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[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.

Playlist

[For Beginners] Start Here! A Collection of Classic Grunge Songs
show_chartTitlePlaylistOne point
1eastSmells Like Teen SpiritNirvanaAnthem of grunge, a masterpiece that changed the world
2eastWould?Alice In ChainsA classic by Alice in Chains, deeply expressive of emotion
3eastFeel The PainDinosaur Jr.A signature song by Dinosaur Jr influenced by grunge
4eastAlivePearl JamPearl Jam’s emotional masterpiece
5eastKool ThingSonic youthSonic Youth’s groundbreaking classic ‘Goo’
6eastTouch Me I’m SickMudhoneyThe shock of Mudhoney, the pioneers of grunge
7eastOutshinedSoundgardenSinging about the feelings of suffering from the gap between one's outward appearance and inner self
8eastNearly Lost YouScreaming TreesA classic song by Screaming Trees
9eastSex Type ThingStone Temple PilotsA masterpiece that sharply satirizes machoism
10eastTomorrowSilverchairA young icon of 90s grunge
11eastBackwaterMeat PuppetsMusic of the Meat Puppets that influenced grunge
12eastCreepRadioheadA song by a rock band that was popular among young people
13eastSwallow My PrideGreen RiverThe Soul of Green River, the Forefathers of Grunge
14eastPretend We’re DeadL7Defiant spirit resonates: L7’s classic songs and social criticism
15eastHoney BucketMelvinsThe heavy and ferocious music of sludge metal
16eastChloe Dancer / Crown of ThornsMother Love BoneMother Love Bone's classic, a cry of love
17eastHunger StrikeTemple Of The DogA cry of mourning for a friend, a soulful song
18eastBlack Hole SunSoundgardenA rock band with an overwhelming sound
19eastCelebrity SkinHoleNirvana-like wife’s rock band, intense sonic image
20eastTodayThe Smashing PumpkinsIntroducing the Smashing Pumpkins’ classic song “Today.”
21eastBest of YouFoo FightersAfter Nirvana, Dave Grohl formed the Foo Fighters.
22eastDaughterPearl JamA quintessential grunge band, a fusion of punk and mass appeal
23north_eastGet FreeThe VinesA representative indie rock band
24south_eastCut Your HairPavementA laid-back 90s alternative band
25eastEvolPJ HarveyA singer who embodied the music of the ’90s
26eastWhere is My MindPixiesAn innovative alternative rock band
27eastSay it Ain’t SoWeezerThe Blue Album’s distinctive musicality
28eastMy Black AssSHELLACSteve Albini's alternative rock
29east100%Sonic youthSonic Youth, legends of experimental music
30eastThe WagonDinosaur Jr.An alternative rock band with punk origins
31eastBlackPearl JamThe achievements of Pearl Jam, who survived the grunge era
32eastJust Like HeavenDinosaur Jr.90s alternative, originating from Seattle
33eastThem BonesAlice In ChainsThe dark music world of 1990s Seattle
34eastMy HeroFoo FightersAfter Kurt's death, Dave formed Foo Fighters.
35eastEvenflowPearl JamPearl Jam, the band that changed the ’90s
36eastSundaySonic youthAn innovative band representing the alternative scene
37eastPlushStone Temple PilotsThe Rise, Fall, and Challenges of the Alternative Band STP
38eastBullet with Butterfly WingsThe Smashing PumpkinsThe appeal of Smashing Pumpkins’ alternative rock
39eastHoney BucketsMelvins
Honey BucketsMelvins
The music of the Melvins, the fathers of grunge