The Best Grunge Music from the 90s
A look back at some of the best grunge music from the 90s. Featuring Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, and more.
What is Grunge Music?
Grunge music is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged in the early 1990s. The term grunge was used to describe the dirty, messy, and unkempt style of the music, as well as the fashion and lifestyle of the grunge scene. Grunge music is characterized by its heavy guitar sound and its use of distorted or feedback-laden guitars. The genre shares many sonic similarities with punk rock and heavy metal, but it also incorporates elements of indie rock and folk rock.
The Best Grunge Albums of the 90s
Grunge music was a genre of rock music that emerged in the late 1980s and early 1990s. It was characterized by a heavy, distorted sound and a DIY aesthetic. The best grunge albums of the 90s captured the raw energy and emotion of the genre. Here are some of the best grunge albums of the 90s.
Nirvana – Nevermind
Nirvana’s Nevermind has been called one of the most influential albums of all time. Released in 1991, it popularized the Seattle grunge scene and brought alternative rock into the mainstream. The album’s success was thanks in part to its singles “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and “Come As You Are,” which are still two of Nirvana’s most iconic songs.
Pearl Jam – Ten
Ten is the debut studio album by American rock band Pearl Jam, released on August 27, 1991 through Epic Records. The album was written and recorded in just over two months at London Bridge Studios in Seattle, Washington. Ten was not an immediate success, but by late 1992 it had reached number two on the Billboard 200 chart. The album produced three hit singles: “Alive”, “Even Flow”, and “Jeremy”.
Produced by Dave Krusen, Ten was Pearl Jam’s first release with Epic Records, which despite initial reluctance signed the band after being dazzled by their live performance. Although appraised as an alternative rock album at the time of its release, some critics felt that the band had not fully matured musically. Along with Nirvana’s Nevermind and Soundgarden’s Badmotorfinger, Ten helped popularize grunge music.
Soundgarden – Badmotorfinger
Albums like “Badmotorfinger” by Soundgarden brought the grittiness and heavy guitars of metal to the forefront of the 90’s music scene and popularized the grunge genre. Lyrically, Badmotorfinger deals with dark and personal themes such as drug addiction, abuse, and betrayal. One of the most popular songs on the album is “Rusty Cage”, which was later covered by Johnny Cash.
Alice in Chains – Dirt
Dirt is the second studio album by the American rock band Alice in Chains, released on September 29, 1992, through Columbia Records. Peaking at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart, the album was well received by music critics. It has since been certified quadruple-platinum by the RIAA and gone on to sell five million copies worldwide, making it the band’s best selling album to date. The singles “Would?,” “Them Bones,” “Angry Chair,” “Rooster,” and “Down in a Hole” were also well received commercially.
The album addressed vocalist Layne Staley’s heroin addiction, which was publicly known at the time. The songs “Angry Chair” and “Down in a Hole” in particular are said to be about his struggles with addiction and depression. Despite the subject matter, several songs on Dirt have been described as being among Alice in Chains’ most uplifting work, particularly “Would?,” which is about camaraderie and loyalty among friends, and “Rooster,” which is about Staley’s grandfather who fought in the Vietnam War.
Dirt was ranked at number two on Guitar World magazine’s list of the greatest albums of all time. In July 2009, it was revealed that Dirt had sold four million copies in the United States alone, making it Alice in Chains’ best-selling album to date.
Stone Temple Pilots – Core
Stone Temple Pilots – Core
The Stone Temple Pilots were one of the most successful grunge bands of the early 90s. Their debut album, Core, was released in 1992 and immediately went platinum. It featured the hit singles “Sex Type Thing” and “Creep”, which helped to cement the band’s place in the grunge pantheon. Core is a gritty, guitar-driven album that packs a punch from start to finish. Whether you’re a fan of grunge or not, this is an album that deserves a spot on your record collection.
The Best Grunge Songs of the 90s
The grunge music scene of the early 90s was a revolutionary moment in music history. A new sound emerged from the ashes of the hair metal scene, and it was a sound that would change the course of rock music forever. If you’re a fan of grunge, then you know that the 90s was a golden age for the genre. In this article, we’ll countdown the best grunge songs of the 90s.
Nirvana – “Smells Like Teen Spirit”
Nirvana – “Smells Like Teen Spirit”
Grunge music from the 90s was marked by its raw and angsty sound, which was often a reaction against the polished pop music of the time. Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” perfectly encapsulates this feeling, with its heavy guitars and Cobain’s snarling vocals. The song became an anthem for disaffected youth, and cemented Nirvana’s place as one of the most important bands of the decade.
Pearl Jam – “Alive”
Pearl Jam’s “Alive” is one of the defining grunge songs of the 90s. The song is an anthem for the disaffected youth of the time, with its lyrics about a young man who is coming to terms with his abusive father. The song was released on Pearl Jam’s debut album, Ten, in 1991 and immediately struck a chord with listeners. “Alive” remains one of Pearl Jam’s most popular songs, and it continues to be an alternative rock radio staple.
Soundgarden – “Rusty Cage”
“Rusty Cage” is a song by American rock band Soundgarden. Written by frontman Chris Cornell, the song was released in 1992 as the fourth single from the band’s third studio album, Badmotorfinger (1991). The song entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart at number 70 and peaked at number 46. A remixed version of the song was included on Soundgarden’s greatest hits album, A-Sides (1997).
The song’s music video, directed by Josh Taft, features the band playing in a desert with stop-motion footage of a prison escape intercut throughout. The video was nominated for four MTV Video Music Awards in 1992 and won two for Best Metal/Hard Rock Video and Best Editing.
Alice in Chains – “Would?”
Alice in Chains released their commercially and critical breakthrough album, “Dirt” in 1992. The album put the Seattle grunge scene on the map and firmly established Alice in Chains as one of the genre’s leading bands. “Would?” is one of the singles from “Dirt” and it is regarded as one of grunge’s defining tracks. The song reflects on bassist Mike Starr’s heroin addiction and how it led to his death. Lead singer Layne Staley’s haunting vocals are a fitting tribute to Starr, and the song is a reminder of the devastating toll that addiction can take.
Stone Temple Pilots – “Sex Type Thing”
Stone Temple Pilots’ “Sex Type Thing” is a Lauren Canyon-esque anthem about a dude who can’t help but be a creep — “I’m the man with the gun, yes, I am,” Tyler croons with menace over the lumbering guitars. The song caused some controversy at the time for its supposed pro-rape lyrical content, but it’s actually a criticism of macho culture and its objectification of women.
