These 90s jams deserve a spot on your throwbacks playlist. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the best tunes of the 90s that you might not know.
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00:00 ♪ Once more with the wallop and the score ♪
00:01 ♪ Spice up all the love shit and make it rock your hip ♪
00:03 - Welcome to WatchMojo.
00:05 And today we're counting down our picks
00:07 for the best tunes of the 90s that you might not know.
00:11 ♪ Everybody wearing a frown ♪
00:14 - If you like what you're hearing,
00:19 be sure to check out the full song at the link below.
00:22 ♪ I love the way you pray, pray ♪
00:26 ♪ 'Cause I love the way you pray all day ♪
00:30 ♪ 'Cause I love the way you ♪
00:33 - Number 20, The Power of Equality, Red Hot Chili Peppers.
00:38 If you're looking for a shot of musical adrenaline,
00:40 look no further than The Power of Equality.
00:43 ♪ I got a soul that cannot sleep at night ♪
00:46 ♪ When I'm stoned into the electric ♪
00:48 ♪ Blood river without salt ♪
00:50 - The lead track off of the Red Hot Chili Peppers album,
00:53 Blood Sugar Sex Magic.
00:55 Has all the raw power of their best work.
00:58 Combining John Frusciante's Wicked Guitar
01:01 with Flea's signature bass,
01:02 the music comes together with a furious energy.
01:05 ♪ Power of the equality ♪
01:09 - Anthony Kiedis' engaging words glide over the top
01:14 of an underrated groove from their prolific catalog.
01:18 Even if it's not one of their big hits,
01:20 it deserves to be placed alongside the likes
01:22 of Under the Bridge or Give It Away.
01:24 ♪ Whatever happened to humanity ♪
01:26 ♪ Whatever happened to humanity ♪
01:28 - Number 19, Mr. Wendell, Arrested Development.
01:32 Whether you call it conscious hip hop or just catchy,
01:36 Mr. Wendell is a unique piece of 1990s rap history.
01:40 ♪ Here, have a dollar ♪
01:41 ♪ In fact, no brother man, here, have two ♪
01:44 - It comes from Arrested Development's
01:45 acclaimed debut album, Three Years, Five Months,
01:48 and Two Days in the Life of.
01:50 Lead performer's speech describes
01:52 the struggle of the homeless.
01:54 But never sacrifices the song's replayability.
01:57 ♪ Mr. Wendell has tried to warn us ♪
01:59 ♪ About our ways, but we don't hear him talk ♪
02:01 - His heartfelt message comes with a fun groove
02:03 that balances out the tune's gritty reality.
02:06 Unafraid to tackle serious subjects,
02:09 the group charts a tale that's timeless and important.
02:12 There's also the undeniable beat
02:14 that makes this the best kind of earworm.
02:17 ♪ Lord, Mr. Wendell ♪
02:23 - Number 18, The Anthem.
02:26 Sway and King Tech in DJ Revolution,
02:29 featuring RZA, Tech N9ne, Eminem,
02:31 Xzibit, Pharaoh Monch, Cool G Rap,
02:34 J.O. Felony, Chino XL, and KRS-One.
02:38 Despite arguments to the contrary,
02:40 you can never have too many rappers on one track.
02:43 ♪ Bobby still stay cool chill ♪
02:44 ♪ 'Til the C's get to live staple ♪
02:46 ♪ Project killer hell ♪
02:48 ♪ It's stamped on the map like the compass ♪
02:50 - This is especially true on Sway and King Tech
02:53 in DJ Revolution's song, The Anthem,
02:55 from their album, This or That.
02:57 These artists bring together a variety of talent
03:00 that spans an entire decade of hip hop.
03:02 You have veteran acts like KRS-One and Cool G Rap,
03:06 while also introducing up and coming MCs such as Eminem.
03:10 ♪ This place is my house ♪
03:11 ♪ I might as well erase my face with whiteout ♪
03:13 ♪ 'Cause y'all can't see me like Mesa's eyebrows ♪
03:16 - While the production could have been a disaster,
03:18 it actually gives time for each rapper
03:20 to shine in their own way.
03:21 It's hard to imagine that this wasn't
03:23 the biggest release of its kind,
03:25 given the talent on display.
03:27 ♪ Now you know we're Sway and Tech, dude ♪
03:29 ♪ I'll be back, but for now just stack 'em ♪
03:32 - Number 17, Aftermath, Tricky.
