Alternative
112 cover stories
Alternative rock covers rejected the polished excess of mainstream music in favor of raw authenticity, conceptual art, and anti-commercial aesthetics. From Sonic Youth's art-world collaborations to Radiohead's digital-age anxiety.
All Alternative album covers
You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love
Olivia Rodrigo · 2026
moisturizer
Wet Leg · 2025
SOUR
Olivia Rodrigo · 2021
folklore
Taylor Swift · 2020
Fetch the Bolt Cutters
Fiona Apple · 2020
After Hours
The Weeknd · 2020
?
XXXTentacion · 2018
Melodrama
Lorde · 2017
Head Carrier
Pixies · 2016
Depression Cherry
Beach House · 2015
LP1
FKA twigs · 2014
AM
Arctic Monkeys · 2013
Lonerism
Tame Impala · 2012
The Money Store
Death Grips · 2012
Plastic Beach
Gorillaz · 2010
Riot!
Paramore · 2007
Oracular Spectacular
MGMT · 2007
The Reminder
Feist · 2007
Neon Bible
Arcade Fire · 2007
In Rainbows
Radiohead · 2007
10,000 Days
Tool · 2006
Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
Arctic Monkeys · 2006
Fox Confessor Brings the Flood
Neko Case · 2006
Silent Alarm
Bloc Party · 2005
Demon Days
Gorillaz · 2005
Hot Fuss
The Killers · 2004
Funeral
Arcade Fire · 2004
Hail to the Thief
Radiohead · 2003
Transatlanticism
Death Cab for Cutie · 2003
Elephant
The White Stripes · 2003
A Rush of Blood to the Head
Coldplay · 2002
Lifted or The Story Is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground
Bright Eyes · 2002
Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots
The Flaming Lips · 2002
Turn on the Bright Lights
Interpol · 2002
Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
Wilco · 2002
Toxicity
System of a Down · 2001
Vespertine
Björk · 2001
Is This It
The Strokes · 2001
Amnesiac
Radiohead · 2001
Lateralus
Tool · 2001
White Blood Cells
The White Stripes · 2001
The Moon & Antarctica
Modest Mouse · 2000
Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea
PJ Harvey · 2000
Relationship of Command
At the Drive-In · 2000
Californication
Red Hot Chili Peppers · 1999
Before These Crowded Streets
Dave Matthews Band · 1998
Yield
Pearl Jam · 1998
Be Here Now
Oasis · 1997
Around the Fur
Deftones · 1997
The Colour and the Shape
Foo Fighters · 1997
Homogenic
Björk · 1997
OK Computer
Radiohead · 1997
Sublime
Sublime · 1996
1977
Ash · 1996
Pinkerton
Weezer · 1996
Coming Up
Suede · 1996
Odelay
Beck · 1996
Evil Empire
Rage Against the Machine · 1996
Crash
Dave Matthews Band · 1996
Ænima
Tool · 1996
(What's the Story) Morning Glory?
Oasis · 1995
Jagged Little Pill
Alanis Morissette · 1995
Maxinquaye
Tricky · 1995
Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
The Smashing Pumpkins · 1995
The Bends
Radiohead · 1995
Post
Björk · 1995
Superunknown
Soundgarden · 1994
The Downward Spiral
Nine Inch Nails · 1994
Ill Communication
Beastie Boys · 1994
Nirvana: MTV Unplugged in New York
Nirvana · 1994
Vitalogy
Pearl Jam · 1994
Definitely Maybe
Oasis · 1994
Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
Pavement · 1994
Grace
Jeff Buckley · 1994
Parklife
Blur · 1994
Weezer
Weezer · 1994
Siamese Dream
The Smashing Pumpkins · 1993
Souvlaki
Slowdive · 1993
Vs.
Pearl Jam · 1993
In Utero
Nirvana · 1993
Dirt
Alice in Chains · 1992
Automatic for the People
R.E.M. · 1992
Trompe le Monde
Pixies · 1991
Achtung Baby
U2 · 1991
Blood Sugar Sex Magik
Red Hot Chili Peppers · 1991
Spiderland
Slint · 1991
Ten
Pearl Jam · 1991
Sensitive cover art
Nevermind
Nirvana · 1991
Bossanova
Pixies · 1990
Violator
Depeche Mode · 1990
Goo
Sonic Youth · 1990
The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses · 1989
Technique
New Order · 1989
Disintegration
The Cure · 1989
Doolittle
Pixies · 1989
Surfer Rosa
Pixies · 1988
Daydream Nation
Sonic Youth · 1988
Louder Than Bombs
The Smiths · 1987
The Joshua Tree
U2 · 1987
Skylarking
XTC · 1986
The Queen Is Dead
The Smiths · 1986
Meat Is Murder
The Smiths · 1985
Hounds of Love
Kate Bush · 1985
Stop Making Sense
Talking Heads · 1984
Hatful of Hollow
The Smiths · 1984
Power, Corruption & Lies
New Order · 1983
Sandinista!
The Clash · 1980
Fear of Music
Talking Heads · 1979
London Calling
The Clash · 1979
Unknown Pleasures
Joy Division · 1979
The Cars
The Cars · 1978
Low
David Bowie · 1977
Frequently asked questions
- What defines Alternative album cover art?
- Alternative rock covers rejected the polished excess of mainstream music in favor of raw authenticity, conceptual art, and anti-commercial aesthetics. From Sonic Youth's art-world collaborations to Radiohead's digital-age anxiety.
- What are some of the most iconic Alternative album covers?
- Notable covers featured on Behind the Covers include You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love by Olivia Rodrigo, moisturizer by Wet Leg, SOUR by Olivia Rodrigo, folklore by Taylor Swift, and Fetch the Bolt Cutters by Fiona Apple.
- How many Alternative album covers does Behind the Covers feature?
- Behind the Covers features 112 Alternative cover stories spanning 1977–2026, with cover art by designers including Matt de Jong, Fiona Apple, and Sam McKinniss.