Not a fan of most of the genres as a whole Riot Grrl ends up being the one I got the most acts out of, though.
No love for the Boston scene, though.
No love for the Boston scene, though.
Poll: Favorite 90's Alt-Rock Scene
- Thread starter Jazoni89
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All of these scenes were pretty awful. The only scenes I enjoyed in the 1990s that held up for any significant period of time afterward were the San Diego rock scene (i.e. Inch, Drive Like Jehu, Three Mile Pilot, acts that later formed Pinback, Rocket from the Crypt) and the NYC/Brooklyn/Euro jazz/avant/RIO/music scene (i.e. Tim Berne, Fred Frith, Tom Cora, etc...).
Aside from Nirvana and the Meat Puppets, the Seattle grunge scene never really did much to endear me. Everything was far too serious and dreary-sounding (i.e. Alice in Chains penning all those songs about heroin, Soundgarden's dismal vibe), with the exception of Pearl Jam, who always sounded like the worst sort of psuedo-intellectual meatheads, a sort of high-latitudes analogue to the Red Hot Chili Peppers (probably one of my least favorite acts of all time). Outside of Seattle, the overall trend produced some solid acts. One that always sticks in my mind is the California-based band Eleven, whose members worked with Chris Cornell and Queens of the Stone Age in the years to follow.
My favorite 90s record is and was Frank Black's 'Teenager of the Year', a record that couldn't be more non-scene-specific if it tried (since it really just existed in and of itself, even bearing little comparison to all those Pixies records that dumb proto-hipsters were already over-rating at the time).
Aside from Nirvana and the Meat Puppets, the Seattle grunge scene never really did much to endear me. Everything was far too serious and dreary-sounding (i.e. Alice in Chains penning all those songs about heroin, Soundgarden's dismal vibe), with the exception of Pearl Jam, who always sounded like the worst sort of psuedo-intellectual meatheads, a sort of high-latitudes analogue to the Red Hot Chili Peppers (probably one of my least favorite acts of all time). Outside of Seattle, the overall trend produced some solid acts. One that always sticks in my mind is the California-based band Eleven, whose members worked with Chris Cornell and Queens of the Stone Age in the years to follow.
My favorite 90s record is and was Frank Black's 'Teenager of the Year', a record that couldn't be more non-scene-specific if it tried (since it really just existed in and of itself, even bearing little comparison to all those Pixies records that dumb proto-hipsters were already over-rating at the time).
I agree. I can't really choose any of these options because I liked a little bit of what they each brought to the table. Except Riot Grrrl. It's not that I don't like it, it's just that I don't remember it at all.Hoplon said:
Also, you forgot the glory that is the alternative one-hit-wonders! Seriously, how many of you remember anything from:
Live
Tonic
Fuel
Dishwalla
Lifehouse
Stained
Alien Antfarm
Default
Marcy Playground
The Verve
The Verve Pipe
Remy Zero
Eve 6
Nine Days
Lit
Sure, you had a few odd ones who made more than one hit, like The Cranberries, Bush, Third Eye Blind, and Oasis, but they were so very rare compared to the one-hit-wonders. The 90s were a wonderland! A wonderland of single hits! And it was... okay!
Oh, and Moby. Anyone else remember Moby? Ah... good ol' Moby. Still listen to Play every now and again.
Basically what I'm trying to say here is that I miss the 90s.
I only started getting into music when Britpop arrived on the scene. Blur being the stand out. I don't know if you'd count Radiohead among them, but I listened a lot to them too.
I never really got into Grunge. It had kinda already become obsolete by the time I became aware of it.
I never really got into Grunge. It had kinda already become obsolete by the time I became aware of it.
Pop-Punk pop-punk pop-punk pop-punk pop-punk pop-punk pop-punk pop-punk pop-punk. Sorry, this is probably my most low content post ever. But seriously, the whole pop-punk/skate-punk craze pretty much defined my childhood and I would never exchange it for anything else.
Shoegaze, none of those other scenes even come close to it. The era of My Bloody Valentine, Ride and Slowdive was the pinnacle of Alt-Rock in the 90's. All the other scenes are childs play or 2edgy4u in the case of Nu-Metal and Pop Punk.
Still one of the greatest rock tracks ever written:
Too bad there have been very few amazing Shoegaze releases in recent years, the only ones I can think of are LSD and The Search For God's EP, the last MBV album and the Blackgaze scene with Alcest and Les Discrets etc.
Also worth mentioning is the Neo-Psychedelia scene with The Flaming Lips, Spiritualized, Mercury Rev, Spacemen 3, Animal Collective, Olivia Tremor Control and to a degree Neutral Milk Hotel who are a whole different beast entirely.
Still one of the greatest rock tracks ever written:
Too bad there have been very few amazing Shoegaze releases in recent years, the only ones I can think of are LSD and The Search For God's EP, the last MBV album and the Blackgaze scene with Alcest and Les Discrets etc.
Also worth mentioning is the Neo-Psychedelia scene with The Flaming Lips, Spiritualized, Mercury Rev, Spacemen 3, Animal Collective, Olivia Tremor Control and to a degree Neutral Milk Hotel who are a whole different beast entirely.
Maybe it's just my crappy speakers finally giving up the ghost, but that just sounded like 7 minutes of obnoxious noise.xplosive59 said:
Of the options posted I'd say grunge without question. Nirvana were one of my gateway bands into music and I still regularly listen to AiC and Soundgarden now.
That's the whole point of it, drony textured guitars where the vocals are mainly used as a instrument itself. They are considered one of the loudest bands for a reason. I saw them live recently, and they were absolutely fantastic...anonymity88 said:
Other bands in Shoegaze however don't sound as noisy as MBV, and some even take cues from the Grunge scene such as Swervedriver.
