Portal:Alternative music/Selected albums
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[edit] Selected albums
The Selected Albums are what we believe to be the best articles of albums in Wikipedia related to Alternative music and alternative rock. Prior to being listed here, articles are reviewed at Portal:Alternative music/Selected album candidates for style, prose, completeness, accuracy and neutrality according to our selected article criteria.
[edit] Usage
- Add a new selected album to the next available subpage.
- Update "max=" to new total for its {{Random portal component}} on the main page.
[edit] Selected articles list
[edit] Doolittle
Doolittle is the second studio album from the American alternative rock band Pixies, which was released in April 1989 on 4AD Records. The album's offbeat and dark subject material, featuring references to surrealism, Biblical violence, torture and death, contrasts with the clean production sound achieved by the then newly hired producer Gil Norton. Doolittle was the Pixies' first international release, with Elektra Records acting as the album's distributor in the United States.
The Pixies released two singles from Doolittle, "Here Comes Your Man" and "Monkey Gone to Heaven," both of which were chart successes on the US Modern Rock Tracks chart. The album itself reached #8 on the UK Albums Chart; an unexpected success for the band. In retrospect, album tracks such as "Debaser," "Wave of Mutilation," and "Hey" are highly acclaimed by critics, while the album, along with Surfer Rosa, is seen as the band's strongest work.
[edit] Adore
Adore is the fourth studio album from Chicago alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins. Virgin Records released the album on June 2, 1998 in the United States. Adore is the Pumpkins' only album not to feature original drummer Jimmy Chamberlin. Adore marked a change in sound for The Smashing Pumpkins; Greg Kot of Rolling Stone magazine noted that the album "isn't just a transitional record; it's a complete break with the past." Their previously layered, guitar-oriented sound was largely replaced by a quieter and more electronic influenced sound, and incorporated drum machiness and synthesizers for the first time. For the release, the band shed their alternative hipster image for a more subdued Gothic look.
Despite being "one of the most anticipated albums of 1998", Adore was a commercial disappointment and sold only 1.1 million copies, far below the Pumpkins' previous albums Siamese Dream and Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. However, the album was well received by critics, and received a nomination for Best Alternative Music Performance at the 1999 Grammy Awards.
[edit] Surfer Rosa
Surfer Rosa is the debut album by the American alternative rock band Pixies, released in March 1988 on the independent record label 4AD. The album's unusual and offbeat subject material references mutilation and voyeurism, and is augmented by lo-fi production and a unique drum sound, which owes much to the input of sound engineer Steve Albini. The album continues many of the themes raised in the Pixies' earlier output, including Spanish lyrics, and references to Puerto Rico.
Because of 4AD's independent status, distribution in the United States was handled by Rough Trade Records. Surfer Rosa failed to chart in the UK, and "Gigantic" was the only single taken from the release. Although it only reached #93 on the UK Singles Chart, Surfer Rosa was rereleased in the U.S. by Elektra Records in 1992. Despite its lack of chart success, in 2005 Surfer Rosa was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America.
Although Surfer Rosa was not a commercial success, it is often cited as a favorite of music critics, and is frequently included on professional lists of the all-time best rock albums. Many alternative rock artists, including Billy Corgan and PJ Harvey, have cited the album as inspirational; Nirvana's Kurt Cobain frequently admitted that Surfer Rosa was a strong influence on Nevermind, and in 1993 hired Albini for his band's album In Utero.
[edit] Kid A
Kid A is the fourth album by the English rock band Radiohead, released in 2000. A commercial success worldwide, Kid A went platinum in its first week of release in the United Kingdom. Despite the lack of an official single or video as publicity, Kid A became the only Radiohead release to debut at #1 in the United States. This success was credited variously to a unique marketing campaign, the early Internet leak of the album, or anticipation after the band's previous album, OK Computer (1997).
Kid A was recorded in Paris, Copenhagen, Gloucestershire and Oxford with producer Nigel Godrich. The album's songwriting and recording were experimental for Radiohead, as the band replaced the "anthemic" style of their 1997 album OK Computer with a more electronic sound. Influenced by Krautrock, jazz, and 20th century classical music, Radiohead incorporated a wide range of instruments on Kid A, replacing their older three-guitar arrangement with keyboards, the Ondes martenot, and, on certain compositions, horns and trombones. Kid A also contains more minimal and abstract lyrics than the band's previous work. Singer Thom Yorke has said the album was not intended as "art", but reflects the music they listened to at the time. Original artwork by Stanley Donwood and Yorke, and a series of short animated films called "blips", accompanied the album.
