et ready to rock down memory lane with our epic countdown of 90s rock tracks that time forgot! From grunge to alternative, we're diving deep into the most underrated and awesome tunes that defined a decade of musical rebellion and raw emotion.
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00:00You know I love it when the music's bad.
00:04Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for those dark horse jams from the decade of indie, grunge, and late-period arena rock, the 90s.
00:12And there she was.
00:20It would perhaps be easy to label Los Angeles' L7 as merely a product of the 90s,
00:25since Pretend We're Dead was a hit for the group during this time.
00:28What's up with what's going down, in every city and every town?
00:36Yet L7 was actually formed back in the mid-80s, and continued rocking long after fickle fans folded their flannel.
00:42Pretend We're Dead remains a hard-rocking tune with a cool main hook.
00:45Turn the tables with our unity, they're neither full nor majority.
00:53The vocals are monotonous and snotty in the best possible way,
00:57while the fuzzed-out guitars embrace that 90s grunge aesthetic without forgetting L7's predominantly punk past.
01:05The song has lived on in other media, most notably the Grand Theft Auto video game series.
01:17Maybe it was something in the water over in the United Kingdom,
01:20or perhaps the 90s were just a welcoming decade for powerful female-fronted rock.
01:31Whatever the case, England's Republica struck gold at the
01:34poppier end of that alternative spectrum with 1996's Ready to Go.
01:44The guitars here are processed to oblivion, yet retain a certain edge to them,
01:48while the electronic-sounding drums lend the tune a vibe that wouldn't sound out of place in a dance club.
01:58Meanwhile, Saffron leads the charge with a lead vocal that's soaring and melodic,
02:03shouting out that catchy AF chorus for all to hear.
02:06Former Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Zach Wilde wanted to try something different after departing the Ozzman's Band.
02:22Pride and Glory was that tentative first musical step before Wilde would lead a killer solo career
02:27and black label society. Losing Your Mind is notably less modern-sounding than BLS, but no
02:32less heavy. The vibe here is much more classic and southern rock-influenced than anything Wilde
02:37performed with Ozzy, yet the song never forgets to leave plenty of room for Wilde to display his fiery fretboard gymnastics.
02:50Elsewhere, the rhythm section of former White Lion members James Lomenzo and Greg D'Angelo
03:02holds down a solid and swampy groove throughout Losing Your Mind.
03:05Now you're just losing your mind.
03:15This 90s single by the band Fastball lyrically adapts the 1997 disappearance case of Lila and Raymond Howard.
03:26The couple both had ailments that investigators felt contributed to them becoming disoriented,
03:31lost, and eventually found deceased miles away from their destination.
03:35The Way offers an alternative explanation of happiness and relief from their world's worries,
03:40while the musical approach feels nostalgic for an older era.
03:49The guitar work jangles along, and the brief lead guitar breaks offer a satisfying musicality
03:54that was notably more involved than some of Fastball's contemporaries.
04:02The Way is just a cool song with an interesting backstory, and that is enough for us.
04:24This case of Matthew Sweet is another where an artist's peak creative period doesn't necessarily represent the span of a career.
04:31Sweet cut his teeth back in the 80s, prior to Sick of Myself rising up the Billboard charts in 1995.
04:44Yet his fifth album, 100% Fun, feels capital-N 90s from top to bottom.
04:54This isn't necessarily a bad thing, depending on your point of view, since Sick of Myself is
04:58undeniably catchy. Sweet's guitar playing fills a power pop void,
05:02while also containing the soul of a singer-songwriter.
05:09Sick of Myself also boasts a cool guitar solo from Sweet that helped remind fans
05:13that not everything released during the 90s was grungy and depressing.
05:28It's a common misconception that hair metal's dominance solely resided in the 1980s.
05:39There was actually a wealth of popular acts from this era that achieved major chart success during
05:44the early 90s. Saigon Kick was unquestionably one of those groups. Healing broken hearts
05:49across the world with their defining power ballad, Love is on the Way.
05:58The group actually earned critical acclaim for the variety of styles contained within their
06:03sophomore album, The Lizard. Yet this hard-rocking affair is primarily remembered today for how Love
06:16is on the Way shines with an impeccably produced acoustic approach, peppered with soaring vocal
06:20harmonies. On the one hand, we get it. Terrestrial rock radio fans are probably
06:35surprised to see this on our list. That's because Santa Monica by Everclear continues to be something
06:43of a mainstay for once-cutting-edge 90s rock stations that now find themselves becoming
06:47heritage radio. This isn't really a slight since the actual composition of Santa Monica is both
06:57economical and memorable. Everclear knew they had a good riff and hammered it home with a chorus
07:02that was equally infectious and catchy. Fans at the time also seemed to agree that Santa Monica
07:12helped Everclear's album sparkle and fade to achieve platinum status.
