Nine Albums Turning 30 In 2025

1995 Was a Great Year For Hooky Guitar Pop

Mar 20, 2025

Fans of hooky guitar pop were spoiled for choice in 1995.

The alternative rock revolution of the late ‘80s and early ‘90s unleashed a tsunami of great new music that may well have crested mid-decade. It was pretty obvious at the time, but seems even more incredible in retrospect.

Pop rock bands from around the globe burst onto the international scene with stunning debut albums (I Should Coco by Supergrass, Fun Trick Noisemaker by The Apples In Stereo, The Return Of The Rentals), while others released fan-favorite collections (Blonder And Blonder by The Muffs, Grand Prix by Teenage Fanclub).

Some climbed the charts, a handful became MTV darlings (on 120 Minutes at least…), and a few flew under the mainstream radar—but every one of these releases is still fantastic in its own way.

Enjoy this 9-album trip back to the mid-’90s.

⚡️ What’s Your Favorite Guitar Pop Album Of 1995? 💥

1. Matthew Sweet—100% Fun

Released by Zoo Entertainment in March, 1995

“If his song craft and harmony singing are rooted in Beatles and Byrds pure-pop, the tough, jagged guitar sound on his albums harks back to the mid-’70s New York rock underground of Television and Richard Hell & the Voidoids.”—LA Times

“Behind Sweet's bright hooks lies something darker—The self-loathing of ‘Sick of Myself’ and the mental manipulation of ‘We're the Same’ aren't evident from the sound of the record, which obliterates any hidden meanings with its chiming guitars and driving rhythms.”—AllMusic

2. Supergrass—I Should Coco

Released by Parlophone/Capitol in May, 1995

“A hugely diverse collection, its charms lie in its unpredictability, with the only consistent factor being the high level of quality.”—BBC

“I Should Coco works best when Supergrass is careering about like Dickensian urchins in smeared lipstick, blinking through hula hoop-size pupils, gleefully anticipating corruption.”—Spin

3. The Muffs—Blonder And Blonder

Released by Reprise in April, 1995

“The album is full of songs that will not only put a smile on your face but make you feel cool for listening to them. From self-pity to suicide to people who suck, there’s a lot of lyrical ground covered here, and it’s all fun.”—Popshifter

“Despite the sweetness of Shattuck’s melodies, The Muffs was a true power trio. Even a relatively laid back song like ‘End It All Now’ finds Shattuck and drummer Roy McDonald playing with strength, while bassist Ronnie Barnett reliably holds down the low end without much flash.”—PopMatters

4. The Apples In Stereo—Fun Trick Noisemaker

Released by SpinART/Elephant 6 in May, 1995

“It is a light and breezy effort, but somehow doesn’t feel disposable. It feels like reusable sunshine in a can with no expiry date.”—Sputnik Music

“Fun Trick Noisemaker is the album that defines the post-grunge indie pop shift from sullen negativity into a kind of cockeyed, giddy optimism.”—AllMusic

5. The Greenberry Woods—Big Money Item

Released by Sire in July, 1995

“Like Squeeze and Crowded House at their least self-indulgent, The Beach Boys sans their one-trick-pony musical cliches, The Posies fulfilling their early promise, Badfinger with jangly optimism, Pezband with decent songs, this disc sounds as timeless and classic as anything you'll hear recorded today.”—St. Petersburg Times

“At 18 tracks, most hovering under the three-minute mark, Big Money Item serves up a dizzying over-abundance of sugary riches.”—AllMusic

6. Wondermints—Wondermints

Released by Toy’s Factory in December, 1995

“With a sound that’s firmly rooted in mid-to-late-’60s California pop with faint echoes of everything from Elvis Costello to bachelor pad music.”—Trouser Press

“To call the Wondermints one of the greatest power pop bands ever is really no exaggeration.”—Jittery White Guy Music

7. that dog.—Totally Crushed Out!

Released by DGC in July, 1995

“After the irony-suffused experiments of their self-titled debut, Totally Crushed Out! was that dog.’s first cohesive record—a sugar-rushing testament to the emotional confusions of youth.”—Pitchfork

“Totally Crushed Out! is cute and clever without being too cutesy or precious, and almost as memorable as a first crush.”—AllMusic

8. The Rentals—Return Of The Rentals

Released by Maverick in October, 1995

“A compelling work of minimalism: Moog, guitar, bass, and vocal harmonies stood out in a sea of overproduced pop. It has the rare mood of a go-to feel-good album.”—The Verge

“Taking a bit of the harmony loving pure-pop songwriting skills honed in his other band, Sharp topped off The Rentals with plenty of Moog powered keyboard flair and ended up with an album that ushered back in a new wave of cheesy electro-keyboard pop with a restored spirit and a knack for unforgettable hooks.”—AllMusic

9. Teenage Fanclub—Grand Prix

Released by Creation in May, 1995

“For 42 breathless minutes, it condenses the best bits of The Byrds, Big Star and early Beach Boys into thirteen, sun drenched tracks.”—BBC

“Arriving as the the Britpop boom brought their set of retro influences back into style, 1995’s Grand Prix is every bit as inspired and stacked with hooks as Bandwagonesque—they’re just prioritized differently.”—Pitchfork