The Best Grunge Music of the 90s

The grunge music scene of the 1990s was one of the most influential periods in rock history. If you’re a fan of grunge, check out our list of the best grunge music of the 90s.

Nirvana- Smells Like Teen Spirit

Arguably the most important band of the Nineties, Nirvana single-handedly broke punk and indie rock into the mainstream and helped usher in a dark new era in music. At the core of it all was singer-guitarist Kurt Cobain, whose singular songwriting merged pop hooks with subverted traditional song structures, deeply personal introspection and barely contained rage. It all came to a tragic head in 1994 with Cobain’s suicide, but the band’s legacy continues to this day.

Pearl Jam- Even Flow

“Even Flow” is a song by the American rock band Pearl Jam. Featuring lyrics written by vocalist Eddie Vedder and music written by guitarist Stone Gossard, “Even Flow” was released in 1992 as the second single from the band’s debut album, Ten (1991). The song peaked at number 16 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. The song was included on Pearl Jam’s 2004 greatest hits album, rearviewmirror (Greatest Hits 1991–2003).

“Even Flow” features a chorus sung by Vedder accompanied by an electric guitar riff written by Gossard. The verse of the song is propelled by a drum beat created by drummer Dave Abbruzzese and bassist Jeff Ament that alternates between elements of punk rock and funk rock. Critical reception to “Even Flow” was positive, with many critics praising its hook and Vedder’s vocals.

Pearl Jam has performed “Even Flow” in concert over 950 times. The band has been dedicating “Given to Fly”, which also appears on Yield (1998), to licensees who died while climbing Mount Rainier in Washington state since 1998.

Alice in Chains- Man in the Box

Alice in Chains is one of the defining bands of the grunge movement of the early 1990s. Their second album, Dirt, is a masterpiece of dark and heavy rock music, and “Man in the Box” is one of the best tracks on the album. The song is a perfect example of Alice in Chains’ signature sound, with Layne Staley’s haunting vocals supported by Jerry Cantrell’s simple but effective guitar riff. “Man in the Box” remains one of Alice in Chains’ most popular songs, and it is rightly considered one of the best grunge songs of all time.

Soundgarden- Black Hole Sun

Soundgarden was one of the most popular grunge bands of the early 90s. They hit their peak with the release of their fourth album, Superunknown, in 1994. The albumcontained the single “Black Hole Sun”, which became one of their signature songs.

Stone Temple Pilots- Interstate Love Song

Stone Temple Pilots were one of the most commercially successful grunge bands of the ‘90s, and “Interstate Love Song” was their biggest hit. Taken from their 1994 album Purple, the song peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became a radio staple. It’s a quintessential ‘90s song, with its catchy hooks and Scott Weiland’s nasally delivery, and it remains a fan favorite to this day.

Mudhoney- Touch Me I’m Sick

Mudhoney was one of the first grunge bands to come out of Seattle in the late 80s/early 90s. Along with Nirvana, Soundgarden and Pearl Jam, they defined the grunge sound and look- a mix of punk, metal and classic rock with a DIY ethic. “Touch Me I’m Sick” was their breakout single, a loud, fast and dirty ode to sickness and desease that perfectly captured the feeling of being young and angry in the 90s. If you want to listen to some of the best grunge music of the 90s, start with Mudhoney’s “Touch Me I’m Sick”.

Green Day- Basket Case

Green Day’s “Basket Case” is one of the most iconic grunge songs of the 90s. The song deals with frontman Billie Joe Armstrong’s struggles with anxiety and depression, and has since become an anthem for anyone who’s ever felt like they’re not quite sure how they’re supposed to feel.

Offspring- Self Esteem

With a sound that was as hard-hitting as it was unforgettable, Offspring’s “Self Esteem” quickly became one of the defining songs of the ’90s. It perfectly embodied the frustration and angst felt by many during that decade, and its raw power helped to launch the band into the stratosphere.

Weezer- Say It Ain’t So

“Say It Ain’t So” is a song by the American rock band Weezer. It was released as the fifth single from their self-titled debut album (also known as The Blue Album). The single was released on November 11, 1994. The song was written by frontman Rivers Cuomo.

The song is about Cuomo’s father leaving his family when Cuomo was a child. In the liner notes of Pinkerton, Cuomo said: “It took me a long time to realize that my father leaving didn’t have anything to do with me. I always thought, ‘If only I had been able to talk to him or been more like him, he would have stayed.'”

The music video for “Say It Ain’t So” was directed by Marcus Raboy and was shot in an abandoned swimming pool in Los Angeles. The video became an MTV staple in the summer of 1995.

Bush- Glycerine

Glycerine is a song by Bush, released in late 1996 as the fourth single from their 1996 album Sixteen Stone. The song is Bush’s biggest hit, charting at number one on both the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and the UK Singles Chart. The music video, directed by Kevan Funk, was shot in the autumn of 1996 and received heavy rotation on MTV.