10 Most Iconic Alternative Rock Albums

When the Cure were first coming up the ranks, alternative rock didn't have a clear identity yet. While bands like New Order may have had a little bit of edge, the Joy Division part of their sound had quickly given way to the pretty sounds of synth pop later down the line. Though the Cure might not have been snobs about the sounds of the time, Disintegration saw them throwing on the melodrama and never looking back.

Then again, it's not like this album is all about whining or anything. For the most part, this is Robert Smith's greatest musical opus, with songs that explore every facet of love, from the loneliness in Pictures of You to the lovelorn sadness that comes from Lovesong. Even some of the more off the wall stuff like Fascination Street is absolutely amazing, with a bassline that keeps you moving throughout every second of the track.

Although this album can be a bit of a sit at almost an hour long, this is the kind of music that you let wash over you until you're filled to the brim with emotion. There's always an old South Park joke about the goths saying that this album was the best thing ever invented. While that might not technically true, it's not like Parker and Stone don't have a small point there.