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[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!

Playlist

[Western Music] Start with this one! Classic and popular songs of alternative rock
show_chartTitlePlaylistOne point
1eastSmells Like Teen SpiritsNirvanaNirvana’s groundbreaking masterpiece, Smells Like Teen Spirit
2eastCreepRadioheadRadiohead’s legendary song “Creep”
3eastGive It AwayRed Hot Chili PeppersRHCP: a representative music group of the 90s
4eastLoserBeckBeck, an innovator of alternative rock
5eastMr. BrightsideThe KillersA classic breakup song with memorable lyrics and music
6eastLosing My ReligionR.E.M.R.E.M. is an alternative rock band that was active for many years.
7eastMapsYeah Yeah YeahsThe Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ signature song, a passionate love song
8eastSeven Nation ArmyThe White StripesA rebellious classic marked by a powerful guitar riff
9eastAfterlifeSharon Van Etten & The Attachment TheoryPhilosophy of love and death, rendered in synthesizer tones
10eastSabotageBeastie BoysThe Beastie Boys transcended musical genres.
11eastMy HeroFoo FightersAfter Kurt's death, Dave formed Foo Fighters.
12eastMessyLola YoungAn inspiring song that portrays the emotions of self-exploration
13eastBlack Hole SunSoundgardenFrom Seattle, an innovative grunge band
14eastSame Old SongThe LumineersA new song portraying the conflicts of modern society has arrived
15eastFloat OnModest MouseThe courage to overcome difficulties and move forward facing ahead.
16eastSex on FireKings Of LeonA passionate song by Kings of Leon
17east1901PhoenixAn evocative piece of music depicting the transformations of Paris
18eastA-PunkVampire WeekendAn upbeat, fast-paced rock song with lively guitars
19eastSteady, As She GoesThe RaconteursA masterpiece that powerfully conveys life's stability and small happiness.
20eastNew SlangThe ShinsA soul-stirring masterpiece, one of The Shins’ signature songs
21eastGuerrilla RadioRage Against The MachineIn the 1990s, rock fused a variety of genres.
22eastHunger StrikeTemple Of The DogA cry of mourning for a friend, a soulful song
23eastSundaySonic youthAn innovative band representing the alternative scene
24eastHoney BucketMelvinsThe heavy and ferocious music of sludge metal
25eastAlivePearl JamPearl Jam’s emotional masterpiece
26eastBest Of YouFoo FightersA soul-stirring masterpiece by Foo Fighters
27eastWhere is My Mind?PixiesPixies had a major influence on the music world.
28eastWonderwall (Remastered)OasisInnovative music influenced by British rock
29eastWould?Alice In ChainsA classic by Alice in Chains, deeply expressive of emotion
30eastBackwaterMeat PuppetsMusic of the Meat Puppets that influenced grunge
31eastChloe Dancer / Crown of ThornsMother Love BoneMother Love Bone's classic, a cry of love
32eastNearly Lost YouScreaming TreesA classic song by Screaming Trees
33eastTomorrowSilverchairA young icon of 90s grunge
34eastOutshinedSoundgardenSinging about the feelings of suffering from the gap between one's outward appearance and inner self
35eastBullet with Butterfly WingsThe Smashing PumpkinsThe appeal of Smashing Pumpkins’ alternative rock
36eastKilling In the NameRage Against The MachineRage’s music expresses anger toward society.
37eastEvenflowPearl JamPearl Jam, the band that changed the ’90s
38eastSwallow My PrideGreen RiverThe Soul of Green River, the Forefathers of Grunge
39eastKool ThingSonic youthSonic Youth’s groundbreaking classic ‘Goo’
40eastSex Type ThingStone Temple PilotsA masterpiece that sharply satirizes machoism
41eastAce of SpadesMotörheadA fast-paced rock song by Motörhead
42eastPainThree Days GraceThe Appeal of Three Days Grace, a Rock Band Singing of Loneliness and Pain
43eastDriving SouthStone Roses
Driving SouthStone Roses
A classic of British rock, highly influential
44eastOne Armed ScissorAt The Drive-InA fanatic band of punk and noise
45eastLo/HiThe Black KeysA masterpiece with fuzzy sounds and an ennui-tinged vocal
46eastHurtNine Inch NailsTrent Reznor's musical influence
47east11 Minutes ft. Travis BarkerYUNGBLUD, HalseyA collaborative song by YUNGBLUD and Halsey
48eastChlorinetwenty one pilotsTwenty One Pilots with irresistibly catchy, enigmatic lyrics
49eastBasket CaseGreen DayA bright rock song by Green Day
50eastLongshotCatfish&the BottlemenAn indie rock band from Wales has arrived!
51eastTo Here Knows WhenMy Bloody ValentineWall-like noise from MBV, the quintessential shoegaze band.
52eastAlone TogetherThe StrokesThe Strokes’ fresh musicality
53eastSong 2BlurA classic by Blur, representing Britpop
54eastGave You EverythingThe InterruptersFrom Los Angeles, a rising hope for the punk revival!
