The 34 Most Memorable '90s Album Covers, Ranked
Vote up the most iconic album covers from the 1990s.
The 1990s were a transformative decade in music, characterized by a rich diversity of genres and groundbreaking artistry that left a genuine mark on popular culture. The following collection of album covers dives deep into this vibrant era, celebrating the iconic visuals that accompanied some of the decade's most influential records.
From grunge to alternative rock, pop to hip-hop, each album cover is not just a mere illustration but a piece of art that encapsulates the essence of its time. These covers ignited curiosity, sparked conversations, and often became as legendary as the music they housed. Green Day's Dookie, with its chaotic scene of characters against a backdrop of destruction, sets the tone for punk rebellion, while Nirvana's Nevermind, featuring the unforgettable image of a baby chasing a dollar bill underwater, symbolizes innocence tainted by capitalism. Albums like Dr. Dre's The Chronic brought West Coast rap to the forefront and Lauryn Hill’s The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill proved to be a powerful embodiment of personal and educational empowerment.
Each album cover was carefully chosen for its artistic impact and enduring legacy, reflecting the revolutionary changes that took place in music during the '90s. Whether you're a '90s kid, a music aficionado, or an art lover, these album covers will take you on a nostalgic journey through a remarkable time in music history.
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Release Year: 1991
Genre: Grunge
Nirvana's Nevermind was a groundbreaking album that minted grunge as a major force in music. Hits like "Smells Like Teen Spirit" defined a generation. The album cover features an unforgettable image of a baby swimming toward a dollar bill on a hook, symbolizing innocence and the corrupting influence of money.
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Release Year: 1994
Genre: Pop-Punk
Dookie is Green Day's third studio album and their major-label debut that catapulted them into mainstream success. Known for its energetic tracks like "Basket Case" and "When I Come Around," the album's cover, featuring a chaotic scene of various characters and destruction, remains iconic in punk culture.
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Release Year: 1994
Genre: Alternative Rock
Weezer's self-titled debut, often colloquially referred to as The Blue Album, includes hits like "Buddy Holly" and "Say It Ain't So." The cover, a simple picture of the band members against a blue background, became an iconic representation of their geek-chic image.
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'The Chronic' - Dr. Dre
Release Year: 1992
Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap
Dr. Dre's debut solo album was pivotal in popularizing West Coast rap and the G-funk sound. Tracks like "Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang" became anthems that linger to this day. The cover, with its nod to Zig-Zag rolling papers, symbolizes Dre's laid-back yet sophisticated approach to music.
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Release Year: 1999
Genre: Pop-Punk
Blink-182's third album is a defining example of the pop-punk genre with catchy tracks like "What's My Age Again?" and "All the Small Things." The cover, featuring adult film actress Janine Lindemulder in a nurse's uniform, captures the band's irreverent and youthful spirit.
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6'Blood Sugar Sex Magik' - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Release Year: 1991
Genre: Alternative Rock
A breakthrough for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, this album blended funk, rock, and rap in a unique way. Notable tracks include "Under the Bridge" and "Give It Away." The cover art, featuring the band's faces and various tattoos arranged in a symmetrical pattern, reflects their eclectic and bold style.
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7'The Battle of Los Angeles' - Rage Against the Machine
Release Year: 1999
Genre: Alternative Rock
This album continued Rage Against the Machine's tradition of politically charged lyrics and hard-hitting rock music. Songs like "Guerrilla Radio" criticize corporate and governmental power. The cover features a stark, monochromatic image reflective of social upheaval and rebellion.
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8'Tragic Kingdom' - No Doubt
Release Year: 1995
Genre: Alternative Rock
Tragic Kingdom propelled No Doubt into the mainstream with hits like "Don't Speak" and "Just a Girl." The cover, designed with a vintage feel, shows lead singer Gwen Stefani holding an orange in front of an orange tree, subtly paying homage to the album's title and the band's Californian roots.
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9'Seal' - Seal
Release Year: 1994
Genre: R&B/Soul
This self-titled album by Seal is technically his second release and includes popular tracks like "Kiss from a Rose" and "Prayer for the Dying." The cover, featuring a monochromatic image of Seal with a striking visual style, complements the album’s emotive and soulful sound.
