Ten Influential Albums Turning 25 in 2020

The nineties was a huge decade for music, in particular for British music as the post-rave era morphed into a Britpop bonanza. Below are ten influential albums that will be turning a quarter of a century old in 2020, all of these albums have had a lasting impression on music in general, still to this date.

Elastica, Elastica 

A totally iconic year for Britpop, 1995, when the motion began. Elastica and Supergrass released their debuts, and Oasis, Blur, and Pulp were all releasing chart topping albums in 1995. Parkas were out, Adidas trainers were on, polo's were firmly worn and alcohol and narcotics were flowing freely in the bloodstream - Britpop had BEGUN. Elastica hit number one with this album in the UK Charts, and their debut became the fastest selling debut since Oasis' 1994 Definitely Maybe.





Tupac Shakur,  Me Against The World

A strong album from Pac, containing classics like 'Me Against the World' and 'Dear Mama', this was the album that began getting Pac some sort of recognition on a commercial scale and shortly after the release of Me Against The World followed his best album All Eyez On Me (1996), turning Pac into a global phenomenon and an absolute legend in the rap and hip-hop world. Pacs posthumous albums are also some of the best work he has ever done like, Pac's Life (2006) and Loyal to the Game (2004). Baring in mind the UK was dominating the music scene at this point, and grunge was dominating the American scene, Pac obviously created a lasting impression with this album as it went on to become platinum - not once - but three times.


Paul Weller, Stanley Road 


Noel Gallagher (of Oasis) is credited as guest guitarist on the Stanley Road album track 'I Walk on Gilded Splinters', so Weller returned the favour, appearing as a guest guitarist and backing vocalist on Oasis' hit song 'Champagne Supernova' (1995). Weller's solo work hit a real peak when Stanley Road was released, with 'The Changing Man', 'Porcelain Gods', 'You Do Something to Me', and 'Broken Stones' among the albums track listing - arguably Weller's best known solo songs. His debut, Paul Weller and second release, Wild Wood just don't hit like Stanley Road does. 'Woodcutters Son', 'Wings of Speed', 'Whirlpool's End', 'Out of the Sinking' and self-titled track 'Stanley Road' are also standouts on this classic 1995 Weller album.

Supergrass, I Should CoCo


Supergrass couldn't have released this album at a better time, at the height of Britpop, record companies were creaming in their pants when they heard this album. The album containing hit single 'Alright' received critical acclaim and went platinum, as well as reaching Number One in the UK Albums Chart. With their definitive Southern accents, heavy guitars, and 60s inspired backing vocals they made for perfect competition within the North Vs South Britpop divide. 'Caught by the Fuzz' and 'Mansize Rooster' are quite punk tracks, but they also had their slow songs like 'Time to Go' which is rather akin to The Beatles and The Kinks which seals the album off smoothly.

The Verve, A Northern Soul

After not receiving an amazing reception from their first studio album A Storm In Heaven. A Northern Soul is just what The Verve needed to get their foot in the door, and the albums just kept getting better. After A Northern Soul, The Verve released Urban Hymns which is obviously their most notorious album, and then lastly The Forth, which again is a phenomenal album. With 'This is Music', 'Life's an Ocean', 'Stormy Clouds' and self titled track 'A Northern Soul' the album really exploits Ashcroft's writing talents that have come to the forefront more so later in his career, but even as a young musician his song writing skills were that of poetry and meticulous vocabulary, much to be admired.

 The Chemical Brothers, Exit Planet Dust


Keeping dance music alive, The Chemical Brothers released their debut continuing the hedonistic rave lifestyle into the mid 90s, and refusing to let Britpop be the only voice for the younger people of their generation. In this post rave era, they were up against The Prodigy and the likes of Fat Boy Slim but they made their voice heard, breaking into the scene with their groovy dance anthems.






Black Grape, It's Great When You're Straight... Yeah


Shaun Ryder's debut release with (new) group Black Grape is somewhat a continuum of Happy Monday's Thrills Pills and Bellyaches but with more of a hip-hop edge, still containing Ryder's distinctive Mancunian accent. The tracks are full of life and high with energy, 'Reverend Black Grape' sounds exactly as you would expect, even having a Reverend at the end of the track saying "Can you feel it? Can you feel the spirit of the Lord?" and 'In the Name of Father' also seems somewhat a mockery to sobriety and Christianity? 'Yeah Yeah Brother' and 'Submarine' are both favourite's, lyrically and rhythmically the whole album is just bursting with energy and oozing with groove, it's packed full with bangers which led to it topping the UK Albums Charts for two weeks straight.

Blur, The Great Escape

Earlier on in the year both Oasis and Blur made the headlines with their same day release, Blur were releasing 'Country House' and Oasis were releasing 'Roll With It' - both on 14th August 1995. This was the fight for the reigning champion of Britpop, the Kings of Britpop, North Vs South. 'Roll With It' reached Number 2 and Blur's 'Country House' reached Number 1, making Blur come out on top.

After the release of their first album Leisure (1991) the band didn't receive the critical acclaim they aimed to, and once Suede released their self titled debut on 29th March 1993, the competition was increasing, but the intimidation didn't fear Blur and they released Modern Life Is Rubbish (1993) shortly after Suede's release, on 10th May 1993 and Parklife (1994) - due to the albums' success it helped to heighten Blur's popularity. The Great Escape is an influential album because it built up high expectations post-dual release, but Oasis somewhat dominated the market once they released (What's the Story) Morning Glory?, despite Blur's initial efforts.

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

Containing the majority of Oasis' classics, 'Wonderwall', 'Champagne Supernova', 'Don't Look Back in Anger', 'Morning Glory', and 'Some Might Say'. This was the year for Oasis, pretty much every single song on this album went commercial and blew up all over the world, and their hooligan antics were giving them the press coverage they needed alongside the album. Other songs off (What's the Story) Morning Glory? like, 'Cast No Shadow', 'Bonehead's Bank Holiday', 'Hey Now', 'She's Electric', 'Roll With It' and 'Hello' were also big commercial successes, their most well known album by far. A faultless second release.


Pulp, Different Class


Pulp's fifth, yet most effective album, Different Class speaks of the British social class system which is just the sort of working-class nationalism that New Labour wanted to introduce into the Britpop market at the time of the emerging music scene. The album contains Pulp's arguably most popular song 'Common People' which was a staple tune of the Britpop scene in the 90s and as a result, the album had such an impact that it went on to win the 1996 Mercury Prize Award for best album released in the United Kingdom.