The 25 best Indie Albums of 1991

10 April 2026, 19:00

We look back at 1991; the year of Out Of Time, Leisure, Nevermind, Pearl Jam and Trompe Le Monde.

By Radio X

@RadioX

1. Dinosaur Jr - Green Mind: release date 19th February 1991

   The fourth album by the American slacker rock outfit was their first since the departure of bassist Lou Barlow, who went on to work on his Sebadoh project first time. The hit single from the LP was The Wagon.

   

2. The Farm – Spartacus: released 4th March 1991

   The debut from Liverpool's answer to Madchester featured Groovy Train and Altogether Now.

   

3. Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine - 30 Something: released 4th March 1991

   The second album from the satirical duo of Jim Bob and Fruitbat featured the hits Bloodsport For All and Anytime Anyplace Anywhere, giving them a Top 10 album.

   

4. The KLF - The White Room: released 11th March 1991

   The fourth and final album by Bill Drummond and Jimmy Cauty's house anarchists featured 3am Eternal and Kylie Said To Jason.

   

5. R.E.M. - Out Of Time: released 12th March 1991

   The Athens, GA band's seventh album was their biggest yet and featured Losing My Religion, Radio Song and Shiny Happy People.

   

6. Ned's Atomic Dustbin - God Fodder: released 1st April 1991

   The debut album from the young grebo band featured the indie club classics Kill Your Television and Grey Cell Green.

   

7. Massive Attack - Blue Lines: released 15th April 1991

   The debut album by Bristol's trip hop pioneers included their massive hit Unfinished Sympathy featuring Shara Nelson on vocals.

   

8. Inspiral Carpets - The Beast Inside: release date 22nd April 1991

   The follow-up to the Oldham-based garage rockers' debut album Life included the singles Please Be Cruel and Caravan.

   

9. Chapterhouse - Whirlpool: release date 29th April 1991

   The debut album from the Reading shoegaze band included the popular tune Pearl.

   

10. Mercury Rev - Yerself Is Steam: release date 14th May 1991

    The debut album from the Buffalo, NYC psychedelic indie rockers didn't include their early favourite Car Wash Hair, although later issues included the track as a bonus.

    

11. Smashing Pumpkins – Gish: released 28th May 1991

    The debut from Billy Corgan and his alt.rock heroes featured I Am One, Tristessa and Siva.

    

12. Electronic – Electronic: released 28th May 1991

    The debut album by the supergroup featuring Bernard Sumner of New Order and Johnny Marr, formerly of The Smiths featured Get The Message and Getting Away With It.

    

13. The Wonder Stuff - Never Loved Elvis: released 28th May 1991

    Miles Hunt's grebos from Stourbridge released their third album, which included Size Of A Cow and Welcome To The Cheap Seats.

    

14. Northside - Chicken Rhythms: release date 17th June 1991

    The only album to be released by the Manchester band included the singles Take 5, My Rising Star and Shall We Take A Trip. The debut was produced by Lightning Seeds man Ian Broudie, but plans for a follow-up were scuppered when the band's label Factory went into administration at the end of 1992.

    

15. Blur - Leisure: released 27th August 1991

    The Britpop titans' debut album was a not-entirely-successful attempt to tap into the baggy scene, but included some top tunes: There's No Other Way, Bang and She's So High.

    

16. Pearl Jam – Ten: released 27th August 1991

    The debut by Eddie Vedder's grunge rockers featured singles Alive, Even Flow and Jeremy.

    

17. St Etienne - Foxbase Alpha: released 16th September 1991

    Bob Stanley, Pete Wiggs and Sarah Cracknell released their debut album, which included their classic cover of Neil Young's Only Love Can Break Your Heart and Nothing Can Stop Us.

    

18. Hole - Pretty On The Inside: released 17th September 1991

    The debut album from perhaps the most famous woman of 1991 - Courtney Love and her band, Hole. The LP featured Teenage Whore.

    

19. Red Hot Chili Peppers – Blood Sugar Sex Magik: released 24th September 1991

    The fifth album by the funk rockers was their most commercially successful to date and included Give It Away, Breaking The Girl and the huge hit Under The Bridge.

    

20. Nirvana – Nevermind: released 24th September 1991

    The grunge superstars' second album was produced by Butch Vig and featured the classic Smells Like Teen Spirit, Come As You Are, On A Plain and more. A generation-defining album!

    

21. Pixies - Trompe Le Monde: released 23rd September 1991

    The pioneering alt.rockers released their fourth and last album, which featured Planet Of Sound, Head On and Alec Eiffel. The album title is a French phrase meaning "Fool The World".

    

22. Primal Scream – Screamadelica: released 23rd September 1991

    Bobby Gillespie's band released their career-defining third album on Creation Records, which included Movin' On Up, Don't Fight It Feel It and Loaded.

    

23. Soundgarden – Badmotorfinger: released 8th October 1991

    The third album from Chris Cornell's Seattle rockers featured Jesus Christ Pose and Rusty Cage.

    

24. My Bloody Valentine – Loveless: released 4th November 1991

    The landmark second album from the pioneers of shoegaze and noise rock. It would be 22 years before Kevin Shields came up with the follow up, m b v.

    

25. Teenage Fanclub - Bandwagonesque: release date 4th November 1991

    The third album from the Scottish power pop revivavlists included the singles What You Do To Me, Star Sign and The Concept.