Billboard #1 Albums From 1996

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rough year

All Eyez on Me. The buzz that Fugees album had continues to mystify me. Brilliant singles certainly, but only something like two good album tracks that weren't completely zzzzzz.

My soft spot here: New Edition. "Hit Me Off" and "I'm Still In Love With You" are two of the best forgotten hit singles of the 90s.

"The Mask"! "How Many Mics"! "The Score"! That's three, Rev.

It wouldn't have made my top ten, but The Score it is. If Toni Braxton's Secrets had hit Number One, I'd have voted for it.

It was weird even then to see Tribe's worst album at the top.

alanis

xp: I was counting "How Many Mics" and "Zealots" (the latter of which is prob my fav non-"Fu-Gee-La" track on the album)

"Beats Rhymes & Life" is fine and considerably better than Tribe's tremendously half-assed final album.

It's the same album! But "Find My Way" isn't on TLM, so 100 points off.

"Find a Way" is the best song on either album, but at least on BL&R it sounded like they still cared, even if they weren't hitting on all cylinders anymore.

waiting to exhale.

Man, I want to love WTE, but other than "Waiting To Exhale," "Let It Flow" and "Not Gon' Cry," the songs and singers are perfect matches in anonymity.

I'll stick up for the Brandy track, although it probably would have been better served by a different singer.

All Eyez, no hesitation. Not perfect, but that's part of its power in my opinion. I think I still listen to it more than any other 90s album.

Once again, 2pac by default (not b/c All Eyez.. is anything but classic, but this is another dire list).

"Anthology 2". And hadn't it been for those, I would have ended up voting for a rap album. Dunno about "Higher quality" (although "All Eyez On Me" is OK)

You know it's a bad year when Bush isn't the worst thing on the list.

This is tough, lot of albums I own & enjoy on here (Pac, Pearl Jam, Nas, even Counting Crows)...Ethan swears by that Tribe album but it's just OK for me, at least compared to everything before it.

Would vote Waiting To Exhale, I love that soundtrack (not that i've ever seen the movie, or ever will. but The Score is like Top Ten Ever material.

At the time, I loved the Score and was meh about Beats, Rhymes and Life...but I think in hindsight, Beats, Rhymes and Life has aged better than a.) the Score and b.) people give it credit for.

I heard "Ready or Not" on top-40 r&b radio the other day and was reminded of how it managed to fit all sorts of black history and music into a manifesto song while also being tough and groovy, bridging the gap between the "teacher" rappers (Arrested Development, BDP) and the Biggies.

Oh wait but Alanis is good too.

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