9 Most Influential Albums - Alternative

Growing up as a solitaire indie kid in the 90s, I spent my life drowning in the then-so called-alternative rock scene. Here's my top 9 most influencial albums that shape my life entirely. It's really superduper difficult compressing hundreds of albums into 9. Let alone sort them out. But I'll give it a try. Note that they're not necessarily the best, and I can only pick one album for every band.

9. Grant Lee Buffalo - Copperopolis (1996). The mood, the scene, the songs. They're all just perfect. Man this album is so enjoyable! [4.5/5]

8. The God Machine - Scenes from the Second Storey (1993). When anger meets despair and hopes. So high school life lol. The 17-minute epic 'Seven' sums them all. [4/5]

7. Homogenic - Echoes of the Universe (2006). When you think no local band can be so cool, smart, and brilliantly high tech & spacey,  this trio - Bandung pride - proves the opposite. Guess this album is their peak of creative exploration. They're still around now,  but I guess it's quite slim to expect them delivering songs like 'Artifical Humanity' again. [4.5/5]

6. The Milo - Let Me Begin (2003). I used to think local bands are crap and cheesy (except Guruh Gypsy, Rollies, the late Yockie S,  and other 70s bands of course) until I found them. They're the one who opened the thick curtains of darkness and made me a frequent indie gigs goers. Hmm some memorable gazing days. Musically this album is less superior than their second one and non-album singles. However 'Romantic Purple' sets the shoegazing standards bar high for others to catch. But don't expect them to produce new albums. You'll be so frustrated then. [3.5/5]

5. Beach House - Bloom (2012). You know it's the next level of a band's career when you can find their record in an airplane's in-flight seat entertainment! Victoria Legrand's voice turns dark angelic here, and brings the band to a wider scene with an elegant majestic approach ever since. Being a devoted fan thereafter. Alex & Victoria, come here please, Indonesia needs you!   [4/5]

4. Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream (1993). Got hooked in by their audacious 8-minute-full-of-banging-noise-single 'Drown',  they came up with a very heart-warming-psyche-rocking sounds like 'Hummer',  'Geek USA' and others. They were really becoming a bridge for my prog based ear to an every insurgent high school boy wanna hear. Heard they are making a comeback tour with original line up. Have you ever heard of a country named Indonesia Billy? [4.5/5]

3. Sonic Youth - Washing Machine (1996). Although this was not my introductionary album of them (been a fan since '92's Dirty)  This is when Thurston and co.'s guitar sounds turn experimentally psychemelodic. Love it to the bones. Soundtrack of my college years. Rock on! [4.5/5]

2. Radiohead - The  Bends (1995). Those were the ultimate days when loneliness got celebrated. A more mature play since the extravagant debut album Pablo Honey. Somehow unlike other fans, I prefer their first 4 ones. Didn't really follow them ever since. Maybe because they're becoming more popular and standardly associated with something cool. [4/5]

1. The Cure - Wish (1992). The one that brings the terms 'alternative' to my world. What's more perfect for a high school boy than becoming a cult follower of a band? You also felt so special especially when others around you were mainstreamers of Metallica, Sepultura, GNR, and you were the only one who lived in your own swirlingly emotional indie kids world. And The Cure fits it all, like the name. [4/5]

Wait. That's it? Where's Slowdive's Souvlaki? My Bloody Valentine's Loveless? The majestic Cocteau Twins? Catherine Wheel? Ravionettes? Efek Rumah Kaca? St. Christopher? Well they're all on the list. You couldn't just see them :)

What's your version?

This post also appears on my IG @boyke.ramdhani
Shout out to The House of Love for the amazing backdrop song "Burn Down the House"