What Music Will Come After Grunge?

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Contributors: Andranick Tanguiane, Fred Lerdahl,

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What will come after grunge? That’s a question that’s been on a lot of people’s minds lately. There’s no clear answer, but we can take a look at the history of music to try and predict what might be next.

The Death of Grunge

On April 5th 1994 Kurt Cobain, the lead singer of Nirvana, was found dead in his home, aged just 27. The impact of his suicide was felt across the world, but especially in the music industry. Grunge, the genre of music that Cobain had come to personify, was dead. But what would come after grunge?

The end of an era

Grunge music defined a generation. It was the sound of young people questioning everything and rebels without a cause. And then, in the early 1990s, it all came to an abrupt end.

The grunge era was short-lived but its effects are still being felt today. Grunge fashion is now mainstream and the music continues to influence new generations of artists. But what comes after grunge?

Some have argued that grunge was just a fad and that its death was inevitable. Others say that the genre simply ran its course and that there is no longer a need for it. Whatever the case may be, grunge is no longer at the forefront of popular culture.

So, what will come after grunge? Only time will tell but one thing is for sure: the legacy of grunge will continue to live on.

The rise of new genres

The death of grunge left a huge void in the music industry. For years, alternative rock had been dominated by this one genre, but with the passing of Kurt Cobain and other key figures, it was clear that things were about to change. In the years since, we have seen the rise of new genres and subgenres, each with their own unique sound and appeal. Here are just a few examples of the new music that has emerged in the wake of grunge:

-Post-grunge: This genre is often seen as a direct continuation of grunge, with many of the same musical elements and themes. However, post-grunge bands tend to be more commercially successful than their grunge predecessors, often achieving mainstream radio play and top 40 hits. Some key post-grunge bands include Bush, Foo Fighters, and Creed.

-Nu metal: This genre blends alternative rock with heavy metal, resulting in a sound that is both aggressive and melodic. Nu metal bands often feature rap vocals in addition to traditional rock singing, and they often incorporate elements from hip hop and electronica into their music. Some key nu metal bands include Korn, Limp Bizkit, and Slipknot.

-Indie rock: Indie rock is a broad genre that encompasses many different subgenres and styles. In general, indie rock bands are unsigned or signed to small independent labels, and they have a DIY approach to making music. Indie rock can be very eclectic, featuring anything from lo-fi bedroom recordings to grandiose stadium-ready anthems. Some key indie rock bands include The Strokes, Vampire Weekend, Arcade Fire, and The Decemberists.

The Birth of Post-Grunge

Grunge music dominated the early 1990s with bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Alice in Chains redefining rock music. But what came after grunge? In the wake of Kurt Cobain’s suicide in 1994, the music industry was left trying to figure out what would come next. They found their answer in a new sound that would come to be known as post-grunge.

A new sound for a new era

The early 1990s was a time of change, both in the music industry and in the world at large. With the Soviet Union crumbling and the Berlin Wall coming down, it felt like anything was possible. And in the music world, that sense of possibility was summed up by one word: grunge.

Grunge was a game-changer, taking the gloss and artifice out of popular music and replacing it with something rawer and more real. It wasn’t just the sound of grunge that was different; it was also the look. Grunge fashion did away with the shoulder pads and big hair of the 1980s in favor of something more low-key and comfortable.

But as with all things, grunge couldn’t last forever. By the mid-1990s, the genre had run its course, and a new sound was starting to emerge. This sound would come to be known as post-grunge, and it would dominate rock radio for much of the next decade.

So what exactly is post-grunge? To put it simply, it’s grunge with a positive attitude. While grunge songs often dealt with dark subject matter like depression and addiction, post-grunge hits tended to be about more universal topics like love and heartbreak. Musically, post-grunge took all the best elements of grunge – big guitars, powerful drums – and added a bit more polish. The result was a sound that was both familiar and fresh, something that could appeal to both hard rock fans and mainstream listeners.

Some of the biggest names in post-grunge came out of Seattle – hometown of grunge – including Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, and Nirvana. But post-grunge quickly spread beyond Seattle’s borders, with bands like Stone Temple Pilots, Creed, Matchbox Twenty, 3 Doors Down, Lifehouse, Nickelback, Puddle of Mudd, Hoobastank, Daughtry, Shinedown Seether finding success across the globe.

If you’re a fan of any of these bands – or if you’re just looking for something new to rock out to – then you owe it to yourself to check out post-grunge. It’s sure to get your blood pumping!

The influence of grunge

Though grunge died out as quickly as it had emerged, its influence would be felt for years to come. The Seattle sound had captured the zeitgeist of disaffected youth, and though the mainstream shifted back to pop and hip-hop in the years that followed, grunge’s impact could still be seen in the rise of nu metal and post-grunge in the late ’90s. Some of grunge’s biggest bands found success in this new era, while others faded into obscurity. Here’s a look at what happened to some of grunge’s key players in the years after the music died.

Nirvana – After Kurt Cobain’s untimely death in 1994, Nirvana became one of the most successful bands of all time. With Cobain gone, Nirvana was able to continue to release new music and tour throughout the ’90s. The band found a new lead singer in Pat Smear, who had previously been a part of the L.A. punk scene, and released two more albums before disbanding in 2001.

Pearl Jam – Pearl Jam also found continued success after Cobain’s death, releasing a string of successful albums throughout the ’90s. The band remains active to this day and is still considered one of the biggest names in rock music.

Soundgarden – Soundgarden disbanded shortly after Cobain’s death, but reformed in 2010 and released a new album in 2012. The band has continued to tour and release new music since then and remains active today.

Alice In Chains – Alice In Chains also struggled after Cobain’s death, going on hiatus for several years before reforming with a new lead singer in 2006. The band has released two albums since then and continues to tour regularly.

The Future of Post-Grunge

It’s been nearly 30 years since the release of Nirvana’s “Nevermind,”

The next big thing

Grunge was a game-changing genre of music that emerged in the early 1990s. It brought a new sound and attitude to rock music, and influenced bands and artists for years to come. But what comes next?

Now that grunge is officially a thing of the past, what will be the next big thing in rock music? There are a few contenders for the title, including:

-Alternative metal: This genre crossbred metal with alternative rock, and was popularized by bands like Rage Against the Machine, Tool, and System of a Down.

-Nu metal: A more commercialized offshoot of alternative metal, nu metal was dominated by bands like Limp Bizkit, Linkin Park, and Slipknot.

-Post-hardcore: A more experimental and aggressive form of punk rock, post-hardcore was popularized by bands like Fugazi, At the Drive-In, and Thursday.

So far, there is no clear frontrunner for the next big thing in rock music. But one thing is certain – the legacy of grunge will continue to be felt for years to come.

The sound of the future

The future of post-grunge is likely to be just as hard to pin down as the term itself. Grunge was a genre that combined the raw energy and simplicity of punk rock with the heavy guitars andmelancholy lyrics of classic rock, and the result was something completely new and fresh. In the years since grunge exploded onto the scene in the early 1990s, countless bands have tried to replicate its success, but none have quite managed to capture that same feeling of raw authenticity.

So what does the future hold for post-grunge? It’s hard to say for sure, but one thing is certain: the genre will continue to evolve and change in unexpected ways. We may not know exactly what form it will take, but one thing is for sure – the future of post-grunge is sure to be full of surprises.

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