The Best Indie Rock Songs of 1994
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If you’re looking for a blast from the past, check out our list of the best indie rock songs of 1994. From Weezer to Pavement, these tracks will take you back to a great year in music.
Pavement – “Range Life”
“Range Life” is a song by American indie rock band Pavement. It was released in 1994 as the third single from their second studio album Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain. The song was written by the band’s frontman Stephen Malkmus and features backup vocals from Scott Kannberg’s then-girlfriend Lisa Lobsinger.
The song’s lyrics are critical of the music industry and celebrity culture, with Malkmus taking aim at both major label bands and independent artists who “sell out” by signing to a major label. The song includes a reference to Kurt Cobain’s suicide, which had occurred just months before the release of “Range Life”.
The song was ranked at number 97 on Pitchfork Media’s list of the 100 best songs of the 1990s.
Weezer – “Buddy Holly”
Weezer’s “Buddy Holly” was released as the second single from their self-titled debut album, also known as the Blue Album. The song was an instant hit, reaching #2 on Billboard’s Modern Rock chart and #34 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song’s popularity was bolstered by its iconic video, which featured the band members appearing as guests on a fictional TV show called Happy Days.
Nirvana – “Heart-Shaped Box”
Nirvana’s “Heart-Shaped Box” is one of the best indie rock songs of 1994. The song was released as the first single from Nirvana’s third and final studio album, In Utero. “Heart-Shaped Box” peaked at number one on the US Billboard Alternative Songs chart, making it Nirvana’s fifth and final US number-one single on that chart.
Green Day – “Longview”
“Longview” is a song by the American punk rock band Green Day. It was released as the lead single from their third studio album, Dookie (1994). The song was written by frontman Billie Joe Armstrong and is about the boredom he felt while living in his parents’ house in Rodeo, California. The song’s success helped propel Dookie to becoming one of the best-selling punk rock albums of all time.
Beck – “Loser”
In many ways, “Loser” was the perfect song for the moment: a tossed-off, half-rapped stream-of-consciousness anthem for a generation of kids who felt like outcasts and weirdos, united by their love of hip-hop and DIY culture. The fact that it was written and recorded in just a few hours only added to its charm. It’s hard to imagine Beck’s career going any other way than it did, but it’s fun to think about what might have happened if “Loser” hadn’t become such a huge hit.
The Smashing Pumpkins – “Disarm”
“Disarm” is a song by American alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins, written by frontman Billy Corgan. It was the second single from their second album, Siamese Dream. The song was a moderate success, reaching number 14 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart in 1993 and number 16 in the United Kingdom.
The Offspring – “Come Out and Play (Keep ‘Em Separated)”
Released as the lead single from their third album Smash, “Come Out and Play” was The Offspring’s breakthrough hit. The song’s simple, catchy riff instantly became emblematic of ’90s punk rock, while its cutting lyrics (“You gotta keep ’em separated / Like the latest fashion / Like a spread in a magazine”) satirized the violence of grunge and hip-hop. “Come Out and Play” would go on to become one of the most well-known songs of the ’90s, cementing The Offspring’s place as one of the biggest bands in punk rock.
Foo Fighters – “I’ll Stick Around”
Foo Fighters – “I’ll Stick Around”
Album: Foo Fighters
Year: 1994
The first single from the Foo Fighters’ self-titled debut album, “I’ll Stick Around” is a bristling piece of alt-rock that announced the band as a force to be reckoned with. Powered by Dave Grohl’s snarling vocals and visceral guitar playing, the song is an infectious earworm that encapsulates the raw energy and power of the band’s early years.
Oasis – “Live Forever”
Released in September 1994, “Live Forever” was the first single from Oasis’ debut album, Definitely Maybe. The song was a massive hit, reaching #2 on the UK charts and helping to propel the album to sales of over 5 million copies in the UK. “Live Forever” remains one of the band’s most popular songs, and is often cited as one of the best indie rock songs of all time.
Blur – “Girls & Boys”
Released as the lead single from Parklife, “Girls & Boys” was a worldwide hit for Blur, reaching number 5 in the UK and number 28 in the US. The song was propelled to even greater success in America after it was featured in a 1995 episode of Beverly Hills, 90210.
