The 10 best Indie double albums

24 October 2025, 19:53

One artist. Four sides of vinyl. Once the embodiment of the progressive rock act, the double album soon found its way into every genre possible. Here are some of the best.

By Radio X

@RadioX

1. Smashing Pumpkins - Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness: release date 24th October 1995

   

   Coming in the dying days of grunge in 1995, this double platter seemed like a bit of a retro step for Billy Corgan, but this 28-track marathon features some of their finest moments. Originally divided into two volumes - Dawn To Dusk and Twilight To Starlight - the vinyl version was actually spread out over THREE sides of vinyl, with two extra tracks, including a beautiful acoustic reprise of Tonight Tonight.

2. The Cure - Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me: release date 26th May 1987

   

   Decamping from London to the South of France, Robert Smith and co had such a good time in the studio, they came out with this 18-track double set that ranges from the screeching wah-wah rock of opening track The Kiss to the sweet pop of Catch and Just Like Heaven.

3. The Clash - London Calling: release date 14th December 1979

   

   On 14 December 1979, punk legends made the rather un-punk move of releasing a double set at the height of their fame. The title track kicks off proceedings, the excellent Train In Vain closes and in between we get Lost In The Supermarket, Guns Of Brixton and more.

4. Public Image Ltd - Metal Box: release date 23rd November 1979

   The original pressing of John Lydon's experiment in post-punk noise was originally a triple disc on vinyl: the twelve tracks were pressed across six sides, each running at 45rpm for better sound quality, with the records sitting inside a metal canister. A reissue, Second Edition, dropped the can packaging and was pressed as a conventional double album. Tracks include Swan Lake, Poptones, Careering and Radio 4.

   

5. Biffy Clyro - Opposites: release date 28th January 2013

   

   Divided into two volumes - The Land at the End of Our Toes and The Sand at the Core of Our Bones - and featuring the likes of Black Chandelier and Biblical, the Biff's 2013 album was also available as a condensed, single disc version for those who couldn't take too much Scottish rock in one sitting. We say: lightweights!

6. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Blood Sugar Sex Magik: release date 24th September 1991

   

   A sprawling 17-track set which propelled the funkateers into the big league, this features the timeless Under The Bridge, the antsy Give It Away, the saucy Suck My Kiss and the ponderous Breaking The Girl. Stadium Arcadium was another double, but wasn't as perfectly-formed.

7. Manic Street Preachers - Generation Terrorists: release date 10th February 1992

   

   What better way than to launch your recording career than with a double album? The Manics, cheerfully arrogant as ever, stuck two fingers up to convention and released a mammoth 18 tracks as their opening salvo. It sounds self-indulgent, but the track listing is strong: You Love Us, Motorcycle Emptiness, Love's Sweet Exile, Slash 'N' Burn…

8. The Avalanches – Since I Left You : release date 27th November 2000

   Pioneering turntablism from the Australian collective; their debut included the delerious title track and the wacky Frontier Psychiatrist. It took them 16 years to make a follow-up!

   

9. Sonic Youth - Daydream Nation: release date 18th October 1988

   Classic New York 80s punk from the veteran band that included Silver Rocket and Teen Age Riot.

   

10. Foo Fighters - In Your Honor: release date 14th June 2005

    A double-disc set from Dave Grohl and co, with the first volume containing their usual rock stylings, while the second was a more acoustic affair. Singles included Best Of You and DOA.