Posted in: Rock by jharmon on May 31st, 2009 | 6 Comments
This list of albums proves grunge isn’t dead. It’s just an MP3 away.
1989 must have been a prime year for early grunge, because that’s when this album was released. Some might find this album a strange listing since to many ears it seems almost more true to heavy metal, maybe even glam metal. Not so. Pay attention to the lyrics. Soundgarden is lampooningheavy and glam metal here, all the while still dealing with some dark stuff. An excellent album from an excellent band. Wish they were still around. One great thing about this album is you get to hear Soundgarden before they hit big, and before their sound became all cleaned up (not that the band still didn’t sound good, just different).
This album actually comes a couple of years after the death of the band’s lead singer, Andrew Wood, in 1992. It’s a compilation album from earlier works by Mother Love Bone, practically a tribute album to Wood. I suggest this album over other, earlier works from the band because it brings so much together. You’ll find nearly all the band’s earlier stuff in these tracks. Mother Love Bone has been considered a grunge band, though they were a bit different than what the mainstream music listener has come to thing of as grunge. Sure, this band had some heavy stuff, but they also had fun songs and some downright love songs. The two songs put together, “Chloe Dancer/Crown of Thorns,” is a standout, and one of the most beautiful songs ever recorded.
This is one of the few bands that’s been labeled grunge even though they didn’t come out of the Seattle sound. Smashing Pumpkins is from Chicago. And this, their second album was released in 1993. Sure, this album came out a little after grunge had hit big, and it wasn’t the huge concept double-album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadnessthe band would put out in 1995, but it’s not only a good album, it’s a great album showing the variety of styles and lyrics available from Billy Corgan and group. It’s got some real heavy tunes, and some softer pop sounds. A little for everybody.
The movie might have been fairly forgettable, but this soundtrack from 1992 isn’t. You’ve got song from Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, Mudhoney, Screaming Trees, even Jimi Hendrix. And more. Plenty more. Seriously, a grunge fan couldn’t ask for a better mix of bands and songs than can be found on this one album. Many of the songs are difficult to find anywhere else.
This is the only post grunge album to make this list, I promise. And despite the poppy, radio-friendly tune “Tomorrow” being a track here and the fact the band members were only 15 and 16 years old when this album was released in 1995, this album still rocks with the best of them. Sure, it’s not as deep as anything Kurt Cobain ever wrote, but there’s still some quality lyric writing here. And the sounds come right out of Black Sabbath and later Nirvana. Don’t be a dweeb and think you’re too good for this album. Give it a try. Truly, it thumps.
Ooooo, it’s a fairly modern band. They couldn’t possibly be grunge! Get over yourself. The early Seattle scene was about diversification in music, not just about heavy metal and punk. Sure, The White Stripes isn’t a grunge band, and they’re not really one of the radio-friendly post-grunge bands, but Jack and Meg White have a lot in common with grunge. The White Stripes’ big influences are blues, punk, country and to a much lesser extent, heavy metal. I think that combination qualifies them to be perfect for grunge fans, especially this album from 1999. The White Stripes was a garage band early on, and it shows through in this album with all the rough edges to Jack’s guitar and the steaming quality of the slide on a few songs here. My favorite song here? “The Big Three Killed My Baby.” But the cover of Bob Dylan’s “One More Cup of Coffee” comes darn close.
cybertruth May 31st, 2009 at 12:07 pm
i love that you added black flag to the list…im old enough that i actually saw them live. i would, however, have added nevermind. bleach was an amazing album, but love it or hate it, teen spirit really did effectively launch the revolution.
Reese Skyler September 23rd, 2009 at 3:37 am
I agree that “Nevermind” played a huge role in the success of most all of the seattle movement.
I also feel that “Dirt”, by Alice in Chains should be on here.
Songs like “Hate to feel”, “God Smack” and “Junkhead”greatly influenced my writing style.
Not to mention “Man in the Box” from the Facelift album that had a kick ass music video as well.
Love all the albums though, Great to see another fan.
jharmon September 23rd, 2009 at 10:26 am
Reese, thanks for the comment. You’re right that “Dirt” (and at least a couple of other albums) could easily have been on this list. The only reason I didn’t include them is because I felt Alice in Chains was covered somewhat since the song “Would?” is on the Singles soundtrack.
Jamie October 22nd, 2009 at 10:37 pm
In Australia we used the word grunge alot in the early 80s for slow punk. I think our bands were popular with people from Mudhoney. Check out Aussie bands like Bloodloss, and King Snake Roost, Scientists, Lubricated Goat.
Grunge was invented in Adelaide in the early 80s. Then we took it to Seatle. Guy Maddison who plays bass with mudhoney, is Australian.
oo-tsav June 4th, 2010 at 7:37 am
definately bleach is the best album ever!
yoav April 8th, 2011 at 6:45 am
no pearl jam? denied?