Top 10 Most Important Alternative Rock Albums Ever
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- čas přidán 3. 08. 2024
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These alt rock albums are iconic! For this list, we’ll be ranking influential and important albums in alternative rock history. Our countdown includes The White Stripes, The Smiths, Radiohead, and more! What’s your fave alt rock album? Let us know in the comments.
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What is your favorite alternative rock album of all time? Let us know in the comments!
Mine is all
Badmotororfinger and facelift. With never mind and you outta know.
Weezer
I like how never mind killed glam.
Post by bjork.
OK Computer - Radiohead
The Queen Is Dead - The Smiths
Murmur - R.E.M.
Funeral - Arcade Fire
Nevermind - Nirvana
Daydream Nation - Sonic Youth
Doolittle - The Pixies
ALL MASTERPIECES
@@duncan3998 Who said that? I just named my favourites, wtf?
I love all those albums.
@Julian Sanchez no there is nothing sad about that
Especially Funeral
radiohead's albums are all masterpieces
smashing pumpkins - siamese dream
foo fighters self titled debut
soundgarden - ultramega ok
nine inch nails - the downward spiral
One correction. Pretty Hate Machine.
Ok two corrections, foo fighters offered nothing new.
Enter faith no more angel dust
@@ianmason2003 Although, I might put Broken/Fixed ahead of Pretty Hate Machine… maybe.
Greetings from the future.........BadMotorFinger over Ultramega Ok
Joy Division's "Unknown Pleasures" would be a glaring omission on this list considering it probably originated alternative rock.
I think Unknown Pleasures would fall under "pre-dates the genre" (1979).
@@bblvrable They had Murmur which released in 1983 and some could argue that Talking Heads were perhaps the first alternative rock band and they appeared much around the same time
JD were new wave before new wave was a thing.
JD is post punk but i get it.
I think its considered more of Hard Rock Album. But man its amazing!!!
"Ritual de lo Habitual" or "Nothing's Shocking" of Jane's Addiction deserved an honorable mention
They deserved to be on the list compared to some of these entries. Then again, most of these seem to be related to mainstream acceptance, and or units sold.
O HELL YEAH THEY DO!!!!!!!!!!
Right? They were one of the pioneers of the Alternative scene.
Clicked this list for at least one of them, and was disappointed.
Easily top 3
I can't believe WM didn't even put "Mellon Collie and The Infinite Sadness" in the honorable mentions.
Or Siamese Dream
Siamese dreams!
Actually Siamese Dream is more accurate to be on the list
Whoa majority of these albums are some of my all time favorites but where is My Bloody Valentine’s “Loveless”? It’s a masterpiece that made a huge impact on 90’s indie rock. Still a phenomenal top 10.
That's a shoegaze record through and through
@@oaketree so? Still doesnt change the fact that it was associated with Alt rock
@@oaketree shoegaze is alternative rock dude
Shoegaze isn’t dead! Love it
Good call. I still pull it out. Only Shallow is one of the best songs ever, let alone the early '90s. I will always associate it with college.
Do a top 10 albums that changed music forever
Ok computer has got to be number 1 fasho (again*)
@@CPepas not gonna happen
Black Sabbath. Invented a whole genre.
@@Miist3rDuce1 how???
Appetite for Distruction has to be there
I would have thrown either Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness or Siamese Dreams on there but OK Computer was definitely a good choice.
Mellon Collie was a masterpiece by Siamese Dream was more groundbreaking IMO
Both great albums but I think The Bends is way better than OK Computer.
@@PhilP8980 nah man nah😂
totally agree.. mellon collie and ok computer should top the list..
I was just about to comment the Mellon Collie deserves to be on this list. Disappointing that it’s not. There’s nothing else like it.
I’m a simple man. I see Thom Yorke, I click.
I'm a simple man. I see Julian Casablancas, I click.
Wait what that’s Julian Casablancas in the thumbnail not Thom Yorke
Psychocandy by The Jesus & Mary Chain deserved at least an honorable mention, that album is massively influential, or at least Loveless by My Bloody Valentine.
"The Velvet Underground & Nico"
was one of the main albums that
INVENTED "Alternative Rock".
A lot of goth rock guitar tuning really emulates the tone from Venus in Furs.
