10 Best Alternative Albums Of The 1990's
7. Purple - Stone Temple Pilots
In grunge's heyday, Stone Temple Pilots were given a bit of bad rap. Coming out with their slamming debut Core in 1992, the band were instantly ridiculed by the grunge faithful for being Pearl Jam knockoffs due to Scott Weiland's vocals. With the rock scene turning on them a bit, STP had to come out with something else that would separate them from their contemporaries.
When Purple arrived, the rock world ended up doing a total 180 on the band. The Pearl Jam influence was still there, but the band's songwriting abilities increased exponentially. Instead of the grungey introspective tunes of their debut, the songs on Purple were perfect pieces of 90's radio-rock from the slow build of "Big Empty" to the off-kilter swagger of "Vasoline." The album also gave rise to great deep cuts like opener "Lounge Fly" and album opener "Meatplow."
The biggest hit off the record, "Interstate Love Song," quickly became one of the best alternative songs in history, with its golden harmonies and audible road shimmer. At a time where the band was dangerously close to being looked at as wannabes, STP delivered a stunning record that defined their true identity as alt-rock troubadours.