Music

How many of these magnified '90s album covers can you name?

by Mark Teo

Sure, you might’ve owned a copy (or several copies) of Absolute ’90s. Yes, you might’ve used a life vest’s rainbow-coloured fastener as a belt. And yes, you’ve actively hunted down VHS copies of 120 Minutes. But how well do you really know alternative? Were you ordering band tees from the those catalogues that came sandwiched in, like, Circus? Did you discover Nine Inch Nails after you heard Filter’s “Hey Man, Nice Shot?” Did you claim to own Kerplunk! before Dookie? Have you tried to mosh to a band named Sweener on Jonovision?

To put your alt-rock knowledge to the test, we’ve put together the ultimate challenge: How many of the above ’90s alt classics can you name? Scroll through the list of slightly modified images above, and take a tally—and don’t worry, we’ve compiled and answer key at the end.

Mark a point for each album you can name. And once you’re done, here’s how to grade yourself. Find the answer key below.

65-79 points: Congratulations! You are an indisputable alt-scholar, which means that, when quizzed, you can totally name the third track on Outcesticide 1 offhand. (Hint to all the noobs: It’s “Floyd the Barber.”)

50-65 points: You’ve seen more than your fair share of the The Wedge and The Edge (CFNY, to you). You’ve met George Stroumboulopoulos, who’s like, not exactly your friend, but he’s not not your friend, y’know?

35-50: Wait, those aren’t Airwalks—they’re Skechers! Wait, did you get those jeans from Randy River?

Below 35: You’re a poseur. I bet you can’t even name three songs from Bleach. And yes, it’s spelled “poseur.” With a “u,” dummy.

1. Björk – Post
2. Beck – Odelay
3. Beastie Boys – Ill Communication
4. Alice in Chains – Alice in Chains
5. 311 – Soundsystem
6. Belle and Sebastian – Tigermilk
7. The Bloodhound Gang – Hooray for Boobies
8. Blind Melon – Blind Melon
9. Bikini Kill – Bikini Kill
10. Ben Folds Five – Whatever and Ever Amen
11. Blur – Parklife
12. The Cranberries – No Need to Argue
13. Chumbawamba – Tubthumper
14. Cake – Fashion Nugget
15. Bush – Sixteen Stone
16. Days of the New – Days of the New
17. Faith No More – King for a Day, Fool for a Lifetime
18. Everclear – So Much for the Afterglow
19. Eve 6 – Eve 6
20. Elliott Smith – Either/Or
21. Fastball – All the Pain Money Can Buy
22. Foo Fighters – The Colour and the Shape
23. Fiona Apple – Tidal
24. Filter – Short Bus
25. Fat Boy Slim – You’ve Come A Long Way, Baby
26. Fugazi – Red Medicine
27. Hole – Celebrity Skin
28. Green Day – Dookie
29. Goo Goo Dolls – A Boy Named Goo
30. Garbage – Garbage
31. Hum – You’d Prefer an Astronaut
32. Marilyn Manson – Smells Like Children
33. Liz Phair – Exile in Guyville
34. Live – Throwing Copper
35. Jane’s Addiction – Ritual de lo habitual
36. Massive Attack – Mezzanine
37. Mr. Bungle – Mr. Bungle
38. Morrissey – Bona Drag
39. Metallica – Metallica (Black Album)
40. Matchbox 20 – Yourself or Someone Like You
41. My Bloody Valentine – Loveless
42. Nirvana – Nevermind
43. Nine Inch Nails – The Downward Spiral
44. New Radicals – Maybe You’ve Been Brainwashed Too
45. Neutral Milk Hotel – In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
46. No Doubt – Tragic Kingdom
47. Pearl Jam – Vs.
48. Pavement – Slanted and Enchanted
49. Offspring – Smash
50. Oasis – (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?
51. Neil Young – Mirror Ball
52. Portishead – Dummy
53. Porno for Pyros – Good God’s Urge
54. PJ Harvey – Rid of Me
55. Pixies – Bossanova
56. Primus – Brown Album
57. Radiohead – OK Computer
58. The Presidents of the United States of America – The Presidents of the United States of America
59. Pulp – Different Class
60. Primus – Pork Soda
61. Radish – Restraining Bolt
62. Silverchair – Frogstomp
63. Red Hot Chili Peppers – Blood Sugar Sex Magik
64. R.E.M. – Monster
65. Rage Against the Machine – Rage Against the Machine
66. Sleater-Kinney – Call the Doctor
67. Soundgarden – Superunknown
68. Sonic Youth – Goo
69. The Smashing Pumpkins – Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
70. Slint – Spiderland
71. Stone Temple Pilots – Core
72. U2 – Pop
73. Sugar Ray – Floored
74. Sublime – Sublime
75. The Verve Pipe – Villains
76. Weezer – Pinkerton
77. Weezer – Weezer (Blue Album)
78. Ween – Chocolate and Cheese
79. The Verve – Urban Hymns