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 Classic Songs by Western Bands That Colored the 90s (21–30)
Paranoid AndroidRadiohead
Paranoid Android is a song that unfolds with puzzle-like complexity.
It’s a signature track by Radiohead, the pioneers of melancholy rock.
Their emergence transformed the rock scene.
If you compare the album OK Computer, which includes Paranoid Android, with its predecessor The Bends, the difference is obvious: where the earlier album had many major-key, brighter-sounding tracks, the tone suddenly turns much darker.
It feels like this is where the foundation of today’s Radiohead was laid.
Among them, the lead track Paranoid Android is a dense song that seems to encapsulate the album’s atmosphere in one go.
Radiohead embodied the idea that “rock isn’t only about a refreshing sound.” With its crazy shifts and deeply immersive, addictive gloom, the track brought a fresh wind to the genre.
November RainGuns N’ Roses
A song by Guns N’ Roses, the American rock band formed in 1985 that achieved worldwide success to the point that any rock fan would know their name.
It’s famous as one of the ultimate hard rock power ballads, beginning with a grand arrangement of piano and strings before the full band sound weaves in.
Despite being a ballad, it’s a masterpiece packed with the essence of Guns N’ Roses, including distinctive vocals and a bluesy, lyrical guitar solo.
Under The BridgeRed Hot Chili Peppers
Among the legends whose names are etched in rock history is the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Their popularity is firmly established in Japan as well, but although they formed in the ’80s, their breakout success came in the ’90s.
They released numerous classics throughout the ’90s, and track 11 from their 1991 album “Blood Sugar Sex Magik,” “Under the Bridge,” captivated many listeners with its innovative sound and dynamic development that no one had conceived of at the time.
The ensemble in the finale, in particular, is a must-hear.
1979The Smashing Pumpkins
Known by the nickname “Sma-Pan” in Japan, The Smashing Pumpkins stand alongside Nirvana and Pearl Jam as one of the emblematic figures of ’90s alternative rock.
Led by the towering, shaved-headed, and brilliantly gifted songwriter Billy Corgan, the original lineup also featured Japanese-American guitarist James Iha, bassist D’arcy Wretzky—the sole woman in the band and an icon of the alt-rock era—and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin, a jazz-schooled player of exceptional skill.
With such distinctive personalities, the band enjoyed immense popularity here in Japan as well.
Among the many gems born from their band ensemble—renowned for artfully weaving between quiet and loud dynamics—today I’d like to highlight the timeless classic that best showcases their mellower side: “1979.” The famous clean-toned guitar lead, Billy’s delicate, vulnerable vocals, the nostalgic melody, and the lyrics that vividly capture the world of 1979 through the eyes of a boy are all simply superb.
Released in 1995, the song appears on the monumental masterpiece Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, which cemented the Pumpkins’ popularity and critical acclaim.
Of course, the band’s musicality is multifaceted, and you can’t possibly grasp it all from this one song—so I highly recommend diving into the whole album to fully savor their appeal!
Enter SandmanMetallica
Amid the early ’90s grunge revolution—when many top-tier rock bands that had thrived in the ’80s were forced to change course or even saw their popularity collapse—Metallica not only avoided such a fate, but grew into a massive band that achieved record-breaking success.
That, too, is a key episode in the rock scene of the ’90s.
I won’t go into the dazzling success or influence of Metallica—the world’s most successful heavy metal band—and their 1991 release Metallica, commonly known as the Black Album, but the opening track, Enter Sandman, is truly a timeless masterpiece that only ’90s-era Metallica could have created.
The riff, said to have been inspired by guitarist Kirk Hammett listening to an album by Soundgarden, a quintessential alternative rock band, has become legendary, and the song is widely recognized even among listeners who aren’t particularly into metal.
Its heaviness favors a ’90s-style groove over the speed typical of thrash metal, reflecting the zeitgeist of the early ’90s.
While this prompted backlash from some longtime fans, the song’s value has only grown with each passing year.
Kool ThingSonic youth
A seminal track in the grunge scene, it appears on Goo, the album that marked Sonic Youth’s major-label debut and established them as pioneers of alternative rock.
The song is said to have been born from a cultural clash that vocalist Kim Gordon experienced while interviewing a prominent rapper.
It poses sharp questions about sex and power, expressed through a cool back-and-forth with hip-hop heavyweight Chuck D.
Its sound—noisy guitars paired with pop accessibility—was truly revolutionary.
Released as a single in June 1990, the track was also featured in games like Guitar Hero III.
Why not experience its intellectual spark and the tense, electric atmosphere of the ’90s for yourself?
Song 2Blur
The devastatingly powerful guitar sound unleashed by Blur, emblematic of British Britpop, sent shockwaves through the 1997 music scene.
Upending their previously English pop sensibilities, the band delivered an experimental piece that fused a raw, US indie rock–inspired sound with spontaneous, meaning-free lyrics—and, ironically, it became their biggest hit.
Born from the album “Blur,” the track’s impulsive creation—reportedly completed in just a few dozen minutes—helped open up a new frontier for the band.
Widely featured in films and video games, its explosive energy also electrifies crowds at sporting events.
It’s truly the perfect song for moments when you want to unleash your energy and get your heart racing.