Not Nirvana’s ‘Nevermind’ or Pearl Jam’s ‘Ten’: This is the first grunge album according to Keith Richards

Ask anyone on the street about the first grunge album and you’re likely to hear the same names. As I eluded to in the title of this piece, Nirvana’s Nevermind and Pearl Jam’s Ten are certainly likely to come up. Maybe there’ll also be a nod to Soundgarden’s Badmotorfinger if they’re showing off, and fans of the genre will, of course, have a spattering of their own niche guesses.

The Rolling Stones’ finest work

But if you ask Keith Richards, the answer swerves way off the expected path. According to the legendary Rolling Stones guitarist, the first real grunge record came out a full two decades before Seattle ever made flannel fashionable: 1972’s Exile on Main Street.

Richards’ claim, made during the album’s 30th anniversary back in 2002, wasn’t exactly shouted from a mountaintop. Reflecting on the Stones’ trouble convincing Atlantic Records to release a double album – and the lukewarm reception that followed – Richards framed Exile as an accidental prophecy.

“This was an era where the music industry was full of these pristine sounds. We were going the other way. That was the first grunge record,” he said. And in his eyes, it remains among the Stones’ finest work.

At first glance, the idea feels like a stretch. The Stones weren’t growling over distortion pedals in the way Kurt Cobain or Eddie Vedder would. Their roots stayed firmly planted in blues and country. But listen closer to tracks like “Shake Your Hips” and “I Just Want to See His Face” and the “dirty,” “muddy,” and “unpolished” vibe is undeniable. The record oozes the same rough-around-the-edges spirit that defined grunge – a rebellion against slick production and squeaky-clean sound.

Still, the Stones never fully embraced the grunge movement when it took over in the 1990s. Voodoo Lounge (1994) stuck to their tried-and-true formula, and Mick Jagger didn’t exactly heap praise on the newcomers. Speaking in 1995, he admitted, “I was never crazy about Nirvana – too angst-ridden for me. But I like Pearl Jam.”

Richards, true to form, simply saw in Exile what a later generation would rediscover: that music could be beautifully raw, imperfect, and full of dangerous energy.

The best of grunge music

While Richards’ take on Exile on Main Street might raise eyebrows, when it comes to the “best” grunge albums, a few titles are more firmly entrenched. Using guides from Loudwire and Rolling Stone magazine, here’s how the heavy hitters of grunge stack up.

Loudwire picked Soundgarden’s Ultramega OK (1988) as an early cornerstone, while 1989’s Nirvana - Bleach kept the buzz building. Mother Love Bone’s Apple (1990) showed a more glam-tinged version of grunge just before the darker sound took hold. Then, of course, 1991 dropped the bomb: Nirvana’s Nevermind, considered by many the album that shoved grunge into the mainstream whether it wanted it or not.

Other Loudwire favorites include, Alice in Chains’ Dirt (1992), Smashing Pumpkins’ Siamese Dream (1993), and Soundgarden’s Superunknown (1994).

Meanwhile, Rolling Stone’s list highlights hidden gems like Green River’s Dry As A Bone and Hole’s Live Through This, balancing the usual suspects with albums that pushed the genre’s limits.

By the late ’90s, grunge’s golden era was slipping, but albums like Screaming Trees’ Dust (1996) still showed the genre had some gas left in the tank.

So, was Richards right? I’d tend to say no. Exile did set some standards in it, but has less claim to having invented the genre. Still, it’s a decent excuse to listen again and ponder a musical masterpiece.

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.

Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.