03:35 After working with Massive Attack,
03:37 Tricky decided to go solo
03:39 and release the album, Max and Key.
03:41 ♪ Oh whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa ♪
03:44 ♪ Do it some way ♪
03:47 - The record and its lead single, Aftermath,
03:50 blend together trip-hop
03:51 and other experimental genres into one.
03:54 In an atmospheric production,
03:56 the performer takes cues from R&B,
03:58 electronic, and hip-hop to craft a winning formula.
04:02 ♪ Your eyes resemble mine ♪
04:03 ♪ You'll see there's no other's to man ♪
04:05 ♪ Hear and hear much good in them ♪
04:06 ♪ Speak of a people's mind ♪
04:08 - Singer Martina "Topley" Byrd provides the lead vocals
04:11 with a beautifully understated performance.
04:13 Mixing cool beats with unexpected instrumentations,
04:17 this laid-back piece transports you to another world.
04:20 The artist uses dynamic sounds
04:22 to play with your perception of what is possible in music.
04:26 Among the underrated musicians of the 1990s,
04:29 Tricky deserves his spot
04:30 amongst the most groundbreaking of the decade.
04:33 ♪ So many things I need to tell you ♪
04:37 ♪ The things you need to hear ♪
04:40 - Number 16, Helpless, Sugar.
04:44 Starting in the 1980s, Bob Mould left his mark on music
04:47 during his time in the seminal punk band
04:50 Boosker Do.
04:51 The next decade saw him venturing into more alternative rock
04:54 and pop territory with the project Sugar.
04:57 ♪ Another time, time after time ♪
05:01 ♪ You make me feel so wrong ♪
05:04 - Tunes like Helpless show off his ability
05:07 to take the energy from his younger days
05:09 and funnel it into an accessible track.
05:11 With addicting melodies and memorable guitar parts,
05:14 this single has just the right amount of inviting elements
05:17 for any rock fan.
05:19 ♪ I wish that I could feel your heart ♪
05:23 ♪ But you see what's left of us ♪
05:26 - There's also some compelling drum work
05:28 that keeps the driving production going.
05:31 This and the album Copper Blue
05:33 represent another great entry into the 1990s alt scene.
05:37 ♪ Please follow me ♪
05:40 - Number 15, After the Flood, Talk Talk.
05:46 If you know the band Talk Talk,
05:47 you probably remember them for singles like It's My Life.
05:51 ♪ It's my life ♪
05:54 ♪ Don't you forget ♪
05:58 - They gradually became more artistic and experimental
06:00 by the end of the 1980s,
06:02 leaving behind some more commercial ideas
06:05 for a genre known as post-rock.
06:07 Their final album, Laughingstock,
06:09 features an exemplary take on this musical direction
06:13 known as After the Flood.
06:15 ♪ And so just let go ♪
06:18 - This epic piece contains sonic landscapes,
06:22 an unorthodox structure, and an unpredictable sound.
06:26 Songwriters Mark Hollis and Tim "Freeze" Green
06:28 deserve praise for creating complex music
06:31 that doesn't conform to the mainstream.
06:33 ♪ And I'll see you again ♪
06:37 - In one of their final statements as a band,
06:42 Talk Talk offers up a satisfying experience
06:45 for those willing to take the plunge.
06:47 ♪ Let's rip again ♪
06:50 - Number 14, Rid of Me, PJ Harvey.
06:58 The lead track off of PJ Harvey's second album
07:01 of the same name tells you everything
07:03 you need to know about her.
07:04 ♪ Tie yourself to me ♪
07:08 - First of all, she's an accomplished songwriter
07:13 who's more than capable of attracting
07:15 alternative music devotees.
07:17 Harvey also has an ability to build suspense
07:20 in an opening that's quiet until a sudden change.
07:23 With this shift, she reveals that she can also rock out
07:27 like the best of them.
07:28 Rid of Me features impressive guitar and drum work
07:31 that stands as a perfect time capsule of the era.
07:34 ♪ Until you say don't you wish you never, never, never ♪
07:38 - Fans of 1990s music might already know her,
07:41 but this deep cut has enough magic
07:43 to welcome casual listeners into her catalog.
07:46 ♪ Lick my legs and I'm on fire ♪
07:49 ♪ Lick my legs and I'm desire ♪
07:53 - Number 13, Fru Fru Foxes in Midsummer Fires, Cocteau Twins.
