10 Best Alt-Rock Albums Of The 80's

With the wash of synthetic music still looming large on the rock scene, there were no bands that were really pushing the boundaries of the typical pop rock song format. As alternative rock acts were just starting to make waves in the States, a little band from Manchester came together for one of the greatest debuts in alt-rock history.

The Stone Roses's self-titled album may not have been the best record for its time, but its status in retrospect is immense. From track to track, the band was taking an atypical approach to the genre labels, casually shifting from dance rock to psychedelia to jangle pop without a care in the world. On songs like "She Bangs the Drums" and "Waterfall," the sonic spectrum of the music is incredibly vast as the band look to paint a picture in your mind.

It's also respectable that the band was able to make such broad sounding songs without the use of synthesizers. Everything on this record is pure rock instrumentation, with just guitar, bass, drums, and maybe a little piano flourish every now and again. While the band didn't gain as much attention in their glory years, this record is pivotal in kickstarting the sounds of what would later be known as Britpop.