[edit] Californication
Californication is the seventh studio album by American alternative rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers, released on June 8, 1999 on Warner Bros. Records. Produced by Rick Rubin, Californication marked the return of John Frusciante, who had previously appeared on Mother's Milk and Blood Sugar Sex Magik, to replace Dave Navarro as the band's guitarist. With his return, Frusciante was credited with changing the band's style altogether, resulting in a radically different recording than what was produced with Navarro. The album's subject material incorporated various sexual innuendos commonly associated with the band, but introduced themes of lust, death, contemplations of suicide, and drugs.
Californication produced several hits for the band, including "Around the World", "Otherside", "Californication" and the Grammy-award winning "Scar Tissue". Californication peaked at #3 on the U.S. Billboard 200. It is the Chili Peppers' most commercially successful album to date, selling more than fifteen million copies worldwide; a commercial revitalization in comparison to their previous album, One Hot Minute. The record marked a change in style for the band; Rolling Stone's Greg Tate noted that "while all previous Chili Peppers projects have been highly spirited, Californication dares to be spiritual and epiphanal."
[edit] Dookie
Dookie is the third studio album and major label debut by American punk rock band Green Day. The album was the band's first collaboration with producer Rob Cavallo. Released on February 1, 1994 through Reprise Records, Dookie became a worldwide commercial success, reaching #2 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and charting in seven countries. The album helped to propel Green Day into mainstream popularity, amid claims from the punk rock community that the band had "sold out".
Dookie produced five hit singles for the band: "Longview", the re-recorded "Welcome To Paradise", "Basket Case", the radio-only single "She" and "When I Come Around". As of 2007, Dookie is the band's best-selling album, selling over 15 million copies worldwide. It is Green Day's only diamond album. Dookie won the Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album in 1995.
[edit] Be Here Now
Be Here Now is the third studio album by the English rock band Oasis. Released in August 1997, the album was highly anticipated by both music critics and fans as a result of the band's previous worldwide successes with their 1994 debut album Definitely Maybe, and its 1995 follow up (What's the Story) Morning Glory?. The album's pre-release build up led to considerable hype within both the music and mainstream press. At that point, Oasis were at the height of their fame, and Be Here Now became the UK's fastest selling album to date, selling over 420,000 units on the first day of release alone, and over one million within two weeks. As of 2007, the album has sold eight million copies worldwide.
Artistically Be Here Now failed to live up to the expectations that preceded its release. Although initial reviews were positive, retrospectively the album is viewed by much of the music press and by most members of the band as over-indulgent and bloated. In 2007, Q magazine described Be Here Now as "a disastrous, overblown folly—the moment when Oasis, their judgement clouded by drugs and blanket adulation, ran aground on their own sky-high self-belief." The album's producer Owen Morris said of the recording sessions: "The only reason anyone was there was the money. Noel had decided Liam was a shit singer. Liam had decided he hated Noel's songs [...] Massive amounts of drugs. Big fights. Bad vibes. Shit recordings."
[edit] By the Way
By the Way is the eighth studio album by American alternative rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers, released on July 9, 2002 on Warner Bros. Records. It sold over 282,000 copies in the first week, and peaked at #2 on the Billboard 200. The singles from the album included "By the Way", "The Zephyr Song", "Can't Stop" and "Universally Speaking". The lyrical subject matter vocalist Anthony Kiedis addresses in By the Way is a divergence from previous Chili Peppers' albums, with Kiedis taking a more candid and reflective approach to his lyricism.
By the Way was applauded by critics as a departure from the band's previous styles, and is recognized for the melodic and subdued emotions given by the Chili Peppers. Guitarist John Frusciante is credited with writing most of the album's melodies, bass lines, and guitar progressions, therefore changing the direction of the recording dramatically: "his warm, understated guitar work and his doo-wop style vocal harmonies are king this time around." The album therefore contained virtually none of the signature funk-punk fusion the band had become known for playing. Frusciante considered writing "By the Way [to be] one of the happiest times in my life."
[edit] Sky Blue Sky
Sky Blue Sky is the sixth studio album by Chicago rock band Wilco, released on May 15, 2007 by Nonesuch Records. Originally announced on January 17, 2007 at a show in Nashville, Tennessee, it was the band's first studio album with guitarist Nels Cline and multi-instrumentalist Pat Sansone. Before its release, the band streamed the entire album on its official website and offered a free download of "What Light".
Sky Blue Sky was Wilco's highest debuting album on the Billboard 200 at number four. The self-produced album received mostly favorable reviews by critics. Publications such as PopMatters and Rolling Stone praised its maturity, while PlayLouder and Pitchfork Media criticized its "dad-rock" sound. While some critics praised the direct lyrical approach, others criticised it when compared to previous Wilco albums. The band licensed six songs from the Sky Blue Sky sessions to a Volkswagen advertisement campaign, a move that generated criticism from fans and the media.