07:58 On the final track from their release, Heaven or Las Vegas,
08:03 Cocteau Twins bring together
08:05 some of their best musical impulses.
08:07 ♪ I'll be cool and nice ♪
08:10 ♪ Let's get in the race ♪
08:13 - The dream pop act crafts an epic song
08:15 with an almost cinematic quality.
08:18 Vocalist Elizabeth Fraser sings haunting verses
08:21 that build with emotional intensity.
08:23 By the time that she reaches the chorus,
08:25 the singer lets the words flow out in a cathartic moment.
08:29 ♪ It's hard to pull her out of my vision ♪
08:31 ♪ And I can't make you decide ♪
08:34 ♪ It's a dream of color ♪
08:35 - The amazing music behind her provides an added power
08:38 that takes you on a sonic journey.
08:40 It's a lengthy composition
08:42 that works perfectly as its own piece,
08:44 while also serving as a dramatic conclusion
08:46 to a classic album.
08:48 ♪ Ooh la la ♪
08:51 ♪ Ooh la la ♪
08:54 - Number 12, Babies, Pulp.
08:57 Pulp is best known for their track Common People,
09:00 but they have an extensive catalog of worthy Brit pop.
09:04 ♪ Well it happened years ago ♪
09:08 - This includes an eclectic group of singles
09:10 like this one that feel as fresh as they did upon release.
09:14 With that in mind, Babies comes with a fantastic groove
09:17 and some awesome storytelling, courtesy of Jarvis Cocker.
09:21 ♪ I wanna take you home ♪
09:24 ♪ I wanna give you children ♪
09:28 - The singer takes you into a complex story
09:30 about young love and sisterhood
09:33 that contains more than a few surprises.
09:35 Using influences from the 1980s new wave,
09:38 the group employs a compelling beat and synthesizers
09:42 to round out this cool composition.
09:44 ♪ You might be my girlfriend ♪
09:47 ♪ Yeah yeah yeah yeah ♪
09:51 - Number 11, Me & Honey, R.E.M.
09:54 Only diehard R.E.M. fans will remember this deep track
09:57 off the hit album Out of Time.
10:00 ♪ Sat there looking ugly, looking ugly at me ♪
10:04 - The bulk of the song revolves around one riff
10:06 by guitarist Peter Buck.
10:08 From this simple foundation,
10:10 Michael Stipe builds out a tapestry of notable melodies.
10:14 He also has the help of B-52 singer Kate Pearson.
10:18 Together, both vocalists create harmonies
10:20 that stand alongside some of the best of the decade.
10:23 ♪ Seems a shame, a waste of time for me ♪
10:29 - Stipe's signature voice leads listeners
10:32 through a series of folk, pop, and rock influences.
10:35 It's ultimately a hypnotic number,
10:38 holding you in its orbit
10:39 and encouraging you to return for its finest moments.
10:43 ♪ What about me ♪
10:46 ♪ What about me ♪
10:50 - Number 10, Seven, Sunny Day Real Estates.
10:54 Unless you're a fan of 1990s emo,
10:57 you might not know the greatness of Sunny Day Real Estate.
11:00 ♪ So I heard I'm ♪
11:03 - Their first studio album, Diary,
11:09 includes some awesome songs,
11:11 including In Circles and the timeless Seven.
11:15 Throw all your preconceived notions
11:16 about the genre out the window
11:18 as you listen to a true masterpiece of rock.
11:21 ♪ You're wasting, you're wasting ♪
11:26 ♪ Your time ♪
11:28 - Taking inspiration from all kinds of punk
11:30 and alternative bands,
11:32 the group knows how to craft engaging riffs
11:34 with heavy instrumentations.
11:36 Jeremy Enoch powers through with a voice
11:38 that pulls in audiences with his unique tone.
11:42 Proving that there's much more to the decade
11:44 than grunge or Britpop,
11:45 the band paves their own way with an influential single.
11:49 ♪ I'm wasting my time ♪
11:56 - Number nine, Summertime, The Sundays.
12:00 English band The Sundays bridges the gap
12:02 between rock and pop with this effortless performance.
12:06 ♪ Something I wonder ♪
12:08 ♪ Never let me be alone ♪
12:11 - The charisma of singer Harriet Wheeler on this song
12:14 makes you feel like anything is possible.
12:16 The overall vibe of the song gives listeners
12:19 a blast of nostalgia for the 1990s.
12:21 Energized and ready for some fun sounds for the summer.