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10'The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill' - Lauryn Hill
Release Year: 1998
Genre: R&B/Soul
Lauryn Hill's debut solo album, The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill, is praised for its powerful lyrics and fusion of R&B, hip-hop, and soul. With hits like "Doo Wop (That Thing)" and "Ex-Factor," the cover, a sepia-toned image of a carved wooden school desk with Hill's face etched into it, symbolizes the personal and educational themes of the album.
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11'Spice' - Spice Girls
Release Year: 1996
Genre: Pop
The debut album of the Spice Girls, Spice introduced the world to the phenomenon of "girl power" with hit singles like "Wannabe" and "Say You'll Be There." The minimalist cover, with the band members' names spelled out in reflective, colorful letters, emphasizes their lively and diverse personalities.
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12'Supernatural' - Santana
Release Year: 1999
Genre: Rock
Supernatural is a superstar collaboration-filled album that saw a major resurgence for the legendary guitarist. Featuring hits like "Smooth" and "Maria Maria," the album's colorful and intricate cover art illustrates its blend of traditional and contemporary influences.
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13'Use Your Illusion I' - Guns N' Roses
Release Year: 1991
Genre: Hard Rock
Featuring iconic tracks like "November Rain" and "Don't Cry," this album continued Guns N' Roses' success story. The cover, featuring a Renaissance-inspired image, contrasts themes of ambition and disillusionment prevalent in the songs.
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14'Jagged Little Pill' - Alanis Morissette
Release Year: 1995
Genre: Alternative Rock
Alanis Morissette's breakthrough album is known for its raw emotional lyrics and massive hits like "You Oughta Know" and "Ironic." The cover, featuring a distorted image of Morissette, perfectly captures the angst and vulnerability of the music.
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Release Year: 1995
Genre: Alternative Rock
This ambitious double album by The Smashing Pumpkins explores a wide range of themes and musical styles. Notable tracks include "1979" and "Bullet with Butterfly Wings." The whimsical cover art, featuring a starry night and a Victorian-era woman, adds to the album's dream-like quality.
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Release Year: 1997
Genre: Electronic
The Fat of the Land is The Prodigy's third studio album featuring hard-hitting tracks like "Firestarter" and "Breathe." The cover, depicting a crab on a beach, captures the intense and visceral energy of the album's sound.
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17'Rainbow' - Mariah Carey
Release Year: 1999
Genre: Pop
Mariah Carey's Rainbow showcases her versatility with a range of pop and R&B tracks like "Heartbreaker" and "Against All Odds." The cover, featuring Carey against a white background with a rainbow, symbolizes the album's themes of hope and resilience.
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18'Millennium' - Backstreet Boys
Release Year: 1999
Genre: Pop
This album solidified the Backstreet Boys as pop megastars, boasting hits like "I Want It That Way" and "Larger than Life." The celestial-themed cover, featuring the group against a white and blue backdrop, highlights their mainstream, polished image.
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19'Odelay' - Beck
Release Year: 1996
Genre: Alternative Rock
Odelay is Beck’s critically acclaimed album that blends alternative rock with various genres like hip-hop and folk. Known for its experimental sound and hits like "Where It's At" and "Devils Haircut," the cover features a bizarre close-up shot of a Komondor dog in mid-jump, reflecting the album’s quirky and eclectic nature.
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20'Bat Out of Hell II: Back Into Hell' - Meat Loaf
Release Year: 1993
Genre: Hard Rock
This sequel to the original Bat Out of Hell captures Meat Loaf's dramatic and theatrical rock style with powerful tracks like "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)." The cover art features a painted image that is both modern and fantasy-inspired, mirroring the album's grandiose sound.
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- Parlophone, Capitol
Release Year: 1997
Genre: Alternative Rock
OK Computer is Radiohead's revolutionary third album, lauded for its profound critiques of modern society and technology. The album's abstract and surreal cover complements its themes of alienation and dystopia.
