Need a refreshing dose of solid grunge albums from the 1990s? If you’re burnt out by the big hits from bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Alice In Chains, why not give these five stellar records a shot? You might not be familiar with a few of them, unless you’re a diehard fan of grunge.
1. ‘Congregation’ by Afghan Whigs
Cinncinati outfit Afghan Whigs was one of the first grunge bands to prove that the genre wasn’t just a Seattle thing. Congregation is a fantastic effort that goes beyond grunge into soul and sensuality. At a time when most of Seattle’s grunge bands were writing songs loaded with teenaged angst, Aghan Whigs was a bit more mature and existential. This is a pretty underrated work, in my opinion.
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2. ‘Fontanelle’ by Babes In Toyland
This is one of the best grunge albums to come out of the 1990s, and it has since been (kind of) associated with the riot grrrl movement of the 1990s as well. However, Fontanelle by Babes In Toyland is a pure grunge record, complete with the raging lyrics and sludgy instrumentation fans had come to expect from the genre by 1992. You just can’t beat Kat Bjelland’s vocals.
3. ‘Houdini’ by Melvins
How about a classic? Melvins inspired countless grunge acts in the 1990s, and one of their most influential records is Houdini from 1993. It’s not an easy record to describe; nobody else has replicated its energy and sound, though plenty of people have tried. Kurt Cobain was one notable figure who was very influenced by Melvins.
4. ‘The Winding Sheet’ by Mark Lanegan
This is quite an underrated gem on our list of well-aged grunge albums from the 1990s. You might know Mark Lanegan from Screaming Trees, but he really stands well on his own with this solo effort from 1990. The Winding Street is classic grunge rock with a touch of psychedelia and even a bit of the blues. This record features Lanegan’s rendition of “Where Did You Sleep Last Night” by Lead Belly, which Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain would later immortalize in his own way through the band’s MTV Unplugged set.
5. ‘Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge’ by Mudhoney
Mudhoney still has a pretty dedicated fanbase, but this grunge outfit deserves way more love for their contributions to the genre. Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge from 1991 was one heck of a sophomore album, and it makes sense why Mudhoney was Sub Pop’s best-selling band for a hot minute. If you like your grunge music on the garage rock-ish side, this is the record to pick up.
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