[For Beginners] Start Here! A Collection of Classic Grunge Songs

SundaySonic youth

Sonic Youth – Sunday

Sonic Youth, hailing from New York, can be called one of the bands that formed the very origins of the alternative scene.

Fusing art-pop and punk sounds that reflect the influence of their fellow New Yorkers The Velvet Underground, they created a singular musical style.

Though they were not a band that achieved massive commercial success, they had a profound impact on the scenes that followed and still reign as a group beloved by rock listeners.

This attitude—valuing the pursuit of musicality over commercial success—is the very essence of “alternative,” and the decisive difference from the mainstream.

PlushStone Temple Pilots

Stone Temple Pilots – Plush (Official Music Video)

Among the alternative movement of the 1990s, one of the bands that achieved particularly great commercial success was Stone Temple Pilots.

Their popularity in the United States rivaled that of Nirvana and Pearl Jam, and their first four albums in a row went multi-platinum.

After the departure and death of their original vocalist, Scott Weiland, they continued by welcoming Linkin Park’s Chester as their new singer.

Sadly, Chester also passed away, leaving their future uncertain.

Even so, I believe that STP, having overcome the turbulent waves of the alternative movement and the profound hardship of losing members, will surely rise again.

Bullet with Butterfly WingsThe Smashing Pumpkins

The Smashing Pumpkins – Bullet With Butterfly Wings

The Smashing Pumpkins—aka “Sma-pan”—achieved exceptional commercial success in the alternative rock scene of the 1990s and, despite repeated breakups and lineup changes, continue to be active even now in the 2020s.

Hailing from Chicago rather than the so-called Seattle scene, and with frontman Billy Corgan—who is of the same generation as Kurt Cobain—being a strong personality, the band often drew criticism from peers at the time.

Still, Corgan’s outstanding songwriting talent and the magnificent band ensemble that powers their sound are the real deal.

Among the many gems produced by the Pumpkins, whose strength lies in their stylistic breadth, this track is packed with the band’s core appeal as an alternative rock act.

If you think it’s cool, go grab the album right now!

Honey BucketsMelvins

Formed in the early 1980s, the Melvins are often hailed as the “godfathers of grunge,” a band that has continued for decades with its unshakable core members: vocalist/guitarist Buzz Osborne and drummer Dale Crover.

It’s also well known that Kurt Cobain of Nirvana was close with the Melvins and was an ardent fan.

The sound the Melvins create is by no means designed for mass appeal—featuring heavy, noisy riffs and experimental approaches—and it’s fair to say they influenced all kinds of heavy rock beyond grunge from the 1990s onward.

The track introduced here appears on their landmark major-label debut album, Houdini.

It’s relatively accessible by their standards and is a great recommendation for newcomers.