Alternative Vinyl

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At one time in history, between the time when the dinosaurs roamed the Earth and when the first sheep was cloned, there was a music that needed a poetic description, an new name to signify it was not punk and not rock and not anything. So when you have something that is supposedly different but not really different you need an alternative and when you can't come up with something good like "Rock and Roll" or "The Blues" you go with the political speak and call it "Alternative".

What the frack? Alternative rock was once a wide blanket term that referred to many different artists, styles, genres that didn't wanted to pigeon-holed into an existing style or genre so they created a new pigeon-hole that was hip and edgy.

In those early years, back when phones had wires that ran into walls and rock bands played in sketchy bars where people drank beer and smoked cigarettes, like back in the ‘80s, alternative rock was called college rock because it was mostly spread on college radio and other underground radio stations by the neo-hipsters who were leading the secret movement of bizarre music that seemed to to transcend the mechanical and cold pop and big hair arena rock that was flooding the airwaves at the time. The term "Alternative" exploded in popularity in the ‘90s with such super groups as R.E.M., Smashing Pumpkins, Live, Oasis, Bush, The Pixies and more.

We have a wide variety of alternative rock albums for you to choose from. To make your search easier, you can filter our albums by sub genre, including American Alternative, British Alternative, New Wave & Punk, and more. Some of the top alternative rock bands form the last few years are here in our collection, including Mumford & Sons, The Black Keys, Of Monsters and Men, Queens of the Stone Age, and many others. If you think the ‘90s were the best decade for alternative rock, we have many of your favorite groups, including the Smashing Pumpkins, Counting Crows, Goo Goo Dolls, Talking Heads.

Alternative is now a huge melting pot and pretty much any group or fan can declare themselves or their favorite group as an Alternative band because it has become synonymous with being better and different than anything else. But now, everything from the lo-Fi, or low fidelity, alternative rock that is is recorded on vintage recording equipment to give it that dusty, well-seasoned sound that helps create a richer ambience to the new indie alternative rock has seen a huge influx of great lyricists and guitar players who use hyper-processed digital recording techniques and deep base loops to create hybrid of rock/rap/drone aesthetics with meditative and sometime cerebral songs that can be found an childrens movie soundtracks.

This is the arena of the lions of exciting alternative rock that combine the best crunchy guitar riffs, off-tempo basic drum tears, whiney or lackadaisicle vocal delivery, and political messages and angsy poetry instead of sappy love songs. Get off on the heavy drums, overly-distorted fuzz-guitar riffs, and dungeon deep bass lines that can inspire an intense atmosphere perfect for peaking on an amphetamine or dozing out on a low dose opiod with the red lights turned on and the throb aching into your left ventricle.

Get yourself out of the ordinary, sure we all know KORN, and Rage Against The Machine, Nine Inch Nails, Marilyn Manson, Evanescence, Rob Zombie, Deftones, Red Hot Chili Peppers but there are more that maybe your alternative friends missed at the crossroads.

My Bloody Valentine, Slowdrive, Ride, Chapterhouse, Catherine Wheel, Lush and Swervdriver are other bands you might not know but maybe your grandma remembers them?

Explore the diversity of alternative rock here at Base Vinyl to discover new favorites to annoy your friends and to create a soundtrack for your alternative dreams as you drift through this mortal boil.

Top 10 Turntables
What chance do you have of getting a real vibe started at home without an LP player holding pride of place? The waiting's over. The time has come to transform your living room or bedroom into the ultimate rock n roll safe hold. After all there's a kind of travesty in playing the explosive licks of Queen, Sabbath, or the flaming melodies of Charlie Parker, Bowie, even your favorite trip hop album on anything less than the finest turntable.

"I've seen the needle and the damage done"
Chances are, you know someone, who knows someone with a serious vinyl addiction. They probably only seek one kind of needle, and it's not the type that caused the downfall of the hippies. There are plenty of these people cruising through any city. The vinyl addicts we mean... These individuals may for instance have started off by playing a Tame Impala LP and never looked back; They may have also heard a limited edition David Bowie record at an uncle once, or Kendrick Lamar's "good kid" at a friend's house party, and before they knew it, they were hooked for good. You look at them with amazement.
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Why it is crucial to store vinyl records
Storing vinyl records nicely is extremely paramount to preserving an album. This is mainly because these records are manufactured from materials that have unstable materials, which may readily react with the environment. This means the planet is a humongous pot of chemical that came easily react with your records gradually with time and this, in turn, changes the molecular structure of your record. Therefore, the main reason why people store them careful is so as to reduce the effects the records have on the environment.
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Latest additions to BaseVinyl.com

Spiderland (Remastered) [LP + DVD + MP3]

Slint s 1991 album, Spiderland, remastered from the original analog master tapes by Bob Weston and pressed on 180 gram vinyl. Both CD and LP include a download coupon for 14 outtakes & demos personal selected by Slint, m..

Lived Here Before

Shrink-wrapped..

