The Best of 1990s Grunge Music

Grunge music was a popular genre in the 1990s. Here are some of the best grunge bands and songs of that era.

Nirvana- Smells Like Teen Spirit

Nirvana was a highly influential grunge band from Seattle, Washington, formed in 1987. The group was founded by singer-songwriter Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic. Smells Like Teen Spirit was the lead single from Nirvana’s second album Nevermind (1991), released on DGC Records. The unexpected success of the song propelled Nevermind to the top of the charts at the start of 1992, an event often marked as the point where grunge entered the mainstream. The music video for Smells Like Teen Spirit was directed by Samuel Bayer and first aired on MTV on September 10, 1991.

Pearl Jam- Even Flow

From the early days of Nirvana and Pearl Jam to the last days of Alice in Chains, grunge was the defining music genre of the 1990s. It combined elements of punk rock and heavy metal to create a sound that was dark, gritty, and often angry. The lyrics were often about pain, loss, and frustration, and the music was loud and distorted. Grunge bands rejected the flashy excesses of 1980s hair metal, and they were often critical of the mainstream music industry. But despite their anti-establishment attitude, many grunge bands found themselves propelled to stardom in the early 1990s.

Pearl Jam was one of the biggest grunge bands of the 1990s. Formed in Seattle in 1990, Pearl Jam quickly rose to fame with their debut album Ten. The album’s first single, “Even Flow,” became a radio hit, and Pearl Jam followed up with a string of successful singles, including “Alive,” “Jeremy,” and “Black.” Pearl Jam’s popularity continued to grow throughout the early 1990s, and they became one of the most successful rock bands in the world.

In 1994, Kurt Cobain, lead singer of Nirvana , committed suicide , effectively ending grunge’s brief moment in the spotlight. Grunge bands continued to make music throughout the 1990s, but they never again attained the level of commercial success that they had enjoyed in the early part of the decade.

Alice in Chains- Man in the Box

Alice in Chains is one of the defining bands of the Seattle grunge scene, and their signature song “Man in the Box” is a perfect example of their dark, sludgy sound. The song is about addiction and paranoia, two themes that would come to define the band’s work. Layne Staley’s vocals are gritty and desperate, backed by Jerry Cantrell’s heavy guitar riffs. The result is a song that perfectly captures the bleakness of the grunge era.

Soundgarden- Black Hole Sun

Soundgarden was one of the most successful grunge bands of the 1990s. The band’s third studio album, Superunknown, debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and was certified five times platinum by the RIAA. “Black Hole Sun”, the fourth single from Superunknown, won a Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance in 1995.

Stone Temple Pilots- Interstate Love Song

Stone Temple Pilots was one of the most successful bands of the 1990s, thanks in large part to the massive success of their second album, “Purple.” The album’s lead single, “Interstate Love Song,” was a Top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, and helped fuel the album’s sales. “Purple” would go on to sell over six million copies in the United States.