Yeah, I'd say VU are proto-alternative rock.
I thought that would be No. 1.
I was going to comment that. You get a like from me
I like how Johnny Greenwood from Radiohead composed the score for There Will Be Blood and other Paul Thomas Anderson films.
Radioheads newest album contains so much of jonnies orchestral experience in them.
I was mad Nevermind wasn’t number 1 until I saw that OK Computer was. I’m good with that.
"OK Computer"-Radiohead, "Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness"-The Smashing Pumpkins "In Utero" -Nirvana, "Ten"-Pearl Jam, "Funeral"-Arcade Fire, "Dirt"-Alice in Chains, & "The Joshua Tree"-U2
How Kyle said: “Disintegration is the best album ever!”
Hard to argue with that one
So perfect!!!
Smells like Teen Spirit literally made my childhood
Not me but i am with you best album ever i love Nirvana so much I love every once in awhile just putting on Nirvana MTV Unplugged live performance because that is a great album and performance
Ok Computer came out the year I graduated high school and completely changed my whole life. I listened to it every single day for months. Still get chills when I listen to it now.
Depeche Mode is the most underrated band ever, like Violator or Songs Of Faith And Devotion aren't even a honorable mention. They influenced many and made timeless classics
I could not agree with you more. DM is for an introspective audience mind you.. Thats why i CANT stand anything else people deem as even close. ColdPlay? Give me a break.. ive been listening to DM since i was 8yrs old. Second to none. DM is more than just music. My hat is off to you for mentioning this!!
@@ghastlylife9836 Thank you for saying this :) I'm just 21 years old but I grew up listening to it kinda involuntarily but the older I got I became more invested in their music and history and their music just feels different to any one elses. I love them :)
I'm totally agree
Agree, they had a huge influence on bands like NIN, Smashing Pumpkins, Linkin Park and more. Violator is timeless and SOFAD was a great mixture of electronic sound and rock.
Daromir Firunsson SOFAD was indeed another level
Pavement "Slanted and Enchanted" is another great alternative rock album!
very true
How did Pearl Jam's Ten not make it on this list?
I would give you 2 likes if I could. They probably consider it "grunge" and probably have a whole other list for it. Which doesn't explain Nirvana being on this list.
@@PhilP8980 yeah but nevermind was insanely influential for the whole of alt rock and ten is influential for just grunge imo
And where's Smashing Pumpkins or Beck (Odelay)?
One grunge album per list
Ok Computer - Radiohead. MY GOD, what a mindblowing record, what a genius band.
overrated dust
@@user-qr9yq8fw7g you are no one
Yea that album is great
@@user-qr9yq8fw7g Sed No One cares Yo Opinion
@@user-qr9yq8fw7g Yup!
smashing pumpkins - Siamese Dream
that album is flawless
The greatest album ever made
Mellon collie is also good can’t tell witch is better
@@tyisswag4569 Mellon Collie is good, but can be a little self indulgent at times, to me Siamese is just a tighter Album.
It's probably the most well produced album ever, along with Rage's Evil Empire. But Gish is also a masterpiece, Butch Vig had the Midus touch.
Radiohead super fan here. I just discovered a band called Blonde Redhead...I may be late to the party but they are incredible. Just wanted to share the love.
Much like Radiohead, Blonde Redhead have stayed together for decades and have always evolved their sound with each new release. Great band and probably underrated.
The Strokes ❤️🔥
amen
No mention of Husker Du? They literally invented alternative rock
Which one of their albums would you nominate? Which one would it replace on the list?
@@austintrousdale2397 a personal choice, but I'd put HD's Zen Arcade and the Replacements' Let It Be in place of The Cure and the Smiths. Then again, I'm not British.
@@austintrousdale2397 candy apple grey..
replace the cure
Well then and The Matt’s
@@Drkenoreno Spot on 👍
"Turn On the Bright Lights" by Interpol deserved an honorable mention, as did Garbage. Agree with everyone else who said Beck.
Turn on the bright lights is massively underrated
Garbage is so underrated, Butch Vig + Shirley Manson = Godhead
Mellon collie and the infinite sadness is easily my favorite album of all time. So many amazing songs and variety
The cure is still one of my favorite bands of all time
OK Computer considered to be not just a most important alternative rock album ever... but also... *_worldwide masterpiece._*
Most of these albums are worldwide masterpieces.
