Weezer

Geek culture finally found its anthem when these four guys from Los Angeles traded hair-metal bravado for thick-rimmed glasses and songs about Dungeons & Dragons. It remains a masterclass in songwriting, balancing self-deprecating humor with massive, earworm melodies that feel just as sharp today as they did in the mid-nineties.

Ric Ocasek of The Cars produced this debut, helping the band polish their garage-rock grit into something radio-ready without losing its nervous energy. The result is a quintessential alternative rock record that perfectly defines the transition from the angst-ridden grunge era to the more melodic, pop-conscious sound of the late twentieth century.