The Best Grunge Music Songs

Looking for the best grunge music songs? We’ve got you covered with our list of the top grunge tracks of all time!

What is Grunge Music?

Grunge music is a type of rock that emerged from the indie music scene in the 1980s and became a dominant genre in the early 1990s. Grunge bands were known for their DIY ethic, as well as their eclectic mixes of influences ranging from punk rock and heavy metal to traditional pop and folk. Grunge music was also often characterized by its bleak, dark, and nihilistic lyrical themes.

The Best Grunge Songs of All Time

grunge music reached the height of its popularity in the early 1990s with bands such as Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden. Grunge music is characterized by its heavy guitar sound and angsty lyrics. If you’re a fan of grunge music, then check out our list of the best grunge songs of all time.

Smells Like Teen Spirit – Nirvana

“Smells Like Teen Spirit” is a song by American rock band Nirvana. It is the opening track and lead single from the band’s second album, Nevermind (1991), released on DGC Records. The unexpected success propelled Nevermind to the top of several albums charts at the start of 1992, an event often marked as the point where grunge entered the mainstream. The song was dubbed an “anthem for apathetic kids” of Generation X, but became an unlikely pop hit due to the popularity of Nirvana and lead singer Kurt Cobain.

Nirvana had been one of the leading bands of the American Pacific Northwest grunge music scene during the late 1980s. They had signed with Seattle-based independent record label Sub Pop in 1990, releasing their debut album Bleach that June. According to producer Butch Vig, Nirvana recorded “Smells Like Teen Spirit” in April 1991 at Sound City Studios in Van Nuys, Los Angeles. Vig suggested that they record it as a single, but Cobain disagreed; he wanted to release it as part of an album. Despite this disagreement, Cobain allowed Vig to choose which tracks would make up Nevermind as he wanted its overall conception to be Vig’s responsibility as producer.

The composition opens with Pixies’-influenced quiet verse sections before launching into distorted power chords accompanied by drumming from Grohl for its chorus and main riff. Lyrically, “Smells Like Teen Spirit” rebukes teenage revolution against parental authority; lines like “here we are now/entertain us”, typically misinterpreted as encouragement for apathy among youth, were actually intended as sarcastic ridicule directed at television network MTV for their constant airing of music videos by hair metal bands rather than those by more punk-oriented acts such as Nirvana during Cobain’s youth.”

Come As You Are – Nirvana

This song is the second single from Nirvana’s second album, Nevermind (1991), released on DGC Records. Written by frontman Kurt Cobain, the song contains references to rocket ships, science fiction, and drug culture. The distinctive riff was created accidentally when Cobain was attempting to create a simpler guitar part. He misinterpreted a chord diagram and played an F5 power chord instead of an E5 power chord. Despite his initial enthusiasm for the riff, he eventually grew tired of it and felt it was too melodic. However, producer Butch Vig liked the riff and encouraged Cobain to keep it. The final version of the song was considered being one of Nirvana’s strongest tracks on Nevermind. The lyrics were Cobain’s response to people who viewed him as a ” spokesman of a generation”.

Lithium – Nirvana

“Lithium” is a song by American rock band Nirvana. It was written by frontman Kurt Cobain, who recorded it with the band for their second studio album, Nevermind (1991). The song was released as the third single from Nevermind in July 1992 and peaked at number 32 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 11 on the UK Singles Chart. “Lithium” is about a person’s relationship with religion, specifically Catholicism.

In Bloom – Nirvana

“In Bloom” is a song by American rock band Nirvana. It is the twelfth track and fourth single from the band’s second album, Nevermind (1991), released on February 4, 1992.

The song was written by Kurt Cobain and features him on lead vocals and guitar.Krist Novoselic on bass, and Dave Grohl on drums. A plywood replica of Grohl’s Ludwig kit was used in the recording to achieve a “loose” sound. The song features a similar musical progression to Cobain’s earlier song “About a Girl”, which appears as the second track on Nirvana’s debut album, Bleach (1989).

Preceded by the single “Smells Like Teen Spirit”, “In Bloom” was released as the fourth and final single from Nevermind in late February 1992. The song peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100, making it the band’s second top-five single in the United States after “Smells Like Teen Spirit”. In Australia, it reached number four on the ARIA Singles Chart, making it their third top-ten single in that country. The music video for “In Bloom”, directed by Kevin Kerslake, was filmed in early 1992 and features footage of concertgoers at an American Legion hall masquerading as a high school prom; Cobain is seen wearing a crown of thorns throughout the video.

Heart-Shaped Box – Nirvana

“Heart-Shaped Box” is a song by American rock band Nirvana, written by vocalist and guitarist Kurt Cobain. It was released as the first single from the band’s third and final studio album, In Utero, in 1993. The song was included on Nirvana’s greatest hits album, Nevermind (2004), which was certified diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

The song’s music video, directed by Nick Egan, won critical acclaim and is considered one of the greatest music videos of all time. The video features footage of medical procedures and surgeries, which some interpreted as a statement against abortions.

