Albums Turning 30 in September 2024

Ready To Die

Notorious B.I.G.

Released September 13, 1994

Released when Biggie Smalls was just 22 years old, Ready To Die was the debut album from Notorious B.I.G., peaking at number 15 on the Billboard 200 and receiving scores of praise from both critics and fans. Following a flood of West Coast hip-hop success, the album helped to revitalize the East Coast as the original home of hip-hop. Biggie’s raw takes on crime and culture, coupled with his own aspiration and slick production, created a formula that is still being replicated to this day.

Monster

R.E.M.

Released September 27, 1994

Recorded between the South and Hollywood, Monster was R.E.M.’s ninth studio album, characterized by loud guitar riffs, distorted vocals, and a more simplistic approach to songwriting for the band. Amid the grunge and punk explosions happening all around them, R.E.M. remained themselves and produced a record that reflected Gen X alienation as it settled into a new, stranger decade. The album debuted at number one and was nominated for Best Rock Album of the year at the Grammy Awards.

Protection

Massive Attack

Released September 26, 1994

The second studio album from British trip-hop ensemble Massive Attack, Protection begins with an almost 8-minute collaboration between the band and Tracey Thorn of Everything But The Girl, featuring samples from James Brown and a video directed by Michel Gondry. With a hat tip to their debut album Blue Lines, the album cover of Protection featured a partially burned version of Blue Lines, implying that the band had moved into new territory.

Chocolate And Cheese

Ween

Released September 27, 1994

Although it’s the fourth studio album from Ween, Chocolate and Cheese is the first Ween album to be recorded in a professional studio. Dedicated to the comedian John Candy (who died in March of 1994), Chocolate and Cheese featured a live drummer in the form of Claude Coleman, and gained momentum thanks in part to the band Phish, who covered the song “Roses Are Free” during their live sets. A deluxe version of the album was released in Spring of 2024.

Under The Table And Dreaming

Dave Matthews Band

Released September 27, 1994

The debut studio album from Dave Matthews Band featured five singles, and sold six million copies worldwide by the year 2000. The album’s first single (“What Would You Say?”) featured John Popper of Blues Traveler and captured DMB finding its footing as it evolved from radio-friendly folk-jazz into full-on jam band.