1994’s Best Rock Albums

1994's Best Rock Albums

Photo: Will Fresch / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)

1994’s Best Rock Albums list continues the 1990s trend of so many genres of music selling well without any one specific genre completely dominating. The artists of the 60s and 70s began to fade even further away. Not many of the classic rock legendary artists of the 1960s and 1970s released new albums in 1994. The year 1994 saw the debut of many new bands. Perhaps the biggest debut album as far as bands that would have a lasting impact belonged to The Dave Matthews Band. The group would cultivate a massive cult following in the way The Grateful Dead did in the 1960s and 1970s. Another huge debut was the first album by the band Oasis. While they were big in the U.S. their stature in the U.K. made them the most popular band on the eastern side of the Atlantic since The Beatles. The arrival of Oasis was a shot in the arm to grunge music and helped revitalize the old Brit Pop genre that so many loved. One other very important debut album came from the band Weezer. A great new band loved by college students everywhere

1994 saw the debut albums of so many others. Some of the highlighted ones came from bands and artists such as Veruca Salt, Guster, Corrosion of Conformity, Jimmy Eat World, Zhané, Cake, Ben Harper, Portishead, Keb’ Mo’, and P.O.D. There were many more. 1994 saw the release of hundreds of new albums in various rock genres. The year also saw many hip hop and rap artists make their debut with albums that would out-sell most rock records.

# 100 – Churn – Seven Mary Three

Churn – Seven Mary Three

# 99 – Second ComingThe Stone Roses

Second Coming - The Stone Roses

# 98 – Snuff the Punk – P.O.D.

Snuff the Punk - P.O.D.

