B-Side Guys

The Best Albums of 1994

Every album of 1994, ranked by B-Side Breakdown: the reviews from 38 outlets we trust, put on one 0–100 scale. An album needs at least 5 reviews to make the list.

Album cover for American Recordings by Johnny CashNumber one of 1994Johnny CashAmerican Recordings97 A+5 critics · 100% approval · Unanimous · A-Side
Average Breakdown80across 1994's albums. That's higher than 84% of the other years here.
Liked80%of 1994's albums scored 75 or higher. Across every year it's 49%.
Most divisiveContentiousSick of It All, Scratch the Surface split the critics more than any other album of the year.A-Sides15%of 1994's albums earned an A-Side. Across every year it's 6.3%.
  1. 1Album cover for American Recordings by Johnny Cash
    Johnny CashAmerican RecordingsApril 26, 1994 · 5 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    97A+
  2. 2Album cover for The Bends by Radiohead
    RadioheadThe BendsNovember 29, 1994 · 10 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    95A
  3. 3Album cover for Music for the Jilted Generation by The Prodigy
    The ProdigyMusic for the Jilted GenerationJuly 4, 1994 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    92A-
  4. 4Album cover for Dummy by Portishead
    PortisheadDummyAugust 22, 1994 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    92A-
  5. 5Album cover for The Diary by Scarface
    ScarfaceThe DiaryOctober 18, 1994 · 5 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    91A-
  6. 6Album cover for Dookie by Green Day
    Green DayDookieJanuary 28, 1994 · 8 reviews · 88% approval · Some debate
    90A-
  7. 7Album cover for Let Love In by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
    Nick Cave and the Bad SeedsLet Love InApril 15, 1994 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    89B+
  8. 8Album cover for Grace by Jeff Buckley
    Jeff BuckleyGraceAugust 15, 1994 · 9 reviews · 89% approval · Some debate
    87B+
  9. 9Album cover for The Sun Rises in the East by Jeru the Damaja
    Jeru the DamajaThe Sun Rises in the EastMay 24, 1994 · 5 reviews · 80% approval · Some debate
    87B+
  10. 10Album cover for Vitalogy by Pearl Jam
    Pearl JamVitalogyNovember 22, 1994 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    87B+

How 1994 grades

Share of albums at each letter grade. A is 90 and up, F is below 60.

1994

A15%
B39%
C34%
D10%
F2%

Every year

A6%
B24%
C37%
D22%
F11%
  1. 11Album cover for Vauxhall and I by Morrissey
    MorrisseyVauxhall and IMarch 14, 1994 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    87B+
  2. 12Album cover for Protection by Massive Attack
    Massive AttackProtectionSeptember 26, 1994 · 7 reviews · 86% approval · Some debate
    84B
  3. 13Album cover for Ill Communication by Beastie Boys
    Beastie BoysIll CommunicationMay 18, 1994 · 10 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    84B
  4. 14Album cover for Dog Man Star by Suede
    SuedeDog Man StarOctober 10, 1994 · 9 reviews · 89% approval · Broad agreement
    84B
  5. 15Album cover for Monster by R.E.M.
    R.E.M.MonsterSeptember 23, 1994 · 6 reviews · 67% approval · Some debate
    83B
  6. 16Album cover for It Takes a Thief by Coolio
    CoolioIt Takes a ThiefJuly 19, 1994 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    83B
  7. 17Album cover for Wildflowers by Tom Petty
    Tom PettyWildflowersOctober 31, 1994 · 11 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    83B
  8. 18Album cover for CrazySexyCool by TLC
    TLCCrazySexyCoolNovember 15, 1994 · 8 reviews · 88% approval · Some debate
    82B-
  9. 19Album cover for Illmatic by Nas
    NasIllmaticApril 15, 1994 · 6 reviews · 83% approval · Divided
    82B-
  10. 20Album cover for Mars Audiac Quintet by Stereolab
    StereolabMars Audiac QuintetAugust 9, 1994 · 9 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    81B-
  11. 21Album cover for Mellow Gold by Beck
    BeckMellow GoldMarch 1, 1994 · 5 reviews · 80% approval · Broad agreement
    80B-
  12. 22Album cover for Brutal Youth by Elvis Costello
    Elvis CostelloBrutal YouthMarch 8, 1994 · 7 reviews · 71% approval · Some debate
    80B-
  13. 23Album cover for Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik by OutKast
    OutKastSouthernplayalisticadillacmuzikApril 26, 1994 · 8 reviews · 88% approval · Some debate
    79C+
  14. 24Album cover for Universal Mother by Sinéad O'Connor
    Sinéad O'ConnorUniversal MotherSeptember 7, 1994 · 5 reviews · 80% approval · Broad agreement
    78C+
  15. 25Album cover for Hungry for Stink by L7
    L7Hungry for StinkJuly 12, 1994 · 9 reviews · 56% approval · Divided
    78C+