Still prefer The Bends
@@velvet_victor The bends is wonderful,totally underestimated
How? Radiohead is just A one hit wonder and Creep is not even on that computer thing album lol
@@ND-OPSthis is such an anti-radiohead reply
Smashing Pumpkins - mellon collie and the infinite sadness & siamese dream
No Joy Division or New Order? NO Depeche Mode? Not even honorable mention? WTF!
The Cure's Disintegration is up in my top 10 for rock/metal albums ever!
Yes!!!! I was listening to Karma Police last night. Radiohead, The Strokes, The Cure are definitely iconic albums for me. Personally as black girl Morning View by Incubus was influential for me getting into Alt Rock, which has being my favorite genre since 2001-2003 era.
And of these 10, pretty sure all 10 can trace their musical DNA back to “The Velvet Underground & Nico.”
EDIT: As James points out in a reply, Rebecca specifically addresses VU in the intro which I'd fast-forwarded through due to time constraint. Rebecca, WatchMojo: my apologies.
did you not watch the intro they dont count
@@jimbo9208 Ha! That's what I get for fast-forwarding through the intro to the list itself. Thanks for pointing this out!
Nevermind is easily number 1 for me. I still go back to it each year and the lokdown has given me a new appreciation for the singles Lithium, Come As You Are and Smells Like Teen Spirit in the form of Singstar karaoke.
I'm listening to it every day all over again in My 39th year cause My 14 y/o Daughter is obsessed with it!
Right? I know it's a total layup, but that record is just too good to be real. So hard to believe it's been 30 years!
It beats the hell out of anything that Radiohead will ever do!
@@buccy55 lol
@@buccy55 They're both equally revolutionary and influential so you can't really say that about either of the two in my opinion
That three days grace albulm “one x” is SOLID... front to back.
Agree one of my fave albums ever
Solid top to bottom 👌
nirvana has a special place in my heart
and oasis omfg
Radiohead ❤️
One of the few Artists with a flawless discography 👌🏻
Ok computer was mind blowing back in the day. So different and amazing.
I don't think anyone was surprised with no1. Easily one of the greatest albums of all time. Tom York's voice is unreal and beautiful.
"Angel Dust" by Faith No More should of been on the list.
Sorry but not even close however I do believe the list is off. I’m not sure how you could leave janes addiction of this though
Its specifically alternative metal
Hybrid Theory - Linkin Park
This is an excellent list and OK Computer is where it belongs. I don't think we'll ever hear anything like it. What a masterpiece.
GREAT list! I'd have to agree with them all, really. I still tear up when I hear Photographs and Losing My Religion. Anybody remember "girlfriend's in a coma I know I know it's serious"? My favorite song by The Smiths ❤
I really hope she pulls through!
I seriously expected Disintegration to be #1.
Hit singles and total LP combined.
No My Bloody Valentine Loveless? One of the few "year zero" albums and since the album's release continues to grow in stature.
So true, especially as time flew by, so many bands of every genre sight them as a major influence. I'm surprised there was no mention of Elliott Smith.
My fave off of this list would be Disintegration by far. That is the only one that really made an impact on me. The one album that did make a serious impact and did change my mind about alt rock music/alternative was Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me by The Cure. That was watershed for me.
I'm probably going to have multiple complaints about the video, but here is #1: Pinkerton likely influenced some emo/pop-punk groups, but there were definitely influences before them. Smashing Pumpkins being one for at least MCR, and also Sunny Day Real Estate, probably the first truly emo band.
Punk Rock MBA has a good video about emo
Even if we regard punk
as a separate genre/subgenre,
we're just going to pretend
that Björk, They Might Be Giants,
Ween, Garbage, Linkin Park,
The Flaming Lips, Devo, The B-52s,
Tom Waits, Talking Heads,
Suzanne Vega, The Pet Shop Boys,
Alice In Chains, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden & vintage alternative
such as Frank Zappa, Residents
& Todd Rundgren
(yes, Rundgren, I'm not kidding)
don't count/don't exist???
Björk is a lot. And i am not sure of Linkin Park. I used to call their first 2 albums Nu-Metal.
Violent Femmes?????