55eastHigh HopesPanic! At The DiscoThe classic song by Panic! At The Disco, High Hopes
56eastDownfallTrust CompanyPost-grunge heavy rock band
57eastMy WarBLACK FLAG80s hardcore that influenced the birth of grunge
58eastAre You Gonna Go My WayLenny KravitzLenny Kravitz’s classic that makes your body move
59eastBlackPearl JamThe achievements of Pearl Jam, who survived the grunge era
60eaststill feel.half•aliveHalf•Alive’s captivating music and visuals
61eastOnly Happy When It RainsGarbageRock of the ’90s: irony and innovation
62eastOneU2U2’s captivating musicality and Nordic landscapes
63eastRocksPrimal ScreamA rock band with psychedelic diversity
64east100%Sonic youthSonic Youth, the groundbreaking alternative rock band
65eastGloriaThe LumineersAn inspiring song by a folk rock band
66eastTired of SexWeezerWeezer with exhilarating guitars and emotional melodies
67eastMonsterSkilletA popular song with a powerful, hard-hitting rock sound
68eastChangeThe RevivalistsThe Revivalists’ gritty guitar track
69eastThe WagonDinosaur Jr.The roaring volume and pop masterpieces of Dinosaur Jr.
70eastCannonballThe BreedersA masterpiece with distorted bass and vocals
71eastTodayThe Smashing PumpkinsThe Smashing Pumpkins, a representative ’90s alternative band
72eastTouch Me I’m SickMudhoneyThe guitar sound of grunge is distortion.
73eastThe ConceptTeenage FanclubScottish rock band, Teenage Fanclub
74eastPretty FlyThe OffspringA leading band of melodic hardcore and pop punk
75eastHell YeahZebraheadA fusion track of punk rock and rap
76eastThem BonesAlice In ChainsThe dark music world of 1990s Seattle
77eastHoney BucketsMelvins
Honey BucketsMelvins
The music of the Melvins, the fathers of grunge
78eastFather Of MineEverclearAn American rock song by Everclear
79eastAlready OverRedA melancholic classic by RED, starting quietly and then exploding
80eastJust Like HeavenDinosaur Jr.90s alternative, originating from Seattle
81eastCringeMatt MaesonThe captivating singing voice and musical activities of Matt Meason
82eastBelovedMumford & SonsNew release from the folk band, with a pop sound
83eastMissed ConnectionThe Head And The HeartA masterpiece by a Seattle indie folk band
84eastFirestarterThe ProdigyThe Prodigy's digital rock revolution
85eastAll the Small Thingsblink-182An upbeat punk band track and a prankish music video
86eastmaybe, i’m afraidlovelythebandA classic song by an indie pop band from L.A.
87eastBuddy HollyWeezerWeezer’s youthful power-pop classic
88eastWhat Comes AroundIll NiñoA powerful rock song by Irniño
89eastWish You Were HereIncubusRap metal band Incubus succeeds through originality.
90eastSleeping AwakeP.O.D.A masterpiece of heavy music that stirs the soul
91eastRace For The PrizeThe Flaiming LipsMusic that conveys the depth of alternative
92eastA Good Night’s Sleep And A Cab Fare HomeThe StrypesA rock ’n’ roll band carrying on the legacy of the ’60s
93eastBad GirlfriendTheory Of A DeadmanAn iconic rock band anthem that’s both cerebral and exhilarating
94eastWay AwayYellowcardThe striking musical tone of Yellowcard
95eastBodiesDrowning PoolAn explosive alternative rock track
96eastUntil The DayI DieStory of the YearAn iconic masterpiece of alternative rock
97eastCrashed The WeddingBustedPop-punk classics: energetic and fun music
98eastThe Broken BonesMxPxA punk rock-style masterpiece with a captivating melody.
99eastSloop Jhon BMe First and the Gimme GimmesA fun punk cover has me feeling great
100eastMr. JonesCounting CrowsA classic song by the rock band led by Adam
101eastFeel The PainDinosaur Jr.A classic of lo-fi noise guitar
102eastSoonMy Bloody ValentineThe allure of My Bloody Valentine, the shoegaze milestone
103eastSanteriaSublimeA Sublime-style reggae song about Cuban folk religion
104eastI Love my ComputerBad ReligionAn iconic punk rock band anthem, a sing-along
105eastGet The TimeDESCENDENTSDescendents: The Fusion of Punk and Melody
106eastMake A MoveIncubusIncubus's music is technical.
107eastBurn, BurnLostprophetsA classic song by a popular alternative rock band
108eastSpiderwebsNo DoubtNo Doubt's innovative and eclectic musicality
109eastHurtOliver TreeOliver Tree’s signature song “Hurt” and his music
110eastCut Your HairPavementPavement, a representative alternative rock band
111eastNo One KnowsQueens of the Stone AgeThe representative of stoner rock, the band QUEENS
112eastFar From OverRev TheoryA rock song that starts quietly and builds into an intense development
113eastPlushStone Temple PilotsThe Rise, Fall, and Challenges of the Alternative Band STP
114eastReady To Let GoCage The ElephantKartid, a classic of Social Cues
115eastWar of ChangeThousand Foot KrutchA loud, bittersweet, and catchy rock song