[Western Music] Start with this one! Classic and popular songs of alternative rock
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!
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[Western Music] Start with this one song! Classic and popular alternative rock tracks (81–90)
Missed ConnectionThe Head And The Heart
It’s a song called ‘Missed Connection’ by the indie folk band The Head and the Heart from Seattle.
It’s included on their 2019 album Living Mirage.
The rich, full-bodied chorus that only a large ensemble can deliver is really cool! Also, the vocal effects and scattered sound effects make for a very elaborate arrangement that really hits home.
All the Small Thingsblink-182
A song by the American pop-punk band Blink-182, featuring simple instrumentation and pleasing choral work.
Contrary to its upbeat, refreshing tone, the music video—besides performance scenes—includes idol-like cuts and shots of them dancing in just their underwear, sprinkling in playful mischief throughout for a fun, punk-spirited finish.
maybe, i’m afraidlovelytheband
lovelytheband is an indie pop band from Los Angeles, formed in 2016.
The song “Maybe, I’m Afraid” is included on the album Finding It Hard to Smile, which also features the Billboard-charting single “Broken.” It’s a track where dramatic strings pair perfectly with a bright pop band sound.
What Comes AroundIll Niño
It’s a massively popular hit by Ill Niño that rocks with incredible sound pressure.
While it incorporates rap in a mixture style, the vocal melodies are solid, super catchy, and the song is really cool.
This band also has lots of great tracks on their albums.
Wish You Were HereIncubus
Rap metal/heavy rock that became popular as an offshoot of the alternative movement.
Many bands faded along with the passing trend, but Incubus is still actively performing today.
What set Incubus apart, I think, was their absolute musicianship, which made them a powerful live draw, and their hunger to actively incorporate new sounds.
Especially from the album Morning View onward, they adopted more organic sounds and grew into a rock band with a grander scale.
The most popular track on that album is Wish You Were Here, a song that sparks huge sing-alongs at every show.