12:25 ♪ And it's you and me in the summertime ♪
12:30 - It's the kind of refreshing track
12:31 that makes you wanna go out
12:33 and enjoy the simplicity of a sunny day.
12:35 Wheeler's words have a literary quality
12:37 that separates her from the typical songwriter.
12:40 Utilizing a great guitar riff,
12:42 the band assembles for a lovely experience
12:44 full of positivity.
12:46 ♪ And that's how it happens ♪
12:52 - Number eight, Sleep, Slow Dive.
12:56 This unreleased track from Slow Dive
12:58 might be one of the best bootlegs of its kind.
13:01 ♪ And it's you and me ♪
13:04 - Taking a ballad into Shoegaze territory,
13:09 Sleep could have easily been another iconic single
13:13 from the band.
13:13 Rachel Goswell's voice echoes
13:15 through a densely layered piece of ethereal effects.
13:19 Her angelic vocals soar atop some intriguing melodies.
13:22 Taking listeners on a melancholic rollercoaster ride.
13:25 ♪ And it's you and me in the summertime ♪
13:30 - The band once again makes the most of the production
13:34 with dueling electronics and guitar work.
13:37 While it might not have made it onto the likes of Suvlaki
13:40 or other acclaimed records,
13:42 it deserves to be held in the same regard
13:44 as the group's best work.
13:46 ♪ And it's you and me in the summertime ♪
13:52 - Number seven, From a Motel 6, Yola Tango.
13:56 With the release of their sixth album in 1993,
13:59 Yola Tango brought together
14:01 one of their finest collections of music.
14:04 (upbeat music)
14:06 This includes From a Motel 6,
14:12 the production of which is impressive and dynamic.
14:15 The low-key vocals provide a perfect counterpoint
14:18 to the aggressive instruments
14:19 and the otherworldly guitars courtesy of Ira Kaplan
14:22 include some fantastic effects.
14:24 (upbeat music)
14:27 A guitar solo erupts in the middle of the song
14:31 that defies the usual cliches.
14:34 The indie act marches to the beat of their own drum,
14:37 pulling together a sound that surely influenced
14:39 many alternative groups.
14:41 Audiences that love this track
14:43 should definitely check out this prolific band's
14:46 prolific output.
14:47 (upbeat music)
14:50 Number six, Marigold, Nirvana.
14:57 Starting as a Dave Grohl solo song,
15:00 Marigold later became a highlight of Nirvana's final years.
15:04 ♪ He said, case I'm down ♪
15:07 - The band put out their own interpretation
15:11 as a B-side for Heart-Shaped Box.
15:14 With Grohl singing instead of Kurt Cobain,
15:16 it's also a rare recording for the group
15:18 without their usual front man.
15:20 ♪ All along the crowd is sold ♪
15:24 - The quiet production stands in contrast
15:28 to most of the act's louder catalog.
15:30 Showcasing the drummer's songwriting talents
15:32 before starting his own band,
15:34 the delicate number features some fascinating imagery
15:37 in its lyrics.
15:38 The track lives on through other versions,
15:40 but it's this one that highlights the vocal strengths
15:43 of the Foo Fighters front man.
15:45 ♪ Of the beautiful world ♪
15:48 - Number five, Bleed to Love Her, Fleetwood Mac.
15:55 Among their most underrated releases,
15:57 Bleed to Love Her first appeared
15:59 on Fleetwood Mac's The Dance album.
16:01 ♪ Once again she steals away ♪
16:05 - Lindsey Buckingham's composition
16:07 has all the best elements of his songwriting.
16:09 The strong hook mixes with Buckingham's soulful performance.
16:13 The harmonies and pristine vocals of Christine McVie
16:15 and Stevie Nicks makes the song soar even higher.
16:19 ♪ Once again she calls to me ♪
16:23 - The tune finally received a studio release in 2003,
16:27 but once again flew under the radar,
16:29 despite Buckingham's precise guitar work.
16:31 The song beautifully rivals his best compositions,
16:34 including Never Going Back Again and Go Your Own Way.
16:38 The heartfelt lyrics show the real emotion
16:40 behind an undying love that's full of complications.
16:44 ♪ Bleed to love her ♪
16:47 - Number four, Lately, Massive Attack.
16:54 In just a few seconds, Lately comes roaring to life
16:57 on Massive Attack's debut, Blue Lines.
