For this week's readers poll, I asked our Facebook and Twitter chums their choices for the most underrated and unsung albums of the '90s.
We all agree on things like Nevermind, Harvest Moon, Mezzanine, The Soft Bulletin, Odelay and OK Computer, but what about albums that fall through the cracks of '90s lore? The ones that don't get teary-eyed blogs written about them, or grand SPIN magazine retrospective covers?
Most of these were no-brainers that I was glad to see mentioned, like The Afghan Whigs' Gentlemen, and more esoteric and adventurous pieces like Kula Shaker's K. Of course, Team Rocks Off snuck a few onto the list. (You're welcome, Live!)
I should have made my case for the Donnas' sophomore album, American Teenage Rock 'n' Roll Machine, recorded before they turned into Turbonegro.
Not all albums from the '90s aren't overrated or underrated. Some things are rated just as they should be. Like The Pixies' Bossanova , Sleater-Kinney's Call the Doctor, or Jawbreaker's Dear You. They are just good, no more no less. Argue amongst yourselves.
Fastball, All the Pain Money Can Buy: You may have only known Fastball for their hit single "The Way" but they turned in a great pop-rock record with 1998's All The Pain..., which featured two other singles that should have been much bigger.
Blind Melon, Soup
Live, Secret Samadhi
The Rentals, Return of the Rentals: If you were into Weezer in the mid-'90s, you surely owned former guitarist Matt Sharp's Rentals work. This one still gets love, a decade and half on.
The Offspring, Ixnay On The Hombre
God Lives Underwater, Life In The So-Called Space Age
White Zombie, La Sexorcisto: Devil Music Vol. 1
Garbage, Version 2.0
Matthew Sweet, Girlfriend
Pulp, Different Class: With Pulp active again -- for now -- many people are rediscovering their catalog, a perfect, glam-inflected take on the Britpop genre. Start with this one.
L7, Bricks Are Heavy
Better Than Ezra, Friction Baby
Bush, Razorblade Suitcase