[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! Alternative Rock Masterpieces and Popular Tracks (51–60)

Tired of SexWeezer

Tired of Sex By: Weezer

Tired of SexWeezer

With exhilarating, blaring guitars and tear-jerking melodies that belt out raw emotions that aren’t exactly “cool,” Weezer blew a hole in the alternative rock scene of the 1990s.

The band’s central figure, Rivers Cuomo, has never run dry as a songwriter even past the 2020s, and the group remains a popular, active force today.

Their second album, Pinkerton, released in 1996, received higher acclaim in Japan than in their home country of the United States, thanks in part to its Japanese-inspired cover art and the band’s affinity for Japan.

Opening that album, this track is a masterpiece: lyrics that walk a fine line between sincerity and twisted irony, a melody that absolutely weeps, guitars that explode out of feedback noise, and a thick, thunderous bass line—simply the best.

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MonsterSkillet

Skillet – Monster (Official Video)

MonsterSkillet

It’s a classic Skillet track that kicks off with heavy guitars right from the start.

The song has a distinctly alternative rock vibe.

The way it bursts open in the chorus is thrilling and sounds awesome.

The promotional video is also elaborate and cool.

With over 200 million views, you can really see how popular it is.

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Kool ThingSonic youth

Sonic Youth – Kool Thing

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?

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ChangeThe Revivalists

The Revivalists – Change

ChangeThe Revivalists

It’s a song called “Change” by The Revivalists, a rock band from New Orleans, USA.

It’s included on their 2018 album, Take Good Care.

The dry guitar sound is really cool and gritty! Also, while the vocals have a rugged quality, the contrast with the delicate tones that come from him is wonderful.

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The WagonDinosaur Jr.

Dinosaur Jr – The Wagon

The WagonDinosaur Jr.

Frontman J Mascis—sometimes dubbed the “Apathetic King” for his languid vocals and enigmatic persona—leads Dinosaur Jr.

Formed in 1983, the band swept the indie scene with blisteringly loud guitars and pop-savvy melodies, and continued releasing excellent albums after their major-label debut.

Though they disbanded once, they reunited in 2005 and have since maintained a steady, on-their-own-terms career as elder statesmen.

The track The Wagon is the opening number of their 1991 classic Green Mind, the album that marked their move to a major label, and it stands as one of their finest songs.

Urgent, hardcore-rooted beats, exhilarating wall-of-sound guitars, and a lazily delivered yet perfect melody—this is Dinosaur Jr.

at their purest.

Also note the unusually long guitar solo for alternative rock of that era.

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