The ’90s Best Alternative Album Isn’t the One You Think It Is

The '90s best alternative album is widely agreed upon: Nirvana's Nevermind. But here's the thing: I don't agree.

I'm not hot-taking here, mind you. Nevermind is certainly the most important alternative rock album of the '90s. The numbers bear that out. And speaking as someone who was alive, kicking, and tuned in to all things alt-rock in 1991, Nevermind was an explosion like no other to come out of that magical era; a cultural shift. It set the table for so many important bands and albums to come.

And one of those albums from one of those bands is better than Nevermind.

I'm speaking of Siamese Dream by the Smashing Pumpkins. As I'm typing this, the album is celebrating its 30th anniversary. A few years back, around the album's 25th anniversary, I wrote about my love for Siamese Dream and how it's my favorite alt-rock album of that era. I own like four copies of it: tape, CD, vinyl, and the 20th anniversary deluxe edition. I love it with my whole heart.

Now, this isn't me putting forth the argument that "it's my favorite, therefore it's the best." That would be childish. Siamese Dream is the best because Siamese Dream bested Nevermind. Kurt Cobain and Co. set the standard in 1991, without question. Their Seattle peers in the years to follow certainly make some exceptional albums. But Billy Corgan was the first one to surpass Cobain.

Much like how Nevermind brought to mind the sounds that came before it without sounding like anything that came before it, Siamese Dream brought to mind those early '90s sounds. But it didn't sound like any other album, or any other band. And nothing that came after Siamese Dream--even the expectation-defying follow up Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness--sounded like it.

In a post-Nevermind world, where every band seemed to be trying to make their version of the album and every major record label seemed to by trying to sign the next Nirvana, Billy Corgan and the Smashing Pumpkins did something completely different. The foundation was still guitars, yes. But the sonic palate expanded far beyond, as did the emotional complexity of the lyrics.

That's not opinion, mind you. That's musical analysis. And to back it up, I'll remind you of this. When Kurt Cobain committed suicide in 1994, Virgin Records went to Billy Corgan and basically said: Congrats! You're the new Kurt Cobain! No other label did that with any other artist. Because they knew then what I'm telling you now: Billy had taken what Kurt did and improved upon it.

To paraphrase Ric Flair, to be the best you've gotta beat the best. Looking back 30 years on, it's clear that Nevermind was the defining rock moment of the '90s. It was the most important alternative album of the '90s. But it's not the best alternative album of the '90s. That honor goes to Billy Corgan, the Smashing Pumpkins, and Siamese Dream. Go back, revisit, and listen for yourself.

In anticipation of Sunday night's show at the Garden, I listened through to the entire Smashing Pumpkins discography. I have some thoughts.

Actually, I shouldn't have said "entire." The Pumpkins catalog is massive. I started listening on October first and, in two weeks, I was only able to get though the 2007 release Zeitgeist. That being said, I did put ears to almost everything, including b-sides and rarities, from Gish to that point in the catalog. One more disclaimer: once I realized I was running out of time days before the show date, I skipped over Machina II/The Friends & Enemies of Modern Music. Remember that one? Double album, three additional EPs, over an hour and a half of music? The sequel of sorts to Machina/The Machines of God? Released on the internet in 2000? Yeah, I'm gonna have to circle back to that one later.

The big takeaway: Billy Corgan, pound for pound, might be the biggest talent of the '90s alternative rock era. His songwriting ability is second-to-none, he's a studio savant, and he's a top-notch guitar player as well. A true triple-threat. My only knock on Billy musically is when he puts concept ahead of songwriting. And he's said so himself: when he tries to hard to "create art," he can sometimes lose the plot. When he focuses on writing great songs, he's the best of the best.

Below, I'll take you album-by-album through all that I listened to. Then, I'll share a list of b-sides that all happen to be cover songs. Because that's how much of a Pumpkinhead I am. Oh, and if you missed my 14-year-old's review of the show at the Garden on Sunday night, you can check that out here. They did a "smashing" job of writing it up. Har!

A stellar debut that creates the galaxy that the Pumpkins would come to inhabit. Lost in the shuffle of great albums released in 1991, I'd argue it's underrated. Or at least underappreciated.

You could make the argument that it's the greatest alternative rock record of the 1990s. If it doesn't sit on top of that mountain, it's at least a short hike to the peak.

When Cobain died, Virgin basically told Billy: "You're the new Cobain." He responded by creating a double album that almost killed him and the band. And there's not an ounce of fat on it. Incredible.

When you follow up your breakthrough album with an iconic double album, there's bound to be a drop off. And there is with this one. Not having Jimmy in the band doesn't help things. But there's still great music on here and you get one facet of the Pumpkins amplified.

A great collection of songs hobbled a bit by the "concept" label. Listening to this back-to-back with 'Adore' really puts a fine point on how important Jimmy Chamberlain is to this band. And the supporting tour with Melissa Auf der Maur on bass energized the Pumpkins' live show.

All the songs that were supposed to make up the double concept album. I tried to get through them all; I failed. As I said above, I'll try again.

Better than I remembered! I wasn't a fan of the "hired guns" era of SP at the time, but again, there are some good songs on here.

It's a must-listen, too. But redundant for me, as I spent the '90s collecting all those songs on their various import singles. It's a great shortcut for new fans, though.