1990s
56 cover stories
Grunge's anti-aesthetic collided with hip-hop's visual maximalism. From Nevermind's underwater baby to the stark minimalism of Radiohead's artwork, the decade saw album covers oscillate between raw authenticity and elaborate conceptual art.
The Battle of Los Angeles
Rage Against the Machine · 1999
Aquemini
OutKast · 1998
Mezzanine
Massive Attack · 1998
Moon Safari
Air · 1998
In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
Neutral Milk Hotel · 1998
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Hill · 1998
The Colour and the Shape
Foo Fighters · 1997
Supa Dupa Fly
Missy Elliott · 1997
OK Computer
Radiohead · 1997
Homogenic
Björk · 1997
Around the Fur
Deftones · 1997
Baduizm
Erykah Badu · 1997
Homework
Daft Punk · 1997
The Fat of the Land
The Prodigy · 1997
Ænima
Tool · 1996
Crash
Dave Matthews Band · 1996
The Score
Fugees · 1996
ATLiens
OutKast · 1996
Reasonable Doubt
Jay-Z · 1996
...I Care Because You Do
Aphex Twin · 1995
Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...
Raekwon · 1995
Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
The Smashing Pumpkins · 1995
Maxinquaye
Tricky · 1995
Post
Björk · 1995
The Bends
Radiohead · 1995
Ready to Die
The Notorious B.I.G. · 1994
Dookie
Green Day · 1994
Definitely Maybe
Oasis · 1994
Protection
Massive Attack · 1994
Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
Pavement · 1994
Vitalogy
Pearl Jam · 1994
Grace
Jeff Buckley · 1994
Parklife
Blur · 1994
Illmatic
Nas · 1994
Dummy
Portishead · 1994
Weezer
Weezer · 1994
Midnight Marauders
A Tribe Called Quest · 1993
Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
Wu-Tang Clan · 1993
Siamese Dream
The Smashing Pumpkins · 1993
Vs.
Pearl Jam · 1993
In Utero
Nirvana · 1993
Automatic for the People
R.E.M. · 1992
Dirt
Alice in Chains · 1992
Selected Ambient Works 85-92
Aphex Twin · 1992
Rage Against the Machine
Rage Against the Machine · 1992
The Chronic
Dr. Dre · 1992
Blood Sugar Sex Magik
Red Hot Chili Peppers · 1991
The Low End Theory
A Tribe Called Quest · 1991
Badmotorfinger
Soundgarden · 1991
Ten
Pearl Jam · 1991
Metallica
Metallica · 1991
Spiderland
Slint · 1991
Nevermind
Nirvana · 1991
Goo
Sonic Youth · 1990
Violator
Depeche Mode · 1990
Mama Said Knock You Out
LL Cool J · 1990