[Western Music] Start with this one! Classic and popular songs of alternative rock
Even for those who love rock, it’s not easy to succinctly explain what alternative rock is.
As rock history produced a variety of genres, the term “alternative rock” emerged as music that stood against the mainstream—an underground counterpart.
It might even be more accurate to think of it not as a genre, but as a musical attitude that the musicians themselves embody.
In this article, we’ve curated a selection focusing on iconic Western tracks from the 1990s—songs through which alternative rock upended trends across the global music scene.
If you’ve recently become interested in alt rock, be sure to check them out!
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[Western Music] Start With This One! Classic and Popular Alternative Rock Songs (101–110)
Make A MoveIncubus
It’s a classic by the mixed-genre alternative rock band Incubus.
The song is rhythmical, funky, yet heavy, and very well-crafted.
You can tell they have considerable skill and technique.
They’ve come to Japan and are a very popular band here.
Burn, BurnLostprophets
Among alternative rock bands since the 2000s, this group was particularly popular.
With lively beats, hard-hitting guitars, and straightforward vocals, it’s an absolute classic—you should give it a listen.
They have plenty of other great songs too, so I recommend checking out their albums.
SpiderwebsNo Doubt
A song by No Doubt, a rock band formed in the United States in 1986.
Throughout the track you can hear the various musical influences that shaped the band, such as ska punk and pop rock.
Even in the intro, it starts off sounding Hawaiian before shifting midway into a tight, rock-style rhythm—an unconventional, truly alternative number.
HurtOliver Tree
This is the song “Hurt” by Oliver Tree, a vocalist from the United States.
It’s the lead single from his album “Ugly Is Beautiful,” which was scheduled for release at the end of 2019.
Although he broke through as a singer, he’s actually a film director as well.
He has also released a behind-the-scenes video for the “Hurt” music video titled “How to Make a $1,000,000 Music Video.” Some of the expressions are a bit extreme, but it’s a very entertaining music video, so be sure to check it out.
Cut Your HairPavement
Pavement, the champions of lo-fi rock, are an indispensable band when talking about alternative music.
Lo-fi refers to a cheap, home-recorded kind of sound that expresses the alternative stance of rebelling against commercial rock in sonic form.
Pavement are also often described as “heta-uma.” Heta-uma means that even though the playing isn’t technically good, it has a unique appeal that sets it apart from other bands.
In that sense, Pavement’s wobbly, ramshackle sound might be the textbook example.
[Western Music] Start with this one song! Alternative Rock Masterpieces and Popular Tracks (111–120)
No One KnowsQueens of the Stone Age
One genre that has been steadily growing in popularity since the mid-2000s is stoner rock.
It’s characterized by a gritty, grainy sound that overlaps with grunge and is sometimes described as “desert rock.” The undisputed kings of stoner rock are Queens of the Stone Age.
They’re a veteran band active since the ’90s, with a hard rock sound reminiscent of Led Zeppelin and a thick, sludgy groove that’s irresistibly addictive.
Far From OverRev Theory
The song starts with a quiet guitar, then suddenly explodes into an intense alternative rock number with distorted guitars.
The vocalist’s singing ability is absolutely incredible.
On top of that, the melody is great, making it a track you can listen to all the way through.