The Top 10 Grunge Style Music Examples
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If you’re looking for some good grunge music to listen to, look no further! This blog post will provide you with 10 examples of grunge songs that are sure to get you pumped up.
Nirvana- Smells Like Teen Spirit
Nirvana was a highly influential grunge band that was formed in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987. The band was composed of singer and guitarist Kurt Cobain, bassist Krist Novoselic, and drummer Dave Grohl. Nirvana rose to prominence with their debut album, “Bleach”, which was released on the independent record label Sub Pop in 1989. In 1991, Nirvana released their second album,” Nevermind”, which became a commercial and critical success. “Smells Like Teen Spirit” is the lead single from “Nevermind”. The song was written by Kurt Cobain and features a heavy guitar riff with lyrics that focus on teenage angst and rebellion. The music video for the song received heavy rotation on MTV and helped to propel Nirvana to mainstream success.
Pearl Jam- Alive
Pearl Jam is one of the most successful grunge bands from the early 1990s. The band’s debut album, Ten, was released in 1991 and although it was not an immediate commercial success, it slowly gained popularity. Their next album, Vs., was released in 1993 and quickly became their best-selling album, reaching number one on the Billboard 200 chart. Pearl Jam’s third album, Vitalogy, was also very successful, reaching number one on the Billboard 200 chart. The band has released several more albums since then and is still together today.
“Alive” is a song from Pearl Jam’s debut album, Ten. The song was written by vocalist Eddie Vedder and guitarist Stone Gossard. “Alive” is about a young man who is revealed to be the son of a man who had an affair with his mother. The son finds out that his father is dead and he must now live with his grandparents. The song was inspired by a true story that Vedder heard on a news program. “Alive” peaked at number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1992 and remains one of Pearl Jam’s most popular songs.
Alice in Chains- Would?
Alice in Chains is one of the defining bands of the grunge era. They mixed heavy metal with alternative rock to create a unique sound that was both dark and catchy. “Would?” is one of their most well-known songs, and it perfectly encapsulates their style. The guitars are heavy and distorted, the vocals are haunting, and the lyrics are angsty and introspective. If you’re looking for a perfect example of grunge music, look no further than Alice in Chains.
Soundgarden- Black Hole Sun
Soundgarden is an American rock band that was formed in 1984 by singer Chris Cornell, guitarist Kim Thayil, and bassist Hiro Yamamoto. The band rose to prominence in the early 1990s with their breakthrough album, Badmotorfinger, and its leading single, “Rusty Cage.” Soundgarden continued to find success with their next two albums, Superunknown and Down on the Upside. However, tensions within the band led to Cornell’s departure in 1997. After a 13-year hiatus, Soundgarden reformed in 2010 and released their sixth studio album, King Animal, in 2012.
“Black Hole Sun” is a song by Soundgarden. It was released in 1994 as the third single from the band’s fourth studio album, Superunknown (1994). The song was written by frontman Chris Cornell and produced by Gavin MacGowan. “Black Hole Sun” peaked at number two on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and number six on the Billboard Hot 100. The song won a Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance at the 37th Grammy Awards in 1995.
Stone Temple Pilots- Interstate Love Song
Stone Temple Pilots’ “Interstate Love Song” is a quintessential early-’90s grunge ballad. The song was released in 1994 as the third single from the band’s second album, Purple, and it quickly became one of their most popular and well-known songs.
The song features a slow, driving groove and Robert DeLeo’s signature heavy bass guitar playing. The lyrics are written in the first person point of view from the perspective of a long-distance trucker who is singing about his love for a woman he’s been missing.
The song was a massive hit, peaking at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and it remains one of the band’s most beloved songs.
Temple of the Dog- Hunger Strike
Temple of the Dog was an American rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington in 1990. The band was created by vocalist Chris Cornell of Soundgarden as a tribute to his late friend Andrew Wood, the former lead singer of Mother Love Bone. The band’s only album, Temple of the Dog, was released in April 1991 through A&M Records. The album is considered a masterpiece by many grunge and alternative rock fans, and is often cited as one of the greatest albums of all time.
“Hunger Strike” is a song by Temple of the Dog, released as the second single from their self-titled debut album in 1991. The song features vocals from both Chris Cornell and Eddie Vedder, who later went on to join Pearl Jam. “Hunger Strike” peaked at number four on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and remains one of the band’s most popular songs.
Mudhoney- Touch Me I’m Sick
“Touch Me I’m Sick” is a song by the American alternative rock band Mudhoney. It was released as the band’s debut single in 1988 on the independent record label Sub Pop. The song was written by vocalist and guitarist Mark Arm and produced by Jack Endino. It is included on the band’s debut album, Superfuzz Bigmuff (1990).
The song is three minutes and four seconds long and features a distorted guitar riff and vocals. The lyrics are about a man with a cold who wants to be left alone.
“Touch Me I’m Sick” was well received by music critics and is considered one of the greatest grunge songs of all time. It was ranked number two on NME’s list of the “10 essential grunge tracks”, and number six on Pitchfork Media’s “100 Greatest Songs of the 90s”. In 2005, it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
Screaming Trees- Nearly Lost You
The success of “Nearly Lost You” helped propel the Screaming Trees to a new level in 1992. The song was released as a single in February 1992 and reached the Top 40, peaking at No.37 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The accompanying music video was directed by Peter Gabriel collaborator Matt Mahurin and received heavy rotation on MTV’s 120 Minutes and Headbanger’s Ball.
Bush- Glycerine
“Glycerine” is a song by English rock band Bush. It was released in October 1996 as the first single from their third album, Razorblade Suitcase (1996). The song is in the key of F major. The signature is four power chords scrunched together during the chorus. The video for “Glycerine” was notable for being shot in black-and-white, and for having very little action; frontman Gavin Rossdale is seen simply walking through a forest for most of it.
The song reached number one on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and stayed there for 13 weeks. It was also nominated for Best Single at the 1997 Grammy Awards, but lost to Eric Clapton’s “Change the World”. In 2010, Pitchfork Media included the song at number 45 on their Top 200 Songs of the 1990s list. In October 2011, NME placed it at number 90 on its list “150 Best Tracks of the Last 15 Years”.
Silverchair- Tomorrow
Silverchair’s song “Tomorrow” is a great example of grunge style music. The song was released in 1994 and became an instant hit. It has a heavy guitar sound and a catchy chorus. The song is about hope and overcoming adversity.
