The 25 best indie albums of 1992

21 June 2024, 19:17 | Updated: 21 August 2024, 13:34

Cast your mind back to the year of Generation Terrorists, Ebeneezer Goode, Automatic For The People and Friday I'm In Love.

By Radio X

@RadioX

1. Manic Street Preachers - Generation Terrorists: released 10th February 1992

   The Manics released their debut album, which featured the classics Motorcycle Emptiness, You Love Us and Little Baby Nothing.

   

2. James - Seven: released 17th February 1992

   The Manchester band, led by Tim Booth, released their fourth album in 1992. It included the singles Born Of Frustration and Sound.

   

3. The Sugarcubes - Stick Around For Joy: released 18th February 1992

   The Icelandic band's third and final album, featuring the single Hit. Singer Bjork would start a solo career the following year.

   

4. Ride - Going Blank Again: released 9th March 1992

   Oxford's greatest proponents of noisy shoegaze rock scored a massive Top 10 hit with Leave Them All Behind… and gave the Creation label their biggest single before Oasis came along.

   

5. Curve - Doppleganger: released 9th March 1992

   The great Brit shoegazing band released their debut album, featuring the singles Horror Head and Fait Accompli.

   

6. The Charlatans - Between 10th and 11th: released 23rd March 1992

   The band's second album featured the singles Weirdo and Tremelo Song.

   

7. PJ Harvey - Dry: released 30th March 1992

   Polly Jean and her band released their debut album this year, featuring Sheela-Na-Gig and Dress.

   

8. Spiritualized - Lazer Guided Melodies: released 30th March 1992

   Jason Pierce, having left seminal shoegaze/drone rock act Spacemen 3, released the debut album from his new band Spiritualized.

   

9. L7 - Bricks Are Heavy: released 14th April 1992

   The LA female rockers released their third album, which contained their biggest hit, Pretend We're Dead.

   

10. Pavement - Slanted And Enchanted: released 20th April 1992

    The debut album the alt.rock legends was released in '92, showcasing the songwriting of Stephen Malkmus.

    

11. The Cure - Wish: released 21st April 1992

    Robert Smith's merry men issued their ninth album in 1992 and bagged them their only number 1 album to date. The album includes the indie club favourite Friday I'm In Love.

    

12. Carter USM - 1992: The Love Album: released 4th May 1992

    Jim Bob and Fruitbat's satirical dig at the UK's entry into Europe featured the single The Only Living Boy In New Cross.

    

13. The Black Crowes - The Southern Harmony And Musical Companion: released 12th May 1992

    The Alanta blues-rockers released their second album, which featured the track Remedy.

    

14. The Lemonheads - It's A Shame About Ray: released 2nd June 1992

    Evan Dando's band issued their fifth album, which featured singles such as Confetti and the title track. The cover of Mrs Robinson wasn't added until the album was re-released later in the year.

    

15. Faith No More - Angel Dust: released 8th June 1992

    The band's fourth LP includes Be Aggressive, A Small Victory and Midlife Crisis.

    

16. The Wedding Present - Hit Parade 1: release date 8th June 1992

    The Leeds indie band fronted by David Gedge decided to release a single every month between January and December 1992. As the singles were only limited editions, this album collects the first set of A and B-sides, with the tracks Blue Eyes, Go Go Dancer, Three, Silver Shorts, Come Play With Me and California, plus covers of Neil Young, The Monkees, Altered Images and the theme from Twin Peaks.

    

17. ΚΕΦΑΛΗΞΘ or Psalm 69: The Way to Succeed and the Way to Suck Eggs: release date 14th July 1992

    The fifth album from Al Jourgensen's industrial metal heads included the hit Jesus Built My Hotrod and Just One Fix.

    

18. Sonic Youth - Dirty: released 21st July 1992

    The legendary NYC band released their seventh album, which featured the tracks Youths Against Fascism and 100%.

    

19. Morrissey - Your Arsenal: released 27th July 1992

    His Mozness released his third solo album in this year - highlights included We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful and Glamorous Glue.

    

20. INXS - Welcome to Wherever You Are: released 3rd August 1992

    The Aussie band's eighth studio album was a No 1 hit in the UK and included the single Beautiful Girl and Taste It.

    

21. Paul Weller - Paul Weller: released 1st September 1992

    The Modfather's first solo album outside the confines of a group; it included the singles Uh Huh Oh Yeh and Into Tomorrow.

    

22. Sugar - Copper Blue: released 4th September 1992

    Former Husker Du frontman and solo artist Bob Mould released the debut from his new power trio, which included the songs Changes, A Good IDea and If I Can't Change Your Mind.

    

23. The Shamen - Boss Drum: released 14th September 1992

    Having developed from indie band into rave titans, this was The Shamen's fifth album and their commercial peak, including as it does the No 1 hit Ebeneezer Goode.

    

24. Nine Inch Nails - Broken EP: release date 22nd September 1992

    This eight track mini LP spanned the gap between 1989's Pretty Hate Machine and 1994's The Downward Spiral. Tracks include Wish and Happiness In Slavery.

    

25. R.E.M. - Automatic For The People: released 5th October 1992

    The band's eighth album went on to sell 18 million copies and features the tracks Drive, The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite, Nightswimming and Man On The Moon.