The Best Grunge Music of All Time

Looking for the best grunge music of all time? Look no further! We’ve compiled a list of the top grunge tracks that will have you headbanging in no time.

Nirvana- Smells Like Teen Spirit

Nirvana was a groundbreaking and influential American rock band formed in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987. Consisting of singer-songwriter and guitarist Kurt Cobain, bassist Krist Novoselic, and drummer Dave Grohl, Nirvana is widely considered to be one of the most important and influential rock bands of all time. They were one of the first grunge bands to achieve mainstream success, with their 1991 album Nevermind becoming a surprise global hit. The album’s lead single “Smells Like Teen Spirit” became an anthem for Generation X and helped to popularize alternative rock. Nirvana’s success brought mainstream attention to the Seattle grunge scene, helping to make grunge the most commercially successful genre of alternative rock at the time.

Nirvana’s unanticipated platinum-album success did not sit well with Cobain. He felt that the band’s image had been overly polished and commercialized, and that their music was being misinterpreted as pop rather than the more hard-hitting alternative rock that it was. Cobain became increasingly withdraw from the public eye, and struggled with heroin addiction. These problems, combined with creative disagreements within the band, led to Nirvana’s breakup in 1994 after Cobain’s death by suicide.

Alice in Chains- Would?

Alice in Chains is one of the defining bands of the grunge movement of the early 1990s. The band’s dark and heavy sound was emblematic of the genre, and their 1992 hit “Would?” is one of the most iconic grunge songs of all time. The song is a meandering and atmospheric exploration of loss and regret, anchored by Layne Staley’s haunting vocal performance. “Would?” was a mainstay on rock radio in the early ’90s, and helped to propel Alice in Chains to superstardom.

Pearl Jam- Alive

Pearl Jam’s “Alive” is not only one of the best grunge songs of all time, but one of the best rock songs period. The band’s debut single, “Alive” is a paean to lead singer Eddie Vedder’s recently deceased father, who he never had a chance to meet. The song starts with a gentle acoustic guitar riff before explosive drums and Vedder’s plaintive vocals come in. The song builds to a cathartic climax, with Vedder screaming the chorus over and over again. “Alive” is a powerful and emotional song that perfectly captures the anguish and anger of grunge.

Soundgarden- Black Hole Sun

“Black Hole Sun” is a song by American rock band Soundgarden. It was released as the third single from their fourth studio album, Superunknown (1994), on June 13, 1994, through A&M Records. The song was written by frontman Chris Cornell and produced by Michael Beinhorn and the band itself.

The music video, directed by Howard Greenhalgh, was filmed in April 1994 in California and features 270 feet of floppy disk drives craning over a river bed and images of melting human faces. The single was nominated for five Grammy Awards, winning two: Best Hard Rock Performance and Best Metal Performance. “Black Hole Sun” remains one of the most well-known songs from the grunge era.

Stone Temple Pilots- Interstate Love Song

Stone Temple Pilots is an American rock band from San Diego, California, that originally consisted of Scott Weiland (lead vocals), brothers Dean DeLeo (guitar) and Robert DeLeo (bass, backing vocals), and Eric Kretz (drums). Since the band’s formation in 1989, its line-up remained unchanged until the firing of Weiland in 2013. Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington joined the band in early 2013 but left in 2015 due to creative differences. He was replaced by Jeff Gutt. However, on November 15, 2015, it was revealed that Gutt had left the band due to creative differences as well. Upon his departure, he was replaced by Jon Foster.

Mudhoney- Touch Me I’m Sick

Mudhoney’s “Touch Me I’m Sick” was the perfect representation of the early Seattle grunge sound. With its heavy guitar riff and Mark Arm’s snarling vocals, the song captured the frustration and anger of a generation. The best part of “Touch Me I’m Sick” is its sense of humor – – it’s a perfect example of how grunge wasn’t just about being angry and depressing all the time.

Screaming Trees- Nearly Lost You

Screaming Trees were one of the most underrated bands of the grunge era, and “Nearly Lost You” is their finest moment. The song is a slow-burning gut-wrencher that slowly builds to a cathartic release. Mark Lanegan’s world-weary vocal performance is the perfect complement to the song’s lyrical themes of heartache and loss.

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 founded by singer Chris Cornell of Soundgarden and guitarist Stone Gossard of Pearl Jam. Jeff Ament, Matt Cameron, and Mike McCready, who were all members of Pearl Jam, and drummer Ed Early also contributed to the album.

The band’s only album, Temple of the Dog, was released on April 16, 1991, through A&M Records. The record was a tribute to the late Andrew Wood, the former lead singer of Mother Love Bone and Cornell’s close friend. The album has been certified platinum by the RIAA in the United States.

Bush- Glycerine

“Glycerine” is a song by English rock band Bush. It was released in November 1995 as the fourth single from their debut album, Sixteen Stone (1994). The song is in the key of F major. The opening riff was sampled in the Pink song “Leave Me Alone (I’m Lonely)” (2006).
Grunge music is an umbrella term referring to a hybrid genre of Alternative Rock and Heavy Metal characterized by adirty, rough-around-the-edges sound that gained popularity during the early 1990s.

Foo Fighters- Everlong

Foo Fighters’ second album, The Colour and the Shape is front to back one of the best grunge albums of all time. It’s the album that made them a household name. “Everlong” is the perfect summation of the band’s signal strengths: it’s an anthemic, fist-pumping rock song with one of the most infectious melodies in modern music. Dave Grohl’s lyrics are also some of his most personal and effective, charting the ups and downs of a relationship with vivid detail. “Everlong” is Foo Fighters at their very best.