10 Grunge Music Scene Albums You Must Hear

The grunge music scene of the early 1990s was defined by a raw, unpolished sound that contrasted sharply with the glitz and glamour of the hair metal bands that ruled the airwaves at the time.

If you’re looking to explore the origins of grunge, or simply want to hear some great music, check out our list of 10 grunge music scene albums you must hear.

Nirvana – Nevermind

Nirvana’s second album, Nevermind ( 1991) is arguably the most important grunge album. It popularized the genre and brought it into the mainstream. The album has sold over 30 million copies worldwide and has been certified diamond by the RIAA. It is one of the best-selling albums of all time.

Pearl Jam – Ten

Pearl Jam – Ten
(1991)

Ten is the debut studio album by American rock band Pearl Jam, released on August 27, 1991 through Epic Records. The album was written and recorded in a matter of months after the band’s formation. It is a stylistic amalgamation of the band’s hard rock origins and the new direction it was taking. Most of the songs began as basic structures that were gradually built up with instrumentation. frontman Eddie Vedder wrote lyrics to punk rock, alternative rock, and classic rock songs. The album has sold over 13 million copies in the United States, and has been certified 13× Platinum by the RIAA. In 2001, a censored version of the album was released on compact disc; it removes all references to God from Vedder’s lyrics, although “Jeremy” still contains a reference to suicide in its opening lines.

Alice in Chains – Dirt

Released in September of 1992, Alice in Chain’s second album Dirt catapulted the band to the top of the grunge heap. The album is a searing look at addiction and the mental and physical toll it takes on those who suffer from it. Frontman Layne Staley’s heroin addiction was well known at the time and his battle with it informed much of the album’s lyrics. Drummer Sean Kinney has said that many of the album’s songs were written while Staley was in rehab. The album was a commercial and critical success, selling more than four million copies and earning five Grammy nominations.

Soundgarden – Badmotorfinger

Badmotorfinger is the third studio album by the American rock band Soundgarden, released on October 8, 1991, through A&M Records. The album spawned the singles “Jesus Christ Pose”, “Rusty Cage”, and “Outshined”, which peaked at number one, number six, and number five respectively on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. Badmotorfinger was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 1992. The song “Slaves & Bulldozers” was nominated for Best Hard Rock Performance in 1993.

Stone Temple Pilots – Core

Stone Temple Pilots’ debut album, Core, was released in 1992 and it remains one of the defining albums of the grunge music scene. The album is packed with hard-hitting rock songs like “Sex Type Thing” and “Wicked Garden,” but it also has its fair share of more reflective and introspective tracks like “Creep” and “Plush.” frontman Scott Weiland’s powerful vocals are the perfect counterpart to the band’s inventive musicianship, making Core an essentialListen to: “Sex Type Thing,”
“Wicked Garden,” “Creep,” “Plush”

Screaming Trees – Sweet Oblivion

This is the album that made Screaming Trees one of my favorite grunge bands. It was released in 1992 and it’s loaded with great songs. The single, “Nearly Lost You”, is a masterpiece and one of the best grunge songs ever recorded. If you like Nirvana, Soundgarden or Pearl Jam, you need to check out Screaming Trees.

Mudhoney – Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge

Mudhoney’s second album, Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge was released in 1991 to critical acclaim. The album is a dark and heavy record, with grinding guitars and seething vocals. Despite its dark themes, the album is also infused with a sense of humor, which gives it a unique charm. Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge is an essential album for any fan of grunge music.

L7 – Smell the Magic

L7’s second album is often overshadowed by their riot grrrl attitude and grunge-metal anthems, but it’s a smart, funny record that deserves more attention. “Shove,” “Freak Magnet,” and “Pretend We’re Dead” are among the best songs the band ever wrote, and Donita Sparks’ vocal performance is vicious and commanding. If you want to get a sense of what the grunge music scene was really about, this is a great place to start.

Hole – Live Through This

Hole’s debut album symbolized everything that was great about the grunge music scene. Released in 1994, the year Kurt Cobain committed suicide, the album was a dark and angry sound that captured the pain and rage of a generation. The album’sraw emotion made it an instant classic, and it remains one of the most important albums of the 1990s.

Silverchair – Frogstomp

If you want to get an idea of what the grunge music scene was all about, then you need to listen to Frogstomp by Silverchair. This 1995 album shot the Australian band to global fame and made them one of the biggest grunge bands in the world. The album is full of angsty anthems like “Pure Massacre” and “Israel’s Son” that perfectly capture the feeling of being a disaffected teenager in the mid-90s.