this decade saw the explosion of grunge
and the use of quiet and loud musical
dynamics hit the mainstream
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
counting down our picks for the top 10
alternative bands of the 1990s
this list we’ve chosen influential
artists who helped define the
alternative sound and genre in the 1990s
who are commercially successful and
whose music stood the test of time
if you don’t see a band you think should
be on the list be sure to check out our
video of the top ten grunge bands
this is part of a series of videos
spanning the decades of alternative rock
music from the 1970s to the 2000s which
includes our lists of the top ten
alternative bands of the 1980s 1990s and
2000’s as well as the top 10 punk bands
and the top 10 grunge bands
number 10 Weiser
with influences like Nirvana The Pixies
Sonic Youth’s and more is it any wonder
Weezer lands here
while they’re also known to add elements
of emo power pop and indie rock to their
music
this band from LA has carved out their
own spot in all profit
they’re clever lyrics and imaginative
music videos have helped them sell
almost 20 million albums around the
world
and become an influence to other artists
as well
number nine while he obviously fits with
an alternative rock in general Beck
stood out for his willingness to
experiment and his creative use of
effects styles and samples
loser helped him go from an indie artist
to a major label one
and paved the way for his fifth record
to become a Billboard 200 top 20 entry
Beck continues to make diverse music
today
90s really saw him shine become a
critics darling and showcase his
multiple musical talents
eight Foo Fighters
with Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl taking
the helm of this project after Kurt
Cobain took his own life it’s no
surprise the Foo Fighters attracted
attention early on
while it started off as a solo project
role eventually recruited other members
to bring the music to life
and boy did they ever
along with their musical passion rural
songwriting and the band’s various
instrumental abilities
if you solidified their place an
alternative rock back then and for today
number seven green day
with their punk rock roots it’s not
surprising they started off as an indie
underground band but it was in 1994 when
their breakthrough effort Dookie finally
earned them mass appeal
several more successful albums followed
and open the door for the band to expand
their sound in the new millennium
with American Idiot
21st Century Breakdown and more
number six rage against the machines
bulwark forces what do you get when you
mix heavy metal and rap with some
politically charged lyrics if it’s the
90s and you’re in the United States
then it’s Rage Against the Machine
in less than 10 years and with just
three albums Raich topped album charts
earned critics respect and made millions
of fans
go stop show
thanks to their unique sound and strong
message they’re considered a significant
musical act and one of the heavier
examples of alternative rock
number five Oasis special people change
Livvy strange where were you
you would get in a
Oasis made history when they’re
independently released
Definitely Maybe became the
fastest-selling debut in the UK
while it also helped the English band to
find American success
it was the sounds of the alt-rock sub
genre known as Britpop from their
sophomore effort that really transformed
them into international superstars
so the Gallagher brothers fighting
eventually broke up the band there is no
denying os’s was instrumental in
bringing British alt rock into the
mainstream
number four Nine Inch Nails also
described as industrial dark and ambient
the music of Nine Inch Nails is the
mastermind of producer singer-songwriter
and multi-instrumentalist
Trent Reznor after making a name for
himself on the underground scene
Reznor’s dark lyrics and electronic
style earned him critical commercial and
chart success the downward spiral is
considered one of the 90s most
significant records
and Nine Inch Nails continues to set the
bar with its musical experimentation and
visually stunning live performances
number three Smashing Pumpkins
focusing on the guitar as their main
instrument the Smashing Pumpkins embrace
the alternative rock scene and gave us
some of the decades most memorable tunes
in the genre
incorporating dream pop and heavy metal
their second effort is considered a
seminal work but pave the way for their
chart-topping Mellon Collie and the
infinite sadness
led by Billy Corgan
whose expressive vocals and emotional
lyrics made the band what they are today
the pumpkins have truly left a long
lasting mark on alternative rock
number two Red Hot Chili Peppers oh they
integrate funk hard rock and psychedelic
rock into their sound there’s no
question that the Chili Peppers belong
in alternative rock
after several years taking the indie
route they hit it big in the early 90s
with blood sugar sex Magik
the music world soon took a liking to
the bands fusion of styles and allowed
them to evolve and find massive success
with 1999’s Californication
and they’re still going strong
before we unveil our number one pick
here are a few honorable mentions
number one Radiohead
releasing Pablo honey
and the bends during the explosion of
alternative rock you do it to you
Radiohead’s found early popularity with
their first two albums
but they proved they weren’t a one-note
band when the latter half of the decade
produced the more complex sound and
abstract themes of okay computer
this paved the way for the Brits to
branch out to other genres and achieved
international critical and commercial
success
today Radiohead continues to be one of
the most highly regarded musical acts
for their consistently original and
innovative music this is what you get
do you agree with our list
what’s your favorite alternative rock
act of the 1990s
for more entertaining top 10s published
every day be sure to subscribe to
