Alternative (Showing 623 Results)

Discover the Sonic Spectrum of Alternative Music

Alternative music is an expansive playground with endless room for sonic diversity, lyrical depth, and genre-bending creativity, and with this week's Mixed Tape Monday, we tip our hats to those artists who have taken the rock genre to a whole new level. From underground trailblazers to mainstream oddballs, the genre refuses to be neatly categorized yet continues to influence pop music.

At Elusive Disc, we offer a collection of Alternative audiophile pressings on vinyl, SACDs & CDs that includes some of the most daring and original artists in the world. Wheth­er you're a fan of 80s post-punk, 90s grunge, indie rock of the 2000s, or today's genre-bending alternative pop hybrids, our library provides the sound and spirit typically reserved for underground music, from alternative roots to contemporary labels and sub-genres.

What Is Alternative Music?

“Alternative” has long been a catch-all term for anything that isn't pop and has evolved into a genre characterized by freedom, exploration, and a rejection of formula.

The following are some of the genres which may be considered "alternative" nowadays:

• Post-punk and New Wave
• Indie rock
• Grunge
• Shoegaze
• Britpop
• Alt-folk
• Experimental pop
• Garage rock revival

Defined by layers of overdriven guitars, lyrical dissatisfaction, or a minimalistic, synthetic aesthetic, Alt-Rock borrows a sense of integrity and ingenuity from its predecessors.

Why Audiophiles Love Alternative on Vinyl & SACD

Alternative music excels in both lo-fi soundscapes and generous sonic layering, making it a great genre for audiophile listening. Old-school records by bands like Radiohead, Sonic Youth, and The Smiths were recorded with tone, atmosphere, and spatial depth in mind.

Experienced through high-quality pressings and remastered versions, the music from these albums can reveal differences in sonic textures and emotional intensity, whether it be the gauzy guitars of shoegaze or the in-your-face attack of garage rock.

At Elusive Disc, our collection of audiophile instrumental music encompasses a diverse range of musical styles, featuring limited-edition reissues, 180-gram vinyl, and high-resolution SACDs that beautifully capture the dynamic range of this genre.

Must-Have Collector's Titles from Elusive Disc

Check out our Alternative for classic and rare releases from some of the world's greatest artists, curated by our team of music lovers:

• Radiohead - OK Computer (2LP 180g Vinyl)
  A dystopian art-rock-and-electronics masterpiece, remastered for crystal clarity.
• Nirvana - Nevermind (180g LP)
  The record that changed the face of 90s rock, with its grunge attitude and pristine production.
• The Cure - Disintegration (2LP Remastered 180g)
  Lush, pensive, and atmospheric, and it's all here in its audiophile glory!
• Sonic Youth - Daydream Nation (2LP 180g)
  I love it. Avant-garde guitar experiment and indie rebellion in perfect fidelity.
• Arcade Fire - Funeral (180g LP)
  Orchestral indie rock grandeur that came to define the millennial left coast.

The Alternative Evolution: Decades of Innovations

The 1980s - The Underground Blooms

Post-punk and college rock bands like R.E.M., The Smiths, and Pixies paved the way for Alternative, cramming melody into songs driven by angst and a sense of adventure.

The 1990s - Mainstream Breakthrough

Seattle grunge (Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden) took Alternative over the top. In the United Kingdom, Britpop (Blur, Oasis) was dominating the charts.

The 2000s - The Indie Explosion

Labels like Sub Pop, Merge, and Matador nurtured indie acts like the National, Modest Mouse, and Interpol, who struck a balance between DIY ethics and studio savvy.

The 2010s & Beyond - Pushing the Boundaries of Genre

Modern Alternative is a multifaceted genre that blends elements of pop, hip-hop, folk, and electronica. Artists as diverse as Tame Impala, Phoebe Bridgers, and St. Vincent continue to expand the genre's boundaries.

Essential Listening: Making the Most of Your Alternative Collection

Get the most out of your Alternative listening sessions with the optimal gear:

• Turntables with Isolation - Vital for reverb-drenched or dynamic Alternative albums in particular.
• Nitty Gritty Record Cleaning Machines - A must-have way to keep now-fi texture w/o hiss.
• BCW Sleeves for Long-Term Storage - Keep all your games organized and protected from dust.
• Tube Phono Preamps - Warm and fathomless on spare or ambient mixes.

The Emotional Pull of Alternative

Alternative music began to take shape, not so much as a sound but as a frame of mind. It is for those who push beyond the rudimentary, seeking more, the unusual, but also distinguish themselves from music, emphasizing attitude and character in life. Its strength is in its ability to summon elusive emotions, melancholy, rebellion, and transcendence in a single track.

At Elusive Disc, we share that spirit by providing 'pressings' that even a super 'Rappy' would shake his head at.

Bottom line: Open up your sonic identity.

Is your open invitation to laugh in the face of boxed-up music taste? Our selection at Elusive Disc represents the best in classic and new-age jazz, featuring Keynote, CC JSB, and more, newly pressed and mastered to the highest quality available for these recordings.

Whether you're kicking off a collection with genre-defining albums or you're reveling in the more bleeding-edge work that indie has to offer, we're here to help you hear the Alternative in its most classic sense.