The 38 Best Albums of 1999

Chart-toppers that sold a million copies in a week share space with cult records that took years to find their listeners. Hip-hop, Icelandic post-rock, power-pop and teen pop all had a big year.

1. 1
   69 Love Songs

   The Magnetic Fields' three-volume set of 69 songs written by Stephin Merritt, released on Merge Records in September 1999.
2. 2
   When the Pawn...

   Fiona Apple's second album, produced by Jon Brion and released in November 1999 under a 90-word title.
3. 3
   The Soft Bulletin

   The Flaming Lips' ninth studio album, released in May 1999 and built around orchestral arrangements and 'Race for the Prize'.
4. 4
   Play

   Moby's fifth studio album, which sampled Alan Lomax field recordings and licensed every one of its 18 tracks for film, TV or ads.
5. 5
   The Slim Shady LP

   Eminem's major-label debut, produced mainly by the Bass Brothers with three tracks by Dr. Dre, which won the Grammy for Best Rap Album in 2000.
6. 6
   2001

   Dr. Dre's second studio album, released in November 1999 with 'Still D.R.E.' and 'Forgot About Dre'.
7. 7
   Californication

   Red Hot Chili Peppers' seventh album, the first after John Frusciante's return, featuring 'Scar Tissue' and 'Otherside'.
8. 8
   Mule Variations

   Tom Waits' first album for Epitaph's Anti- label, which won the Grammy for Best Contemporary Folk Album.
9. 9
   Ágætis byrjun

   Sigur Rós' second album, released in Iceland in June 1999 and sung in Icelandic and the band's invented 'Hopelandic'.
10. 10
    The Fragile

    Nine Inch Nails' double album, released in September 1999 and debuting at number one on the Billboard 200.
11. 11
    Midnite Vultures

    Beck's seventh studio album, a funk and R&B record released in November 1999 with the single 'Sexx Laws'.
12. 12
    Things Fall Apart

    The Roots' fourth studio album, named after Chinua Achebe's novel and featuring the Grammy-winning 'You Got Me'.
13. 13
    Black on Both Sides

    Mos Def's solo debut on Rawkus Records, released in October 1999 with 'Ms. Fat Booty' and 'Umi Says'.
14. 14
    Keep It Like a Secret

    Built to Spill's fourth album and second for Warner Bros., released in February 1999 with 'Carry the Zero'.
15. 15
    Summerteeth

    Wilco's third studio album, released in March 1999, layering keyboards and studio overdubs onto Jeff Tweedy's songs.
16. 16
    13

    Blur's sixth studio album, produced by William Orbit and released in March 1999 with 'Tender' and 'Coffee & TV'.
17. 17
    Supernatural

    Santana's collaboration-heavy comeback album, which won the Grammy for Album of the Year and carried 'Smooth'.
18. 18
    ...Baby One More Time

    Britney Spears' debut album, released in January 1999 and opening at number one on the Billboard 200.
19. 19
    FanMail

    TLC's third studio album, featuring 'No Scrubs' and 'Unpretty', which won the Grammy for Best R&B Album.
20. 20
    The Writing's on the Wall

    Destiny's Child's second album, released in July 1999 with 'Bills, Bills, Bills', 'Say My Name' and 'Jumpin', Jumpin''.
21. 21
    Slipknot

    Slipknot's self-titled debut on Roadrunner Records, released in June 1999 with 'Wait and Bleed'.
22. 22
    Terror Twilight

    Pavement's fifth and final studio album, produced by Nigel Godrich and released in June 1999.
23. 23
    Remedy

    Basement Jaxx's debut album, released in May 1999 with the singles 'Red Alert' and 'Rendez-Vu'.
24. 24
    The Man Who

    Travis' second album, produced mostly by Nigel Godrich, which reached number one in the UK with 'Why Does It Always Rain on Me?'.
25. 25
    Apple Venus Volume 1

    XTC's first album in seven years, an orchestral and acoustic record released in February 1999 after a long label dispute.
26. 26
    Utopia Parkway

    Fountains of Wayne's second album, a power-pop record named after a road in Queens, released in April 1999.
27. 27
    Guerrilla

    Super Furry Animals' third studio album, released in June 1999 with 'Northern Lites' and 'Fire in My Heart'.
28. 28
    On How Life Is

    Macy Gray's debut album, released in July 1999 with the Grammy-winning single 'I Try'.
29. 29
    The Hot Rock

    Sleater-Kinney's fourth studio album, released on Kill Rock Stars in February 1999.
30. 30
    California

    Mr. Bungle's third studio album, released in July 1999 and moving through surf, exotica and lounge styles.
31. 31
    Millennium

    Backstreet Boys' third album, which sold over a million copies in its first US week and featured 'I Want It That Way'.
32. 32
    There Is Nothing Left to Lose

    Foo Fighters' third album, recorded in Dave Grohl's Virginia basement, which won the Grammy for Best Rock Album.
33. 33
    Magnolia

    Aimee Mann's soundtrack album for Paul Thomas Anderson's film, including the Oscar-nominated 'Save Me'.
34. 34
    Temperamental

    Everything but the Girl's tenth studio album, a dance-leaning record released in 1999.
35. 35
    The Battle of Los Angeles

    Rage Against the Machine's third studio album, released in November 1999 with 'Guerrilla Radio' and 'Sleep Now in the Fire'.
36. 36
    Fly

    Dixie Chicks' fifth studio album and second with Natalie Maines, released in August 1999 with 'Goodbye Earl' and 'Cowboy Take Me Away'.
37. 37
    Surrender

    The Chemical Brothers' third studio album, released in June 1999 with 'Hey Boy Hey Girl' and 'Let Forever Be'.
38. 38
    American Football

    American Football's only album for 17 years, an emo and math-rock record released on Polyvinyl in September 1999.

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