My favorite Alternative Rock album would be Meteora. That album changed my life and made me dig deeper into the genre.
Yesss but that's would be the towards mid era of alternative rock
Wouldn’t that be considered a nu metal album
Yes Ok computer is number one. That one definitely is most influential cuz that's the one I personally most remember besides nevermind
Garbage’s “Version 2.0” definitely deserves an honorable mention.
I love Travis!! I haven't heard or thought of them in ages! Damn Rebecca you definitely know your music and I'm thoroughly impressed!
Indeed, Radiohead it's the most complete band ever, no discussion there.
All hail to the greatest musical genre
Here here! Zydeco & bluegrass got nuthin' on Veruca Salt 🤘
Ok computer deserves the no.1 but why no Siamese Dream, Mellon Collie, or Loveless
loveless and melancholy ❤
Loveless for sure! Thank you so much! So many bands drop MBV as a major influence, but none of them sound quite like it. Ever.
U2's The Joshua Tree deserves a nomination here. But I love me some Radiohead!
u2 is not a alterative rock band
@@jimbo9208 have you ever listened to zooropa? Sounds alternative to me
They are not an alternative Rock band doesn't mean they do not have alternative songs
@@sir8923 they have alternative albums, a few too. The joshua tree however is not one of them
I mean albums aswell, what are albums but a collection of songs. They are overall not alternative
Yes! First time I totally agree with a number one spot on watchmojo. Radiohead rules.
"Definitely Maybe" was the first CD I ever bought and I still love it
YES! Definitely, not maybe! And it was their best. Just a solid album of non-stop rockers.
Yooooo Pinkerton over blue is actually a good choice
Hell yes!
Great list, love every album on here! Some others I love to include would be Tim for the 80s and Siamese Dream for 90s. Definitely some Talking Heads too
I do really enjoy, and agree with some of selections on this list, but there were some glaring omissions that deserved to be on here in at least an honorable mention capacity. I'll list some of the albums that I can think of off the top of my head:
Jar of Flies - Alice In Chains
Siamese Dream - Smashing Pumpkins
Ten - Pearl Jam
Loveless - My Bloody Valentine
Live Through This - Hole
Superunknown - Sound Garden
Odelay - Beck (Even though Watch Mojo obviously considered it. Lol!)
If I actually thought about it, I'm certain I could list a few more, but this was simply just the ones that immediately came to mind.😊
Velvet Underground and Nico. Wasn’t that the album that *begat* “alternative” rock?
Hüsker Dü - Zen Arcade
My Bloody Valentine - Loveless
Smashing Pumpkins - Mellon Collie (or Siamese Dream)
OK Computer was the soundtrack to my senior year of high school!
Probably could've made a top 50 and still left great albums off..I would say Violator by Depeche mode..
Define alternative rock.
This should have been a Top 20 list as Alternative Rock (if it’s still exists in the past 5+ years) has a 40 year span.
Other albums to include:
Pretty Hate Machine or Downward Spiral- Nine Inch Nails
Violator- Depeche Mode
Kid A - Radiohead
Dookie - Green Day
Blood Sugar Sex Magik- RHCP
Ten - Pearl Jam
Siamese Dream - Smashing Pumpkins
Odelay- Beck
Unknown Pleasures - Joy Division
London Calling - The Clash
I'm surprised that the Chilis and Pumpkins weren't on here
I'm surprised that the Chilis and Pumpkins weren't on here
A true man of culture I would definitely replace some of Watchmojo’s choices with any of these picks especially Smashing pumpkins and RHCP
@@esaiherrera5390 Nah, these albums in the top 10 definitely are important in the history of Alternative. Several not in the mainstream or had the album sales as RHCP or SP did but they are important in the story & influence in Alternative Rock
@@S_Over_Street oh no doubt these bands are all part of the history and of course it’s hard to judge since the whole concept of the alternative genre was against the grain of what mainstream makes it even more difficult but I would definitely argue that at the very least RHCP should have been on the list, but I am very happy they at least gave the cure some love 👌🏼
For me (like Rebeeca) it's: "(What's the Story) Morning Glory?".
not an alternative rock album
I always thought Pinkerton
was a security company.
They used to harass Jesse James a lot.
How does Violator from Depeche Mode not even make a mention here?
