B-Side Guys

The Best Indie & Alternative Albums

The best Indie & Alternative albums, ranked by B-Side Breakdown: every critic's score on one 0 to 100 scale. An album needs at least 5 reviews to make the list.

The top three

Album cover for Another Green World by Brian Eno1Brian EnoAnother Green World100 A+ · 1975Album cover for Daydream Nation by Sonic Youth2Sonic YouthDaydream Nation100 A+ · 1988Album cover for The Queen Is Dead by The Smiths3The SmithsThe Queen Is Dead99 A+ · 1986
Average Breakdown75The third highest of the 9 genres.
Liked57%of Indie & Alternative albums scored 75 or higher. Across every genre it's 49%.
Most divisiveContentiousTalk Talk, Spirit of Eden split the critics more than any other album in the genre.A-Sides5.6%of Indie & Alternative albums earned an A-Side. Across every genre it's 6.5%.

This year

The best Indie & Alternative albums of 2026 so far

  1. Album cover for Music, Fashion, Film by Charli XCX1Charli XCXMusic, Fashion, Film82 B-
  2. Album cover for Ghosts (100 Days of Morning) by Jamie T2Jamie TGhosts (100 Days of Morning)82 B-
  3. Album cover for FUDGE by Michael Kiwanuka3Michael KiwanukaFUDGE81 B-
  4. Album cover for Your Favorite Toy by Foo Fighters4Foo FightersYour Favorite Toy79 C+
  5. Album cover for I think I spoke too soon by Rachel Chinouriri5Rachel ChinouririI think I spoke too soon78 C+

The best Indie & Alternative albums of all time

  1. 1Album cover for Another Green World by Brian Eno
    Brian EnoAnother Green WorldSeptember 1975 · 5 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    100A+
  2. 2Album cover for Daydream Nation by Sonic Youth
    Sonic YouthDaydream NationOctober 1988 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    100A+
  3. 3Album cover for The Queen Is Dead by The Smiths
    The SmithsThe Queen Is DeadJune 16, 1986 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    99A+
  4. 4Album cover for Surfer Rosa by Pixies
    PixiesSurfer RosaMarch 21, 1988 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    98A+
  5. 5Album cover for Automatic for the People by R.E.M.
    R.E.M.Automatic for the PeopleOctober 5, 1992 · 9 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    96A
  6. 6Album cover for You’re Living All Over Me by Dinosaur Jr.
    Dinosaur Jr.You’re Living All Over MeJuly 1987 · 5 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    96A
  7. 7Album cover for The Stone Roses by The Stone Roses
    The Stone RosesThe Stone RosesApril 1989 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    96A
  8. 8Album cover for The Bends by Radiohead
    RadioheadThe BendsNovember 29, 1994 · 10 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    95A
  9. 9Album cover for Skeleton Tree by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
    Nick Cave and the Bad SeedsSkeleton TreeSeptember 9, 2016 · 10 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    94A
  10. 10Album cover for Fetch the Bolt Cutters by Fiona Apple
    Fiona AppleFetch the Bolt CuttersApril 17, 2020 · 14 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    94A

Indie & Alternative, decade by decade

Average Breakdown of the genre's albums in each decade.

1970s85
1980s82
1990s80
2000s73
2010s73
2020s77
  1. 11Album cover for Rock Bottom by Robert Wyatt
    Robert WyattRock BottomJuly 26, 1974 · 9 reviews · 89% approval · Some debate
    93A
  2. 12Album cover for In the Court of the Crimson King by King Crimson
    King CrimsonIn the Court of the Crimson KingOctober 10, 1969 · 6 reviews · 83% approval · Some debate
    93A
  3. 13Album cover for To Bring You My Love by PJ Harvey
    PJ HarveyTo Bring You My LoveJanuary 1995 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    93A
  4. 14Album cover for In Utero by Nirvana
    NirvanaIn UteroSeptember 21, 1993 · 11 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    93A
  5. 15Album cover for Kid A Mnesia by Radiohead
    RadioheadKid A MnesiaNovember 5, 2021 · 9 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    92A-
  6. 16Album cover for Treasure by Cocteau Twins
    Cocteau TwinsTreasureOctober 1, 1984 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    92A-
  7. 17Album cover for Your Funeral… My Trial by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
    Nick Cave and the Bad SeedsYour Funeral… My TrialNovember 3, 1986 · 5 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    92A-
  8. 18Album cover for Los Angeles by X
    XLos AngelesApril 1980 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    92A-
  9. 19Album cover for Dirty by Sonic Youth
    Sonic YouthDirtyJuly 20, 1992 · 10 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    91A-
  10. 20Album cover for OK Computer by Radiohead
    RadioheadOK ComputerMay 21, 1997 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    91A-
  11. 21Album cover for Funeral by Arcade Fire
    Arcade FireFuneralSeptember 14, 2004 · 10 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    91A-
  12. 22Album cover for Odelay by Beck
    BeckOdelayJune 17, 1996 · 9 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    91A-
  13. 23Album cover for Loveless by My Bloody Valentine
    My Bloody ValentineLovelessNovember 4, 1991 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    91A-
  14. 24Album cover for Everything Must Go by Manic Street Preachers
    Manic Street PreachersEverything Must GoMay 20, 1996 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    91A-
  15. 25Album cover for Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not by Arctic Monkeys
    Arctic MonkeysWhatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not2005 · 9 reviews · 89% approval · Some debate
    91A-

Which outlets like Indie & Alternative most

Share of each outlet's Indie & Alternative reviews that score 75 or higher, for outlets with 30 or more.

