90s Rock Revolution! A Collection of Masterpieces by Western Bands That Colored the 90s
The 1990s were a time of major transformation in the rock scene, with the rise of movements like alternative rock and grunge that didn’t fit into existing rock categories.
From pop punk and shoegaze to nu metal and rap metal, and innovative sounds that fused rock with dance music and techno—the sensibility that truly deserves to be called a “mixture” gave birth to ’90s rock, which continues to have a huge influence on young musicians even in the 2020s.
In this article, we’ll introduce a roundup of classic songs by Western rock bands from the ’90s!
It’s a lineup focused on essential, definitive tracks—perfect for anyone who wants to start exploring ’90s rock.
- Great Western rock classics and hit songs of the ’90s
- [For Beginners] A Collection of Iconic and Popular Western Hits from the 1990s
- [Masterpiece Selection] A Compilation of Classic Western Rock Songs
- Great Western pop masterpieces and hit songs of the 90s
- Western songs from the 90s featured in commercials. A roundup of CM songs.
- [Back to the '90s!] Dance Music from Western Hits of the 1990s
- Debut song by a 90s Western girls' band
- 1980s: Legendary Western Rock Bands’ Classic and Hit Songs
- [Definitive] An introduction to Western mixture rock: a roundup of recommended classic tracks
- [2025] A roundup of classic UK rock songs: from the latest tracks to timeless staples!
- Cheering songs in Western music that were hits in the ’90s. World-famous classics and popular tracks.
- Recommended Western alternative rock bands that connect to the modern rock scene
- All masterpieces! Western pop ballads that were hits in the ’90s
90s Rock Revolution! A Collection of Masterpieces by Western Bands That Colored the 90s (71–80)
Nothing Else MattersMetallica
A track released by Metallica in 1992.
It’s one of the few tracks on which James Hetfield played the guitar solo.
It was a hit worldwide and was certified platinum in four countries.
It was sampled in Truth’s 2009 track “Piange Il Cielo.”
Don’t Call Me WhiteNOFX
NOFX, the California punk band led by Fat Mike.
As the title “Don’t Call Me White” suggests, it’s not exactly political, but the content is pretty serious.
At the same time, the song itself has their signature headlong drive, distorted guitars, and primitive rhythms.
Within a fairly simple structure, they make an emotional statement.
This is how street punk should be.
Early summer, shorts, cruising through the city, blasting NOFX… how does that sound?
A Design For LifeManic Street Preachers
Sharply depicting working-class identity and the contradictions of society, this work is a signature song by the Manic Street Preachers released in April 1996.
It portrays the opposing facets of the power of education and the reality of labor, featuring lyrics that leave a deep impression on listeners.
Selling over 600,000 copies and reaching No.
2 on the UK Singles Chart, it has received high acclaim, including being selected for NME’s “50 Greatest Indie Anthems Ever.” Its fusion of social questioning and rock continues to resonate with many people today, serving as a source of encouragement.
90s Rock Revolution! A Collection of Masterpieces by Western Bands That Colored the 90s (81–90)
Antichrist SuperstarMarilyn Manson
Marilyn Manson, America’s nightmare.
Perpetually alluring, scandalous, and perverse, yet both his music and his very presence are ultra-pop.
Even while dissing Christianity this much, he’s treated like a celebrity—a monster of the rock world.
A white-painted musician who chants curses at America over industrial, hard-edged beats, whipping the audience into a frenzy.
The quality of his artwork, including stagecraft, is high, and he continues to inspire followers across industries, not just in rock.
Cut Your HairPavement
Pavement is a rock band from California led by Stephen Malkmus.
They’re a rock band where a laid-back vibe coexists with a rebellious spirit, almost like they just kept going with the band they started in middle school.
The song I want to introduce from them is Cut Your Hair, released in 1994.
Its catchy, deadpan melody makes you want to sing along.
When this track came out, the world was in the midst of a band boom.
New bands were debuting almost every day, and those that couldn’t survive quietly disappeared from the scene.
To make it, bands were expected to obsess over their visuals and image.
But Malkmus grew sick of that and wrote this song to thoroughly skewer the looks-first music industry.
It’s a track bursting with Malkmus’s trademark humor and biting irony!
VelouriaPixies
Is it an overstatement to say that without the Pixies, many bands—Nirvana among them—might never have found success? From the late ’80s into the early ’90s, the Pixies crafted an original guitar sound and earned fervent support from musicians across genres.
Personally, I see them as the most crucial bridge between the ’80s underground scene of idiosyncratic indie bands and the post-Nirvana alternative rock of the ’90s.
It’s also worth noting that they were recognized in the UK before their home country of the United States, releasing their work on the prestigious 4AD label.
Among the many classic songs the Pixies produced, I’d like to highlight Velouria, from their third album Bossanova, released in 1990, which brought them commercial success.
It became their first single to crack the UK Top 40 and is known as one of their signature tracks.
Undeniably pop yet twisted in some inexplicable way, it’s a killer tune whose peculiar sense of balance becomes utterly addictive once it hooks you—you just can’t escape its charm!
D’You Know What I Mean? (2016 HD Remaster)Oasis
The signature song by Oasis that revolutionized the ’90s rock scene was remastered in 2016, revealing new layers of appeal.
Blending a grand soundscape with abstract lyrics, the track seems to reflect the band’s inner conflict amid their rapid success and fame.
Released in July 1997, it topped the charts in the UK and many other countries.
Its music video, featuring a post-apocalyptic worldview, also drew wide attention.
This track distills Oasis’s musical essence and is worth hearing even for those who aren’t rock fans.
It is truly a milestone worthy of being called a monument of ’90s rock.