07:22The tragically unexpected death of Firehouse frontman C.J. Snare in 2024 helped remind
07:27older fans of just how good this North Carolina metal band was back in their day.
07:34All She Wrote was one of many hits Firehouse attained during their career as a certified
07:38hair metal banger. The song's unapologetically poppy arrangement feels more than a bit indebted
07:49to Round and Round by Rat, but who cares? The harmonized lead guitar breaks rip, the chorus
07:54is to die for, and Snare's melodic voice brings it all home. Firehouse would venture down musical
08:05avenues that were both heavier and more subdued, yet it was the success of All She Wrote that
08:09earned Firehouse the love of their fans. The 2024 announcement of Oasis' reunion and forthcoming
08:23tour schedule sent a lot of 90s rock fans into overdrive, breaking out their CDs and cassettes.
08:28Nostalgia is a seductive beast after all, and we're betting that cigarettes and alcohol got
08:37added to a number of retro playlists. This tune was taken from Oasis' debut album Definitely
08:42Maybe and presented a hard-rocking edge that instantly had radio listeners sitting up to take
08:47notice. Soon, Oasis would dominate charts both at home in the UK and on an international level,
08:58but it was songs like Cigarettes and Alcohol that helped pave the way.
09:0721. I Stand Alone – Jackal
09:10The lineup of Woodstock 94 may have been dominated by the alternative rock and hip-hop
09:15of the day, but fans of a certain age just might remember how a little band called Jackal arguably
09:20stole the show. Included in their set was I Stand Alone, a rip-roaring tune taken from
09:33Jackal's self-titled debut from 1992. The group notably combined a glam metal style with tons of
09:39southern rock swagger. I Stand Alone possesses an absolutely killer main riff, alongside a
09:52preening and polished production style that successfully straddles 80s excess and 90s
09:56attitude. This can also be seen within the accompanying video, which shows Jackal
10:05performing the tune before a crowd protesting Kmart's banning of their album.
10:1220. My Sister – Juliana Hatfield 3
10:16Juliana Hatfield was part of multiple notable alternative rock bands, including Blake Babies
10:21and the Lemonheads. However, arguably her most recognized work was with her own band,
10:26the Juliana Hatfield 3. Lyrically, Hatfield's most successful single is about loving one's
10:39female sibling, even with her flaws. However, Hatfield isn't exactly singing from personal
10:44experience, as she doesn't actually have any biological sisters. But that doesn't diminish
10:55how much raw emotion Hatfield and the rest of the band put into this song. You might not want
11:01to sing it at your sister's wedding, but you cannot deny the feelings it conjures.
11:1219. Down – Stone Temple Pilots Stone Temple Pilots are rightfully recognized
11:18as one of the best bands of their era. But their late 90s work deserves as much appreciation as
11:23their early 90s material. Case in point, Down. Released at the end of the decade,
11:33this Grammy-nominated single defied the notion that grunge was a flash-in-the-pan sound.
11:38Built on thundering riffs and beats that should appeal to most any metalhead,
11:42Down is Stone Temple Pilots getting down and dirty, with great results.
11:46Scott Weiland's shift between a seductive whisper and a raging bellow lends plenty of
11:57atmosphere to a track already full of it. And we cannot forget Dean DeLeo's scorching guitar
12:02solo either. If you're looking for an incredible blast of pure 90s rock energy, turn up Down.
12:0918. Free To Decide – The Cranberries Iconic tracks like Linger and Zombie
12:20made The Cranberries a beloved band. And their accomplishments did not stop there.
12:30Like many popular bands, The Cranberries had to deal with their share of scrutiny and negative
12:35attention. But they didn't take it lying down. Free To Decide finds the band fighting back and
12:40fighting hard. Dolores O'Riordan addresses her critics head-on, letting them know that she's
12:53gonna do what she wants to do, not what anyone else thinks she should. While she's not the first
12:58artist to address this topic, few have done it with the same level of passion and beauty.
13:03Anyone seeking to assert their independence and embrace personal freedom should listen to this song.
13:1417. Feel The Pain – Dinosaur Jr. Though the classic Dinosaur Jr. lineup
13:20reunited in the 2000s, they went through some drama in the early years.
13:25Without a Sound was the first Dino Jr. album to only feature one original member,
13:33singer and guitar wizard Jay Maskis. On this song, he showed how much he could do,
13:39even without his old bandmates around. Feel The Pain is short on specifics but heavy on resonance.
13:45Maskis sings about absorbing others' anguish and the resulting emptiness with undramatic frankness.
