browne

I'm Alive -  Jackson Browne

# 27 – Gravity’s RainbowPat Benatar

Gravity's Rainbow - Pat Benatar

# 26 – Stain – Living Colour

Stain - Living Colour

# 25 – Are You Gonna Go My WayLenny Kravitz

Are You Gonna Go My Way - Lenny Kravitz

# 24 – Songs of Faith and DevotionDepeche Mode

Songs of Faith and Devotion - Depeche Mode

# 23 – August and Everything After  – Counting Crows

August and Everything After  - Counting Crows

# 22 – Wandering Spirit – Mick Jagger

Wandering Spirit - Mick Jagger

# 21 – Wide RiverSteve Miller Band

Wide River - Steve Miller Band

# 20 – The Battle Rages On… – Deep Purple

The Battle Rages On... - Deep Purple

# 19 – Coverdale-PageCoverdale-Page

Coverdale-Page Album

# 18 – Undertow – Tool

Undertow - Tool

# 17 – Off the GroundPaul McCartney

Off the Ground - Paul McCartney

# 16 – Exile in GuyvilleLiz Phair

Exile in Guyville - Liz Phair

# 15 –  CounterpartsRush

Counterparts - Rush

# 14 – Black Tie White Noise – David Bowie

Black Tie White Noise - David Bowie

# 13 – Ten Summoners Tales – Sting

Ten Summoners Tales - Sting

# 12 – The Yellow Shark – Frank Zappa

The Yellow Shark - Frank Zappa

# 11 – Zooropa  – U2

Zooropa  - U2

# 10 – Kamakiriad – Donald Fagen

Kamakiriad - Donald Fagen

#  9 – Pablo HoneyRadiohead

Pablo Honey - Radiohead

#  8 – River Of Dreams – Billy Joel

River Of Dreams - Billy Joel

#  7 – Siamese Dreams – Smashing Pumpkins

Siamese Dreams - Smashing Pumpkins

#  6 – Tuesday Night Club – Sheryl Crow

Tuesday Night Club - Sheryl Crow

#  5 – Phobia – The Kinks

Phobia - The Kinks

#  4 – Bat Out of Hell II – Meat Loaf

Bat Out of Hell II - Meat Loaf

#  3 – Get A Grip – Aerosmith

Get A Grip - Aerosmith

#  2 – Vs – Pearl Jam

Vs - Pearl Jam

#  1 – In Utero – Nirvana

In Utero - Nirvana

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Best Albums of The Year Series

1960’s Best Rock Albums

1962’s Best Rock Albums List

1963’s Best Rock Albums List

1964’s Best Rock Albums List

1965’s Best Albums

1966’s Best Albums

1967’s Best Rock Albums

1968’s Best Rock Albums

1969’s Best Rock Albums 

1970’s Best Rock Albums

1970’s Best Classic Rock Albums List

1971’s Best Classic Rock Albums List

1972’s Best Classic Rock Albums List

1973’s Best Classic Rock Albums List

1974’s Best Classic Rock Albums List

1975’s Best Classic Rock Albums List

1976’s Best Classic Rock Albums List

1977’s Best Classic Rock Albums List

1978’s Best Classic Rock Albums List

1979’s Best Classic Rock Albums List

1980’s Best Rock Albums

1980’s Best Rock Albums List

1981’s Best Rock Albums List

1982’s Best Rock Albums List

1983’s Best Rock Albums List

1984’s Best Rock Albums List

1985’s Best Rock Albums List

1986’s Best Rock Albums List

1990s Best Rock Album Series

1990s’ Best Rock Albums

1991’s Best Rock Albums

1992’s Best Rock Albums

1993’s Best Rock Albums

1994’s Best Rock Albums

1995’s Best Rock Albums

1996’s Best Rock Albums

1997’s Best Rock Albums

1998’s Best Rock Albums

1999’s Best Rock Albums

Updated May 1, 2023

1993’s Best Rock Albums article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2023

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