As 2025 begins, we pause to reflect on 2024 – a year that marked a pivotal moment for We Shoot Music. It was a time of growth, transformation, and unforgettable experiences, both for the music world and for our platform.
We wrote more articles, spotlighted diverse artists, and captured the magic of live music like never before. From the albums that became the soundtrack of our days to the concerts that left us awe-struck, 2024 was defined by the moments that made us fall in love with music all over again. Coupled with a rapidly growing audience and record-breaking views, 2024 became a year where our voice resonated louder than ever.
This series of articles is a celebration of how far we’ve come. It’s a reflection on the albums we loved, the gigs we’ll never forget, and the milestones that made 2024 a year to remember. Let’s take a journey through the sounds, stories, and successes that defined this transformative year for We Shoot Music.
And let’s start with the pivotal albums that turned 30 years old in 2024. This retrospective serves as a celebration of the creativity, innovation, and cultural impact of these records, which not only defined their era but have continued to echo through the decades.
This list is not a comprehensive catalog of all albums released in 1994. Instead, it’s a deeply personal selection of the music that we loved throughout the years. These are the records we lived with since their released 30 years ago. They reflect our taste and journey in music, and we hope they might strike a chord with you too.
“Jar of Flies” – Alice in Chains
Alice in Chains‘ “Jar of Flies“, released on January 25, 1994, remains a landmark in music history, marking the first EP to debut at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart. Written and recorded in just one week at Seattle’s London Bridge Studio, this acoustic masterpiece emerged as an experimental project that became an unexpected commercial and critical success. The EP includes iconic tracks such as “No Excuses“, “I Stay Away“, and “Don’t Follow“, with the first two receiving Grammy nominations. Blending acoustic tones with introspective lyrics, “Jar of Flies” explores themes of isolation and resilience, solidifying its place as a definitive moment in the grunge era. The album’s title was inspired by a science experiment guitarist Jerry Cantrell conducted in grade school.
“Sixteen Stone” – Bush
The debut studio album released on November 1, 1994, by Trauma and Interscope Records. The album became the band’s most successful, peaking at #4 on the US Billboard 200 and achieving 6 times Platinum certification in the US. Singles such as “Comedown“, “Glycerine“, and “Machinehead” saw significant success, with “Comedown” and “Glycerine” topping the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. Despite its popularity in the US, the album was less successful in the UK, where it was certified Silver.
Recorded in January 1994, the album was produced by Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley, aiming to balance its American grunge influences with a British production style. “Sixteen Stone” drew comparisons to Seattle grunge bands, especially Nirvana, and featured themes of adversity, relationships, and criticism of societal norms. Tracks like “Bomb” addressed political topics, such as the IRA’s impact in London, while others like “Testosterone” critiqued machismo. The album’s legacy includes a 20th-anniversary remastered edition in 2014 and accolades such as its inclusion in Guitar World’s “50 Iconic Albums That Defined 1994” and Rolling Stone’s “1994: The 40 Best Records”.
“Superunknown” – Soundgarden
Released on March 8, 1994, “Superunknown” was the album that brought Soundgarden into the mainstream, blending the heaviness of their earlier sound with a broader range of influences, from psychedelia to pop. Produced by Michael Beinhorn and the band, the album showcased their willingness to experiment with alternate tunings, odd time signatures, and layered production. “Superunknown” debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, selling 310,000 copies in its first week, and topped the charts in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. Its five singles, including the Grammy-winning “Spoonman” and “Black Hole Sun“, cemented Soundgarden’s status as a grunge powerhouse.
The album earned a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Album and has since been certified six times platinum in the U.S. Widely regarded as one of the definitive albums of the 1990s, “Superunknown” explored dark lyrical themes like isolation, mortality, and self-destruction, drawing inspiration from sources as varied as Sylvia Plath and Indian music. Its legacy endures, with Rolling Stone ranking it among the “50 Greatest Grunge Albums” in 2019.
