[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)

Burn, BurnLostprophets

LOSTPROPHETS – Burn Burn

Burn, BurnLostprophets

Among alternative rock bands since the 2000s, this group was particularly popular.

With lively beats, hard-hitting guitars, and straightforward vocals, it’s an absolute classic—you should give it a listen.

They have plenty of other great songs too, so I recommend checking out their albums.

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The Broken BonesMxPx

The Broken Bones / MxPx / Punkspring Japan

The Broken BonesMxPx

It’s MXPX’s ‘Broken Bones,’ which was even used in a Japanese TV commercial.

You could definitely call this a punk rock-style, alternative rock classic.

The cheerful, sing-along-worthy melody is especially memorable.

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Sloop Jhon BMe First and the Gimme Gimmes

Me First and the Gimme Gimmes – Sloop John B (Punk Cover w/Lyrics)

Sloop Jhon BMe First and the Gimme Gimmes

A classic by Me First and the Gimme Gimmes that serves up feel-good alternative punk rock.

Just listening to it puts you in a good mood and gets you bouncing.

The somewhat nostalgic melody is easy on the ears.

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SpiderwebsNo Doubt

No Doubt – Spiderwebs (Official Music Video)

SpiderwebsNo Doubt

A song by No Doubt, a rock band formed in the United States in 1986.

Throughout the track you can hear the various musical influences that shaped the band, such as ska punk and pop rock.

Even in the intro, it starts off sounding Hawaiian before shifting midway into a tight, rock-style rhythm—an unconventional, truly alternative number.

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Hoshino Takashi

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Cut Your HairPavement

Pavement – Cut Your Hair (Official Video)

Cut Your HairPavement

Pavement, the champions of lo-fi rock, are an indispensable band when talking about alternative music.

Lo-fi refers to a cheap, home-recorded kind of sound that expresses the alternative stance of rebelling against commercial rock in sonic form.

Pavement are also often described as “heta-uma.” Heta-uma means that even though the playing isn’t technically good, it has a unique appeal that sets it apart from other bands.

In that sense, Pavement’s wobbly, ramshackle sound might be the textbook example.

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