The Albums Every Alt-Girl Owned in the '90s

Pretty much the alt-girl album of the mid-'90s; Liz Phair's voice and f*ck-it-all lyrics were highly satisfying to sing along with.

Essential tracks: "F*ck and Run," "Divorce Song"

Yes, Björk's first album came out the same year as Exile and Last Splash; 1993 was a glorious year for music.

Essential tracks: "Human Behaviour," "There's More to Life Than This"

The Violent Femmes' self-titled album came out in 1983, but we were only cool enough to discover this compilation, which everyone seemed to own in the mid-'90s.

Essential tracks: "Add It Up," "American Music"

Any track from Tanya Donelly's post-Throwing Muses project gave your mix tapes serious cred.

Essential tracks: "Feed the Tree," "Slow Dog"

I had totally forgotten about Velocity Girl until I started working on this post, and you know what? Not bad.

Essential tracks: "Sorry Again," "Tripping Wires"

No matter where you lived, if you were a girl into alternative rock, you owned this album.

Essential tracks: "Connection," "Stutter"

No one — certainly not 14-year-olds — had ever heard anything like this.

Essential tracks: "Rid of Me," "Man Size"

The gateway album to the shoegaze genre.

Essential track: "Only Shallow"

The kids who discovered this album in middle school were bound to be proud weirdos in high school.

Essential tracks: "Istanbul," "Birdhouse in Your Soul"

On constant rotation while cruising around town, along with 1992's Check Your Head.

Essential tracks: "Sure Shot," "Get It Together"

The fact that Courtney Love's band's album came out just after Kurt Cobain died makes this a seminal album for '90s teens.

Essential tracks: "Violet," "Doll Parts"

Probably Pulp's most accessible album, and the one most likely to be discovered by teen girls in the suburbs.

Essential tracks: "Common People," "Sorted For E's and Whizz"

You had to be really cool in high school to discover the original riot grrrl bands like Bikini Kill, but we managed to get our hands on Sleater-Kinney's third album.

Essential tracks: "One More Hour," "Little Babies"

Many of us learned about LA-based grunge rockers L7 via Sassy magazine.

Essential tracks: "Pretend We're Dead," "Sh*tlist"

Records on the Beastie Boys' Grand Royal label and spots in Lollapalooza and Lilith Fair made Luscious Jackson a quintessential '90s band.

Essential tracks: "Naked Eye," "Under Your Skin"

Though Little Earthquakes may be a more important album, this one had the essential '90s-girl anthem "Cornflake Girl."

Essential tracks: "Cornflake Girl," "God"

Perfect when alt-girls were feeling particularly angsty; in fact, it still works just as well.

Essential tracks: "Closer," "Hurt"

Another essential makeout album of the era.

Essential track: "It Could Be Sweet"

One of the first cool albums most of us owned and the foundation of our musical tastes.

Essential tracks: "Smells Like Teen Spirit," "Come as You Are"

An accessible bridge from the pop music of our youth to the alternative tendencies of our teens.

Essential tracks: "Losing My Religion," "Shiny Happy People"

Frontwoman Mary Timony was both a musical and fashion idol.

Essential tracks: "Baby's Going Underground," "Superball"

Like the Cure, Depeche Mode was a goth/alt/pop crossover.

Essential tracks: "Policy of Truth," "Personal Jesus"

Even before the Bosstones showed up in Clueless, we were making our parents drive us to all-ages shows in our Doc Martens.

Essential tracks: "Someday I Suppose," "Don't Know How to Party"

Credentials: a band name referencing Willy Wonka, an album title alluding to AC/DC, and the MTV hit "Seether."

Essential tracks: "Seether," "Number One Blind"

By college, it was embarrassing to own this. But at the time? Totally awesome.

Essential tracks: "Under the Bridge," "Suck My Kiss"

Most likely, you were introduced to this by someone's older, cooler sibling, or because "Been Caught Stealing" earned a healthy rotation on MTV.

Essential tracks: "Been Caught Stealing," "Stop!"

This monster hit record spawned four singles and legions of devoted alternative fans.

Essential tracks: "Today," "Disarm"

In addition to this album, Juliana Hatfield played with The Lemonheads and appeared on My So-Called Life.

Essential tracks: "My Sister," "Spin the Bottle"