10 Most Iconic Alternative Rock Albums

Given how much they've done to change their sound in recent years, it's almost like you need a score card to keep up with Radiohead. Although there have definitely been some missteps (hello, King of Limbs), you'd be hardpressed to find any album by these musical cyborgs that sound like one another, with In Rainbows sounding like a quantum leap from the likes of Kid A or OK Computer. Just before they were making gargantuan rock albums though, they gave us an alt-rock album for the ages with The Bends.

Then again, this album tends to be a bit contentious in the band's catalog, considering the massive jump in quality they made just a few years afterward. Shedding their skin of the one hit wonder stigma, this is the first time we see Thom Yorke playing to his strengths as a frontman, having a little more swagger when belting out songs like Just or crooning his way through the album closer Street Spirit.

As much experimentation is going on behind Jonny Greenwood's walls of sound, you can still hear the inspirations from the likes of U2 in here as well, with Black Star being one of the most arena-ready songs they have ever made. A strong contender for one of the '90s greatest moments, even if these rock and roll habits weren't meant to last.