[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! Masterpieces and popular tracks of alternative rock (91–100)
Bad GirlfriendTheory Of A Deadman
It’s a classic by Theory of a Deadman that kicks off with a hard rock-style guitar riff and then shifts into a distinctly alternative rock progression.
It’s the kind of track that would really get a crowd going live.
The band members are all good-looking, and their promo videos are fun to watch too.
Way AwayYellowcard
It’s a classic hit by Yellowcard that shifts from a quietly melancholic guitar to loud rock.
You can really tell they value the Vocaloid melody above all.
At the same time, the backing guitars are pushed to the forefront, giving it a very rock-driven finish.
BodiesDrowning Pool
Starting with a whisper, the song explodes right from the outset and fully delivers on its alternative rock vibe.
The vocals, repeating striking phrases over a heavy backing track, are relentlessly cool.
The sections where the singer shouts in a death growl are also highlights.
Until The DayI DieStory of the Year
It’s a major hit by Story of the Year.
The striking guitars and melodic vocals intertwine and gradually intensify, making it a quintessential example of alternative rock.
The chorus features a phrase that really sticks in your head—it’s a true classic.
Only Happy When It RainsGarbage
A 90s masterpiece where irony meets innovation.
Cut from Garbage’s self-titled debut album, released in August 1995, this single is marked by self-deprecating lyrics about only feeling happy when it rains.
While parodying the moody alternative rock that was in vogue at the time, it breathed new life into the music scene with a unique sound that fused electronica and rock.
Formed in Wisconsin, the band saw their profile rise when the music video was selected for MTV’s Buzz Bin, and the track stayed on the charts for 20 weeks.
It’s the perfect song for spending a rainy day alone or when you’re feeling nostalgic for the glittering alternative scene of the 90s.