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 (31–40)
TomorrowSilverchair
Silverchair, the Australian band that burst onto the ’90s grunge scene like a comet.
Their debut, created when the members were just 15, is an anthem that defines a generation! The work depicts a thirst of the heart that contradicts a privileged environment, and a restless urgency born from not being able to see tomorrow.
Their screams, riding on a raw, distorted guitar sound, shake the listener’s soul to its core.
Released in September 1994 and introduced on a TV program after winning a band competition, this track paved the way for the success of the landmark album Frogstomp.
It’s a song only teenagers that age could have made—one that, when you’re overflowing with aimless emotions and impulses, seems to validate that energy with sheer power!
Only ShallowMy Bloody Valentine
Even just looking at rock, the Western music scene of the 1990s birthed many genres, and here in Japan, the one that boasts a devoted cult following is surely “shoegaze,” where ear-splitting walls of guitar noise fuse with dreamy, sugary melodies.
Hailing from Glasgow, My Bloody Valentine are the most famous shoegaze band and a force whose influence extends beyond the genre’s boundaries.
Their second album, Loveless, released in 1991, stands at the pinnacle of shoegaze; it’s no exaggeration to say that every subsequent band in the lineage exists under its shadow, such is the perfection of this definitive classic.
Only Shallow, the track featured here, opens Loveless, and that spine-tingling jolt when the colossal guitar sound bursts in after the stark, mechanical drum intro remains undimmed even decades later.
Personally, beyond the sonic innovation, I feel it’s the singable, strikingly beautiful melodies—their catchiness and presence—that set MBV on a level far above the average shoegaze outfit and explain why they continue to reign.
CreepRadiohead
A masterpiece that has left a deep mark on many hearts as a candid portrayal of loneliness and self-loathing, “Creep” was Radiohead’s debut single, released in September 1992.
Featured on the album Pablo Honey, the song is notable for its distinctive guitar sound and Thom Yorke’s poignantly resonant vocals.
The feelings of a protagonist who sees themselves as a “weirdo” make it a perfect track for those who feel isolated or struggle to find where they belong.
Monkey WrenchFoo Fighters
A rock band formed in 1994 by former Nirvana member Dave Grohl.
Their wild rock ’n’ roll—an explosively powerful, aggressive yet modern take on heavy rock—blows everyday gloom to pieces and is still going strong.
Don’t overthink it: crank it up loud and you’ll get what it’s about.
How about Foo Fighters for a hot summer day, sweating it out to their sound alongside the noisy chorus of cicadas? Sounds like a great way to relieve some stress!
Nearly Lost YouScreaming Trees
Screaming Trees, an American band that forged their own path with a psychedelic sense of drift and a hard-edged sound.
Their signature song portrays a precarious, near-collapse state of mind—like a hallucination born of an LSD experience, or like speaking to your own reflection in the mirror.
Mark Lanegan’s uniquely deep, husky voice becomes a desperate cry—“I almost lost myself”—that powerfully shakes the listener to the core.
Released in August 1992 and featured on the album Sweet Oblivion as well as the soundtrack to the film Singles, the track greatly raised the band’s profile.
For those struggling in inescapable inner conflict, it may whisper, “You’re not alone.”
90s Rock Revolution! ~ A Collection of Masterpieces by Western Bands That Colored the 90s (41–50)
Losing My ReligionR.E.M.
The song with its striking mandolin riff is known as one of R.
E.
M.
’s signature works.
The lyrics, themed around “unrequited love,” use Southern expressions to convey a sense of “reaching one’s limit,” resonating deeply with listeners.
Released in March 1991, the track became a major hit as the lead single from the album Out of Time.
In the United States, it reached No.
4 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming R.
E.
M.
’s biggest hit.
The music video also received high acclaim, winning six awards at the MTV Video Music Awards.
It’s especially recommended for those who feel the pain of love and the complexities of human relationships.
SheGreen Day
A track about a girl who’s lost in life.
Released in 1995 by Green Day, it was inspired by frontman Billie Joe Armstrong’s then-girlfriend and reached No.
5 on the U.
S.
charts.