[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! Classic and popular tracks of alternative rock (41–50)

Are You Gonna Go My WayLenny Kravitz

Lenny Kravitz – Are You Gonna Go My Way (Official Music Video)

Are You Gonna Go My WayLenny Kravitz

A song by Lenny Kravitz, an American singer-songwriter who also acts.

In Japan, it’s a track often heard in commercials and the like.

The guitar played in the intro, with pitch shifts and harmonized lines, is used through most of the song, and the drums keep a steady on-the-beat pattern, making it an irresistibly groovy number that naturally gets your body moving.

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Hoshino Takashi

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[Western Music] Start with this one song! Alternative Rock Masterpieces and Popular Tracks (51–60)

OneU2

U2 – One (Official Music Video)

OneU2

A song by U2, the Irish band that holds the record for the most Grammy Awards won by a group.

With a floating, atmospheric quality that conjures up images of Nordic scenery, its structure builds gradually from the opening to the latter half, giving the listener a sense of exhilaration.

It’s a track that showcases the band’s alternative presence, proving that rock isn’t defined by intensity alone.

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Hoshino Takashi

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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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Gave You EverythingThe Interrupters

The Interrupters – “Gave You Everything”

Gave You EverythingThe Interrupters

This is the song “Gave You Everything” by The Interrupters, a ska-punk band formed in Los Angeles in 2011.

It really evokes ’90s punk! Even before their debut, they caught the eye of RANCID and toured together.

Punk music has been fading from the mainstream in recent years, but could The Interrupters’ breakthrough breathe new life into it? They’re also set to perform at Summer Sonic 2019.

I’m sure they’d be an absolute blast live! Give them a listen—perfect prep before Summer Sonic!

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GloriaThe Lumineers

The Lumineers – Gloria (Lyric Video)

GloriaThe Lumineers

This is the song Gloria by The Lumineers, a band from the United States.

They perform in the folk rock genre, which is still relatively unfamiliar in Japan.

The Lumineers had a major breakthrough with their 2012 release Ho Hey.

The vocalist, Wesley Schultz, has an unforgettable, wonderful voice once you hear it.

It’s a song you’ll want to listen to while camping!

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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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Pretty FlyThe Offspring

The Offspring – Pretty Fly (For A White Guy) (Official Music Video)

Pretty FlyThe Offspring

The flagship of melodic hardcore and pop-punk, The Offspring is also often classified as an alternative rock band.

Their songs are catchy enough to be used in commercials, yet they clearly show strong punk influences.

Alongside Green Day, who broke through around the same time, they helped spark the pop-punk movement and can be said to have had a major impact not only on the rock scene but on pop music as well.

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