Alternative & Indie · 1990s
Best 1990s Alternative & Indie Songs
The best alternative songs of the 1990s (90s), ranked — each linking to the album it's from, on vinyl, CD or Amazon Music.
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1NI
Smells Like Teen Spirit
The riff that changed the 90s.
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2MB
Only Shallow
A wall of bent, gliding guitar.
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3RA
Creep
The self-loathing anthem that launched them.
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4BE
Loser
The slacker anthem that came out of nowhere.
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5PU
Common People
A witty class-war anthem that builds to euphoria.
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6OA
Wonderwall
The singalong that defined Britpop.
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7RA
Paranoid Android
A six-minute, multi-part art-rock epic.
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8VE
Bitter Sweet Symphony
A string-swept anthem of resignation.
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9RA
Karma Police
A haunting, piano-led standout.
Tap the artwork or "Listen" to find the track on Amazon Music; "Watch" opens a YouTube search; the song title opens its album page. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases and sign-ups.