Title -- 10 Greatest Albums of the Grunge Era By William Buchheit 10. “Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness,” Smashing Pumpkins, 1995 – One of the most successful double albums ever released, this one features the Pumpkins’ most diverse selection of songs. “Tonight, Tonight” and “1979” revealed a poppier side, but Billy Corgan and crew kept it real on dark rockers “Zero,” and “Bullet With Butterfly Wings.” 9. “Superunknown,” Soundgarden, 1994 – You want to talk about “huge,” think about how many times you saw the “Black Hole Son” video on MTV in the summer of ’94. So many of these grunge staples were hits (“Spoonman,” “Fell On Black Days”) that Soundgarden’s best song, “The Day I Tried to Live,” was nearly overlooked. 8. “Temple of the Dog,” Temple of the Dog, 1991 – Neither Eddie Vedder nor Chris Cornell was too well known when they recorded this collaborative effort with Soundgarden drummer Matt Cameron and Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready. Now, Temple of the Dog is known as a ’90s supergroup. As a vocal tandem, Vedder and Cornell are a force to be reckoned with, especially on “Call Me a Dog” and “Say Hello to Heaven.” 7. “Dirt,” Alice In Chains, 1992 – Does anything typify the grunge sound like the opening seconds of “Them Bones,” the first song on this legendary album? Featuring Jerry Cantrell’s nasty guitar riffs, Lane Staley’s tortured vocals and songs about the hell of addiction, “Dirt” quickly secured its place in grunge history. 6. “In Utero,” Nirvana, 1994 – More raw and desperate than “Nevermind,” Nirvana’s final studio album seems almost like the soundtrack of a nervous breakdown. Cobain’s self-directed anger saturates the record, from lo-fi screamfests like “Rape Me,” and “Scentless Apprentice,” to more mainstream ballads like “Pennyroyal Tea” and “All Apologies.” This is an album as intriguing as it is sad. 5. “Siamese Dream,” Smashing Pumpkins, 1993 –Though they never had the built-in violence of their grunge peers, the Pumpkins had some of the decade’s finest guitar hooks and catchiest melodies. “Siamese Dream” marked the moment the band went from psychadelic newcomers to alternative rock machine. 4. “Purple,” Stone Temple Pilots, 1994 – If “Interstate Love Song” isn’t the best song of the 1990s, it is really damn close. Despite all his drug problems, Scott Weiland was a superb vocalist, and his talents are evidenced consistently on the band’s second album. Guitarist Don DeLeo launches buzzsaw intros on “Vasoline” and “Unglued,” while also providing masterful slide work on “Big Empty.” 3. “Unplugged in NY,” Nirvana, 1994 – Cobain’s legacy was well cemented by the time the band recorded this special MTV concert right before his death. The performance, however, illuminated just what a special craftsman, guitarist and singer he was. Superb from beginning to end, this unplugged gem features captivating versions of Nirvana originals and a jaw-dropping cover of Lead Belly’s “Where Did You Sleep Last Night.” 2. “Ten,” Pearl Jam, 1991 – Full of energy, venom, and intriguing stories, “Ten” rivals Zeppelin and The Doors for best debut album ever made. It sold over ten million copies and contains at least six of the ’90s finest songs. Pearl Jam’s second two albums were also excellent, but they could never replicate the magic found here. 1. “Nevermind,” Nirvana, 1991 –There’s not much one can add about this one, generally considered one of the top 10 albums ever made. Yet, despite all its praise, hype and influence, some songs on “Nevermind” remain grossly underrated. “Lounge Act,” for example, might define Nirvana more than any hit they ever made.
Posted on: Mon, 31 Mar 2014 20:14:00 +0000