6. Rage Against the Machine debuted its first album, R.E.M.’s “Automatic for the People” topped the charts
One of the first revolutionary albums of the 1990s, Rage Against the Machine’s self-titled first release drew rave reviews as well as major criticism from the “powers-that-be” the band railed against. New Musical Express magazine wrote that “what makes RATM more than just another bunch of prodigiously capable genre-benders is their total lack of pretension or contrivance … the results burn with an undeniable conviction.”
The band challenged the status quo as Harvard grad and “guitar hero” Tom Morello teamed with vocalist Zack de la Rocha and drummer Brad Wilk to make one of the greatest albums of the 1990s, and — arguably — all-time. The album produced such hits like “Killing in the Name,” and “Wake Up,” two songs that still permeate the air waves today in Donald Trump’s America.
Michael Stipe and R.E.M released their eighth studio album, “Automatic For The People,” in 1992 as well. The album has sold 18 million copies worldwide and featured such classic 90s songs like “Everybody Hurts” and the Andy Kaufman-inspired “Man on the Moon.”
Dr. Dre also released his first solo album, “The Chronic,” and introduced the world to Snoop Doggy Dogg for the first time. The top single was “I Will Always Love You,” by Whitney Houston, and sat at the top for a record 14 straight weeks. Kris Kross made us “Jump, Jump,” while The Cure told us it was Friday and they were in love. Ugly Kid Joe hated everything about you and TLC didn’t want no scrubs. Kurt Cobain and Nirvana feuded with Axl Rose, who had not yet begun to eat all the cake in Los Angeles, at the MTV Music Awards.
