198 Alternative Trivia Questions with Answers
198 public questions with answers, drawn from the well. How many can you answer?
This alternative music trivia hub spans the genre’s landmark artists, albums, bands, and award-winning releases. Questions move from Fiona Apple’s 2020 Grammy-winning Fetch the Bolt Cutters to Television’s 1977 album Marquee Moon, the first Mercury Prize winner, and major records by Arcade Fire, Arctic Monkeys, Alanis Morissette, and The Replacements.
The set covers alternative rock and its wider musical culture across the United States, Britain, and Canada. It suits music fans, pub quizzes, playlist challenges, and game nights built around album knowledge. Some questions are approachable through famous songs and records, while others test release dates, debut-album milestones, national scenes, and the history of prizes such as the Mercury Prize and Grammy Awards.
Which singer was the lead vocalist of the alternative band Cocteau Twins?
Answer
Elizabeth Fraser
Which artist won the 2000 Mercury Prize for the album The Hour of Bewilderbeast?
Answer
Badly Drawn Boy
Which 2000 album was Coldplay’s debut studio release?
Answer
Parachutes
What was Hole’s 1994 studio album, known for the singles “Doll Parts” and “Violet”?
Answer
Live Through This
Which Smiths album, released in 1987, was the band’s final studio album?
Answer
Strangeways, Here We Come
Which Interpol album was the band’s 2002 debut studio release?
Answer
Turn on the Bright Lights
Which MGMT album, released in 2007, contains “Electric Feel” and “Kids”?
Answer
Oracular Spectacular
Which alternative rock band had the 1998 hit “Flagpole Sitta”?
Answer
Harvey Danger
Which alternative rock band released the 1996 album Tiny Music... Songs from the Vatican Gift Shop?
Answer
Stone Temple Pilots
Which alternative rock band released the 1999 album Ágætis byrjun?
Answer
Sigur Rós
Which band released the 2004 debut album Hot Fuss?
Answer
The Killers
Which Gorillaz album contains “Feel Good Inc.” and “DARE”?
Answer
Demon Days
Which Nine Inch Nails album includes the songs “Hurt” and “Closer”?
Answer
The Downward Spiral
Which alternative rock band released the 2003 album Elephant, featuring “Seven Nation Army”?
Answer
The White Stripes
Which alternative musician released the 2010 album Have One on Me?
Answer
Joanna Newsom
Which alternative music artist released the 1998 album Mezzanine?
Answer
Massive Attack
Which alternative rock band released the 2003 album Fever to Tell?
Answer
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Who was the lead singer of the alternative rock band The Cranberries?
Answer
Dolores O'Riordan
Which alternative band released the 1998 album In the Aeroplane Over the Sea?
Answer
Neutral Milk Hotel
Which 2001 album won the Mercury Prize for PJ Harvey?
Answer
Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea
Which band released the 1998 alternative-rock album The Boy with the Arab Strap?
Answer
Belle and Sebastian
Which album was Beck’s 1994 major-label debut?
Answer
Mellow Gold
Which Smashing Pumpkins album contains “Today” and “Disarm”?
Answer
Siamese Dream
Which 2004 album was Arcade Fire’s debut studio album?
Answer
Funeral
Which 1989 album by The Cure is widely regarded as a landmark of alternative rock?
Answer
Disintegration
Which 1995 album made Alanis Morissette an international alternative-rock star?
Answer
Jagged Little Pill
Which album documents Nirvana’s 1993 performance for MTV’s Unplugged series?
Answer
MTV Unplugged in New York
Alternative trivia — quick answers
What are good alternative music trivia questions?
Good alternative music questions identify artists from albums, albums from release years, bands from songs, and winners of major awards. Useful examples include matching Fetch the Bolt Cutters to Fiona Apple, Marquee Moon to Television, and Funeral to Arcade Fire.
How hard is alternative music trivia?
Alternative music trivia can range from moderate to difficult because the genre includes many scenes, eras, and overlapping labels. Questions about major albums are accessible, while release years, debut records, Mercury Prize history, and influential 1980s or 1990s acts require deeper listening knowledge.
Which album won Fiona Apple the 2021 Grammy for Best Alternative Music Album?
Fiona Apple won the Grammy for Best Alternative Music Album for Fetch the Bolt Cutters. The album was released in 2020 and received the award at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards, held in 2021.
Which band released the album Marquee Moon?
Television released Marquee Moon in 1977. The New York band’s debut is widely regarded as an influential record in alternative and post-punk history, particularly for its extended guitar work and title track.