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Release Year: 1996
Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap
The Fugees' second album The Score blends hip-hop with reggae and soul influences. Featuring tracks like "Killing Me Softly" and "Ready or Not," the minimalist cover art highlights the group's serious and contemplative approach to social issues.
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23'Blind Melon' - Blind Melon
Release Year: 1992
Genre: Alternative Rock
Blind Melon's self-titled debut album features the hit "No Rain" and is known for its eclectic mix of genres. The cover, with an image of a girl in a bee costume, became iconic and symbolized the band's quirkiness and individuality.
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'Doggystyle' - Snoop Dogg
Release Year: 1993
Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap
Snoop Dogg’s debut album, Doggystyle, was instrumental in defining West Coast rap, with tracks like "Gin and Juice" and "Who Am I? (What's My Name?)." The cartoonish cover art, featuring Snoop as a dog on top of a doghouse, emphasizes the playful yet edgy aesthetic of his music.
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Release Year: 1996
Genre: Rock
Matchbox Twenty's debut album, featuring hits like "Push" and "3AM," showcases a blend of alternative rock and post-grunge sounds. The cover, with its image of a man wearing glasses and a swimming cap, is memorable for its odd yet intriguing simplicity.
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26'Four' - Blues Traveler
Release Year: 1994
Genre: Rock
Four is Blues Traveler's fourth album, known for its blend of rock and blues. The album includes hits like "Run-Around" and "Hook." The cover, featuring a cat in sunglasses on a stark green background, just screams “1990s.”
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27'Get A Grip' - Aerosmith
Release Year: 1993
Genre: Rock
Get A Grip by Aerosmith marked a successful comeback for the band, featuring hits like "Cryin'" and "Amazing." The controversial album cover, depicting a cow with an udder piercing, symbolizes their edgy and rebellious attitude during this era.
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28'Parklife' - Blur
Release Year: 1994
Genre: Rock
Blur's Parklife was essential in defining the Britpop movement of the mid-'90s. Featuring hits like "Girls & Boys" and the title track "Parklife," the album captures a distinctly British experience. The cover, displaying two racing greyhounds, emphasizes the album’s everyday-life themes and energetic vibe.
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29'Ready To Die' - The Notorious B.I.G.
Release Year: 1994
Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap
The debut album of The Notorious B.I.G., Ready To Die, is a seminal work in East Coast hip-hop, featuring classics like "Juicy" and "Big Poppa." The cover, showcasing a baby with an afro, symbolizes the cyclical nature of life and death, resonating deeply with the album’s themes.
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30'Purple' - Stone Temple Pilots
Release Year: 1994
Genre: Grunge
Purple solidified Stone Temple Pilots' place in the rock world with tracks like "Interstate Love Song" and "Vasoline." The cover, depicting a child riding a dragon, is visually striking and complements the band's bold sound.
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Release Year: 1991
Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap
A Tribe Called Quest's second album is celebrated for its innovative mix of hip-hop and jazz. The Low End Theory includes seminal tracks like "Scenario" and "Check the Rhime." The cover art, a striking image of a contorted figure outlined in tribal patterns, underscores the group's unique sound and artistic vision.
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32'Superunknown' - Soundgarden
Release Year: 1994
Genre: Grunge
Superunknown is a landmark album in the grunge movement, featuring hits like "Black Hole Sun" and "Spoonman." The haunting cover image of a distorted face atop an inverted forest skyline matches the dark and introspective tone of the music.
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33'CrazySexyCool' - TLC
Release Year: 1994
Genre: Hip-Hop/Soul
TLC's second studio album CrazySexyCool features hits like "Waterfalls" and "Creep." The cover, with its close-up of the members' faces in a minimalist style, emphasizes the trio's sleek and confident persona.
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34'Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version' - Ol' Dirty Bastard
Release Year: 1995
Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap
This debut solo album by Ol' Dirty Bastard, a member of Wu-Tang Clan, showcases his unique and unorthodox style. The cover, resembling a food stamps card, is as raw and unfiltered as the music itself, emphasizing themes of poverty and authenticity.
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