17:00 ♪ Summertime always gets me blue, blue ♪
17:05 - Shara Nelson sings this trip-hop tune
17:09 with a flawless vocal.
17:10 Nelson gives this track something extra
17:13 as she turns in one of several incredible performances
17:16 on an album that includes Unfinished Sympathy.
17:19 ♪ Let love baby we'll ♪
17:22 ♪ When it will go on ♪
17:25 - The deep cut has one of the funkiest grooves of its kind,
17:29 standing out on a record
17:30 with already stellar production values.
17:33 Try listening to this without feeling instantly better
17:36 and chilled out.
17:37 The mix of R&B, funk, and electronic influences
17:40 will have you under a spell in no time.
17:43 ♪ Mistletoe, mistletoe ♪
17:46 - Number three, a roller skating jam named Saturdays,
17:54 De La Soul.
17:55 If you're looking for a good time,
17:57 look no further than this track from De La Soul.
17:59 ♪ Girl meets boy on Thursday night ♪
18:01 ♪ Boy was hot, girl fly like Mike ♪
18:04 - It's a groovy hip-hop tune
18:05 that owes a lot to the days of disco.
18:08 A few guests also lend their talents,
18:10 including Q-Tip and Vinnie Mohica.
18:13 The latter sings the electric hook,
18:15 helping to sell the feel-good vibes of this anthem.
18:18 ♪ One whole day to play ♪
18:20 ♪ Come on everybody ♪
18:21 ♪ Play your roller skates today ♪
18:23 - This ultimately becomes a celebration
18:25 of the little things in life,
18:27 like an action-packed weekend.
18:29 For anyone looking to have fun on a Saturday,
18:31 put this record on and be prepared to dance the night away.
18:35 (upbeat music)
18:37 - Number two, Life in Vain, Daniel Johnston.
18:44 Daniel Johnston is regarded
18:46 as one of the finest outsider artists of all time.
18:49 ♪ Don't wanna be free of hope ♪
18:52 - His complicated life includes a story
18:56 of mental health struggles
18:57 and a series of sought-after mixtapes and albums.
19:00 These include the 1994 release, Fun,
19:03 and the great track, Life in Vain.
19:05 Even though Johnston wasn't a traditional musician,
19:08 he possessed many qualities
19:09 that virtuosos can only dream of having.
19:12 ♪ I don't know where is up or down ♪
19:16 - These included a natural instinct for melody and lyrics.
19:19 The song tells the tale of someone feeling inadequate,
19:23 uncertain, and empty in their pursuits.
19:26 Anyone that knows the struggles of day-to-day life
19:28 can find something beautiful
19:29 in the songwriter's choice of words.
19:32 It's yet another example of why so many people love his work.
19:36 (upbeat music)
19:39 ♪ Goodbye ♪
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19:58 Number one, All Flowers in Time Bend Towards the Sun,
20:03 Jeff Buckley and Elizabeth Fraser.
20:06 Coming together in a powerful duet,
20:08 Jeff Buckley and Elizabeth Fraser
20:10 are as good as they've ever been on this record.
20:13 ♪ My eyes are ♪
20:16 ♪ Baptized ♪
20:18 - It was an unreleased track for many years,
20:20 even though people managed to get their hands on it.
20:23 For those that don't know it,
20:25 All Flowers in Time Bend Towards the Sun
20:28 might become their new favorite song.
20:30 ♪ All flowers in time bend towards the sun ♪
20:35 - It might not have all the added effects
20:38 of a big production,
20:39 but both performers bring a real presence
20:41 and an honest emotional quality to this ballad.
20:44 The haunting guitars create the foundation
20:46 for poetic lyrics that rank high
20:48 among either singer's catalog.
20:50 Buckley has since passed,
20:52 but this record serves as a reminder
20:54 of his musical abilities.
20:56 ♪ In this world ♪
20:59 - Did we forget another hidden
21:04 or overlooked gem from the decade?
21:07 Let us know in the comments below.
21:08 ♪ Can't stay out of it ♪
21:12 ♪ Can't stay out of it ♪
21:16 - Do you agree with our picks?
21:17 Let us know in the comments.
21:19 And hey, if you're a fan of the song playing right now,
21:21 be sure to check out the music video for it right here.
21:24 ♪ Pray, pray ♪
21:26 ♪ 'Cause I love the way you ♪
21:28 ♪ Pray on me ♪
21:30 ♪ Pray on me ♪
21:33 [BLANK_AUDIO]