Vince Russo's The Brand

Hello again and welcome to another edition of Top 5 Alternative Rock Albums. If you have been following my writing since the original RELM Network site, I had previously wrote two editions of this there focusing on the years 1991 and 1992 and this one will take us into 1993.

After the events of such breakthrough acts as Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Alice in Chains, alternative rock was clearly what was in and 1993 was arguably the peak of the genre and the movement as now you had all sorts of bands following that same sound coming out of the woodwork and being snatched up and signed by major labels hoping that they would be the ones to produce the ‘next big thing.’

In terms of quality music, 1993 was a hallmark year as some of the most legendary albums in the genre of alternative rock were released and we’re going to look at the top five of that year as we see some familiar faces return and new ones start to begin their climb to legendary status.

Like the previous editions, the ratings will be based on a number of factors which are album sales, chart performance, singles performance, awards and accolades, and critical acclaim. Hope you enjoy reading.

5. Cranberries–Everyone Else is Doing it So Why Can’t We?
Top 200: 18, Heatseekers: 4
RIAA CERTIFICATION: 5x Platinum
SINGLES PERFORMANCE:
Linger: Modern Rock Tracks-4, Hot 100-8, Top 40-7, Adult Contemporary-18
Dreams: Modern Rock Tracks-15, Hot 100-42

4. U2–Zooropa
Top 200: 1
RIAA CERTIFICATION: 2x Platinum
SINGLES PERFORMANCE:
Numb: Modern Rock Tracks-2
Lemon: Modern Rock Tracks-3
Zooropa: Modern Rock Tracks-13
Stay(Faraway, So Close!): Hot 100: 61
AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS:
1994 Grammy for Best Alternative Music Album: Won

3. Smashing Pumpkins–Siamese Dream
Top 200: 10
RIAA CERTIFICATION: 4x Platinum
SINGLES PERFORMANCE:
Cherub Rock: Modern Rock Tracks-7, Mainstream Rock Tracks-23
Today: Modern Rock Tracks-4, Mainstream Rock Tracks-28
Disarm: Modern Rock Tracks-8, Mainstream Rock Tracks-5
Rocket: Mainstream Rock Tracks-28
AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS:
1994 Grammy For Best Alternative Music Album: Nominated
1994 Grammy For Best Hard Rock Performance With Vocal: Nominated

2. Nirvana–In Utero
Top 200: 1
RIAA CERTIFICATION: 5x Platinum
SINGLES PERFORMANCE:
Heart Shaped Box: Modern Rock Tracks-1, Mainstream Rock Tracks: 4
All Apologies: Modern Rock Tracks-1, Mainstream Rock Tracks: 4
AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS:
1994 Grammy for Best Alternative Music Album: Nominated

1. Pearl Jam–Vs.
Top 200: 1
RIAA CERTIFICATION: 7x Platinum
SINGLES PERFORMANCE:
Go: Modern Rock Tracks-8, Mainstream Rock Tracks-3
Daughter: Modern Rock Tracks-1, Mainstream Rock Tracks-1, Top 40-28
Animal: Mainstream Rock-21
Glorified G: Mainstream Rock-39
Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town: Modern Rock Tracks-17, Mainstream Rock Tracks-21
Dissident: Mainstream Rock Tracks-3
AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS:
1995 Grammy for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal-Daughter: Nominated
1995 Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance-Go: Nominated
1995 Grammy for Best Rock Album: Nominated

Honorable Mentions: The Lemonheads–Come on Feel the Lemonheads, New Order–Republic, Radiohead–Pablo Honey