7 Albums That Defined the ’90s Grunge Era

Grunge emerged in the late 1980s, right in time to act as the defining rock sound of the following decade. It was birthed in the Pacific Northwest, and the music tends to mirror the gloomy angst that the overcast region is known for. Fuzzy guitars, sludgy rhythms, and bellowing vocals that grapple with misery are all hallmarks of the style’s sound.

Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, and Alice in Chains (all of Seattle origin) are known for being the most influential acts in grunge. But plenty other bands left their considerable marks on the popular punk-fueled music movement with stellar LP releases. From Hole to Green River, here are seven releases that defined that fruitful period for rock.

1. Nirvana – Bleach

Nirvana’s most famous albums are Nevermind and In Utero, which feature hits like “All Apologies” and “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” But their 1989 debut is one of the most quintessentially “grunge” albums ever recorded. Fuzzy guitars, slamming drums, and groovy basses support the hoarse vocals of a young Kurt Cobain. It thrust Nirvana into the same sphere as critical darlings like Sonic Youth and Dinosaur Jr., making their eventual pivot to “biggest band in the world” feel all the more unusual.

2. Pearl Jam – Ten

Pearl Jam was founded by bassist Jeff Ament and guitarist Stone Gossard, after the breakup of their band Mother Love Bone. The act’s 1991 debut, Ten, found the duo partnering with singer Eddie Vedder, guitarist Mike McCready, and drummer Dave Krusen. Their work in tandem is fiery and cathartic. Singles like “Even Flow” and “Alive” quickly thrust Pearl Jam into the mainstream spotlight, allowing them to live on as the last massive grunge band standing with (almost all of) its original members.

3. Soundgarden – Superunknown

Soundgarden’s fourth album, Superunknown, found the Chris Cornell-fronted band coming into its own. Scaling back some of the pure grit of their early work, it debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. While it’s more accessible than much of the band’s prior output, tracks like “Spoonman” and “Black Hole Sun” are weird enough to retain Soundgarden’s signature artistic fingerprint.

[RELATED: We Asked AI to Write a Song in the Styles of Kurt Cobain and Chris Cornell]

4. Mudhoney – Superfuzz Bigmuff

Seattle band Mudhoney put out their debut, Superfuzz Bigmuff, in 1988 through storied grunge-friendly label Sub Pop. It’s named for two guitar distortion pedals, and the record’s filthy sonics make this title feel appropriate. Songs like “Chain That Door” and “Mudride” are thrillingly nasty.

5. Hole – Live Through This

Fronted by Kurt Cobain’s wife, Courtney Love, Hole was one of the few female-fronted bands to work its way to the pinnacle of the grunge scene. (One should revisit acts including L7, Babes in Toyland, and Veruca Salt when searching for other female-led groups that helped diversify the male-dominated genre.) Hole’s second album, Live Through This, highlights a polished side of the grunge sound, but still teems with spunky energy. Released mere days after Cobain’s suicide, it’s a stellar and poetic album that arrived in a puff of conspiratorial misfortune.

6. Green River – Dry as a Bone / Rehab Doll

Green River previewed the artistry of future members of Pearl Jam, Mudhoney, and Mother Love Bone. They cut their teeth in mid-‘80s Seattle, and helped pave the way for countless grunge bands that followed. Their Sub Pop-issued 1990 album, Dry as a Bone / Rehab Doll, is a compilation of their first two records for the label. It’s feisty and lo-fi, making it easy to sense the genre’s early roots in the American no-wave and noise scenes.

7. Temple of the Dog – Temple of the Dog

Made up of members of Soundgarden and Pearl Jam, Temple of the Dog are a true ‘90s supergroup. Their self-titled 1990 debut was recorded as a tribute to Malfunkshun/Mother Love Bone singer Andrew Wood, who had recently passed away due to a heroin overdose. There’s a passion to the music that reflects the influence of that tragedy. The single “Hunger Strike,” in particular, is an all-too-often overlooked grunge classic that ruled MTV before Pearl Jam and Soundgarden did as individual outfits.

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