A Look Back at the Best Rock Albums of 1994

It’s hard to believe that 1994 was 30 years ago, but here we are. For nostalgia nerds like me, looking back through the decades reveals a lot about what was significant about the past.

For me, looking back at 1994 revealed that it was an extremely significant year for rock and roll due to the albums that were released that year, with Rolling Stone magazine calling it “mainstream alternative’s greatest year”.

Simply profound.

Here are some albums that were released in 1994 that will forever live in the annals of rock history as some of the best albums in existence for rock and roll (and all its offshoots):

Soundgarden – Superunknown, most known for “Black Hole Sun” and my personal favourite song “Fell On Black Days”

Oasis – Definitely Maybe, the band’s first studio album giving us “Supersonic” and my fav “Half the World Away”

Nine Inch Nails – The Downward Spiral, an album that changed music, most notably with “Closer”

Bush – Sixteen Stone, a VERY monumental album in my life

The Cranberries – No Need to Argue brought us classics like “Zombie” and “Ode to My Family”

Green Day – Dookie, released right after Kurt Cobain died, with my favorite rock historian Alan Cross theorizing that Kurt’s death opened the doors to Green Day’s rock/punk sound

Live – Throwing Copper, with “Selling the Drama” being a giant hit

Offspring – Smash inviting us to "Come Out and Play"

Stone Temple Pilots – Purple, giving us “Vaseline”, “Interstate Love Song”, and “Big Empty”

Weezer – Weezer, with any fan of this band knowing that this was a game-changer. “Buddy Holly” is still the best music video in existence.

Nirvana – MTV Unplugged in New York, filmed a few months before Kurt died, featuring some of the best Nirvana songs, as well as incredible covers such as Bowie’s “The Man Who Sold the World

Blur – Parklife, a classic brit-rock album that along with Oasis' release marked the brit-rock invasion of the decade

1994 was also a monumental year for soundtracks: The Crow, Reality Bites, Forrest Gump, and Pulp Fiction being among some of the best.

I truly believe, much to my dismay, that we are past the times of “great music” being written, recorded, produced, and distributed. This is why, for me, it’s important to hold onto these treasures from 30 years ago, as a reminder of what was, what may never be again, but what a hell of a time to be a part of.