Must-haves for a beginner music collector: The Alt/Other category 1970-2020

Recently, with a new music collector in mind, I was asked to suggest four "must-have" albums per decade in the alt/other (genre) category. I did it (mostly) but wow, it was way too hard. One stipulation was that it couldn't be based solely on my favorites.

1970-1980

1. The B52s, The B52s, 1979

2. Parallel Lines, Blondie, 1978

3. The Raincoats, The Raincoats, 1979

4. London Calling, The Clash, 1979

1980-1990

1. Surfer Rosa, The Pixies, 1988

2. Violent Femmes, Violent Femmes, 1983

3. Licensed to Ill, Beastie Boys, 1986

4. Disintegration, The Cure, 1989

5. Kill 'Em All, Metallica, 1983

1990-2000

1. Nevermind, Nirvana, 1991

2. Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, Lauryn Hill, 1998

3. Tragic Kingdom, No Doubt, 1995

4. Monster, R.E.M. 1994

5. In the Aeroplane, Neutral Milk Hotel, 1998

2000-2010

1. White Blood Cells, The White Stripes, 2001

2. Essence, Lucinda Williams, 2001

3. Laundry Service, Shakira, 2001

4. Back to Black, Amy Winehouse, 2006

2010-2020

1. Sometimes I Sit and Think, Sometimes I Just Sit, Courtney Barnett, 2015

2. When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, Billie Eilish, 2019

3. Fetch the Bolt Cutters, Fiona Apple, 2020

4. To Pimp A Butterfly, Kendrick Lamar, 2015

5. Southeastern, Jason Isbell, 2013