Exploded Drawing [Vinyl]

Originally released in April 1996, this was generally received as Polvo's "White Album", the moment when the band finally kicked off its shoes, cracked the studio windows, and unleashed a long suite of songs showcasing t..

American Football (Deluxe Edition) (2LP 180-Gram Colored Vinyl w/ download card)

A deluxe edition of the classic American Football album.Shrink-wrapped..

Alternative

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"V" Is For Viagra - The Remixes (Record Store Day 2016)

For the first time ever, and as a special release for Record Store Day, Puscifer brings you V Is For Viagra - The Remixes on picture disc vinyl!! This will be a double vinyl set in a clear plastic gatefold. The images ar..

+ -

Danish indie-prog-rock/noisemeisters Mew, following a somewhat extended hiatus, announces its long-awaited new album, the band's first in six years, " +- " (as in "plus minus"). The album is set for an April 28, 2015 Nor..

2001 [Vinyl]

EU vinyl LP repressing of Dre's 1999 opus featuring guest turns from Eminem and Snoop Dogg. * Please note the sleeve is printed as "Explicit Version" but the pressing is confirmed to be the censored/clean version. Univer..

2014 Forest Hills Drive

J. Cole - 2014 Forest Hills Drive 2LP Disc 1 Side 1 1. Intro 2. January 28th 3. Wet Dreamz 4. 03' Adolescence Disc 1 Side 2 1. A Tale of 2 Citiez 2. Fire Squad 3. St. Tropez Disc 2 Side 1 1. G.O.M.D. 2...

22, A Million

22 stands for Justin Vernon. The number’s recurrence in his life has become a meaningful pattern through encounter and recognition. A mile marker, a jersey number, a bill total. The reflection of '2' is his identity boun..

3 Feet High & Rising (2LP)

Prince Paul produced De La Soul's debut album, 3 Feet High and Rising, which was released in the spring of 1989. Several critics and observers labeled the group as a neo-hippie band because the record praised peace and l..

A Rush of Blood to the Head [Vinyl]

2 LP Set. A Rush Of Blood To The Head is a soulful, exhilarating journey, moving from the cathartic rock of 'Politik' to the hushed tones of 'Green Eyes' without once breaking its mesmerizing spell. Singer Chris Martin t..

About The Young Idea: Very Best Of

3LP set. Remastered at Abbey Road Studios! Limited edition, 44-track collection of hits, album cuts and rarities from Paul Weller and crew. Includes an unreleased demo of "Takin' My Love".Shrink-wrapped..

Actually (2018 Remastered Version)(Vinyl)

On 180-gram audiophile vinyl. Remastered in 2018! Deadpan 1987 album includes "It's A Sin" and "What Have I Done To Deserve This?".Shrink-wrapped..

Album Of The Year (2016 Remaster)(2LP 180 Gram Vinyl)

ALBUM OF THE YEAR became the first Faith No More release to feature members of the current lineup: Mike Bordin (drums), Roddy Bottum (keyboards) Billy Gould (bass) Jon Hudson (guitar), and Mike Patton (vocals). Recorded ..

AMERICAN DON [Vinyl]

LPShrink-wrapped..

American Football (Deluxe Edition) (2LP 180-Gram Colored Vinyl w/ download card)

A deluxe edition of the classic American Football album.Shrink-wrapped..

And the Anonymous Nobody

Double vinyl LP pressing. 2016 release, the ninth album from the hip hop trio. And The Anonymous Nobody is their first studio album in four years. Includes the single Pain featuring Snoop Dogg. The album also features Ji..

And the Anonymous Nobody

Limited double 180gm smoky clear vinyl LP pressing. 2016 release, the ninth album from the hip hop trio. And The Anonymous Nobody is their first studio album in four years. Includes the single Pain featuring Snoop Dogg. ..

Angels & Ghosts

David Gahan Angels & Ghosts UK vinyl LPdouble vinylgatefold sleeve..

Animal Serenade - 2018 Record Store Day 3XLP Set Vinyl

2018 Record Store Day Ltd. Edition 7500-Gatefold Vinyl 3XLP Set - 2018 Rhino R1 48678 Tracklist: --- A1 Advice A2 Smalltown A3 Tell It To Your Heart A4 Man Of Good Fortune B1 How Do You Think It Feels B2 Vanishing Act B3..

AOI: Bionix [Vinyl]

18 Tracks Inc. The Hit Baby Phat Superb Double Featuring 18 Great Tracks From De La Soul Including The Hit 'Baby Phat'1 - intro2 - bionix3 - baby phat4 - simply5 - simply havin..

As You Were (Explicit)(180 Gram Vinyl)

STANDARD EDITION : On 180-gram BLACK audiophile vinyl. Debut 2017 solo album from the former Oasis and Beady Eye frontman! Cameos by Andrew Wyatt (Miike Snow) and Bonehead (Oasis). Includes "Wall Of Glass" and "For What ..

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