13:54If that sounds like too much of a downer, he also makes sure to bring in some marvelous guitar and
13:59drum work. It might not get you out of a negative mood entirely, but it will hopefully help you feel
14:04a little less alone. 16. Seether – Veruca Salt
14:13Though grunge and bubblegum pop might seem like they're genres inherently at odds with each other,
14:18skilled artists know how to fuse them together. Case in point, Veruca Salt, who showed that they
14:29could be catchy without being sanitized on this song. Seether is truly a song for when you're
14:34seething. Addressing the needlessly taboo topic of female anger, Seether turns rage into a living
14:40being that cannot be vanquished or ignored. Anger is a natural emotion that should be dealt
14:52with in a constructive manner, and this song is a prime example of those feelings being processed
14:57through pure creative energy. 15. Plowed – Sponge
15:08While they might not be the most famous musicians out of Detroit,
15:12these rockers still made an impression on the charts.
15:19Their biggest hit, Plowed, feels like it's driving itself into your mind from beginning to end.
15:24Once the momentum starts, it doesn't let up, with raspy frontman Vinnie Dombrowski and the
15:29rest of the band giving it their all on verses and chorus alike. Although the
15:38lyrics aren't exactly cheerful, they aren't totally despondent either.
15:41Plowed is a song for taking what life throws at you and plowing on ahead.
15:5114. Midlife Crisis – Faith No More
15:54Faith No More got to the number one spot on the Modern Rock Tracks chart with a song reportedly
15:59inspired by another chart-topper. Originally, this song was known as Madonna, and while it
16:09doesn't name-check or even allude to the queen of pop, it does show Faith No More's ability to
16:13take inspiration from various sources to create something truly unique. With its blend of metal,
16:23hip-hop, and prog, Midlife Crisis seems like it should be an unholy mess. But there's a method
16:28behind this madness, particularly in frontman Mike Patton's full-bodied vocal performance.
16:34If only real Midlife Crisis could be as invigorating as this song.
16:4113. I'm Afraid of Americans – David Bowie
16:44Speaking of Midlife Crisis, some might think a veteran artist delving into trendy sounds like
16:49industrial and drum and bass is a cry for help. But David Bowie was not just any artist.
16:58Known for his chameleonic shifts between genres and personas, Bowie proved he was
17:03as vital in the 90s as he was in the 70s and 80s with I'm Afraid of Americans.
17:08A collaboration with longtime creative partner Brian Eno,
17:11this song finds Bowie doing what he does best while also trying new things.
17:18The result is something that feels both timeless and forward-thinking,
17:22much like all of his best work. Bowie might have been afraid of Americans,
17:26but we're afraid of a world without this song.
17:2812. Supernova – Liz Phair
17:37There's no champagne in the Supernova, but it's still plenty special.
17:47On this irresistible cut from her second album, Liz Phair sings about falling in love.
17:52But this isn't just any love song. Supernova has Phair talking about
17:56the object of her affection with unabashed enthusiasm.
18:06Though there's talk of things like physical attributes and bedroom skills,
18:09the song manages to avoid vulgarity. Instead, it manages to be both effortlessly cool while
18:15also heartwarming in its enthusiasm and energy. If you've ever been madly in love,
18:20you probably know exactly what Phair is talking about here.
18:2611. Pardon Me – Incubus
18:33Though Incubus had been around for much of the 90s, it was the end of the decade when things
18:38really started to pick up for them. Their first charting single, Pardon Me,
18:47was written at a particularly tumultuous time for Brandon Boyd, and learning about
18:51the disturbing concept of spontaneous human combustion helped him to bring this song to life.
18:56Its title might sound polite and unassuming, but Pardon Me is anything but. Instead,
19:07it is a striking study of early 20s alienation and confusion that's moody, unhinged, and brilliant
19:13in equal measure. And even if you've made it through a tough period of your life,
19:18it should still strike a chord.
19:1910. Black Balloon – Goo Goo Dolls
19:32When people think of the Goo Goo Dolls, their minds inevitably drift to Iris,
19:35the band's record-breaking power ballad from 1999. However, that was far from their
19:40only 90s-era hit, as proven by the brilliance that is Black Balloon.
19:44The song, which tells the story of a desperate man's attempts to get his lover off heroin,
19:53peaked at number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, but never quite matched the hype of Iris.
19:59And that's not exactly a surprise, as Black Balloon is modest in its approach,
20:03telling a very different kind of story.
20:059. Uninvited – Alanis Morissette
20:18Released in 1998, Uninvited sold more than 7 million copies, peaked at number one on the
20:24Billboard Top 40, and earned Morissette three Grammy nominations. She won two of them,
20:29as well as picking up a Golden Globe nomination for Best Original Song.
20:36You're probably wondering how anyone could forget how awesome this alt-rock classic is,
20:43and to answer that, we have three words. Jagged Little Pill.
20:47The Canadian singer's breakthrough album produced a slew of iconic tracks,
20:51and more often than not, they're the ones that make it onto the web's best songs of the 90s lists.