Where 1994 sits

Average Breakdown, for albums with five or more reviews.

Next to the years around it

199177
199280
199375
1994 (this year)80
199575
199677
199774

By genre

Hip-Hop & Rap84
Indie & Alternative81
Rock79
  1. 26Album cover for The Downward Spiral by Nine Inch Nails
    Nine Inch NailsThe Downward SpiralMarch 8, 1994 · 5 reviews · 80% approval · Contentious
    78C+
  2. 27Album cover for Diary by Sunny Day Real Estate
    Sunny Day Real EstateDiaryMay 10, 1994 · 7 reviews · 71% approval · Some debate
    77C+
  3. 28Album cover for Bedtime Stories by Madonna
    MadonnaBedtime StoriesOctober 24, 1994 · 5 reviews · 60% approval · Some debate
    77C+
  4. 29Album cover for Divine Intervention by Slayer
    SlayerDivine InterventionSeptember 27, 1994 · 5 reviews · 60% approval · Divided
    77C+
  5. 30Album cover for Give Out But Don’t Give Up by Primal Scream
    Primal ScreamGive Out But Don’t Give UpMarch 28, 1994 · 5 reviews · 60% approval · Divided
    76C
  6. 31Album cover for Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star by Sonic Youth
    Sonic YouthExperimental Jet Set, Trash and No StarApril 26, 1994 · 9 reviews · 56% approval · Some debate
    76C
  7. 32Album cover for One Foot in the Grave by Beck
    BeckOne Foot in the GraveJune 27, 1994 · 9 reviews · 78% approval · Some debate
    76C
  8. 33Album cover for His ‘n’ Hers by Pulp
    PulpHis ‘n’ HersApril 18, 1994 · 8 reviews · 75% approval · Divided
    76C
  9. 34Album cover for Seal by Seal
    SealSealMay 23, 1994 · 8 reviews · 75% approval · Divided
    74C
  10. 35Album cover for Stranger than Fiction by Bad Religion
    Bad ReligionStranger than FictionAugust 26, 1994 · 7 reviews · 57% approval · Some debate
    74C
  11. 36Album cover for Roman Candle by Elliott Smith
    Elliott SmithRoman CandleJuly 14, 1994 · 8 reviews · 63% approval · Some debate
    72C-
  12. 37Album cover for Scratch the Surface by Sick of It All
    Sick of It AllScratch the SurfaceOctober 18, 1994 · 6 reviews · 33% approval · Contentious
    68D+
  13. 38Album cover for Merry Christmas by Mariah Carey
    Mariah CareyMerry ChristmasOctober 29, 1994 · 5 reviews · 40% approval · Some debate
    68D+
  14. 39Album cover for Second Coming by The Stone Roses
    The Stone RosesSecond ComingDecember 5, 1994 · 8 reviews · 38% approval · Divided
    65D
  15. 40Album cover for The Division Bell by Pink Floyd
    Pink FloydThe Division BellMarch 28, 1994 · 8 reviews · 25% approval · Divided
    61D-
  16. 41Album cover for Born Dead by Body Count
    Body CountBorn DeadSeptember 6, 1994 · 9 reviews · 22% approval · Divided
    56F
  1. 1Album cover for Dookie by Green Day
    Green DayDookieJanuary 28, 1994 · 8 reviews · 88% approval · Some debate
    90A-
  2. 2Album cover for Grace by Jeff Buckley
    Jeff BuckleyGraceAugust 15, 1994 · 9 reviews · 89% approval · Some debate
    87B+
  3. 3Album cover for Vitalogy by Pearl Jam
    Pearl JamVitalogyNovember 22, 1994 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    87B+
  4. 4Album cover for Dog Man Star by Suede
    SuedeDog Man StarOctober 10, 1994 · 9 reviews · 89% approval · Broad agreement
    84B
  5. 5Album cover for Wildflowers by Tom Petty
    Tom PettyWildflowersOctober 31, 1994 · 11 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    83B
  6. 6Album cover for Hungry for Stink by L7
    L7Hungry for StinkJuly 12, 1994 · 9 reviews · 56% approval · Divided