watchmojo.com
and the use of quiet and loud musical
dynamics hit the mainstream
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
counting down our picks for the top 10
alternative bands of the 1990s
this list we’ve chosen influential
artists who helped define the
alternative sound and genre in the 1990s
who are commercially successful and
whose music stood the test of time
if you don’t see a band you think should
be on the list be sure to check out our
video of the top ten grunge bands
this is part of a series of videos
spanning the decades of alternative rock
music from the 1970s to the 2000s which
includes our lists of the top ten
alternative bands of the 1980s 1990s and
2000’s as well as the top 10 punk bands
and the top 10 grunge bands
number 10 Weiser
with influences like Nirvana The Pixies
Sonic Youth’s and more is it any wonder
Weezer lands here
while they’re also known to add elements
of emo power pop and indie rock to their
music
this band from LA has carved out their
own spot in all profit
they’re clever lyrics and imaginative
music videos have helped them sell
almost 20 million albums around the
world
and become an influence to other artists
as well
number nine while he obviously fits with
an alternative rock in general Beck
stood out for his willingness to
experiment and his creative use of
effects styles and samples
loser helped him go from an indie artist
to a major label one
and paved the way for his fifth record
to become a Billboard 200 top 20 entry
Beck continues to make diverse music
today
90s really saw him shine become a
critics darling and showcase his
multiple musical talents
eight Foo Fighters
with Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl taking
the helm of this project after Kurt
Cobain took his own life it’s no
surprise the Foo Fighters attracted
attention early on
while it started off as a solo project
role eventually recruited other members
to bring the music to life
and boy did they ever
along with their musical passion rural
songwriting and the band’s various
instrumental abilities
if you solidified their place an
alternative rock back then and for today
number seven green day
with their punk rock roots it’s not
surprising they started off as an indie
underground band but it was in 1994 when
their breakthrough effort Dookie finally
earned them mass appeal
several more successful albums followed
and open the door for the band to expand
their sound in the new millennium
with American Idiot
21st Century Breakdown and more
number six rage against the machines
bulwark forces what do you get when you
mix heavy metal and rap with some
politically charged lyrics if it’s the
90s and you’re in the United States
then it’s Rage Against the Machine
in less than 10 years and with just
three albums Raich topped album charts
earned critics respect and made millions
of fans
go stop show
thanks to their unique sound and strong
message they’re considered a significant
musical act and one of the heavier
examples of alternative rock
number five Oasis special people change
Livvy strange where were you
you would get in a
Oasis made history when they’re
independently released
Definitely Maybe became the
fastest-selling debut in the UK
while it also helped the English band to
find American success
it was the sounds of the alt-rock sub
genre known as Britpop from their
sophomore effort that really transformed
them into international superstars
so the Gallagher brothers fighting
eventually broke up the band there is no
denying os’s was instrumental in
bringing British alt rock into the
mainstream
number four Nine Inch Nails also
described as industrial dark and ambient
the music of Nine Inch Nails is the
mastermind of producer singer-songwriter
and multi-instrumentalist
Trent Reznor after making a name for
himself on the underground scene
Reznor’s dark lyrics and electronic
style earned him critical commercial and
chart success the downward spiral is
considered one of the 90s most
significant records
and Nine Inch Nails continues to set the
bar with its musical experimentation and
visually stunning live performances
number three Smashing Pumpkins
focusing on the guitar as their main
instrument the Smashing Pumpkins embrace
the alternative rock scene and gave us
some of the decades most memorable tunes
in the genre
incorporating dream pop and heavy metal
their second effort is considered a
seminal work but pave the way for their
chart-topping Mellon Collie and the
infinite sadness
led by Billy Corgan
whose expressive vocals and emotional
lyrics made the band what they are today
the pumpkins have truly left a long
lasting mark on alternative rock
number two Red Hot Chili Peppers oh they
integrate funk hard rock and psychedelic
rock into their sound there’s no
question that the Chili Peppers belong
in alternative rock
after several years taking the indie
route they hit it big in the early 90s
with blood sugar sex Magik
the music world soon took a liking to
the bands fusion of styles and allowed
them to evolve and find massive success
with 1999’s Californication
and they’re still going strong
before we unveil our number one pick
here are a few honorable mentions
number one Radiohead
releasing Pablo honey
and the bends during the explosion of
alternative rock you do it to you
Radiohead’s found early popularity with
their first two albums
but they proved they weren’t a one-note
band when the latter half of the decade
produced the more complex sound and
abstract themes of okay computer
this paved the way for the Brits to
branch out to other genres and achieved
international critical and commercial
success
today Radiohead continues to be one of
the most highly regarded musical acts
for their consistently original and
innovative music this is what you get
do you agree with our list
what’s your favorite alternative rock
act of the 1990s
for more entertaining top 10s published
every day be sure to subscribe to
watchmojo.com
Please follow and like us: