# 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.

*By YPB Team · Published November 5, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/the-38-best-albums-of-1999*

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## Current results (no votes yet)

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. **When the Pawn...**
   Fiona Apple's second album, produced by Jon Brion and released in November 1999 under a 90-word title.
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. **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. **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. **2001**
   Dr. Dre's second studio album, released in November 1999 with 'Still D.R.E.' and 'Forgot About Dre'.
7. **Californication**
   Red Hot Chili Peppers' seventh album, the first after John Frusciante's return, featuring 'Scar Tissue' and 'Otherside'.
8. **Mule Variations**
   Tom Waits' first album for Epitaph's Anti- label, which won the Grammy for Best Contemporary Folk Album.
9. **Ágætis byrjun**
   Sigur Rós' second album, released in Iceland in June 1999 and sung in Icelandic and the band's invented 'Hopelandic'.
10. **The Fragile**
   Nine Inch Nails' double album, released in September 1999 and debuting at number one on the Billboard 200.
11. **Midnite Vultures**
   Beck's seventh studio album, a funk and R&B record released in November 1999 with the single 'Sexx Laws'.
12. **Things Fall Apart**
   The Roots' fourth studio album, named after Chinua Achebe's novel and featuring the Grammy-winning 'You Got Me'.
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. **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. **Summerteeth**
   Wilco's third studio album, released in March 1999, layering keyboards and studio overdubs onto Jeff Tweedy's songs.
16. **13**
   Blur's sixth studio album, produced by William Orbit and released in March 1999 with 'Tender' and 'Coffee & TV'.
17. **Supernatural**
   Santana's collaboration-heavy comeback album, which won the Grammy for Album of the Year and carried 'Smooth'.
18. **...Baby One More Time**
   Britney Spears' debut album, released in January 1999 and opening at number one on the Billboard 200.
19. **FanMail**
   TLC's third studio album, featuring 'No Scrubs' and 'Unpretty', which won the Grammy for Best R&B Album.
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. **Slipknot**
   Slipknot's self-titled debut on Roadrunner Records, released in June 1999 with 'Wait and Bleed'.
22. **Terror Twilight**
   Pavement's fifth and final studio album, produced by Nigel Godrich and released in June 1999.
23. **Remedy**
   Basement Jaxx's debut album, released in May 1999 with the singles 'Red Alert' and 'Rendez-Vu'.
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. **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. **Utopia Parkway**
   Fountains of Wayne's second album, a power-pop record named after a road in Queens, released in April 1999.
27. **Guerrilla**
   Super Furry Animals' third studio album, released in June 1999 with 'Northern Lites' and 'Fire in My Heart'.
28. **On How Life Is**
   Macy Gray's debut album, released in July 1999 with the Grammy-winning single 'I Try'.
29. **The Hot Rock**
   Sleater-Kinney's fourth studio album, released on Kill Rock Stars in February 1999.
30. **California**
   Mr. Bungle's third studio album, released in July 1999 and moving through surf, exotica and lounge styles.
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. **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. **Magnolia**
   Aimee Mann's soundtrack album for Paul Thomas Anderson's film, including the Oscar-nominated 'Save Me'.
34. **Temperamental**
   Everything but the Girl's tenth studio album, a dance-leaning record released in 1999.
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. **Fly**
   Dixie Chicks' fifth studio album and second with Natalie Maines, released in August 1999 with 'Goodbye Earl' and 'Cowboy Take Me Away'.
37. **Surrender**
   The Chemical Brothers' third studio album, released in June 1999 with 'Hey Boy Hey Girl' and 'Let Forever Be'.
38. **American Football**
   American Football's only album for 17 years, an emo and math-rock record released on Polyvinyl in September 1999.

Tags: music, 90s, 1999