[edit] Blood Sugar Sex Magik
Blood Sugar Sex Magik is the fifth studio album by American alternative rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers, released on September 24, 1991. Produced by Rick Rubin, it was the band's first album released on Warner Bros. Records. Unlike the band's previous recording, Mother's Milk, Blood Sugar was notably different in the heaviness of the guitar, as it contained little use of heavy metal riffs. The album's subject material incorporated various sexual innuendos and referenced drugs and death as well as themes of lust and exuberance.
The album sold over seven million copies in the United States alone and became the Chili Peppers' introduction into popularity and critical acclaim. Blood Sugar Sex Magik produced many hits for the band, including "Give It Away", "Under the Bridge", "Suck My Kiss", and "Breaking the Girl". The album also marked the departure of guitarist John Frusciante mid-tour in 1992, until his return in 1998. Steve Huey of All Music Guide felt that Blood Sugar was "...probably the best album the Chili Peppers will ever make."
[edit] Dream Days at the Hotel Existence
Dream Days at the Hotel Existence is the sixth studio album by Australian rock band Powderfinger, released by Universal Records on 2 June 2007 in Australia, and 19 November 2007 in the United Kingdom. It was released with a limited edition bonus DVD, titled Powderfinger's First XI, featuring eleven music videos spanning the band's career, from the first single, "Tail" to "Bless My Soul", the band's latest single before the release of the album.
Powderfinger reunited in late 2006, after a three year hiatus, to write songs for Dream Days at the Hotel Existence, which was recorded in Los Angeles, California, in early 2007 by producer Rob Schnapf. The first single from the album, "Lost and Running" was released on 12 May 2007, and reached number five on the ARIA singles chart. The second single "I Don't Remember", was released on 12 August 2007.
The album received critical acclaim, with many reviewers commenting that the album was "consistent" and "distinctly Australian". The album encountered controversy relating to the song "Black Tears" with claims that it may have influenced the Palm Island death in custody trial. Powderfinger released an abridged version of the song as a result of these accusations.
[edit] One Hot Minute
One Hot Minute is the sixth album by American alternative rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers, released on September 12, 1995 on Warner Bros. Records. The worldwide success of the band's previous album, Blood Sugar Sex Magik, caused guitarist John Frusciante to become uncomfortable with the band's status, and he quit mid-tour in 1992. Former Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro had been hired to replace Frusciante, and his presence would alter the band's sound considerably. One Hot Minute contains fewer sexual themes than previous records, and explores darker themes such as drug use, depression, anguish and grief. It also integrated use of heavy metal guitar riffs. Vocalist Anthony Kiedis, who had resumed addictions to speed and heroin in 1994 after being sober for more than five years, approached his lyricism with a reflective outlook on drugs and their harsh effects.
One Hot Minute was a commercial disappointment despite producing three hit singles and reaching #4 on the Billboard Top 200. Blood Sugar Sex Magik, had sold twice as many copies as One Hot Minute and received far more critical acclaim. Navarro was ultimately fired from the band due to creative differences in 1997. Stephen Thomas Erlewine of All Music Guide said that "One Hot Minute is as musically ambitious as Blood Sugar Sex Magik, but is even more unfocused, which means it provides the fewest thrills of any of the group's albums."
[edit] Pinkerton
Pinkerton is the second album by the American rock band Weezer, released September 24, 1996. Rivers Cuomo, the band's lead singer and guitarist, wrote all of its songs, most of them after a painful leg surgery; as a result, they were written in first-position on his guitar's fretboard so that he would not have to move too much to play them.
Pinkerton is named after the character B.F. Pinkerton from Puccini's opera Madame Butterfly, and the album plays as a concept album based loosely around the opera. Like the Puccini opera, the album includes other references to Japan, Japanese people, and Japanese culture from the perspective of an outsider who considers Japan fragile and sensual. It was originally planned as Songs from the Black Hole, which Cuomo deemed a "space opera." The initial concept was scrapped, but the band incorporated several of the songs into Pinkerton. The artwork on the album's cover is Kambara yoru no yuki ("Night Snow at Kambara"), a print by Japanese ukiyo-e artist Hiroshige.
[edit] Loveless
Loveless is the second studio album by alternative rock band My Bloody Valentine. Released on November 4, 1991, Loveless was recorded over a two-year period between 1989 and 1991 in nineteen recording studios. Lead vocalist and guitarist Kevin Shields dominated the recording process; he sought to achieve a particular sound for the record, making use of various techniques such as guitars strummed with a tremolo bar, sampled drum loops, and obscured vocals. A large number of engineers were hired and fired during the process, although the band finally gave credit on the album sleeve to anyone who was present during the recordings, "even if all they did was make tea", according to Shields. The recording of Loveless is rumored to have cost £250,000, a figure that came close to bankrupting the band's record label Creation Records.
