10 Best Grunge Music Albums of All Time
Contents
This is a list of the 10 best grunge music albums of all time according to the opinions of music experts.
Nirvana – Nevermind
Nirvana’s 1991 album Nevermind has topped many best grunge album lists and is considered to be one of the most influential albums of all time. It popularized the genre and brought it into the mainstream. The album is full of catchy hooks and unforgettable songs like “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and “Come As You Are.”
Pearl Jam – Ten
Pearl Jam’s debut album Ten was released on August 27, 1991. The album was an instant success, reaching number two on the Billboard 200 chart and selling over thirteen million copies in the United States. Ten became one of the best-selling debut albums of all time and launched Pearl Jam into superstardom. The album features hit singles “Alive”, “Even Flow”, and “Jeremy”.
Alice in Chains – Dirt
Dirt is the second studio album by American rock band Alice in Chains, released on September 29, 1992, through Columbia Records. Peaking at number two on the Billboard 200, the album has been certified quadruple-platinum by the RIAA and went on to become the band’s best-selling album. It is the band’s most critically acclaimed work. The singles “Would?”, “Them Bones”, “Down in a Hole”, and “Angry Chair” reached number one on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.
Soundgarden – Badmotorfinger
Often imitated but never equaled, Badmotorfinger cemented Soundgarden as the leading light of the Seattle grunge scene. Cornell’s wails and Shepherd’s huge riffs combined with Matt Cameron’s powerhouse drumming to produce an album of such incendiary quality that it still sounds fresh today.
The highlights are many – the Stooges-meets-Zep stomp of ‘Jesus Christ Pose’, the awesome riffage of ‘Rusty Cage’, Kim Thayil’s huge solos on ‘Outshined’ and ‘Searching With My Good Eye Closed’ – but it all comes together on the 11-minute closer ‘Slaves & Bulldozers’, a song that ebbs and flows brilliantly, culminating in one of Cornell’s finest ever vocal performances.
Stone Temple Pilots – Core
Formed in San Diego in 1989, Stone Temple Pilots were one of the most successful grunge bands of the early ‘90s. Their debut album, Core, was released in 1992 and showcases the band’s raw talent. The album features the hits “Sex Type Thing” and “Creep,” which helped the band gain a large following. Core is an essential album for any fan of grunge music.
Smashing Pumpkins – Siamese Dream
Released in 1993, Smashing Pumpkins’ Siamese Dream was the album that put them on the map. It was a critical and commercial success, selling six million copies in the U.S. and making them one of the biggest bands of the ‘90s. The album combined elements of shoegaze, dream pop, and heavy metal to create a unique sound that was all their own. Featuring such classics as “Cherub Rock”, “Today”, and “Disarm”, Siamese Dream is a timeless album that still sounds as fresh today as it did 25 years ago.
Green Day – Dookie
Dookie is the third studio album and the major label debut by American punk rock band Green Day, released on February 1, 1994 by Reprise Records. It was the band’s first collaboration with producer Rob Cavallo and its last album recorded as a trio. Dookie was an enormous commercial success for the band, selling over 10 million copies in the United States alone and emerging as one of the most popular rock albums of the decade. The success of Dookie led to a shift in punk rock’s popularity from underground clubs to mainstream radio and television.
Bush – Sixteen Stone
Released in late 1994, Sixteen Stone was Bush’s debut album. It made an immediate impact on the US Billboard 200, reaching number four and going on to sell five million copies. The album was propelled by the success of its single “Glycerine”, which peaked at number one on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. Other singles from the album, such as “Comedown” and “Machinehead”, were also successful.
Foo Fighters – The Colour and the Shape
The Colour and the Shape is the second studio album by American rock band Foo Fighters, released on May 20, 1997 by Roswell and Capitol Records. The album features the band’s biggest hit single, “Everlong”, as well as other charting singles “My Hero”, “Monkey Wrench”, and “I’ll Stick Around”. The album earned the band five Grammy nominations and peaked at number ten on the Billboard 200. It was also nominated for the Album of the Year Grammy in 1998.
Weezer – Pinkerton
This list is devoted to the best grunge music albums of all time. Grunge was a grungy, raw form of alternative rock that emerged in the early ’90s. The genre is characterized by distorted guitars, angry lyrics and a generally dark tone. While grunge was short-lived, it produced some great music that has stood the test of time.
1. Weezer – Pinkerton (1996)
Weezer’s second album, Pinkerton, is often cited as one of the best grunge albums of all time. The album is darker and more personal than their debut, and features some of their best-known songs including “El Scorcho” and “Across the Sea”.
2. Nirvana – In Utero (1993)
Nirvana’s third and final studio album, In Utero, is a dark and abrasive record that was met with mixed reviews upon its release. However, it has since been hailed as one of Nirvana’s best albums, and is considered one of the most influential grunge albums of all time.
3. Pearl Jam – Vs. (1993)
Pearl Jam’s second album Vs., was released to massive commercial success, debuting at #1 on the Billboard charts. The album features some of Pearl Jam’s most popular songs including “Go”, “Daughter” and “Animal”.
4. Alice in Chains – Dirt (1992)
Alice in Chains’ second studio album Dirt is a dark and haunting record that deals with themes of addiction and depravity. The album features some of Alice in Chains’ best-known songs including “Them Bones”, “Angry Chair” and “Would?”.
5. Soundgarden – Superunknown (1994)
Soundgarden’s fourth studio album Superunknown was a critical and commercial success, debuting at #1 on the Billboard charts. The album features some of Soundgarden’s best-known songs including “Black Hole Sun”, “Spoonman�� and “Fell on Black Days��”.