# 97 – Ungod – Stabbing Westward

Ungod - Stabbing Westward

# 96 – Give Out But Don’t Give Up – Primal Scream

Give Out But Don't Give Up – Primal Scream

# 95 – Goodbye to the Age of Steam – Big Big Train

Goodbye to the Age of Steam – Big Big Train

# 94 – Hot Trip to Heaven – Love & Rockets

Hot Trip to Heaven - Love & Rockets

# 93 – Divine InterventionSlayer

Divine Intervention - Slayer

# 92 – Parachute – Guster

Parachute - Guster

# 91 – Robbin’ the HoodSublime

Robbin' the Hood - Sublime

# 90 – Balls to Picasso – Bruce Dickinson

Balls to Picasso - Bruce Dickinson

# 89 – A Date with The SmithereensThe Smithereens

A Date with The Smithereens - The Smithereens

# 88 – Vauxhall and IMorrissey

Vauxhall and I - Morrissey

# 87 – Stereopathetic SoulmanureBeck

Stereopathetic Soulmanure - Beck

# 86 – Too High to DieMeat Puppets

Too High to Die - Meat Puppets

# 85 – Keb’ Mo’ – Keb’ Mo’

Keb' Mo' Album

# 84 – Pandemonium – Killing Joke

Pandemonium – Killing Joke

# 83 – Four – Blues Traveler

Four - Blues Traveler

# 82 – Oyster – Heather Nova

Oyster - Heather Nova

# 81 – Peter Frampton – Peter Frampton

 Peter Frampton Album

# 80 – Sleeps With Angels – Neil Young

Sleeps With Angels - Neil Young

# 79 – Aria – Asia

Aria – Asia

# 78 – DeliveranceCorrosion of Conformity

Deliverance - Corrosion of Conformity

# 77 – Brave – Marillion

Brave - Marillion

# 76 – Inside OutFates Warning

Inside Out - Fates Warning

# 75 – American Thighs – Veruca Salt

American Thighs - Veruca Salt

# 74 – The CultThe Cult

The Cult Album

# 73 – Question the AnswersThe Mighty Mighty Bosstones

Question the Answers - The Mighty Mighty Bosstones

# 72 – My Iron Lung EP – Radiohead

My Iron Lung EP - Radiohead

# 71 – Whip-SmartLiz Phair

Whip-Smart - Liz Phair

# 70 – File Under: Easy Listening – Sugar

File Under: Easy Listening - Sugar

# 69 – Thirsty WorkStatus Quo

Thirsty Work - Status Quo

# 68 – When I Woke – Rusted Root

When I Woke - Rusted Root

# 67 – Maybe You Should DriveBarenaked Ladies

Maybe You Should Drive - Barenaked Ladies

# 66 – After the StormCrosby, Stills & Nash

After the Storm - Crosby, Stills & Nash

# 65 – Out of RangeAni DiFranco

Out of Range - Ani DiFranco

# 64 – No Need To Argue – The Cranberries

No Need To Argue - The Cranberries

# 63 – Hungry for StinkL7

Hungry for Stink - L7

# 62 – The Brian Setzer OrchestraThe Brian Setzer Orchestra

The Brian Setzer Orchestra Album

# 61 – Niandra Lades and Usually Just a T-ShirtJohn Frusciante

Niandra Lades and Usually Just a T-Shirt - John Frusciante

# 60 – The Seventh Sign – Yngwie Malmsteen

The Seventh Sign - Yngwie Malmsteen

# 59 – Welcome to the Cruel WorldBen Harper

elcome to the Cruel World - Ben Harper

# 58 – Motorcade of GenerosityCake

Motorcade of Generosity - Cake

# 57 – Big Bad Voodoo Daddy – Big Bad Voodoo Daddy

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy Album

# 56 – Pawnshop Guitars – Gilby Clarke

Pawnshop Guitars – Gilby Clarke

# 55 – DogmanKing’s X

Dogman - King's X

# 54 – Rite of Passage – Mitch Ryder

Rite of Passage – Mitch Ryder

# 53 – Last of the IndependentsThe Pretenders

Last of the Independents - The Pretenders

# 52 – The Last TemptationAlice Cooper

The Last Temptation - Alice Cooper

# 51 – Pure and SimpleJoan Jett

Pure and Simple - Joan Jett

# 50 – Cross Purposes  – Black Sabbath

Cross Purposes  - Black Sabbath

# 49 – Dummy – Portishead

Dummy - Portishead

# 48 –Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No StarSonic Youth

Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star - Sonic Youth

# 47 – Throwing Cooper – Live

Throwing Cooper - Live

# 46 – Brutal YouthElvis Costello

Brutal Youth - Elvis Costello

# 45 – Woke up with a MonsterCheap Trick

Woke up with a Monster - Cheap Trick

# 44 – Mötley CrüeMötley Crüe

Mötley Crüe 1994 Album

# 43 – Your Filthy Little MouthDavid Lee Roth

Your Filthy Little Mouth - David Lee Roth

# 42 – AntennaZZ Top

Antenna - ZZ Top

# 41 – Portrait of an American Family – Marilyn Manson

Portrait of an American Family - Marilyn Manson

# 40 – Live Through ThisHole

Live Through This - Hole

# 39 – Hoist – Phish

Hoist - Phish

# 38 – Talk – Yes

Talk - Yes

# 37 – Longing In Their Hearts – Bonnie Raitt

Longing In Their Hearts - Bonnie Raitt

# 36 – Far Beyond Driven – Pantera

Far Beyond Driven - Pantera

# 35 – Ill Communication – Beastie Boys

Ill Communication - Beastie Boys

# 34 – Mellow Gold – Beck

Mellow Gold - Beck

# 33 – Weight – Rollins Band

Weight - Rollins Band

# 32 – Hell Freezes Over – The Eagles

Hell Freezes Over - The Eagles

# 31 – Monster – R.E.M.

Monster - R.E.M.

# 30 – Turbulent Indigo – Joni Mitchell

Turbulent Indigo - Joni Mitchell

# 29 – Far From Home – Traffic

Far From Home - Traffic

# 28 – Crooked Rain Crooked Rain – Pavement

Crooked Rain Crooked Rain - Pavement

# 27 – Korn – Korn

Korn Album

# 26 – Smash – Offspring

Smash - Offspring

# 25 – The Division Bell – Pink Floyd

The Division Bell - Pink Floyd

# 24 – Jar Of Flies – Alice In Chains

Jar Of Flies - Alice In Chains

# 23 – From The Cradle – Eric Clapton

From The Cradle - Eric Clapton

# 22 – Parklife – Blur

Parklife - Blur

# 21 – Street Angel – Stevie Nicks

Street Angel - Stevie Nicks

# 20 – 11 Tracks of WhackWalter Becker

11 Tracks of Whack - Walter Becker

# 19 – Awake – Dream Theater

Awake - Dream Theater

# 18 – Under The Pink – Tori Amos

Under The Pink - Tori Amos

# 17 – Grace – Jeff Buckley

Grace - Jeff Buckley

# 16 – Amorica – The Black Crowes

Amorica - The Black Crowes

# 15 – Voodoo LoungeThe Rolling Stones

Voodoo Lounge - The Rolling Stones

# 14 – Promised Land – Queensrÿche

Promised Land - Queensrÿche

# 13 – Wildflowers – Tom Petty

Wildflowers - Tom Petty

# 12 – No Quarter: Jimmy Page and Robert Plant Unledded

No Quarter: Jimmy Page and Robert Plant Unledded

# 11 – Weezer –Weezer

Weezer album

# 10 –  Purple – Stone Temple Pilots

Purple - Stone Temple Pilots

#  9 –  Cracked Rear ViewHootie and the Blowfish’

Cracked Rear View - Hootie and the Blowfish'

#  8 – Where It All BeginsThe Allman Brothers Band

Where It All Begins - The Allman Brothers Band

#  7 – Under the Table and DreamingDave Matthews Band

Under the Table and Dreaming - Dave Matthews Band

#  6 – The Downward Spiral – Nine Inch Nails

The Downward Spiral - Nine Inch Nails

#  5 – Vitalogy – Pearl Jam

Vitalogy - Pearl Jam

#  4 – MTV Unplugged In New York – Nirvana

MTV Unplugged In New York - Nirvana

#  3 – Dookie – Green Day

Dookie - Green Day

#  2 – SuperunknownSoundgarden

Superunknown - Soundgarden

#  1 – Definitely MaybeOasis

Definitely Maybe - Oasis

 

Honorary mention to this great Beatles release that was issued in 1994.

Live At The BBC – The Beatles (live 1967-68 radio broadcasts)

Live At The BBC - The Beatles (live 1967-68 radio broadcasts)

Box of Fire – Aerosmith

Great Aerosmith box set that is long out of print

Box of Fire - Aerosmith

The Black Album – Prince

Originally released in 1986 and pulled at the last second, it was officially released in 1994 even though it was over eight years old. Was heavily bootlegged for years.

The Black Album - Prince

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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

1994’s Best Rock Albums article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2023

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