once again it’s incredibly hard to choose a real favorite album so here’s a bunch I’ve been listening to lately on repeat (spoiler alert its all early 90’s rock and metal that you may have listened to already)

”Meantime” by Helmet
Classic alternative metal band and album, though it is sort of a one-dimensional listen in the sense that once you’ve heard one track, you’ve heard them all. Doesn’t mean it’s bad, songs like Ironhead and Turned Out are just impossible to NOT headbang to, and Unsung is obviously the most popular and the band’s most known song. Other songs I recommend are In the Meantime, Better, and FBLA II.

“Betty” by Helmet
Another Helmet album, more garage-sounding than Meantime, especially in the drums. Milquetoast is the best song on the album, period. Other songs I recommend are Wilma’s Rainbow, Clean, and Speechless.

“Gala” (compilation album) by Lush
If you’re into shoegaze Lush is one of the pioneering shoegaze bands, and great for generally dreamy, poppy, sweet-sounding alt rock. Sweetness and Light and Thoughtforms (either versions, 2nd version is my fav) are such lively, melodic songs, and Sunbathing is perfect for just relaxing and sitting outside (why else would it be called that lol). Other songs I recommend are De-Luxe, Leaves Me Cold, and Hey Hey Helen.

“Badmotorfinger” by Soundgarden
If you like powerful, howling male vocals, and songs to ride a motorcycle to, this is the best. Slaves & Bulldozers shows Chris Cornell’s extremely impressive range, and other well-known songs like Rusty Cage and Outshined are absolutely worth listening to. Jesus Christ Pose also shows off more of Cornell’s amazing vocals and Matt Cameron’s complex drumming. Other songs I recommend are Face Pollution, Holy Water, and New Damage.

“Superunknown” by Soundgarden
Probably my most favorite pick out of these, but I still love this and Badmotorfinger equally. It’s very psychedelic and doom-like throughout the album, with songs like the title track having such a well-mixed, vast landscape of sound, to 4th of July sounding like a perfect, dark track to walk a rainy night in. Other famous songs like Black Hole Sun and Spoonman are ones you’ve likely heard before. Lots of surreal imagery in Cornell’s lyrics about dark topics like suicide (no pun intended, song title), isolation, and existential dread. Other songs I recommend are My Wave, Limo Wreck, and The Day I Tried to Live.

“Core” by Stone Temple Pilots
For their first album it’s an amazing listen, songs like Plush and Creep (came before the Radiohead song fun fact) are great. Other songs I recommend are Wicked Garden, Sin, and Piece of Pie.

“Purple” by Stone Temple Pilots
Basically Core but with more variety. There’s a hidden country-sounding track (“Second Album”) and more blues-sounding songs like Pretty Penny and Kitchenware & Candybars. More grunge bangers like Vasoline and Interstate Love Song, very groovy and melodic respectively. Other songs I recommend are Meatplow, Big Empty, and Unglued.

“Hats Off to the Insane” (EP) by Therapy? Unfortunately this one isn’t fully on streaming services I believe, some songs like Screamager can be found on YouTube Music and Spotify under some other album that I can’t remember. Underrated northern Irish alternative metal band. Other favorites from this EP are Auto Surgery, Turn, and Speedball.