Dam at Otter Creek, Iris, I Alone, Selling The Drama, Gas Head Goes West, Lakini's Juice ... ... Shall I continue?War Penguin said:
OT: I'd say my musical tastes during the 90's were roughly split between Grunge and Britpop. 90's music was bloody brilliant.
That is kind of the point... The entire basis for Shoegaze is noise, atmosphere and a shit-tonne of guitar effects layered to hell and back. Not all Shoegaze bands are as noisy as MBV but the entire basis for it comes from Noise Rock and can even be compared to the No-Wave scene which launched the band Swans which I am sure you know of.anonymity88 said:
Not all of it is so abrasive:
I don't get a grunge vibe from that, it has a huge Stoner Rock feel to it like Kyuss or Sleep. Not so far as Electric Wizard, but I wouldn't say it is grunge from listening to that.Evil Smurf said:
I despise the term Nu Metal, it's a term invented big bigoted "true-metal-only"-people, slapped on anything they don't like.
If you are one of those that like to go around calling Slipknot "nu metal shit", then you deserve to be punched in the throat. Seriously.
If you are one of those that like to go around calling Slipknot "nu metal shit", then you deserve to be punched in the throat. Seriously.
Cool post man. Looks like you put a good deal of effort into it.
I can't say I remember much of the 90's, having been born in the middle of it, but as for what genre defines the 90's the most, I'd say Pop Punk. To me just about every Offspring, Green Day, Blink and Pennywise song and music video seems to totally represent that period and the attitudes of its generation. Someone says 90's and I immediately think of something like the music video for Longview with Billie Joe sitting on his ass doing nothing all day.
As for personal preference I'm gonna go with Grunge. Soundgarden's Badmotorfinger, AIC's Dirt, Smashing Pumpkins Gish (if that counts, I still dunno what the hell they are exactly), and a ton of others, bloody timeless.
I can't say I remember much of the 90's, having been born in the middle of it, but as for what genre defines the 90's the most, I'd say Pop Punk. To me just about every Offspring, Green Day, Blink and Pennywise song and music video seems to totally represent that period and the attitudes of its generation. Someone says 90's and I immediately think of something like the music video for Longview with Billie Joe sitting on his ass doing nothing all day.
As for personal preference I'm gonna go with Grunge. Soundgarden's Badmotorfinger, AIC's Dirt, Smashing Pumpkins Gish (if that counts, I still dunno what the hell they are exactly), and a ton of others, bloody timeless.
Music wise me too. they can keep the horrible clothing and the lack of decent internet though. ;DWar Penguin said:I agree. I can't really choose any of these options because I liked a little bit of what they each brought to the table. Except Riot Grrrl. It's not that I don't like it, it's just that I don't remember it at all.Hoplon said:
Also, you forgot the glory that is the alternative one-hit-wonders! Seriously, how many of you remember anything from:
Live
Tonic
Fuel
Dishwalla
Lifehouse
Stained
Alien Antfarm
Default
Marcy Playground
The Verve
The Verve Pipe
Remy Zero
Eve 6
Nine Days
Lit
Sure, you had a few odd ones who made more than one hit, like The Cranberries, Bush, Third Eye Blind, and Oasis, but they were so very rare compared to the one-hit-wonders. The 90s were a wonderland! A wonderland of single hits! And it was... okay!
Oh, and Moby. Anyone else remember Moby? Ah... good ol' Moby. Still listen to Play every now and again.
Basically what I'm trying to say here is that I miss the 90s.
What? No mention of Neo-Phsychedelic? Spacemen 3 will not be pleased OP
I grew up listening to the Madchester and Britpop bands in the 90s, they helped define my musical taste when I first really started to get into music and so I have a great love for them. Yes even Oasis, haters can hate they were great. My favourite 90s Alt genre has to be Shoegaze though, there is just something about ridiculous levels of feedback that appeals to me. As for the other genres in the poll I also like a lot of bands that would fall into those genres.
The 90s was a really good decade for music looking back... at least if you ignore the boybands... and the spice girls... and the clothing.
I grew up listening to the Madchester and Britpop bands in the 90s, they helped define my musical taste when I first really started to get into music and so I have a great love for them. Yes even Oasis, haters can hate they were great. My favourite 90s Alt genre has to be Shoegaze though, there is just something about ridiculous levels of feedback that appeals to me. As for the other genres in the poll I also like a lot of bands that would fall into those genres.
The 90s was a really good decade for music looking back... at least if you ignore the boybands... and the spice girls... and the clothing.
Neo-Psychedelica was more of a 80's thing, the scene turned more into Space Rock by the 90's, but that was mostly encompassing Noise, Ambient and Shoegaze, as well as Psychedelic obviously.The Artificially Prolonged said:What? No mention of Neo-Phsychedelic? Spacemen 3 will not be pleased OP
I grew up listening to the Madchester and Britpop bands in the 90s, they helped define my musical taste when I first really started to get into music and so I have a great love for them. Yes even Oasis, haters can hate they were great. My favourite 90s Alt genre has to be Shoegaze though, there is just something about ridiculous levels of feedback that appeals to me. As for the other genres in the poll I also like a lot of bands that would fall into those genres.
The 90s was a really good decade for music looking back... at least if you ignore the boybands... and the spice girls... and the clothing.
I was also going to include Slowcore, Ska-Punk, or Post-Rock, but i don't think that the scenes were all that significant, or influential at the time, or if there was any real scene at all (with Slowcore it's very debatable). It just a question of too many genres, too little space...I love them all though.
Also, I always preferred Jason Piece's other band Spiritualized, over Spacemen 3. Ladies and Gentlemen, is one of my favorite 90's albums.
