The Best Albums Of 1990

1. January: The House Of Love - The House Of Love (Fontana)

Guy Chadwick's combo released their second album (eponymous, like their first), which featured Shine On, The Beatles And The Stones and I Don't Know Why I Love You.

2. January: The Sundays - Reading, Writing And Arithmetic

The fondly-remembered band released their debut, which included Here's Where The Story Ends and the all-time favourite Can't Be Sure.

3. January: Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine - 101 Damnations

Jim Bob and Fruitbat's debut album included Sheriff Fatman and the punning Twenty Four Minutes From Tulse Hill.

4. March: Depeche Mode - Violator

The Basildon electro-pop heroes released their seventh album, featuring Enjoy The Silence, Personal Jesus and World In My Eyes.

5. March: The Beloved - Happiness

The duo issued their second album, which saw them embrace rave culture and featured the singles Hello, Your Love Takes Me Higher and The Sun Rising.

6. April: Inspiral Carpets - Life

Our very own Clint Boon released his debut album, which included the singles She Comes In The Fall and This Is How It Feels.

7. April: Public Enemy - Fear Of A Black Planet

The hugely-influential rap collective released their third studio album, which featured 911 Is A Joke and Fight The Power.

8. June: James - Gold Mother

Manchester's favourite sons released their third album, which included Come Home and How Was It For You. The album was reissued the following year with the classic Sit Down added.

9. June: Sonic Youth - Goo

The alt rock legends issued their sixth album, which included Dirty Boots, Cool Thing and spawned a million fashion t-shirts.

10. June: Teenage Fanclub - A Catholic Education

The much-loved Scottish sunshine-pop band released their debut album, which included Everything Flows.

11. August: Pixies - Bossanova

The Boston band released their third full length album, which included the singles Velouria and Dig For Fire.

12. September: Cocteau Twins - Heaven Or Las Vegas

The sixth album from the ethereal rock trio featured the hit Iceblink Luck.

13. October: The La's - The La's

The hugely-influential band from Liverpool released their first - and, to date, only studio album. It contained the classic There She Goes and the singles Timeless Melody and Feelin'.

14. October: The Charlatans - Some Friendly

Tim Burgess released his debut album, which featured the single Then and the live favourite Sproston Green. Later editions included the dancefloor hit The Only One I Know.

15. October: Ride - Nowhere

The incredibly popular shoegaze band released their debut album, which included Vapour Trail and Dreams Burn Down.

Happy Mondays - Pills, Thrills And Bellyaches

16. November: Happy Mondays - Pills 'N' Thrills And Bellyaches

Shaun Ryder, Bez and co released their third album, which featured Step On, Kinky Afro and Loose Fit. Baggy had arrived!

17. November: The Cure - Mixed Up

Robert Smith's merry men jumped on the dance bandwagon with this album of remixes, which bore a hit in the baggied-up version of the classic Close To Me.