10 Best Alternative Albums Of The 1990's

In the alternative boom's wake, Britpop was one of the biggest subgenres that crossed over into the mainstream. Along with the scene came genre heavyweights Oasis and Blur vying for the spot on Britpop's throne. While Oasis were always straight-ahead rock and roll, Blur's albums always held up as zany alternative class.

Parklife stands out as one of the band's crowning achievements, as it brings together different sounds to frame the album's message of how everyday life is meaningless. There's pleasing ear-candy in the Britpop tradition like the title track and "Tracy Jacks," but the band also flirts with other styles like the electronic music of "Girls and Boys" and the nervy punk of "Bank Holiday."

Though the band had been going strong with their past releases, this record showed just how bizarre the inside of Damon Albarn's head was. His singing style across the record gives the impression of a man at his wit's end, ready to snap at a moment's notice. With Britpop waning by the time the 2000's rolled around, Parklife has never dulled with age. The songs were operating at an all-time high even if, as the album says, the record was a low.