1. Nirvana - Nevermind (1991)



The first four chords of its most memorable single, “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” opened the floodgates of the then-independent and underground Seattle movement to the mainstream public. Nirvana’s appropriation of  '70s punk rock with modern distorted sludge, coupled with post-Gulf War disaffection resonated with early '90s kids. This wasn’t their first album (that would be angrier and arguably less-refined Bleach), but Nevermind will forever be remembered as the album that toppled the King of Pop down from the top of the charts.



2. Pearl Jam - Ten (1991)



This album came out a month before Nevermind did. While Nirvana was all about pure and unbridled angry mayhem, Pearl Jam was seen as its more deliberately polished and thoughtful counterpart. The album’s most popular song, “Jeremy”— about a kid who committed suicide by gunshot in front of his class—took the listeners to a level of social commentary almost forgotten in songwriting then (see: glam metal). But Pearl Jam's was darker. Way darker. And it reached number 5 on both the Mainstream and Modern Rock Billboard charts.



3. Alice In Chains - Dirt (1992)



”Slower, darker, heavier”: three words to sum up the band. Alice in Chains have already been touring since the late '80s, even fronting for stadium bands like Guns 'N’ Roses. In form, their music can arguably be branded heavy metal…except the droning dual vocals of Layne Staley and Jerry Cantrell made them too unconventional compared with their metal forebears. And guitar solos for a grunge act? Travesty! By 1992 all the record labels were looking at Seattle for the next hit, and Alice in Chains made absolute sense (having already released one album and a couple of EPs at this point).



4. Soundgarden - Badmotorfinger (1991)



Soundgarden had musical elements closer to traditional hard rock and early heavy metal—Robert Plant/Ozzy Osbourne-esque vocals; compact, blazing, and occasionally psychedelic guitar work; driving drums—but like Alice in Chains, Soundgarden was just a bit too different that listeners could not pin them down. Their third album was released the same year a lot of the Seattle bands broke through the mainstream, and that focus on the Seattle scene must have helped listeners to finally peg them: Soundgarden had a solid rhythm section, and this marriage of power, sludge, psychedelia, and stratospheric vocals finally broke through the mass market.


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



Formed by Soundgarden’s Chris Cornell as a tribute to Mother Love Bone singer Andrew Wood (who died due to complications related to heroin overdose in 1990), it was the ultimate Seattle superband: Cornell with the instrumentalists of Pearl Jam (though singer Eddie Vedder would provide some parts in some songs). It can’t get any more “grunge” than that.


6. Various Artists - Singles: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1992)



The early '90s would not be complete without filmmaker Cameron Crowe’s ode to the Seattle scene, Singles. To add to the authenticity, the film even had Chris Cornell, Eddie Vedder, Jeff Ament, and Alice in Chains appear in it. The film was made before the entire grunge explosion happened, and Cornell cites this as a factor as to why the film—with its soundtrack—is crucial to the grunge time capsule. Save for songs by The Smashing Pumpkins, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, and '80s band The Replacements' Paul Westerberg (who produced the OST’s biggest hit, “Dyslexic Heart”), the album is pure Seattle grungeland romance. Trivia: the attempt to turn Singles into a TV series ended up being…Friends.


7. Mudhoney - Superfuzz Bigmuff EP (1988)



Long before grunge reached the mainstream, Mudhoney had already set the standard for what is deemed the “grunge” sound: punk rock that is filthier, sludgier, and crazier. The album title is quite literal in that regard, as it’s basically about the guitar effect—the Big Muff pedal—that produced the signature sound. But one will be remiss as to dismiss Mudhoney as just the titos that never made it (how dare you!). Seattle was a tiny place, and one could say them and the Melvins birthed the Nirvanas of this planet.


8. Mother Love Bone - Apple (1990)



Mother Love Bone will forever be remembered for losing its lead singer. Sound-wise, you won’t hear any traditional grunge sludge here; the album is closer to classic rock’s more conventional musical forms (and a piano or two, even!). Singer Andrew Wood’s stylings are very reminiscent of Ozzy Osbourne. But Mother Love Bone literally birthed Pearl Jam: its two prominent members came from the band. And it won’t be the last time Seattle bands will share members, either (Soundgarden drummer Matt Cameron now plays for Pearl Jam).


9. Melvins - Ozma (1989)



The Melvins are more the progenitors of sludge metal than anything else, with its dropped tunings and slow, droning melodies accompanied by drums akin to ten Pacquiao punches to the head happening at the same time. While their third album Bullhead was released in the Year Grunge Broke (1991), this 1989 album might as well have paved the way for the heaviness associated with later grunge acts.



10. Screaming Trees - Uncle Anesthesia (1991)



Produced by Soundgarden’s Chris Cornell, this was the band’s fifth album (and first one on a major label). While their previous album Buzz Factory is more lo-fi and is closer in feel to what is traditionally grunge (and thus merits a listen, obviously), Uncle Anesthesia was the band’s mainstream debut. If anything it is a glimpse into what mainstream success can do to the ratty grunge aesthetic: Nirvana was overproduced like hell, and Screaming Trees were given a slicker polish. The production wasn’t able to remove the slacker vocals, thankfully. Take that as you will.


Here are other albums to check out from that era, mistakenly labeled as “grunge” (as they did not come from the Seattle scene, but nevertheless shared similar aesthetics):


1. Pixies - Surfer Rosa (1988)



Kurt Cobain did say “Smells Like Teen Spirit” was his attempt at ripping off the Pixies. Find out why.


Recommended tracks: “Gigantic,” “Where Is My Mind”


 

2. Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream (1993)



Their debut album Gish may have introduced their bizarre mixture of sludge, psychedelia, and whiny-ass singing to the market, but it was Siamese Dream that is considered by some hardcore fans to be the definitive Pumpkins album.


Recommended tracks: “Today,” “Cherub Rock”



3. Stone Temple Pilots - Core (1992)



These guys came from California, which is as far from “grungy” as one can get. But their affectation of heavy sludge, coupled with vocals reminiscent of Eddie Vedder, not to mention a strategically-timed album makes them part of the grunge canon. Somewhat.


Recommended track: “Plush”



4. Hole - Pretty On The Inside (1991)



This was Courtney Love at her most abrasive. Long before she became Mrs. Cobain, she was combining sludge metal and punk rock in one big crazy maelstrom. The band’s next album propelled Hole to rockstardom, but you can say that Pretty On The Inside is the band at its most primal.


Recommended track: “Teenage Whore”



5. L7 - Smell the Magic (1990)



The figureheads of the “riot grrrl” movement of the era, L7 dares the listener to get out of their way…or else.


Recommended track: "Shove"