[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! Classic and Popular Alternative Rock Songs (101–110)

SanteriaSublime

Sublime – Santeria (Official Music Video)

SanteriaSublime

A song by Sublime, a three-piece rock band that gained support in America in the 1990s.

The title “Santeria” refers to a Cuban folk religion, and its reggae-style arrangement matches the mood of the lyrics, resulting in a track that feels both ethnic and modern.

Its somewhat nostalgic melody and off-beat rhythm are pleasant, making it a number that naturally gets your body moving.

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Hoshino Takashi

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I Love my ComputerBad Religion

Bad Religion – I Love my Computer (Lyrics)

I Love my ComputerBad Religion

This is a classic song by Bad Religion, a hardcore punk rock band that has been active since the 1980s.

Despite its medium tempo, the great melody makes it irresistible to sing along.

The added chorus parts further enhance the quality of the track.

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Crashed The WeddingBusted

Busted – Crashed The Wedding

Crashed The WeddingBusted

This is a classic by Busted, a trio that plays upbeat pop-punk rock.

It’s incredibly straightforward, relentlessly catchy, and feels like something you could hum along to right away.

The promotional video is witty, well-made, and a lot of fun to watch.

It also has a hardness that could place it within alternative rock.

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Get The TimeDESCENDENTS

Get the time – the Descendents [lyrics!]

Get The TimeDESCENDENTS

The Descendents were a hardcore band active in the 1980s and can be considered the origin of what later became melodic hardcore.

They fused punk’s urgent beats and guitar sound with pop-worthy catchy melodies—a band that truly anticipated the music of the 1990s.

The Descendents disbanded when vocalist Milo went off to pursue his studies, and ultimately ended their activities before the alt-rock-dominated ’90s began.

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Make A MoveIncubus

make a move- incubus

Make A MoveIncubus

It’s a classic by the mixed-genre alternative rock band Incubus.

The song is rhythmical, funky, yet heavy, and very well-crafted.

You can tell they have considerable skill and technique.

They’ve come to Japan and are a very popular band here.

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