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)
Feel The PainDinosaur Jr.
A representative track from Dinosaur Jr.
’s sixth album, “Without a Sound,” by a band that had a profound impact on grunge and alternative rock from the ’90s onward.
Released as a single in August 1994, it achieved major success, reaching No.
4 on the US Modern Rock chart.
The song is a deeply introspective piece that portrays a sense of nihilism: empathizing so strongly with others’ pain that you eventually end up feeling nothing at all.
Luring listeners in with a bright, poppy sound while singing of regret and uncertainty beneath the surface is one of their signature techniques.
The fusion of J Mascis’s distorted guitar tone with a bittersweet melody is grunge at its finest.
OutshinedSoundgarden
Though outwardly brimming with confidence, inside it’s full of anxiety.
This song by the American rock band Soundgarden candidly portrays the pain of that gap between one’s inner and outer selves.
It sings of a struggle anyone can have—acting confident while being tormented by self-doubt within.
Its unusual 7/4 time signature and heavy, brooding guitar sound skillfully express an unstable mental landscape, while Chris Cornell’s powerful yet aching vocals seem to amplify the sense of futility.
The track appears on the October 1991 album Badmotorfinger, and a symbolic line from its lyrics even inspired the title of the film Feeling Minnesota.
When you’re feeling down from comparing yourself to others, listening to it might just blast away the sediment in your heart with a roar.
90s Rock Revolution! A Collection of Masterpieces by Western Bands That Colored the 90s (31–40)
Sex Type ThingStone Temple Pilots
A debut single by the American band Stone Temple Pilots, driven by a heavy, distorted guitar riff that rattles the eardrums.
Vocalist Scott Weiland delivers a fiercely provocative piece, lacing a scathing critique of machismo through an overbearing male point of view.
On first listen, many may be startled to discover the creator’s opposite message hidden behind the aggressive words.
The track appeared as a single the year after its release on the 1992 classic album Core, reaching No.
23 on the U.
S.
Mainstream Rock chart.
When you’re weighed down by the absurdities of society and daily life, why not surrender to this song’s powerful sound and blast away the frustration pent up in your heart?
Are You Gonna Go My WayLenny Kravitz
A song by Lenny Kravitz, one of America’s most globally renowned guitarists and a singer-songwriter famous as a multi-instrumentalist who isn’t tied to any specific genre.
It’s a track frequently heard in many settings in Japan as well, and the guitar riff in the intro is especially iconic.
Riding on a repeated, catchy guitar riff, the powerful, emotional vocals and the tight, driving beat feel great—truly a rock number that represents the 1990s.
Pretend We’re DeadL7
A signature song from American rock band L7, included on their landmark 1992 album Bricks Are Heavy.
With biting humor likening social apathy to “playing dead,” it delivers a strong message.
Produced by Butch Vig, known for his work with Nirvana, the striking contrast between the distorted guitar riffs and the catchy chorus really shines.
The track reached No.
8 on the Billboard Modern Rock chart and gained wider recognition after appearing in the popular game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.
When everyday life feels suffocating, listening to it can let their defiant spirit give you a push forward.
Hunger StrikeTemple Of The Dog
A track from the album Temple of the Dog by the Seattle supergroup Temple of the Dog.
Born from a project to mourn a departed friend, the song is said to portray discomfort with wealth and power, as well as the resistance of those who have none.
The soul-stirring duet between Soundgarden’s Chris Cornell and Pearl Jam’s then-unknown Eddie Vedder is overwhelming.
The way their voices intertwine feels like a raw cry of the heart against society’s injustices.
Released in 1991, the work later drew attention on MTV and became a big hit.
Why not experience the essence of grunge, which lays bare the turmoil within?
Tonight, TonightThe Smashing Pumpkins
A track released in 1996 by The Smashing Pumpkins.
The music video was inspired by the 1902 silent film “A Trip to the Moon” and won an MTV Video Music Award.
It was sampled in Daedelus’s 2010 track “LA Nocturn.”