All Apologies – Nirvana

“All Apologies” is a song by American rock band Nirvana, written by frontman Kurt Cobain. It was first released with the album In Utero in 1993, as the penultimate track, and was the last song recorded prior to Cobain’s death. The song was one of two (along with “Heart-Shaped Box”) that were adapted from early acoustic demos into completed studio recordings, and was co-produced by Scott Litt and Nirvana. It is one of the band’s best known and most popular songs; in 2004, it was ranked number 386 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

The song finds Cobain apologizing for his various transgressions, real and imagined. He covers such topics as his promiscuity (“All in all is all we are”), his mopiness (“I’m sorry”) and insecurity (“I miss you”). He also expresses doubt about his career in music (“What else should I be?”). The song is notable for its backing vocals, which were performed by Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl and which alternately echo and mirror Cobain’s lead vocals.

Black Hole Sun – Soundgarden

“Black Hole Sun” is a song by American rock band Soundgarden. Written by frontman Chris Cornell, the song was released as the third single from the band’s fourth studio album Superunknown (1994) on June 15, 1994, through A&M Records. The song topped Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Tracks chart for seven weeks and also served as a crossover hit to alternative radio, peaking at number three on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. It won the Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance at the 37th Annual Grammy Awards in 1995.

The music video was directed by Fred Stuhr and received heavy rotation on MTV. Inspired by Joseph Conrad’s novella Heart of Darkness, the video features hands reaching up from a black void towards a sun; these are then replaced by a spotlight shining on Cornell in a desolate industrial area.

Spoonman – Soundgarden

“Spoonman” is a song by the American rock band Soundgarden. It was released in 1994 as the third single from the band’s fourth studio album, Superunknown (1994). Written by frontman Chris Cornell, “Spoonman” was inspired by professional spoon player Artis the Spoonman. The song was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance in 1995.

The song’s title refers to Artis, who is credited with inventing Spooning, a relatively new form of street performance where musicians play spoons (typically metal tablespoons) as percussion instruments.

Rusty Cage – Soundgarden

“Rusty Cage” is a song by American rock band Soundgarden. Written by frontman Chris Cornell, “Rusty Cage” was released in 1992 as the fourth single from the band’s third studio album, Badmotorfinger (1991). The song was included on Soundgarden’s 1997 greatest hits album, A-Sides.

The song earned Soundgarden two Grammy Award nominations, for Best Hard Rock Performance and Best Metal Performance, at the 1994 Grammy Awards. In 2010, it was named the 34th greatest hard rock song of all time by VH1.

Blow Up the Outside World – Soundgarden

“Blow Up the Outside World” is a song by American rock band Soundgarden. It was released in September 1996 as the second single from their fifth studio album, Down on the Upside (1996). The song peaked at number 18 on both the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks and Modern Rock Tracks charts.

The song was included on Soundgarden’s 1997 greatest hits album, A-Sides. In March 2005, Q magazine placed “Blow Up the Outside World” at number 96 in their list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks. In October 2011, NME placed it at number 69 in their list of the 150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years.

Jeremy – Pearl Jam

“Jeremy” is a song by the American rock band Pearl Jam, with lyrics written by vocalist Eddie Vedder and music written by bassist Jeff Ament. “Jeremy” was released in 1992 as the fourth single from Pearl Jam’s debut album, Ten. The song is one of Pearl Jam’s best-known singles. The song peaked at number five on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the Mainstream Rock Tracks charts. The song’s success led to rumours that it was written about Kurt Cobain, though Vedder has denied these rumours.

Even Flow – Pearl Jam

“Even Flow” is a song by the American rock band Pearl Jam. Released in 1992, it is the second single from the band’s debut album, Ten. The song peaked at number three on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. The song was included on Pearl Jam’s 2004 greatest hits album, rearviewmirror (Greatest Hits 1991–2003).

In October 2010, “Even Flow” was ranked number eight on Guitar World magazine’s list of the “100 Greatest Guitar Solos of All Time”. In March 2005, Q magazine placed “Even Flow” at number 74 in its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks. In 2009, it was ranked number 2 on VH1’s 7 Greatest Grunge Songs of All Time.

Alive – Pearl Jam

Grunge music is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. It is characterized by a heavy, distorted guitar sound, influenced by punk rock and heavy metal, and a ” angst-filled” lyrical content which often focuses on social criticism.

Alive is one of Pearl Jam’s best-known songs. The lyrics are about alienation, youth, and survival. The song was written by Eddie Vedder after he read a article about teenager Jeremy Wade Delle, who shot himself in front of his English class. Vedder was moved by the story and wrote the lyrics from the perspective of Delle’s classmates. Alive was Pearl Jam’s first single and it helped them break into the mainstream music scene.

I Alone – Live

Many grunge fans consider “I Alone” to be one of the best songs of all time. The song was released as a single in 1994, and it quickly became a hit. The song is about loneliness and isolation, two themes that are common in grunge music. “I Alone” is one of the few grunge songs that was not written by Kurt Cobain, and it is one of the few grunge songs that was not released on an album by Nirvana.

Lightning Crashes – Live

Lightning Crashes is a song by American rock band Live. It was released in 1994 as the second single from their album, Throwing Copper. The song reached number one on the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in 1995, making it Live’s only number-one single on that chart.

The song is about birth, life, and death. The first verse is about a mother giving birth and the joy she feels. The second verse is about a father who is watching his child grow up and the pride he feels. The third verse is about a person who is facing death and trying to come to terms with it.

The song was written by lead singer Ed Kowalczyk and was inspired by the birth of his son, Dylan.