1995’s Best Rock Albums

1995's Best Rock Albums

Photo: Justin Higuchi from Los Angeles, CA, USA / CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)

1995’s Best Rock Albums list takes a look at a year of album releases that saw rock music turn towards middle ground crossing the genres of pop and rock into some very successful releases. Out of nowhere came a Canadian singer named Alanis Morissette who released one of the most successful major label debut albums in years. Alanis Morissette had released two small independent CDs earlier but they were nothing like her major label debut album Jagged Little Pill. It was a record in which she found a voice that captivated audiences with her huge hit “You Outta Know.” Another powerful female voice released her major debut album along with Alanis Morissette in 1995. Singer Joan Osborne’s major label debut album entitled Relish was fueled by the massive commercial success of her song “One Of Us.” Continuing 1995’s trend towards the success of powerful female voices were the debut albums of Garbage featuring the killer vocals of Shirley Manson and the post punk British rock band Elastica featuring the snarling vocals of Justine Frischmann.

1995 also saw debut albums by Jewel, Blessed Union Of Souls, Silverchair, Wilco, Sugar Ray, Foo Fighters, Merril Bainbridge, Ben Folds Five, Rammstein, Six Feet Under, The Coors, Deftones, Bif Naked, Incubus, and so many more. Oasis followed up their 1994 debut album with another spectacular released entitled (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? Bruce Springsteen released his strongest album since 1987’s Tunnel of Love entitled The Ghost Of Tom Joad. An album that reflected the same style he utilized on 1980’s Nebraska in which he discovered his folk music troubadour voice. Van Morrison, who Springsteen often cited as being an artist that influenced him greatly also released a strong album called Day Like This. 

1995’s year in rock not only celebrated the emergence of powerful female voices and the return of classic troubadours, it also enjoyed the debut album of a great new progressive rock band called Spock’s Beard. Steven Wilson’s progressive rock group Porcupine Tree also contributed another great progressive rock album in 1995 with their CD titled The Sky Moves Sideways. Dream Theater continued to blend the styles of metal and progressive rock with their very cool EP titled A Change of Seasons.

There were so many albums released in 1995. Many of them did not make this lists because there were just so many. We also decided for the first time to include live albums on the list because there were some really good ones released in 1995.

