Here are 13 essential alternative rock albums from the 1990s that you should absolutely own on vinyl.
And let’s be honest, you can probably guess which artists follow below. Names such as Nirvana, Pearl Jam and the Smashing Pumpkins are so closely connected to the ’90s due to the roles they had in furthering the alt-rock and grunge boom at the time.
Grunge music dominated the front half of the decade, leading to some of the best albums from the biggest names in rock that are still massive acts in 2026.
READ MORE: 11 Underrated ’90s Albums Every Rock Fan Should Own on Vinyl
But the second half of the ’90s was pretty damn good, too. Bands like Silverchair and Weezer emerged as grunge loosened its foothold on the alternative rock scene.
Whether you are just getting into ’90s alternative for the first time or you are looking to shore up your collection, here are some of the best albums from the decade you need on vinyl.
Alice in Chains, Dirt (1992)
Columbia Records
Key tracks: “Would?,” “Rooster,” “Them Bones”
Blind Melon, Blind Melon (1992)
blind melon album art
Key tracks: “No Rain,” “Tones of Home,” “I Wonder”
Bush, Sixteen Stone (1994)
bush machinehead
Key tracks: “Glycerine,” “Machinehead,” “Comedown”
Green Day, Dookie (1994)
green day, dookie, 90s albums to pass on to your children
Key tracks: “Basket Case,” “When I Come Around,” “Welcome to Paradise”
Nine Inch Nails, The Downward Spiral (1994)
nine inch nails, the downward spiral, 90s albums to pass on to your children
Key tracks: “Closer,” “Hurt,” “March of the Pigs”
Nirvana, In Utero (1993)
Key tracks: “All Apologies,” “Heart-Shaped Box,” “Dumb”
Oasis, (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? (1995)
oasis, cum on feel the noize
Key tracks: “Wonderwall,” “Don’t Look Back in Anger,” “Champagne Supernova”
Pearl Jam, Ten (1991)
pearl jam ten vinyl cover
Key tracks: “Even Slow,” “Alive,” “Black”
Red Hot Chili Peppers, Blood Sugar Sex Magik (1991)
blood sugar sex magic album cover
Key Tracks: “Breaking the Girl,” “Under the Bridge,” “Give It Away,” “Suck My Kiss”
Silverchair, Frogstomp (1995)
silverchair frogstomp album cover
Key tracks: “Tomorrow,” “Israel’s Son,” “Pure Massacre”
Smashing Pumpkins, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness (1995)
smashing pumpkins 1979
Key tracks: “1979,” “Bullet With Butterfly Wings,” “Tonight, Tonight”
Stone Temple Pilots, Core (1992)
Key tracks: “Plush,” “Creep,” “Sex Type Thing”
Weezer, Weezer (1994)
weezer, buddy holly, weezer album, weezer blue album
Key tracks: “Say it Ain’t So,” “Buddy Holly,” “Undone – The Sweater Song”
Now that you know which ’90s alternative albums you need on vinyl, let’s look back at the best rock songs from the decade.
75 Best Rock Songs of the ’90s
You won’t want to miss a thing.
Gallery Credit: Chad Childers, Loudwire
