[Western Music] Start with this one! Classic and popular songs of alternative rock

All the Small Thingsblink-182

blink-182 – All The Small Things (Official Music Video)

A song by the American pop-punk band Blink-182, featuring simple instrumentation and pleasing choral work.

Contrary to its upbeat, refreshing tone, the music video—besides performance scenes—includes idol-like cuts and shots of them dancing in just their underwear, sprinkling in playful mischief throughout for a fun, punk-spirited finish.

maybe, i’m afraidlovelytheband

lovelytheband – maybe, i’m afraid (Official Video)

lovelytheband is an indie pop band from Los Angeles, formed in 2016.

The song “Maybe, I’m Afraid” is included on the album Finding It Hard to Smile, which also features the Billboard-charting single “Broken.” It’s a track where dramatic strings pair perfectly with a bright pop band sound.

Buddy HollyWeezer

Weezer – Buddy Holly (Official Music Video)

This is a gem of a power-pop track released in September 1994 by Weezer, a band emblematic of American alternative rock.

Through references to rock ’n’ roll stars and actresses of the 1950s, it powerfully sings about resisting the gaze and prejudices of others in love.

The driving guitar riffs, catchy melodies, and bright, memorable sound blend beautifully.

Included on the 1994 album “Weezer,” its music video was directed by Spike Jonze and won four awards at the 1995 MTV Video Music Awards.

Capturing the spirit of American youth at the time, this song is recommended for anyone who values staying true to themselves or wants to cheer on pure, sincere love.

What Comes AroundIll Niño

Ill Nino – What Comes Around [OFFICIAL VIDEO]

It’s a massively popular hit by Ill Niño that rocks with incredible sound pressure.

While it incorporates rap in a mixture style, the vocal melodies are solid, super catchy, and the song is really cool.

This band also has lots of great tracks on their albums.

Wish You Were HereIncubus

Incubus – Wish You Were Here

Rap metal/heavy rock that became popular as an offshoot of the alternative movement.

Many bands faded along with the passing trend, but Incubus is still actively performing today.

What set Incubus apart, I think, was their absolute musicianship, which made them a powerful live draw, and their hunger to actively incorporate new sounds.

Especially from the album Morning View onward, they adopted more organic sounds and grew into a rock band with a grander scale.

The most popular track on that album is Wish You Were Here, a song that sparks huge sing-alongs at every show.

Sleeping AwakeP.O.D.

P.O.D. – Sleeping Awake music video (@pod)

It’s a classic song by the heavy, textured alternative rock band P.

O.

D.

The heavy guitars, dynamic drums, and the melodic feel in the chorus are incredibly elegant and cool.

It would probably look really awesome live.

Race For The PrizeThe Flaiming Lips

The Flaming Lips – Race For The Prize [Official Music Video]

Alternative rock isn’t just about heavy guitars and weighty sound.

Bands like The Flaming Lips—active since the 1980s—who have carved out a unique position with genre-defying musicality and dreamlike live performances are precisely what should be called “alternative.” This song, included on their 1999 masterpiece The Soft Bulletin, marked a dramatic leap for a band once known mainly in the underground, and it’s a beautiful, euphoric number that illuminated their path in the 2000s and beyond.

Dreamy synth tones, raucous drums, a psychedelic worldview… it’s a brilliant classic that will make you notice a different side of alternative.