[Western Music] Start with this one! Classic and popular songs of alternative rock

Active club DJkento
Active club DJ. With over five years on the front lines of the club scene, they freely cross over from dance music to US hip-hop and Japanese rap. Blending in their own edits with assured mixing, they craft a unique groove that captivates the floor.
music writerKOH-1
Started working as a music writer as a side job while employed at a record shop, and for over 18 years I’ve contributed to music magazines, disc guide books, mooks, and web media. As a writer my main field is Western music, but as a listener for over 35 years, I always try to keep my curiosity alive with the motto “I like what I like.” I have experience playing in bands, where I was a bassist who handled songwriting and composition. Instruments I’ve played include bass, guitar, and piano. I began studying English in my mid-40s and continue to do so today.

Even for those who love rock, it’s not easy to succinctly explain what alternative rock is.

As rock history produced a variety of genres, the term “alternative rock” emerged as music that stood against the mainstream—an underground counterpart.

It might even be more accurate to think of it not as a genre, but as a musical attitude that the musicians themselves embody.

In this article, we’ve curated a selection focusing on iconic Western tracks from the 1990s—songs through which alternative rock upended trends across the global music scene.

If you’ve recently become interested in alt rock, be sure to check them out!

[Western Music] Start with this one song! Classic and popular tracks of alternative rock (41–50)

My WarBLACK FLAG

Black Flag – My War

My WarBLACK FLAG

When discussing the grunge and alternative boom of the ’90s, you can’t overlook the hardcore punk bands that supported the American underground in the ’80s just prior.

Chief among them was Black Flag.

In their early days they were a straight-ahead hardcore band, but on the album My War they shifted to a heavier sound that used hard rock- and metal-like guitar riffs and, compared to hardcore, featured somewhat slower tempos.

This album is often said to have had a major influence on the birth of grunge.

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Are You Gonna Go My WayLenny Kravitz

Lenny Kravitz – Are You Gonna Go My Way (Official Music Video)

Are You Gonna Go My WayLenny Kravitz

A song by Lenny Kravitz, an American singer-songwriter who also acts.

In Japan, it’s a track often heard in commercials and the like.

The guitar played in the intro, with pitch shifts and harmonized lines, is used through most of the song, and the drums keep a steady on-the-beat pattern, making it an irresistibly groovy number that naturally gets your body moving.

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Hoshino Takashi

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BlackPearl Jam

Pearl Jam – Black

BlackPearl Jam

Nirvana, Soundgarden, Alice In Chains, Stone Temple Pilots…

Many of the popular bands that emerged from the alternative movement of the ’90s were forced to disband or go on hiatus following the death of a member.

In the midst of that, the one band that can truly be said to have continued steadily is Pearl Jam.

They weathered the shifting scene and kept working consistently, and today they’re often regarded as a band that represents America.

Musically, among the grunge scene, their sound leans closer to rock ’n’ roll, and they command a wide range of expression—from aggressive sounds to the calm, seasoned music befitting veterans.

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Alone TogetherThe Strokes

The Strokes – Alone together

Alone TogetherThe Strokes

This is a classic by The Strokes, the band that sparked the rock ’n’ roll revival that emerged after 2000.

It’s curious how their endlessly laid-back sound feels fresh and new instead.

The languid vocals also add a great flavor.

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The ConceptTeenage Fanclub

Teenage Fanclub – The Concept

The ConceptTeenage Fanclub

Among the many renowned bands born from Scotland—especially Glasgow, a crucial city for fans of UK rock—one of the most famous is Teenage Fanclub.

Formed in 1989, they’ve continued at their own pace and remain active into the 2020s.

In their early days, they blasted out a loud sound that led some to call them “the UK’s answer to Dinosaur Jr.” The Concept, which opens their 1991 masterpiece album Bandwagonesque, is a signature song from that early period.

It’s a perfect pop song with a wistful melody and beautiful vocal harmonies, and the band’s ensemble—woven from gritty, roaring guitars and a melodic guitar solo—is truly outstanding.

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