The Best Grunge Music of 2017
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It’s been a great year for Grunge music. Here are some of the best songs of 2017 that you may have missed.
What is Grunge Music?
Grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock and a subculture that emerged during the mid-1980s in the Pacific Northwest U.S. state of Washington, particularly in Seattle and nearby towns. The early grunge movement revolved around Seattle’s independent record label Sub Pop and the region’s resulting underground music scene.
Origins of Grunge Music
Grunge music is a style of rock that emerged in the early 1990s and quickly gained popularity. Grunge is characterized by its raw, grungy sound and its focus on personal, often angst-ridden lyrics. Grunge music became mainstream in the early 1990s with the release of albums such as Nirvana’s “Nevermind” and Pearl Jam’s “Ten.”
While grunge music rose to prominence in the early 1990s, its origins can be traced back to the 1980s. Bands such as Screaming Trees, Mudhoney, and Melvins were playing a similar style of music in the 1980s, but they did not achieve mainstream success until the early 1990s.
Grunge music was also influenced by punk rock and heavy metal. Punk rock helped to inspire the DIY ethic of grunge bands, while heavy metal contributed to the heavy sound of grunge.
The success of grunge bands in the early 1990s coincided with a decline in popularity of hair metal bands such as Poison and Guns N’ Roses. Grunge’s raw sound and focus on personal lyrics was seen as a refreshing change from the polished, glossy sound of hair metal.
Despite its rise to prominence in the early 1990s, grunge music fell out of favor in the late 1990s. Grunge bands such as Nirvana and Soundgarden disbanded, while others, such as Pearl Jam, continued to enjoy success. Today, grunge is considered a classic genre of rock music
Characteristics of Grunge Music
Grunge music is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged in the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Named after the dirty, gritty sound of the music, grunge is characterized by heavy guitar riffs, drums, and vocals that are often distorted or shouted. Lyrics are typically angst-ridden and deal with topics like depression, alienation, and social anxiety.
Grunge music rose to popularity in the early 1990s with bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden leading the way. The genre became mainstream with Nirvana’s album Nevermind in 1991, which featured their hit single “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” Grunge music experienced a decline in popularity in the late 1990s but has seen a resurgence in recent years with new bands like Alice in Chains and Stone Temple Pilots carrying on the legacy of grunge.
Best Grunge Music of 2017
The grunge music scene of the 1990s was a revolution in rock music. The angry, distorted guitars mixed with the angsty lyrics created a new sound that was perfect for a generation of disaffected youth. While grunge is no longer as popular as it was in the 1990s, there are still some great grunge bands out there making great music. Here are some of the best grunge bands of 2017.
Nirvana- “Smells Like Teen Spirit”
Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” from their album Nevermind was an obvious choice for the best grunge song of 2017. The song was a huge success when it was first released in 1991, and it continues to be one of the most popular grunge songs today. “Smells Like Teen Spirit” is a classic grunge song that features heavy guitars, aggressive vocals, and a catchy chorus. Nirvana is considered to be one of the most influential grunge bands of all time, and “Smells Like Teen Spirit” is one of their most iconic songs.
Pearl Jam- “Alive”
Grunge music exploded onto the mainstream in the early 1990s, thanks to bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden. The genre is defined by its raw, distorted sound and angsty lyrics, and 2017 has seen a resurgence of grunge, with newer bands like PVRIS and Creeper drawing inspiration from the 90s legends.
Pearl Jam’s “Alive” is one of the most iconic grunge songs of all time, and it’s still as relevant today as it was when it was released in 1991. The band’s 10th studio album, “Lightning Bolt,” was released in 2013 to critical acclaim, and Pearl Jam continues to be one of the most popular live acts in the world.
Soundgarden- “Black Hole Sun”
Soundgarden is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1984 by singer and rhythm guitarist Chris Cornell, lead guitarist Kim Thayil, and bassist Hiro Yamamoto. Matt Cameron became the band’s full-time drummer in 1986, while bassist Ben Shepherd became a permanent replacement for Yamamoto in 1990.
The band built its reputation playing in clubs around the Seattle area from 1985 to 1987. Signing to A&M Records in late 1987, the band released its first album, Ultramega OK, in 1988. It earned a Grammy Award nomination for Best Metal Performance in 1990. Soundgarden supported Ultramega OK with a tour of North America that same year. The group’s second album, Louder Than Love (1989), was also well received by critics although most still considered the band to be an “album-oriented rock” act rather than grunge.
Alice in Chains- “Would?”
Alice in Chains is an American rock band from Seattle, Washington, formed in 1987 by guitarist and vocalist Jerry Cantrell and drummer Sean Kinney, who then recruited bassist Mike Starr and lead vocalist Layne Staley. The initial lineup was unstable and, apart from the ongoing contribution of Cantrell as a songwriter, it was largely disbanded by the time of the promotion for its second album, Dirt (1992). Starr was replaced by Mike Inez in 1993. William DuVall joined as lead vocalist and co-rhythm guitarist in 2006, replacing Staley, who died in 2002.
The band’s first album, Facelift (1990), was a commercial success. The group’s success continued with the release of Dirt (1992), which was well received by both critics and music fans. In particular, the album’s second single “Would?” became one of their most popular songs; it remains one of their most requested radio songs and rock radio staples. “Would?” peaked at number two on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and number nine on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. The song has been called “the quintessential example of early-’90s grunge”.
Stone Temple Pilots- “Sex Type Thing”
Stone Temple Pilots burst onto the scene in 1992 with their debut album, Core. The album featured the singles “Sex Type Thing” and “Creep”, which propelled the band to stardom. “Sex Type Thing” is a signature STP song, and is one of the best grunge songs of 2017.