The album "Let it be"(1984) by The Replacements should be at the top of this list. It influenced almost all of these
Great list. Well done and thought it I think. I’d like to see Echo and the Bunnymen, Janes Addiction and Talking Heads on here, but honestly it would be hard to throw any of these others out to make room. Good job on this one!
Nirvana, Radiohead and R.E.M. are the one I listen to
"Pretty Hate Machine" by NIN and "Suffer" by Bad Religion were two albums that quite literally changed my little pubescent life. There was an amazing radio station in Salt Lake City called KJQ that played what they called 'modern rock', and I ate it up. They were ahead of their time, for sure.
Great video, it would be great a top 10 indie albums or bands of each decade from the 80's to the present.
I see Watchmojo user here is the mankind of culture.
No Alice In Chains?!?
not alternative rock
GRUNGEEEEEEEEEE
Meh. Semantics between “alternative“ and “grunge”.
“Is this it” period!
For sure
Wow if the Strokes album basically helped inspire Arctic monkeys and Franz Ferdinand, two of which I've listened to thanks to my sis, then these guys are legends
Alex Turner is a massive Strokes stan
the strokes is the best rock band dude i hope they'll change your life
You also write your sister like The Smith are you my brother or what ? Lmao she likes all my favorites bands
To be honest I'm surprised that there weren't any Red Hot Chili Peppers, Smashing Pumpkins or even Gorillaz on here, I would've imagined Blood Sugar Sex Magik/Stadium Arcadium, Siamese Dream/Mellan Collie/Gish or Gorillaz/Demon Days would've been on here but still a solid list nonetheless. Alt. Rock really has come a hell of a long way, man, and it's awesome
Probably not considered to be within the genre by the list makers.
@@wormspeaker Nah, outside of acknowledging Flea as one of the best bass players ever, they rarely put RHCP in these lists even though we all know that they're legends and the music they put out from 1989 to today is legendary. They are the epitome of alternative rock amongst a couple of other bands like Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and Nirvana.
@@jonathanmartin8113 are they?
@@kostajovanovic3711 saw them in 2006 and 2016 and they still make great music. New album with Frusciante coming soon, last I heard.
I am a big fan of The Cure. I hope WatchMojo does an top Ten Trip Hop bands/albums some day.
OK Computer is also my #1 ❤️ This list should’ve been a Top 20
Just came here to verify the number 1.
Got my first Sony portable CD player in 99 with BNL Stunt as my first album for Christmas. The first Album I ever bought was OK Computer and my mind was blown.
An awesome list, was a bit disappointed that there wasn't any Green Day
I think they're classed more as rock/punk than alternative.
@@shell150675 Yeah, they do have a lot of more punk-rock type songs but then I see a lot of American Idiot (album) as having a lot of more alt-leaning songs (Holiday, Wake Me Up When September Ends, stuff like that)
Disintegration, the Cure
You Mean:
(10) The Strokes Is This It?
(9) Sunny Day Real Estate - Diary
(8) Husker Du - Zen Arcade
(7) Velvet Underground - Loaded
(6) The Cure - Disintegration
(5) Big Star - #1 Record
(4) XTC - English Settlement
(3) Pixies - Doolittle
(2) Violent Femmes - Self Titled
(1) Miles Davis - Kind of Blue
OK Computer is indeed one of the best albuns ever produced.
Nevermind is #1. Single handedly destroyed 80s Rock.
No Jeff Buckley. 🥺😢
Great video and I enjoyed it and have a blessed day
Happy to see Arcade Fire's "Funeral" get an honorable mention @ № 12.
Am here 4 "No Surprises"❤
Radiohead❤
I must have listed at the Beatles White Album over 200 times.
The Beatles and Radiohead are probably my favorite artists of all time after the very beginning they never made the same record twice but still managed to amaze.
Placebo forever 💜
90s generation remembers when MTV actually played music :(
Closer or Unknown Pleasures by joy division or dookie by green day?
OK Computer and Doolittle are actually my two favorite albums of all time. Huge fan of most of the albums on the list.
When I was in the seventh grade I told my good friend at the time, that the white stripes had a bunch of potential. He laughed at me and now I’m a music journalist. Sometimes you can just tell.
\O/ so glad you included the Cure Disintegration I love that album..it was the soundtrack to my highschool days