 | Girlfriend by Matthew Sweet
Buy new: $15.93 / Used from: $0.78 Sweet's breakout record, and also one of his best. While In Reverse is his most well-rounded album, this is his masterpiece. Kimi Ga Suki is a great return to this kind of simple, melody-driven rock.
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 | The Soul Cages by Sting
Buy new: $11.99 / Used from: $0.25 Sting's greatest achievement, it's a soulful, introspective collection. The sum is greater than the parts. Dark, sometimes depressing, but absolute genius.
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 | Gold Medal by The Donnas
Buy new: $16.99 / Used from: $0.49 A talented band that created some raw, staightforward rock gets a makeover and matures on this album. Skillful production values make every track on this album a pleasure.
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 | Our Time in Eden by 10,000 Maniacs
Buy new: $6.99 / Used from: $0.01 Before Natalie Merchant left the group, they found complete synergy in their last effort and went out on a high note. Drowsy and wistful, in a good way.
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 | The Seeds of Love by Tears for Fears
Buy used from: $0.01 Tears For Fears released one last album in 89, then went their separate ways. This gem shines brighter with the addition of Oleta Adams. Their 2006 album shows signs of this album's greatness.
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 | Star by Belly
Buy used from: $0.01 Tanya Donelly went solo and gave us this masterpiece and showed great promise. King was a decent followup, but her music changed dramatically as the 90s progressed. This album still stands out.
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 | Reading, Writing and Arithmetic by The Sundays
Buy new: $8.99 / Used from: $0.99 A perfect album that only makes you wish this band had released many, many more albums. Every song stands solid on its own. A defining moment in 90s pop.
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 | Nice by Puffy AmiYumi
Buy new: $15.99 / Used from: $1.64 Some may suggest starting with any of Puffy's best-of collections, but this album is not only the best place to start, it's an amazingly satisfying mix of singles. "Your Love Is A Drug" is pop gold.
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 | Alphabetical by Phoenix
Buy new: $10.99 / Used from: $7.92 This album is pop mastery. Unfortunately, Phoenix's other work does not measure up. But this album is rife with catchy hooks and tracks that bear heavy rotation on my iPod.
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 | Turf by Luka Bloom
Buy new: $29.98 / Used from: $1.85 Luka Bloom's soulful acoustic guitar work shines on this album. His sound comes through larger than life on this recording, and it does his music wonders.
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 | Go! by Letters to Cleo
Buy used from: $1.46 Nothing says 90s Power Pop like this album from Letters to Cleo. A perfect cohesion of catchy tunes and Kay Hanley's infectious vocals.
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 | John Wesley Harding's New Deal by John Wesley Harding
Buy used from: $0.45 JWH has always written clever, catchy songs, but his albums are often fractured and uneven. This album is a happy exception, with gems from start to finish. More subtle than his other work.
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 | A New Stereophonic Sound Spectacular by Hooverphonic
Buy used from: $0.80 During the height of trip-hop and trance, this album came, saw, and conquered. Hypnotic, introspective, and haunted by vocalist Liesje Sadonius before her unfortunate departure from the group.
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 | Version 2.0 by Garbage
Buy new: $14.99 / Used from: $0.01 Garbage hit their peak with a mix of rock, pop, and electronica on Version 2.0. Perfect production makes this album snap. A good mix of genres on this album.
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 | Welcome Interstate Managers by Fountains of Wayne
Buy new: $10.99 / Used from: $0.80 Fountains of Wayne have put together the perfect pop album with this release. They tip their caps to many a genre on this album, and make their influences readily apparent. A fun album.
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 | The Best of the Song Books by Ella Fitzgerald
Buy new: $10.99 / Used from: $1.99 Unless you're willing to pop for the entire Song Book collection, there is no better album to capture to best of Ella's wide, wide world. Arguably the most important vocalist of the 20th century.
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