If you’re a fan of alternative music, or if you’re just looking for something new to listen to, these 90s alternative albums are a must-hear. The 1990s were a great time for alternative music, with bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden topping the charts. If you’re looking for some good old-fashioned alternative rock, these albums are a great place to start.
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Nirvana – Nevermind
Nevermind is one of the most iconic alternative albums of all time. Released in 1991, it features some of Nirvana’s most famous songs, including “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and “Come As You Are.” If you’re a fan of Nirvana, or if you’re just looking for a good place to start with alternative music, Nevermind is a must-hear.
Through the years there has been various pressings and anniversary editions of the album including a deluxe edition with rare and unreleased tracks, a live album, and a super deluxe box set. The Butch Vig-produced album has been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and is widely considered one of the greatest albums of all time.
Pearl Jam – Ten
Ten, Pearl Jam’s debut album, is one of the most influential alternative albums of all time. Released in 1991, the album was an instant success, reaching #2 on the Billboard 200 and selling over twelve million copies in the United States. Ten also helped to popularize the grunge movement, with its heavy guitars and angsty lyrics.
Pearl Jam would go on to release nine more studio albums, but Ten remains their best-selling album and one of the most important albums of the 1990s. Ten features some of the band’s most famous songs, including “Alive,” “Jeremy” and “Even Flow.”
Soundgarden – Badmotorfinger
Released in 1991, Badmotorfinger was Soundgarden’s third studio album and the first to really catapult them into the mainstream consciousness. The album features a host of alternative rock classics, including “Rusty Cage,” “Outshined,” and “Jesus Christ Pose.”
Badmotorfinger was a critical and commercial success, praised for its raw energy and innovative songwriting. It remains one of Soundgarden’s most essential albums, and was a major influence on the alternative rock scene of the 1990s. If you’re a fan of alternative rock, Badmotorfinger is an absolute must-hear.
Screaming Trees – Sweet Oblivion
Released in 1992, Sweet Oblivion is the fifth studio album by American alternative rock band Screaming Trees. The album was a critical and commercial success, reaching #12 on the Billboard 200 and selling over one million copies in the United States.
Sweet Oblivion features some of the band’s most popular songs, including “Nearly Lost You” and “All I Know.” The album is a prime example of the grunge sound that was so popular in the early 1990s, and is an essential listen for any fan of alternative rock.
R.E.M. – Automatic for the People
Automatic for the People is the eighth studio album by American rock band R.E.M., released in 1992. The album was a commercial and critical success, reaching #2 on the Billboard 200 and selling over 18 million copies worldwide.
Automatic for the People features some of R.E.M.’s most popular songs, including “Everybody Hurts” and “Man on the Moon.” The album is a perfect example of the band’s unique sound, blending elements of alternative rock, folk and pop. If you’re a fan of R.E.M., or if you’re just looking for something new to listen to, Automatic for the People is a must-hear.
Stone Temple Pilots – Core
When Stone Temple Pilots released their debut album Core in 1992, alternative rock was still in its infancy. Although the genre had been pioneered by bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam, it had yet to gain mainstream traction. With its hazy, grunge-inspired sound and unapologetic attitude, Core helped to define alternative rock for a new generation.
The album’s lead single, “Sex Type Thing,”send a strong message of anti-sexual violence, while tracks like “Piece of Pie” and “Sin” explored the dark side of fame and fortune. Despite its edgy subject matter, Core was a commercial success, spawning five hit singles and selling more than eight million copies in the US alone. In the years since its release, the album has come to be regarded as one of alternative rock’s most defining documents.
Alice in Chains – Facelift
Facelift is the debut studio album by American rock band Alice in Chains, released in 1990. The album helped to establish the grunge sound that would come to dominate alternative rock in the early 1990s.
Facelift features some of Alice in Chains’ most popular songs, including “Man in the Box,” “Sea of Sorrow” and “Bleed the Freak.” The album’s dark, heavy sound was a stark contrast to the polished pop music that was ruling the charts at the time, and helped to pave the way for a new wave of alternative rock bands.
Bush – Sixteen Stone
If you’re looking for an alternative to the standard holiday music fare, you might want to check out Bush’s album Sixteen Stone. Released in 1994, the album helped to launch the band into the mainstream and has since become a cult classic.
Featuring hits like “Glycerine” and “Comedown,” the album is a perfect blend of alternative rock and grunge that is sure to get you into the holiday spirit. So if you’re tired of hearing the same old Christmas carols, be sure to give Sixteen Stone a listen. You just might find that it’s become your new favorite holiday album.
Hole – Live Through This
Released just one week after the death of Kurt Cobain, Hole’s album Live Through This was shrouded in tragedy. Despite the sadness that surrounded its release, the album went on to become a critical and commercial success, reaching #1 on the Billboard 200 and selling over four million copies in the US.
Live Through This features some of Hole’s most popular songs, including “Miss World” and “Doll Parts.” The album is a perfect example of the grunge sound that was so popular in the early 1990s, and is an essential listen for any fan of alternative rock.
Smashing Pumpkins – Siamese Dream
In 1993, alternative rock was in a weird place. Nirvana had just broken through to the mainstream with Nevermind, and bands like Pearl Jam and Soundgarden were right behind them. But there was still a lot of experimentation going on in the alternative world, and that’s where the Smashing Pumpkins came in with their second album, Siamese Dream.
Released in July of that year, Siamese Dream is a dark, dreamy, and deeply personal album that feels worlds away from the grunge explosion happening at the same time. But despite its atmospheric soundscapes and introspective lyrics, the album still managed to find an audience, thanks to its infectious singles “Cherub Rock” and “Today”. In many ways, Siamese Dream feels like the last great alternative album of the ’90s – a truly unique record that stands the test of time.
Conclusion
If you’re a fan of alternative music, the ’90s were a golden era. With so many great bands and artists experimenting with new sounds, there was something for everyone. These 90s alternative albums are a must-hear for any fan of the genre, and each one offers a unique take on what alternative rock could be. So if you’re looking for something new to listen to, be sure to check out these essential ’90s albums. You won’t be disappointed.
