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The 90s had the best music. But then again, I’m biased as it was the setting for my formative years. As such, I thought a fun list might be to pick one album for each of my middle school and high school years as a representative of what I would have been listening to in that timeframe. Even if I wouldn’t necessarily pick it as the “best of” or my favorite of the year now, I aimed to stay true to what I would have been listening to then. My years were 1993-1999 when I graduated, but if you feel like playing along then use your seven years and pick your 7 Formative Albums and share them! Remember, this is just for fun!
P.S. These are my actual picks for best of the 90s in case you haven’t seen it before.
100 Greatest Christian Albums of the 90s
On to the list!
Middle School:
1993 – Audio Adrenaline – Don’t Censor Me
After being introduced to them on their self titled debut in 1992, they returned with a leap in quality with Don’t Censor Me a short year later. The obvious and surprisingly evergreen “Big House” is on this one, but it’s also features band concert staple “We’re a Band,” and additional highlights like the title track, “Can’t Take God Away,” “My Worldview” and “Rest Easy.”
1994 – PFR – Great Lengths
I would have been eager for the release of this one after hearing their prior albums represented on CCM radio with songs like “Let Go” “Pray for Rain,” and “That Kind of Love.” Like Audio A Don’t Censor Me the year prior, Great Lengths helped evolve my listening taste from the pop of Michael W. Smith, Steven Curtis Chapman, Cindy Morgan, Amy Grant and Out of the Grey in a more pop-rock/al-rock direction. “Great Lengths” the song is a big highlight of the album along with “Merry Go Round,” “Wonder Why,” the huge radio hit “The Love I Know,” and personal favorite, “Life Goes On.” There’s not a bad track here, and I return to this album and PFR as a band often to this day.
1995 – Jars of Clay – Self-Titled
This is probably no surprise to you as my 1995 pick if you’ve followed any of my blogs as this remains my favorite album of all-time. I latched on to it immediately and have only deepened my love for it since. Other than the annoying gap of silence after closer “Blind” before a hidden track, this is a perfect album. 5 stars. “Liquid” is my favorite and one of their best overall songs period.
1995: 25 Christian Albums 25 Years Later
High School:
1996 – Newsboys – Take Me To Your Leader
Quirky and fun, this is the Newsboys and Steve Taylor at the peak of their collective powers. The title track, “God is Not a Secret,” “Reality,” “Breakfast,” and their best overall song of a storied career in “Lost the Plot” make for a 5 Star record that holds up nicely.
1996: 25 Albums Celebrate 25 Years
100 Greatest Christian Songs of the 90s Full List
1997 – Smalltown Poets – Self-Titled
If it weren’t for 1995, I’d easily call 1997 my favorite year for Christian music, but as it is, this is an incredibly strong year. After hearing a preview of a few of these songs at youth camp I was sold. I still come back to this one a few times a year and think it belongs in the Top 15 of 90s CCM conversation. Highlights: “Everything I Hate,” “If You’ll Let Me Love You,” “Prophet, Priest, and King,” and “I’ll Give.”
1997: 25 Albums Celebrate 25 Years
1998 – Dctalk – Supernatural
I’m not as high on this album anymore, but I probably would have called it my favorite Dctalk record and considered Dctalk my favorite group in high school. It’s easier to see the cracks and lack of cohesion now as an adult, but I would have worn this thing out as a teen. It still has some really high highs like “My Friend (So Long),” “Dive,” “Consume Me,” “Since I Met You,” and “Supernatural,” but it’s also got some low lows/filler like, “Fearless,” “Godsend,” and “The Truth.” It’s still a good album but I return to it the least of their Top 3.
1998: 25 Christian Albums Turn 25
1999 – Supertones – Chase the Sun
The year of big change for me, as I graduated high school and struck out for my first semester of college. I went through a ska phase from 1997-2002 and this album was a huge part of it. I don’t return to it as much as Supertones Strike Back now but I would have probably listened to Chase the Sun more back then. Tracks like, “The Voice,” “Hallelujah,” “Away from You,” and the three-in-row-run of “Sure Shot,” “Old Friend,” and “Chase the Sun” would have been on repeat.
1999: 25 Christian Albums Turn 25
That’s it! What would you have been listening to in your formative years? Share you list if you wanna join the conversation!
500 Song 90s Playlist
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