    78C+
  7. 7Album cover for The Downward Spiral by Nine Inch Nails
    Nine Inch NailsThe Downward SpiralMarch 8, 1994 · 5 reviews · 80% approval · Contentious
    78C+
  8. 8Album cover for Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star by Sonic Youth
    Sonic YouthExperimental Jet Set, Trash and No StarApril 26, 1994 · 9 reviews · 56% approval · Some debate
    76C
  9. 9Album cover for Second Coming by The Stone Roses
    The Stone RosesSecond ComingDecember 5, 1994 · 8 reviews · 38% approval · Divided
    65D
  10. 10Album cover for The Division Bell by Pink Floyd
    Pink FloydThe Division BellMarch 28, 1994 · 8 reviews · 25% approval · Divided
    61D-
  1. 1Album cover for The Bends by Radiohead
    RadioheadThe BendsNovember 29, 1994 · 10 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    95A
  2. 2Album cover for Let Love In by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
    Nick Cave and the Bad SeedsLet Love InApril 15, 1994 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    89B+
  3. 3Album cover for Vauxhall and I by Morrissey
    MorrisseyVauxhall and IMarch 14, 1994 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    87B+
  4. 4Album cover for Monster by R.E.M.
    R.E.M.MonsterSeptember 23, 1994 · 6 reviews · 67% approval · Some debate
    83B
  5. 5Album cover for Mars Audiac Quintet by Stereolab
    StereolabMars Audiac QuintetAugust 9, 1994 · 9 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    81B-
  6. 6Album cover for Mellow Gold by Beck
    BeckMellow GoldMarch 1, 1994 · 5 reviews · 80% approval · Broad agreement
    80B-
  7. 7Album cover for Diary by Sunny Day Real Estate
    Sunny Day Real EstateDiaryMay 10, 1994 · 7 reviews · 71% approval · Some debate
    77C+
  8. 8Album cover for Give Out But Don’t Give Up by Primal Scream
    Primal ScreamGive Out But Don’t Give UpMarch 28, 1994 · 5 reviews · 60% approval · Divided
    76C
  9. 9Album cover for One Foot in the Grave by Beck
    BeckOne Foot in the GraveJune 27, 1994 · 9 reviews · 78% approval · Some debate
    76C
  10. 10Album cover for His ‘n’ Hers by Pulp
    PulpHis ‘n’ HersApril 18, 1994 · 8 reviews · 75% approval · Divided
    76C
  11. 11Album cover for Roman Candle by Elliott Smith
    Elliott SmithRoman CandleJuly 14, 1994 · 8 reviews · 63% approval · Some debate
    72C-
  1. 1Album cover for The Diary by Scarface
    ScarfaceThe DiaryOctober 18, 1994 · 5 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    91A-
  2. 2Album cover for The Sun Rises in the East by Jeru the Damaja
    Jeru the DamajaThe Sun Rises in the EastMay 24, 1994 · 5 reviews · 80% approval · Some debate
    87B+
  3. 3Album cover for Ill Communication by Beastie Boys
    Beastie BoysIll CommunicationMay 18, 1994 · 10 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    84B
  4. 4Album cover for It Takes a Thief by Coolio
    CoolioIt Takes a ThiefJuly 19, 1994 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    83B
  5. 5Album cover for Illmatic by Nas
    NasIllmaticApril 15, 1994 · 6 reviews · 83% approval · Divided
    82B-
  6. 6Album cover for Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik by OutKast
    OutKastSouthernplayalisticadillacmuzikApril 26, 1994 · 8 reviews · 88% approval · Some debate
    79C+

← 1993 · Every year, back to the 1950s · 1995 →

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