The 3 Albums Released in 1991 That Changed the Musical Trajectory of the Decade

When the 70s ended and the 80s began, the world of music took a hard turn. The rock ‘n’ roll attitude and sound of the 70s gave way to the positive and poppy disposition and ambiance of the 80s. For some, this was a great follow-up to the 70s. For others, it was a tragic misstep, as the heart and soul of rock music started to decline as the decade continued. However, in 1991, a surplus of iconic albums was released, and consequently, hard-nosed rock ‘n’ roll became one of the premier genres of popular music once again.

Videos by American Songwriter

The cultural shift between the 80s and 90s was just as, if not more, polarizing than the one between the 50s and 60s. Everyone traded out their neon spandex for plaid flannels, and the general cultural shift was a direct product of the music ruling the mainstream. Which, arguably, started in 1991, as these three albums released that year changed the musical trajectory of the decade.

‘Nevermind’ by Nirvana

To this day, and even though they are no longer together, Nirvana remains one of the most popular bands on the planet. How they accomplished this was through various factors, but what ultimately turned them into the most culturally influential band of the 90s was their 1991 album, Nevermind.

After the release of Nevermind, the grunge music movement took over the 90s and seemingly influenced every other artist and every other facet of culture. Nirvana were the cultural and musical kings of the 90s, and the album’s two-week run at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 is a solid testament to that notion.

‘Blood Sugar Sex Magik’ by The Red Hot Chili Peppers

Another band that helped fuel the underground and edgy rock ‘n’ roll of the 90s was, of course, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, and they started doing just that after the release of their 1991 album, Blood Sugar Sex Magik. The album was a cross-genre mix between funk, punk, grunge, and classic rock ‘n’ roll. Consequently, it is one of the many albums that made the alternative rock genre into a major commercial player.

Following the release of Blood Sugar Sex Magik, the album debuted at No. 14 on the Billboard 200. Months later, it peaked at No. 3 on the chart and hosted the No. 2 Billboard Hot 100 single, “Under The Bridge”.

‘Ten’ by Pearl Jam

While Nirvana is often cited as the most popular grunge band of all time, Pearl Jam certainly comes in second. The 1991 album, Ten, not only made Pearl Jam a major force but also solidified the grunge rock genre as arguably the most popular genre of the 1990s. Thus, further influencing the masses to tune into the likes of other bands such as Soundgarden, Alice In Chains, and Temple of the Dog.

Pearl Jam’s Ten was not a major success right off the bat. However, a couple of months after its initial release, the album became a bona fide hit, as it peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and was home to the hit singles  “Alive”, “Even Flow”, and “Jeremy”.

Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage