The 30 Best Alternative Rock Albums of All Time

Grunge landmarks, shoegaze haze, Britpop swagger and lo-fi indie gems from the college-radio underground to the arena stage. Which record takes the crown?

1. 1
   Nevermind

   Nirvana's 1991 breakthrough that brought alternative rock to the mainstream.
2. 2
   OK Computer

   Radiohead's 1997 paranoid art-rock landmark.
3. 3
   The Bends

   Radiohead's 1995 guitar-driven breakout album.
4. 4
   Doolittle

   Pixies' 1989 loud-quiet-loud classic that influenced a generation.
5. 5
   Surfer Rosa

   Pixies' abrasive 1988 debut produced by Steve Albini.
6. 6
   Loveless

   My Bloody Valentine's 1991 shoegaze masterpiece.
7. 7
   Ten

   Pearl Jam's 1991 debut of arena-sized Seattle grunge.
8. 8
   Siamese Dream

   Smashing Pumpkins' lush, layered 1993 breakout.
9. 9
   Automatic for the People

   R.E.M.'s 1992 reflective, string-laden classic.
10. 10
    Murmur

    R.E.M.'s 1983 jangly, cryptic debut that launched college rock.
11. 11
    The Queen Is Dead

    The Smiths' 1986 literate jangle-pop landmark.
12. 12
    Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain

    Pavement's 1994 lo-fi indie-rock touchstone.
13. 13
    You're Living All Over Me

    Dinosaur Jr.'s 1987 fuzz-drenched noise-rock classic.
14. 14
    Slanted and Enchanted

    Pavement's 1992 scrappy lo-fi debut.
15. 15
    Rid of Me

    PJ Harvey's raw, ferocious 1993 second album.
16. 16
    Pinkerton

    Weezer's confessional, abrasive 1996 follow-up.
17. 17
    Is This It

    The Strokes' 2001 debut that revived garage rock.
18. 18
    Funeral

    Arcade Fire's 2004 emotional indie-rock debut.
19. 19
    The Joshua Tree

    U2's 1987 anthemic American-roots epic.
20. 20
    Dookie

    Green Day's 1994 pop-punk breakthrough.
21. 21
    In Utero

    Nirvana's abrasive 1993 final studio album.
22. 22
    Superunknown

    Soundgarden's heavy, psychedelic 1994 breakthrough.
23. 23
    Last Splash

    The Breeders' 1993 album featuring Cannonball.
24. 24
    Bee Thousand

    Guided by Voices' 1994 lo-fi indie classic.
25. 25
    Daydream Nation

    Sonic Youth's 1988 sprawling noise-rock landmark.
26. 26
    Let It Be

    The Replacements' 1984 raw, heartfelt college-rock favorite.
27. 27
    Definitely Maybe

    Oasis's 1994 swaggering Britpop debut.
28. 28
    Parklife

    Blur's 1994 Britpop cornerstone.
29. 29
    Turn On the Bright Lights

    Interpol's 2002 moody post-punk-revival debut.
30. 30
    Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not

    Arctic Monkeys' 2006 record-breaking debut.

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