10 Best Grunge Albums You Need To Hear

While the heavyhitters of grunge always had metallic tendencies, the attitude that most of them possessed was a DIY punk ethos. Out of all the bands developing the grunge sound, Mudhoney was the one band whose sound was unmistakably punk at the genre's outset.

It may be cheating to put an EP on a list of essentials, but Superfuzz Bigmuff has a concentrated energy that is impossible to deny. Throughout its short runtime, this record showcases a guitar sound that sounds like the gurgling sounds at the bottom of a swamp. The production of this record owes more to the sounds of early garage rock than it does to the typical grunge wall of guitars. Frontman Mark Arm also adds his signature vocal flair to the anarchy as his style veers from more tuneful sections to throat-shredding scorchers like on the single "Touch Me I'm Sick."

Coming at the tail end of 1988, Mudhoney planted the seeds of what grunge would become once it hit its stride in the early 90's. It may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the genre, but if not for this single EP, much of grunge's character would be lost.