Here are 11 essential indie rock albums from the 1990s that you should absolutely own on vinyl.
This list could honestly go on forever, given the state of indie music in the ’90s. What it meant to be a true “indie rock” band hadn’t been fully developed at this time.
The grunge era in the first half of the decade led to major labels gobbling up nearly everything that would fit that sound. It was nearly the same story as the alternative rock boom followed.
True independent record labels were mostly relegated to the regional scene operations or firmly entrenched in the world of punk, leaving little room for indie rock to blossom into what it is today.
There were a few exceptions, however, during this period. Seattle’s Sub Pop, which helped launch Nirvana and Soundgarden into the stratosphere at the start of the grunge movement, slowly transitioned into a true home of indie rock before the end of the ’90s.
READ MORE: 11 Underrated ’90s Albums Every Rock Fan Should Own on Vinyl
In North Carolina, Merge Records was just getting its start as an independent record label as the ’90s ramped up. Early buzz around Neutral Milk Hotel’s music helped draw attention to Merge, which would go on to release music from the likes of Arcade Fire, Spoon and The New Pornographers.
If you’re looking to start collecting early indie rock on vinyl, here are 11 albums that need to be on your shelves.
Blur, Parklife (1994)
blur parklife album cover
Key tracks: “Girls & Boys,” “Parklife,” “End of a Century”
Buy it here.
Dismemberment Plan, Emergency & I (1999)
dismemberment plan emergency and I
Key tracks: “What Do You Want Me to Say?,” “A Life of Possibilities,” “The City”
Buy it here.
Dinosaur Jr., Without a Sound (1994)
dinosaur jr without a sound album cover
Key tracks: “Feel The Pain,” “Yeah, Right,” “Over Your Shoulder”
Buy it here.
Jimmy Eat World, Clarity (1999)
jimmy eat world clarity album cover
Key tracks: “Lucky Denver Mint,” “For Me This Is Heaven,” “A Sunday”
Buy it here.
The Lemonheads, Come On Feel The Lemonheads (1993)
lemonheads
Key tracks: “Into Your Arms,” “Being Around,” “It’s About Time”
Buy it here.
Modest Mouse, The Lonesome Crowded West (1997)
Key tracks: “Heart Cooks Brain,” “Trailer Trash, “Polar Opposites”
Buy it here.
Neutral Milk Hotel, In the Aeroplane Over the Sea (1998)
neutral milk hotel album cover
Key tracks: “In the Aeroplane Over the Sea,” “Communist Daughter,” “Two-Headed Boy”
Buy it here.
Sleater-Kinney, Dig Me Out (1997)
Kill Rock Stars
Key tracks: “Dig Me Out,” “One More Hour,” “Turn It On”
Buy it here.
Slint, Spiderland (1991)
slint spiderland album cover
Key tracks: “Breadcrumb Trail,” “Good Morning, Captain,” “Washer”
Buy it here.
Sunny Day Real Estate, Diary (1994)
sunny day real estate, diary album cover
Key tracks: “In Circles,” “Seven,” “Song About an Angel”
Buy it here.
that dog., Totally Crushed Out! (1995)
Key tracks: “Ms. Wrong,” “He’s Kissing Christian,” “Silently”
Buy it here.
Want even more ’90s music? Let’s take a look back at the rock and metal albums that went No. 1 in the 1990s.
Every Rock + Metal Album That Went No. 1 in the ’90s
Here is every rock and metal album that reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart in the 1990s.
Gallery Credit: Lauryn Schaffner