Most generous

Entertainment Weekly98%
Robert Christgau95%
The A.V. Club93%
Record Collector86%
The Telegraph84%

Hardest to win over

PopMatters31%
Spectrum Culture34%
Slant35%
Rolling Stone38%
Spin44%
  1. 26Album cover for Let England Shake by PJ Harvey
    PJ HarveyLet England ShakeFebruary 14, 2011 · 15 reviews · 87% approval · Some debate
    91A-
  2. 27Album cover for Melodrama by Lorde
    LordeMelodramaJune 16, 2017 · 12 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    91A-
  3. 28Album cover for Punisher by Phoebe Bridgers
    Phoebe BridgersPunisherJune 18, 2020 · 5 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    90A-
  4. 29Album cover for New York by Lou Reed
    Lou ReedNew YorkJanuary 10, 1989 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    90A-
  5. 30Album cover for In Rainbows by Radiohead
    RadioheadIn RainbowsOctober 10, 2007 · 10 reviews · 90% approval · Broad agreement
    90A-
  6. 31Album cover for Red by King Crimson
    King CrimsonRedSeptember 27, 1974 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    90A-
  7. 32Album cover for Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit by Courtney Barnett
    Courtney BarnettSometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just SitMarch 15, 2015 · 11 reviews · 91% approval · Broad agreement
    90A-
  8. 33Album cover for Dry by PJ Harvey
    PJ HarveyDryFebruary 11, 1992 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    90A-
  9. 34Album cover for Reckoning by R.E.M.
    R.E.M.ReckoningApril 17, 1984 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    90A-
  10. 35Album cover for The Suburbs by Arcade Fire
    Arcade FireThe SuburbsJuly 3, 2010 · 11 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    90A-
  11. 36Album cover for Carrie & Lowell by Sufjan Stevens
    Sufjan StevensCarrie & LowellMarch 31, 2015 · 17 reviews · 94% approval · Some debate
    90A-
  12. 37Album cover for Emperor Tomato Ketchup by Stereolab
    StereolabEmperor Tomato KetchupMarch 8, 1996 · 9 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    89B+
  13. 38Album cover for Elephant by The White Stripes
    The White StripesElephantMarch 19, 2003 · 9 reviews · 89% approval · Some debate
    89B+
  14. 39Album cover for If You’re Feeling Sinister by Belle and Sebastian
    Belle and SebastianIf You’re Feeling SinisterNovember 18, 1996 · 9 reviews · 89% approval · Some debate
    89B+
  15. 40Album cover for Lifes Rich Pageant by R.E.M.
    R.E.M.Lifes Rich PageantJuly 28, 1986 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    89B+
  16. 41Album cover for Document by R.E.M.
    R.E.M.DocumentAugust 31, 1987 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    89B+
  17. 42Album cover for Illinois by Sufjan Stevens
    Sufjan StevensIllinoisJuly 4, 2005 · 9 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    89B+
  18. 43Album cover for For Emma, Forever Ago by Bon Iver
    Bon IverFor Emma, Forever AgoJuly 8, 2007 · 9 reviews · 89% approval · Some debate
    89B+
  19. 44Album cover for Disintegration by The Cure
    The CureDisintegrationMay 1, 1989 · 8 reviews · 88% approval · Some debate
    89B+
  20. 45Album cover for Let Love In by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
    Nick Cave and the Bad SeedsLet Love InApril 15, 1994 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    89B+
  21. 46Album cover for Rid of Me by PJ Harvey
    PJ HarveyRid of MeApril 26, 1993 · 10 reviews · 80% approval · Divided
    89B+
  22. 47Album cover for Album – Generic Flipper by Flipper
    FlipperAlbum – Generic Flipper1982 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    89B+
  23. 48Album cover for Merriweather Post Pavilion by Animal Collective
    Animal CollectiveMerriweather Post PavilionJanuary 6, 2009 · 14 reviews · 93% approval · Broad agreement
    89B+
  24. 49Album cover for Soundtracks for the Blind by Swans
    SwansSoundtracks for the BlindOctober 22, 1996 · 5 reviews · 80% approval · Divided
    88B+
  25. 50Album cover for New Adventures in Hi-Fi by R.E.M.
    R.E.M.New Adventures in Hi-FiSeptember 9, 1996 · 9 reviews · 89% approval · Some debate
    88B+

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