Albums Turning 30 in October 2024

No Need To Argue

The Cranberries

Released October 3, 1994

Following the success of their debut album, Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We?, the Cranberries beat the sophomore slump with their follow-up. No Need to Argue became the band’s best-selling, thanks in part to the darker turns the band took on tracks such as “Zombie” and “Ridiculous Thoughts” (which featured a young Elijah Wood in the video). Within six months of its release, fans purchased a head-turning 5 million copies.

Dog Man Star

Suede

Released October 10, 1994

The second album from Suede found the band diverting away from the emergence of Britpop to embrace a more expansive sound on their second album. Created as a diversion from the Britpop sound they had helped popularize on their debut album in 1993, Dog Man Star is a tortured, epic homage to the glam and art rock of David Bowie, built around a beginning, middle, and end narrative. Initially considered a commercial failure, the album slowly gained momentum, won over fans, and stands as a testament to Suede’s anti-Britpop aspirations at the time.

Korn

Korn

Released October 11, 1994

Hailed as the band that started the new wave of American heavy metal music in the early ‘90s, Korn’s self-titled debut album is often credited as the first nu-metal album of the 1990s, helping to give rise to bands such as Limp Bizkit and Slipknot in its wake. Fusing heavy grooves with elements of hip-hop and rage-filled lyrics, Korn was released on October 11, 1994, by Immortal/Epic and produced four singles, including “Blind.” Although it took some time to gain momentum, Korn went platinum in January 1997. 

Bedtime Stories

Madonna

Released October 25, 1994

Following the release of Madonna’s book Sex in 1992, Madonna attempted to soften her image and return to her NYC club roots. Working with a variety of R&B and hip-hop elements, plus contributions from Babyface, Dallas Austin, and Björk, Bedtime Stories was nominated for Best Pop Album, peaked at Number Three on the US Billboard 200, and was certified triple platinum by the RIAA. In many ways, Bedtime Stories is the album that bridged the gap between the ‘80s and ‘90s for Madonna.

The Best of Sade

Sade

Released October 31, 1994

By 1994, English band Sade had already released four albums and amassed enough material to compile their first greatest hits collection. Featuring songs compiled from Diamond Life, Promise, Stronger Than Pride, and Love Deluxe, The Best of Sade arrived in stores on October 31, 1994. The release attracted a new generation of fans to Sade’s timeless back catalog. To date, The Best of Sade is in over 38,000 Collections on Discogs.