# 100 – Vibrator –  Terence Trent D’Arby

Vibrator -  Terence Trent D'Arby

# 99 – Spirit of the WildTed Nugent

Spirit of the Wild - Ted Nugent

# 98 – We Care – Whale

We Care - Whale

# 97 – Your Little Secret – Melissa Etheridge

Your Little Secret - Melissa Etheridge

# 96 – Bif Naked – Bif Naked

Bif Naked Album

# 95 – NemesistersBabes In Toyland

Nemesisters - Babes In Toyland

# 94 – Orchid – Opeth

Orchid - Opeth

# 93 –Stomp 442Anthrax

Stomp 442 - Anthrax

# 92 – I‘m with Stupid – Aimee Mann

I'm with Stupid - Aimee Mann

# 91 – The Isle of ViewThe Pretenders

The Isle of View - The Pretenders

# 90 – The Inevitable – Squirrel Nut Zippers

The Inevitable - Squirrel Nut Zippers

# 89 – Sparkle and FadeEverclear

Sparkle and Fade - Everclear

# 88 – Red MedicineFugazi

Red Medicine - Fugazi

# 87 – A Very Fine LoveDusty Springfield

A Very Fine Love - Dusty Springfield

# 86 – Clouds Taste MetallicThe Flaming Lips

Clouds Taste Metallic - The Flaming Lips

# 85 – The Road Home – Heart

The Road Home - Heart

# 84 – Methadone – The Brian Jonestown Massacre

Methadone - The Brian Jonestown Massacre

# 83 – Deep Dead Blue – Elvis Costello and Bill Frisell

Deep Dead Blue - Elvis Costello and Bill Frisell

# 82 – ¡Adios Amigos!Ramones

¡Adios Amigos! - Ramones

# 81 – Afraid of SunlightMarillion

Afraid of Sunlight - Marillion

# 80  – AdrenalineDeftones

Adrenaline - Deftones

# 79 – F-Punk – Big Audio Dynamite

F-Punk - Big Audio Dynamite

# 78 – Love and Money – Eddie Money

Love and Money - Eddie Money

# 77 – A Spanner in the WorksRod Stewart

A Spanner in the Works - Rod Stewart

# 76 – God Of Love – Bad Brains

God Of Love - Bad Brains

# 75 – Welcome to the NeighborhoodMeat Loaf

Welcome to the Neighborhood - Meat Loaf

# 74 – A.M.  – Wilco

A.M.  - Wilco

# 73 – Time – Fleetwood Mac

Time - Fleetwood Mac

# 72 – Frampton Comes Alive II – Peter Frampton

Frampton Comes Alive II - Peter Frampton

# 71 – Tambu – Toto

Tambu - Toto

# 70 – Everything Is Wrong – Moby

Everything Is Wrong - Moby

# 69 – Pieces of You – Jewel

Pieces of You - Jewel

# 68 – The Light – Spock’s Beard

The Light – Spock's Beard

# 67 – Divinities: Twelve Dances with God – Ian Anderson

Divinities: Twelve Dances with God - Ian Anderson

# 66 – Wowee Zowee – Pavement

Wowee Zowee - Pavement

# 65 – Tigerlilly – Natalie Merchant

Tigerlilly - Natalie Merchant

# 64 – New Beginning – Tracy Chapman

New Beginning - Tracy Chapman

# 63 – 100% Fun – Matthew Sweet

100% Fun - Matthew Sweet

# 62 – Washing Machine – Sonic Youth

Washing Machine - Sonic Youth

# 61 – These Days – Bon Jovi

These Days - Bon Jovi

# 60 – Fear No EvilSlaughter

Fear No Evil - Slaughter

# 59 – Ledbetter HeightsKenny Wayne Shepherd

Ledbetter Heights - Kenny Wayne Shepherd

# 58 – A Northern Soul – The Verve

A Northern Soul - The Verve

# 57 – Made In Heaven – Queen

Made In Heaven - Queen

# 56 – Above – Mad Season

Above - Mad Season

# 55 – Presidents of the United States of AmericaPresidents of the United States of America

Presidents of the United States of America Album

# 54 – Collective Soul – Collective Soul

Collective Soul Debut Album

# 53 – Astro-Creep 2000 – White Zombie

Astro-Creep 2000 - White Zombie

# 52 – A Change of Seasons EP – Dream Theater

A Change of Seasons EP - Dream Theater

# 51 – The Great EscapeBlur

The Great Escape - Blur

# 50 – Different Class – Pulp

Different Class - Pulp

# 49 – Fight for Your MindBen Harper

Fight for Your Mind - Ben Harper

# 48 – Short Bus – Filter

Short Bus - Filter

# 47 – Ain’t Had Enough FunLittle Feat

Ain't Had Enough Fun - Little Feat

# 46 – It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere – Slash’s Snakepit

It's Five O'Clock Somewhere - Slash's Snakepit

# 45 – To Bring You My Love PJ Harvey

To Bring You My Love - PJ Harvey

# 44 – Tales from the PunchbowlPrimus

Tales from the Punchbowl - Primus

# 43 – Days Like ThisVan Morrison

Days Like This - Van Morrison

# 42 – Post – Björk

Post - Björk

# 41 – Foo Fighters – Foo Fighters

Foo Fighters - Foo Fighters

# 40 – Cheshire CatBlink-182

Cheshire Cat - Blink-182

# 39 – Mirror Mirror10cc

Mirror Mirror - 10cc

# 38 – The IndividualistTodd Rundgren

The Individualist - Todd Rundgren

# 37 – Roots to Branches – Jethro Tull

Roots to Branches - Jethro Tull

# 36 – DysfunctionalDokken

Dysfunctional - Dokken

# 35 – Fungus AmongusIncubus

Fungus Amongus - Incubus

# 34 – I Just Wasn’t Made for These Times – Brian Wilson

I Just Wasn't Made for These Times - Brian Wilson

# 33 – The X Factor – Iron Maiden

The X Factor - Iron Maiden

# 32 – Not a Pretty GirlAni DiFranco

Not a Pretty Girl - Ani DiFranco

# 31 – Alive in AmericaSteely Dan

Alive in America - Steely Dan

# 30 – InsomniacGreen Day

Insomniac - Green Day

# 29 – Wrecking Ball – Emmylou Harris

Wrecking Ball - Emmylou Harris

# 28 – It’s a MysteryBob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band

It's a Mystery - Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band

# 27 – Mirror Ball – Neil Young

Mirror Ball - Neil Young

# 26 – Made in EnglandElton John

Made in England - Elton John

# 25 – The RaptureSiouxsie and the Banshees

The Rapture - Siouxsie and the Banshees

# 24 – Stripped (Live)The Rolling Stones

Stripped (Live) - The Rolling Stones

# 23 – Ballbreaker – AC/DC

Ballbreaker - AC/DC

# 22 – Outside – David Bowie

Outside - David Bowie

# 21 – Tragic KingdomNo Doubt

Tragic Kingdom - No Doubt

# 20 – Stranger in Us AllRainbow

Stranger in Us All - Rainbow

# 19 – Sleater-KinneySleater-Kinney

Sleater-Kinney album

# 18 – Freaks of NatureKansas

Freaks of Nature - Kansas

# 17 – THRAKKing Crimson

THRAK - King Crimson

# 16 – Balance – Van Halen

# 15 – The Sky Moves SidewaysPorcupine Tree

The Sky Moves Sideways - Porcupine Tree

# 14 – The Bends – Radiohead

The Bends - Radiohead

# 13 – Gov’t MuleGov’t Mule

Gov't Mule Album

# 12 – Pulse (Live album) – Pink Floyd

Pulse (Live album) - Pink Floyd

# 11 – The Gold Experience – Prince

The Gold Experience - Prince

# 10 – Elastica – Elastica

Elastica Album

#  9 – Alice In Chains – Alice In Chains

Alice In Chains Album

#  8 – One Hit Minute – Red Hot Chili Peppers

One Hit Minute - Red Hot Chili Peppers

#  7 – Relish – Joan Osborne

Relish - Joan Osborne

#  6 – Ozzmosis – Ozzy Osbourne

Ozzmosis - Ozzy Osbourne

#  5 –Mellon Collie and the Infinite SadnessSmashing Pumpkins

Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness - Smashing Pumpkins

#  4 – Garbage – Garbage

Garbage Album

#  3 – The Ghost Of Tom Joad – Bruce Springsteen

The Ghost Of Tom Joad - Bruce Springsteen

#  2 – (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?Oasis

(What's the Story) Morning Glory? - Oasis

#  1 – Jagged Little PillAlanis Morissette

Jagged Little Pill - Alanis Morissette

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UPDATED MAY 1, 2023

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

1995’s Best Rock Albums article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2023

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