10 Obscure Grunge Albums You Need To Listen To
The finest angsty rock beyond Nirvana et al.
The grunge movement burned briefly but brightly, and for the handful of years it reigned supreme we were gifted some superb albums. The biggest acts of the time put out works that remain among the most lauded of the era.
Nirvana’s quick reign saw three records that were very different but all excellent. Soundgarden and Alice In Chains each came out of the gates swinging, and the likes of Hole and Mudhoney found themselves in the spotlight for a while.
But we’re here to talk about the lesser remembered grunge records. The ones that came out a little too late or lacked the marketability of a Cobain or a Cornell. Albums that go to show just how much strength in depth the grunge movement really had, and how much incredible music was coming out at the time, even if much of it hasn’t stuck around in the public consciousness.
Grunge is often tied to just a few acts, but these albums go to show that the scene went way beyond what made it onto the edges of the mainstream. Even if it was just a passing craze, these records stand the test of time.
10. Serafin - No Push Collide
A band out of time, Serafin could have struck gold had they come around five or so years earlier. In 2003, though, there wasn’t so much appetite for this particular brand of slightly dated rock, and they released only two records before disbanding to little fanfare.
It’s a huge shame, because their debut, No Push Collide, remains one of the most underrated British records from this era. Instead of jumping on the burgeoning indie bandwagon, Serafin cranked up the distortion and the ‘90s dynamics to great effect.
The most immediate track is lead single “Day By Day”, with its slightly silly lyrics, explosive chorus, and nod to modernity in a cute little synth riff. Even better is “Lethargy”, a Nirvana-style freak out with convincing screaming and a true earworm of a chorus. On “Build High Tear Low” they try an even more complex structure, with everything dropping out during a bridge only to come roaring back.
The best song, though, is the opener, “Stephen’s In The Sky”. It’s the most original work on the album, with excellent use of studio space and bursts of noise. They’re a band whose influences are perhaps a bit too apparent, but it’s a more than solid collection of tracks.