“Korn” – Korn
In 1994, Korn’s self-titled debut album emerged as a seismic force in heavy music. Released on October 11, this offering from the Bakersfield, California quintet started a movement. With its blend of raw energy, emotional vulnerability, and an innovative sound that fused metal, hip-hop, funk, and grunge, Korn redefined heavy music and laid the foundation for the Nu Metal genre. Recorded at Indigo Ranch Studios with producer Ross Robinson, Korn captured the band’s live intensity. Tracks like “Blind” announced their arrival with an iconic battle cry – “Are you ready?!” – while churning riffs, slapping basslines, and Jonathan Davis’s anguished vocals delivered a cathartic experience.
This was a sound like no other, brimming with unfiltered emotion and defying easy categorisation. Lyrically, the album was a raw confession. Davis tackled personal trauma, bullying, and alienation with brutal honesty. Songs such as “Faget” and “Shoots and Ladders” offered listeners a mirror for their own struggles, while “Daddy” confronted dark personal experiences in a performance that left audiences shaken. Korn’s openness struck a chord with fans who felt seen and understood in ways they hadn’t before.
“Live Through This” – Hole
The second studio album by American band Hole, released on April 12, 1994, via DGC Records. Marking a shift from their earlier raw punk sound to more refined melodies and song structures, the album explores themes like beauty, motherhood, and violence against women, reflecting Courtney Love‘s introspective lyricism. Produced by Sean Slade and Paul Q. Kolderie, it features contributions from Love‘s late husband, Kurt Cobain, who provided backing vocals on two tracks. The album was critically acclaimed upon release, becoming a multi-platinum success in the U.S. and earning spots on Rolling Stone’s and NME’s greatest album lists. Tragically, it was the final release to feature bassist Kristen Pfaff, who passed away shortly after its debut.
“Purple” – Stone Temple Pilots
The second studio album released on June 7, 1994, via Atlantic Records. Building on the success of their debut “Core “(1992), the album debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200, selling 252,000 copies in its first week and eventually surpassing six million copies sold. It produced several hits: “Vasoline” and “Interstate Love Song” both topped the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, while “Big Empty” also achieved top-10 success. Recorded in less than a month, “Purple” marked the band’s first chart-topping release. Its first single, “Big Empty“, debuted during their MTV Unplugged set and appeared on “The Crow” soundtrack, which also reached #1.
The album explores new sounds, blending grunge with Psychedelic Rock – “Lounge Fly“, “Silvergun Superman“, Country – “Interstate Love Song“, and Blues Rock – “Big Empty“. “Purple” was a massive success, with “Interstate Love Song” spending 15 weeks at #1 on the album rock chart. Critics praised the album and AllMusic hailed it as a “quantum leap” over their debut. “Purple” remains a landmark album, earning spots on lists such as Rolling Stone’s 50 Greatest Grunge Albums (2019) and Pitchfork’s 25 Best Grunge Albums of the ’90s (2022). A 25th-anniversary edition was released in 2019, featuring expanded content in multiple formats.
“Vitalogy” – Pearl Jam
The third studio album released on November 22, 1994, via Epic Records. Was recorded across various studios, including those in Seattle, Atlanta, and New Orleans. Renowned producer Brendan O’Brien, who had previously collaborated with the band on their album “Vs.“, took on production duties once again. The album produced three singles – “Spin the Black Circle“, “Not for You“, and “Immortality“. Each single’s cover art was styled to resemble vinyl records, with the tagline “Viva La Vinyl“. No music videos were created for tracks from “Vitalogy“, that same song achieved significant commercial success, earning a 5 times Platinum certification from the RIAA in the U.S. for over 5 million copies sold. In Poland, the album was awarded a Gold certification. It has been recognised for its influence and impact, ranking at #492 in Rolling Stone’s 2003 list of the 500 greatest albums of all time and improving to #485 in 2012.
“MTV Unplugged in New York” – Nirvana
Recorded in November 1993 for the television program MTV Unplugged and released by DGC Records in November 1994 as “MTV Unplugged in New York“. It debuted at #1 on the Billboard charts, showcasing the enduring appeal of Nirvana’s music even after Kurt Cobain’s untimely passing earlier that year. The album went on to win a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Performance in 1996, further cementing its place in music history.
