[For Beginners] Start Here! A Collection of Classic Grunge Songs
The music movement known as “grunge,” which swept the world from Seattle in the 1990s.
Its sound—both raw and delicate—and its lyrics, which lay bare inner turmoil, still captivate music fans today.
In the 2020s, the influence continues so strongly that terms like “grungegaze,” a fusion of grunge and shoegaze, have emerged among newer bands.
In this article, we’ll introduce standout tracks that define the genre—focusing on classics released from the formative 1980s through the early ’90s, when the boom exploded—for those who are just starting to get into grunge.
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[For Beginners] Start Here! A Collection of Classic Grunge Songs (21–30)
DaughterPearl Jam
They were one of the bands that defined Seattle’s grunge scene in the ’90s.
While inheriting the spirit of punk, they also had a stadium-rock sense of scale, taking a stance that set them apart from other bands with a more underground mindset.
The album “Vs.”, which includes this track, debuted at number one upon its release and made history by holding that position for five consecutive weeks.
Cut Your HairPavement
They’re a band known for their so-called lo-fi sound.
Relaxed grooves, a languid and distinctive vocal style, and catchy choruses and melodies.
Although they were a bit removed from the trends of the ’90s, their unique sound gained a cult following and made them a defining presence in ’90s alternative music.
Get FreeThe Vines
They were a band described as Nirvana-meets-the-Beatles.
They established themselves as one of the 2000s rock standards, sprinkling the essence of Nirvana and the grunge generation onto a classical rock framework.
In their live shows, vocalist Greg (or Craig) Nicholls’s eccentric behavior stood out, which may be another reason they were compared to Nirvana.
EvolPJ Harvey
Born in Northstead, England, she says she grew up listening to blues and jazz.
The thick guitar tones characteristic of the ’90s and the groove that weaves between blues and jazz—her vocals feel world-weary, and you can sense how authentically they capture the atmosphere of the ’90s.
Where is My MindPixies
A song that’s also well known as the theme for the film Fight Club.
It’s no exaggeration to say they were pioneers of alternative rock.
Later, many of the bands that came to define the ’90s openly cited them as an influence.
Their musical style, which contrasted with their appearance, also created a compelling gap.
Say it Ain’t SoWeezer
This is a track from the so-called “Blue Album,” known for its distinctive, hard-to-describe cover featuring four unremarkable-looking guys standing side by side against a blue background.
When they debuted, they carried the label of “crybaby rock,” a description that made it unclear whether it was praise or a put-down.
The guitars show a hard rock influence, while Rivers Cuomo’s vocals deliver sentimental melodies.
Maybe it was this contrast that resonated at the time.
It represents one form of “grunge,” distinct from NIRVANA or Smashing Pumpkins.
My Black AssSHELLAC
If you want to get familiar with alternative rock, you can’t overlook a figure like Steve Albini.
As a recording engineer, he was involved in numerous landmark albums in the genre, but he was also active as a player—and one of his bands is Shellac.
A guitar that sounds like steel, and a groove as heavy as lead.