Top 10 Grunge Albums

The '90s grunge scene puts the late '80s hair metal bands to shame. There's not so much a flashy image to portray or sell - just a darker form of evolved rock. The lack of gimmicks (no cute outfits, makeup) also goes away from the quantized and corny drum beats that came to rise in the '80s. However, this decade (unfortunately) shows that "the most talented are the most troubled" - as the lyrics tend to reflect that. Out of all the lead singers on this list (excluding Billy Corgan) Eddie Vedder is the only surviving one.

10. Ten - Pearl Jam (1991)

While their sound might not be as heavy as their other grunge counterparts, Pearl Jam's Ten is masterfully executed. "Black" is a great example of such execution on this album along with "Once". Ten really took the band out of nowhere to the forefront of the '90s scene with its massive popularity. I'm convinced that Mike McCready goes down as one of the best pure lead guitarists of the grunge scene as well. Pearl Jam actually went on to do some good stuff after this album especially in Versus - showing that they were more than just a one hit wonder.

9. In Utero - Nirvana (1993)

By 1993, Nirvana had reached unreal levels of super-stardom; but their creative writing process was unswayed. The sardonic lyrics on In Utero still echo to this day and pair up nicely with the booming rhythm section of Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic. Nirvana's formula is simple and doesn't stray from the path especially on "Serve the Servants" and "All Apologies". Other tracks like

"Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge On Seattle" and "Dumb" tend to display the darkness of Cobain's inner conflicts. The biggest sleeper track has to be "Milk It" - a raw (might I say "punk esque") whirlwind of bleak and twisted emotions. It really seemed like Nirvana was poised to take complete control of the decade with the momentum from this release.

8. Purple - Stone Temple Pilots (1994)

I always enjoyed the line "Too much walking shoes worn thin, Too much trippin' and my soul's worn thin" - a clever double entendre of sorts from the song "Big Empty". On Purple, the sound trends in a more melodic direction than Core evidenced by "Meatplow" and "Vasoline" which kick the album into high gear. The album's hit "Interstate Love Song" never seems to get old; but don't forget the strong percussive finish of "Unglued" and "Army Ants". Overall this effort solidified the Stone Temple Pilots as a heavy force on the grunge/alternative scene.

7. Core - Stone Temple Pilots (1992)

Core is pretty far removed from songs that are light and upbeat: see "Piece of Pie" and "Dead & Bloated". Its sluggish style traverses finely into the realms of grunge with Scott Weiland's bellowing voice. Songs like "Naked Sunday" are a nice change of pace in a power funk style (if that's a thing). And the seventh track tells an authentic reflection which puts the debate to rest on what song named "Creep" from the '90s is the best (see TLC, Radiohead, etc.).

6. Badmotorfinger - Soundgarden (1991)

Overall this is a really heavy album. Badmotorfinger touches on themes of anxiety and paranoia along with religious hypocrisy. Hard rockers like "Slaves and Bulldozers" along with "Jesus Christ Pose" really help to complete the album. There's also saxophone solos incorporated in "Drawing Flies" and the ominous "Room a Thousand Years Wide" - which are an interesting touch considering the genre. This is a great point in Soundgarden's career as their sound feels both raw and polished at the same time.

5. Temple of the Dog - Temple of the Dog (1991)

Another one of Chris Cornell's side projects, Temple of the Dog tends to go under the radar. "Four Walled World" was the song that got me hooked on the album - which led to "Call Me a Dog" and "Say Hello 2 Heaven". But perhaps what sticks out the most to me is "Reach Down", an eleven minute epic of badass intensity that most listeners will shy away from due to its length. If you're in the mood to headbang, the dueling guitar solos are worth your time (it has Jimi Hendrix written all over it). Temple of the Dog also ushered in the new decade with their notable radio hit "Hunger Strike" which features Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam.

4. Nevermind - Nirvana (1991)

The iconic album cover has to be etched in the minds of every human in North America. It's hard to have not seen it at least once, right? Nevermind goes beyond anything released at the time (or even after for that matter). Obviously this has some giant hits that don't need to be mentioned, but the release really did raise the expectations for the '90s. Take away the four or five radio hits and this is still an excellent EP album on its own. Moreover, songs like "On a Plain" tend to go unnoticed to the casual listener and deserve more exposure. The album finishes out on a somber note with "Something in the Way" - alluding to Cobain's struggles while paying homage to his hometown. Cobain was blunt and unapologetic in his songwriting and stage presence, and never shied away from what was on his mind.

3. Siamese Dream - Smashing Pumpkins (1993)

Some may not consider Siamese Dream grunge as The Smashing Pumpkins weren't really associated the Seattle area grunge scene. But eh, who cares? It's close enough (to an extent). This album definitely has strong elements of grunge with Billy Corgan's own psychedelic twists. Jimmy Chamberlain's aggressive but well crafted drum grooves hit you in the chest - especially when mixed in with screeching guitar solos backed by low tuned Big Muff inspired guitar riffs. Every song seems to be a top 5 song on the album: whether it be "Hummer", "Mayonaise", "Soma", or "Geek U.S.A.". This is full force of power mixed in with articulate songwriting on display; Siamese Dream truly couldn't have existed in any other decade.

2. Dirt - Alice in Chains (1992)

The troubled Layne Staley had one of the most chilling and distinct "grunge voices" of all time. His vocal performances on this are in a class of its own - mixed in with Jerry Cantrell's harmonies, Dirt sets a high bar for the '90s grunge sound. It gets off to a blistering start and never seems to slow down; the thunderous mix of heavy riffing and high screaming wah induced solos is present until the end. "Rain When I Die" & "Dam That River" are personal favorites of mine that show off exactly what AIC is about. There's nothing light or upbeat with this ominous cloud of textures, just a thick and monstrous stream of dissonant angst.

1. Superunknown - Soundgarden (1994)

Superunknown is superunmatched. With stellar vocal performances from Chris Cornell and hard hitting sluggish riffs from Kim Thayil, it's incredibly consistent from top to bottom. Songs like "Spoonman" and "The Day I Tried to Live" help to breathe life into the middle of the album - reeling listeners back in. This is far more than just the placeholder for the hit "Black Hole Sun" - which I actually view as one of the weaker songs on the album. While there's less of an emphasis on high flying guitar solos, the grooves are solidified and include some tasteful Eastern influences on "Head Down" and "Half". Superunknown's doomy aesthetic is packed with over an hour's worth of material and is generally the first album I think of when it comes to grunge.

To me, the release of Superunkown signaled the end of the grunge era. The '90s would trend in a different direction from this point onwards: leaving some of the heaviest hitting music known to man behind in the decade's wake.