The 25 best albums of 1992

23 February 2024, 19:06

Cast your mind back to the year of Generation Terrorists, Ebeneezer Goode, Automatic For The People and Friday I'm In Love.

By Radio X

@RadioX

1. Manic Street Preachers - Generation Terrorists: released 10th February 1992

   The Manics released their debut album, which featured the classics Motorcycle Emptiness, You Love Us and Little Baby Nothing.

   

2. James - Seven: released 17th February 1992

   The Manchester band, led by Tim Booth, released their fourth album in 1992. It included the singles Born Of Frustration and Sound.

   

3. Shakespears Sister - Hormonally Yours: released17th February 1992

   The second album from the duo of Siobhan Fahey and Marcella Detroit featured the massive hit Stay, which topped the UK charts for an incredible eight weeks.

   

4. The Sugarcubes - Stick Around For Joy: released 18th February 1992

   The Icelandic band's third and final album, featuring the single Hit. Singer Bjork would start a solo career the following year.

   

5. Ride - Going Blank Again: released 9th March 1992

   Oxford's greatest proponents of noisy shoegaze rock scored a massive Top 10 hit with the title track of their second album… and gave the Creation label their biggest hit before Oasis came along.

   

6. Curve - Doppleganger: released 9th March 1992

   The great Brit shoegazing band released their debut album, featuring the singles Horror Head and Fait Accompli.

   

7. The Charlatans - Between 10th and 11th: released 23rd March 1992

   The band's second album featured the singles Weirdo and Tremelo Song.

   

8. PJ Harvey - Dry: released 30th March 1992

   Polly Jean and her band released their debut album this year, featuring Sheela-Na-Gig and Dress.

   

9. Spiritualized - Lazer Guided Melodies: released 30th March 1992

   Jason Pierce, having left seminal shoegaze/drone rock act Spacemen 3, released the debut album from his new band Spiritualized.

   

10. L7 - Bricks Are Heavy: released 14th April 1992

    The LA female rockers released their third album, which contained their biggest hit, Pretend We're Dead.

    

11. Pavement - Slanted And Enchanted: released 20th April 1992

    The debut album the alt.rock legends was released in '92, showcasing the songwriting of Stephen Malkmus.

    

12. The Cure - Wish: released 21st April 1992

    Robert Smith's merry men issued their ninth album in 1992 and bagged them their only number 1 album to date. The album includes the indie club favourite Friday I'm In Love.

    

13. Carter USM - 1992: The Love Album: released 4th May 1992

    Jim Bob and Fruitbat's satirical dig at the UK's entry into Europe featured the single The Only Living Boy In New Cross.

    

14. The Black Crowes - The Southern Harmony And Musical Companion: released 12th May 1992

    The Alanta blues-rockers released their second album, which featured the track Remedy.

    

15. The Lemonheads - It's A Shame About Ray: released 2nd June 1992

    Evan Dando's band issued their fifth album, which featured singles such as Confetti and the title track. The cover of Mrs Robinson wasn't added until the album was re-released later in the year.

    

16. Faith No More - Angel Dust: released 8th June 1992

    The band's fourth LP includes Be Aggressive, A Small Victory and Midlife Crisis.

    

17. Sonic Youth - Dirty: released 21st July 1992

    The legendary NYC band released their seventh album, which featured the tracks Youths Against Fascism and 100%.

    

18. Morrissey - Your Arsenal: released 27th July 1992

    His Mozness released his third solo album in this year - highlights included We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful and Glamorous Glue.

    

19. INXS - Welcome to Wherever You Are: released 3rd August 1992

    The Aussie band's eighth studio album was a No 1 hit in the UK and included the single Beautiful Girl and Taste It.

    

20. Paul Weller - Paul Weller: released 1st September 1992

    The Modfather's first solo album outside the confines of a group; it included the singles Uh Huh Oh Yeh and Into Tomorrow.

    

21. Sugar - Copper Blue: released 4th September 1992

    Former Husker Du frontman and solo artist Bob Mould released the debut from his new power trio, which included the songs Changes, A Good IDea and If I Can't Change Your Mind.

    

22. The Shamen - Boss Drum: released 14th September 1992

    Having developed from indie band into rave titans, this was The Shamen's fifth album and their commercial peak, including as it does the No 1 hit Ebeneezer Goode.

    

23. R.E.M. - Automatic For The People: released 5th October 1992

    The band's eighth album went on to sell 18 million copies and features the tracks Drive, The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite, Nightswimming and Man On The Moon.

    

24. Stereo MCs - Connected: released 5th October 1992

    Clapham's finest hip hop collective released their biggest hit this year and received the Best Album Award at the BRITs for their trouble.

    

25. Prince - Symbol aka Love Symbol: released 13th October 1992

    Named after an unreadable and unpronounceable symbol (which the artist would later adopt as his stage name), this album was a huge hit in the UK, spawning the singles Sexy MF, The Morning Papers, My Name Is Prince and 7.