The Top 25 Alternative Rock Albums (Albums 20-16)

Welcome back to week two of this 5-week countdown of the Top 25 Alternative Rock Albums. Last week's list included albums 25-21. This week, we'll pick up where we left off. Thanks for reading, and be sure to check out the rest of our Alternative Rock related posts in observance of Alternative Rock Month here at Audio Overflow!


#20 - Incubus: Morning View (2001)

Cale says: "Incubus had already released two great albums by the time their third major-label LP, Morning View, was released. It was this one, however, that has gone down as their masterpiece. Filled start to finish with quality songs of varying styles, Morning View is an absolute blast to listen to, sing along to, or rock out with - depending on which song you choose to listen to. Listen to the whole thing without stopping, now that's the real treat! It is one of the best mainstream rock albums of the 21st century, or hell, any century."

#19 - 10,000 Maniacs: Our Time in Eden (1992)

Jill says: "I still very happily wear my 10,000 Maniacs tee shirt from the tour supporting this album. White, with the cover on the front, and on the back, lyrics from "Stockton Gala Days". "That summer fields grow high. We made garland crowns in hiding, pulled stems of flowers from my hair." An album that is the best use of Natalie Merchant's unusual voice and probably the only thing they produced worth listening to. "

#18 - The Smashing Pumpkins: Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness (1995)

Cale says: "It's hard to believe that an album like this ever existed, and that it was as good as it was. How many double-albums do you know of that feature quality songs on every track? How many double-albums do you know of that go own as the best in an artist's catalog? It doesn't happen very often, or ever for that fact. The Smashing Pumpkins' 1995 masterpiece was the height of their career. It's almost as if they put everything they had into this one effort. Perhaps that's why everything that has come since has been somewhat of a disappointment."

#17 - Radiohead: OK Computer (1997)

Cale says: "Widely considered to be the best alternative rock album of all time, OK Computer is a true work of art in music form! It was the album that transformed Radiohead into a talented band into the "saviors of rock and roll." Their future efforts would try to distance themselves from the style that they perfected in this album, but few of their efforts can hold their own against such a great record.


#16 - Alanis Morissette: Jagged Little Pill (1995)

Erin says: "Freakin' Awesome! I love this album and still know EVERY WORD to EVERY SONG! It's truly a shame that her best songs from this album were mostly hidden to radio stations, but her fans loved them. This will always be one of my favorite alternative albums!"

Jill says: "People don't get this, but I only like one Alanis Morrisette song. "Wake Up." That's it. Her kind of girl anger just doesn't do it for me. I can't identify, I can't make it my own. I will say this, though, she makes a great God. "

Tune in next week for picks 15-11.