20:55But we've never forgotten this subtle and mysterious tune, and continue to play it whenever we can.
21:058. Popular – Nada Surf
21:13Popular was extremely popular when it first hit the airwaves back in 1996.
21:18The track not only served as the obligatory party anthem for teenagers everywhere,
21:22but also helped to drive Nada Surf's debut album to number 63 on the Billboard charts.
21:28While the band went on to release eight additional albums, none of their songs was able to capture the
21:37hearts of music lovers quite like Popular. Peaking early has been the curse of many
21:41bands throughout the years, and Nada Surf appears to have suffered a similar fate.
21:45As such, we doubt many of you had this track in mind when our video began.
21:537. My Own Worst Enemy – Lit
21:57Featuring a driving guitar riff that would blow people's hair back in any decade,
22:05My Own Worst Enemy is as awesome today as it was when it was released in 1999.
22:10How people forget about this track is a bit of a mystery, as it's pretty much got it all. Relatable
22:16lyrics, a memorable hook, and a pop-punk sound that, while dated, has never lost its flavor.
22:21Nevertheless, it's a throwback that often seems to be overlooked.
22:28My Own Worst Enemy remains one of the band's most successful tracks, and for good reason.
22:366. Take a Picture – Filter
22:43The second single released off of their sophomore album, Title of Record,
22:47Take a Picture dominated the airwaves soon after its release in the fall of 1999.
22:51The dreamy lyrics were inspired by lead singer Richard Patrick's own experiences
22:55of not being able to remember his drunken escapades and asking his girlfriend at the
23:00time to, quote, take my picture cause I won't remember. We're gonna go ahead and attribute
23:08the fact that people forget all about this song to Filter's lack of a follow-up hit in the ensuing
23:12years. With that being said, Take a Picture is still a blast to listen to thanks to its ubiquitous
23:17sound and catchy chorus. 5. Inside Out – Eve Six
23:32Winning Grammys and breaking records is all well and good, but what's most important is
23:36having good lyrics and a catchy melody. Thankfully for Eve Six, their 1998 alt-rock song,
23:42Inside Out, had both in spades. Like, come on, how can you not absolutely love a line like,
23:53wanna put my tender heart in a blender, watch it spin around to a beautiful oblivion?
23:57The heartfelt delivery of Max Collins' eclectic lyrics, combined with the track's driving rhythm,
24:02made Inside Out one of the 90s' most addictive songs.
24:054. What It's Like – Everlast Six years after dropping one of the most
24:18iconic party tracks of all time with Jump Around, House of Pain co-founder Everlast decided to
24:23branch out on his own. As a solo artist, he took his sound in an entirely new direction,
24:29and the result was songs like What It's Like.
24:31A fusion of rock, blues, and hip-hop, the song introduces listeners to three different characters,
24:40all of whom are suffering in one way or another. This melancholy track surprised
24:44the music world by being one of the most successful crossover songs of the year.
24:523. Sex and Candy – Marcy Playground
24:55The second single off their eponymous 1997 debut album,
25:03Sex and Candy proved to be the band's only major hit. But what a hit it was.
25:07The atmospheric track about, well, we don't really know what it's about, propelled the
25:11band to the top of the Modern Rock Tracks chart, a spot they held for a then-record 15 weeks.
25:17The song features a slow backbeat and some seriously cryptic lyrics,
25:26but that just makes the case for Sex and Candy's effortless coolness even stronger.
25:30You may still hear it on the radio from time to time, a testament to its staying power.
25:382. Only Happy When It Rains – Garbage
25:41If you lived through the 90s, then you will definitely remember this iconic alt-rock track.
25:49Only Happy When It Rains was a hit with fans and critics alike, with one going so far as to quip,
25:55quote, if you're not playing this, you don't have a pulse.
26:02The highlight of the track is unquestionably Shirley Manson's vocal performance,
26:06which seemingly affirms the grunge music scene of the era.
26:09But once you dig a little deeper, you'll find a song that is mocking grunge,
26:13alt-rock, and even garbage themselves. The song was a sign of things to come
26:18for a band that would ultimately be nominated for seven Grammys.
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26:421. Jumper – Third Eye Blind
26:49Coming in at number one is a song whose brilliance should never be forgotten.
26:53Jumper has a message that's as relevant today as it was in 1998.
26:57It's dark, uplifting, sentimental, and catchy all at the same time.
27:02A song that's equally at home being played loudly in the car
27:05or on an acoustic guitar around a campfire.
27:12The song remains one of Third Eye Blind's most successful,
27:15having peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100.
27:18It's the earnest lyrics and smile-inducing melody that make Jumper a 90s classic,
27:22not awards or commercial recognition.
27:32Were you a grunge defender or an 80s metal apologist? Sound off in the comments.
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