My Bloody Valentine's relationship with Creation Records deteriorated during the album's recording, and the band was removed from the label due to the difficulty and expense of working with Shields. While the album was not a great commercial success, Loveless was well received by critics. The album is widely regarded as a landmark of the alternative rock genre, and is frequently cited by critics as one of the best albums of the 1990s. A number of My Bloody Valentine's contemporaries, including Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins and Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails, have cited the album as an influence on their music.
[edit] Spiderland
Spiderland is the second studio album by the American indie rock band Slint, released on March 27, 1991 on Touch and Go Records. Featuring dramatically alternating dynamics and vocals ranging from spoken word to shouting, the album contains narrative lyrics that emphasize alienation. Spiderland was Slint's first release on Touch and Go, and the group's last record.
The recording of Spiderland in 1990 is often said to have been emotionally demanding for members of Slint. Although Spiderland was not widely recognized on its initial release, it eventually sold more than 50,000 copies and became a landmark album in underground music after Slint broke up. The album has been highly influential on the styles of many bands in the post-rock and math rock genres, including Mogwai and Godspeed You! Black Emperor, and has been named a favorite of several indie rock musicians. In 2007, Slint reunited for a tour consisting of performances of Spiderland in its entirety.
[edit] Internationalist
Internationalist is the third studio album by Australian alternative rock band, Powderfinger. The album was released on September 7, 1998 and was often labelled Powderfinger's most adventurous work, with greater experimentation than in previous works. Internationalist received fairly positive reviewers in the Australian press, and cemented Powderfinger's position on the local music scene; however, the album failed to launch the band in the overseas market.
Internationalist followed in the success of its predecessor, Double Allergic, and was certified five times platinum in Australia. Internationalist received four ARIA Music Awards, including "Album of the Year". The album produced many singles for the band, including "The Day You Come", "Don't Wanna Be Left Out", "Good-Day Ray", "Already Gone" and "Passenger", which all appeared on Triple J's Hottest 100 poll in two consecutive years.
[edit] Slay Tracks (1933-1969)
Slay Tracks (1933-1969) is the debut extended play by the American indie rock band Pavement. Pavement, then consisting of founding members Stephen Malkmus (guitar, vocals) and Scott Kannberg (guitar), recorded Slay Tracks with producer and future member Gary Young (drums) during a four hour session. The EP was released as a 7" vinyl record on the band's own record label Treble Kicker in 1989. The music in Slay Tracks is influenced by indie and punk rock bands, including Swell Maps and The Fall, and many of the lyrics are inspired by life in the band's hometown of Stockton, California.
Although only 1000 copies of Slay Tracks were pressed, the EP became an underground hit, largely due to a cover of its second track, "Box Elder", by English band The Wedding Present. It was met with generally positive reviews from critics, though most of its initial reviews were from independently produced zines. The songs on Slay Tracks would later appear on the 1993 compilation Westing (By Musket & Sextant), reaching a wider audience than the EP's limited initial release. The release of Slay Tracks was significant to Pavement's signing to Drag City Records, and later to Matador Records.
[edit] Anodyne
Anodyne is the fourth and final studio album by alternative country band Uncle Tupelo, released on October 5, 1993. The recording of the album was preceded by the departure of the original drummer Mike Heidorn and the addition of three new band members: bassist John Stirratt, drummer Ken Coomer, and multi-instrumentalist Max Johnston. The band signed with Sire Records shortly before recording the album; Anodyne was Uncle Tupelo's only major label release until 89/93: An Anthology in 2002.
Recorded in Austin, Texas, Anodyne featured a split in songwriting credits between singers Jay Farrar and Jeff Tweedy, plus a cover version of the Doug Sahm song "Give Back the Key to My Heart", with Sahm on vocals. The lyrical themes were influenced by country music and—more than their preceding releases—touched on interpersonal relationships. After two promotional tours for the album, tensions between Farrar and Tweedy culminated in the breakup of Uncle Tupelo. Well-received upon its initial release, Anodyne was re-mastered and re-released in 2003 by Rhino Entertainment including five bonus tracks.
[edit] Niandra Lades and Usually Just a T-Shirt
Niandra Lades and Usually Just a T-Shirt is the debut solo album by John Frusciante released on March 8, 1994 on American Recordings. Frusciante released the album after encouragement from several friends, who told him that there was "no good music around anymore".
Niandra Lades and Usually Just a T-Shirt combines avant-garde and stream-of-consciousness styles, with guitar, piano and various effects and synthesizers on a four-track recorder. The album's first half, Niandra Lades, was recorded before Frusciante left the Red Hot Chili Peppers in 1992; during the recording of Blood Sugar Sex Magik. The second half, Usually Just a T-Shirt, was recorded after Frusciante's departure. Niandra Lades and Usually Just a T-Shirt sold poorly upon its release in 1994, and was taken off the market. The album was subsequently re-released in 1999.
