Despite Weezer being, arguably, one of the few alt-rock superstar bands of the '90s still in existence--and one whose music I've always enjoyed--this was only the second time I'd seen them, and the first was only because they were on a double-bill with the Foo Fighters.
So it got me thinking about where I'd place them in the pantheon of alternative rock bands. Thus, I started making this list.
Initially I was only thinking in terms of acts from the '90s, but in being unsure if I should also consider music made since then, I decided to go back 25 years.
Even this, like all list making attempts, is of course imprecise.
First of all, what defines alternative?
It seems that once Nirvana rolled around, alternative music became the mainstream. And nowadays, "alternative" seems to be a dead moniker, with alternative rock stations--like Chicago's Q101--having bitten the dust.
But, as a rough qualifier for inclusion on this list, the following artists (mostly bands, but not just) are ones I would have expected to hear on an alternative rock radio station (with new music) over the past 25 years. Thus no Guns 'n Roses, Metallica, Bruce Springsteen or presumably Adele, but a pretty wide swath otherwise. And if you're unclear what makes Elvis Costello, post-87, any more "alternative" than Tom Petty, you've got a pretty good point. As I said, this is imprecise.
Though the 25 year span largely covers the rise of alternative era--from the origins of The Pixies and Jane's Addition through the grunge explosion, the birth of Lollapalooza and everything since--it too is an imperfect demarcation, as it leaves out much punk, which I tend to consider alternative.
Though the whole list is obviously based on my own preferences and whims, I tried to gauge artists only by the music they made within the 1987-2012 range. Thus I left out otherwise extremely deserving bands like The Smiths, Husker Du, Talking Heads and Ramones, who were either on their last legs by '87 or no longer producing their best music. For included acts whose careers pre-date 1987, I tried to only reflect their work since them, not their overall output. In many cases, I was able to factor in the band as a live act, but some I've never seen.
And since this is my list, I could only include artists whose music I know pretty well and enjoy, so no Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, My Bloody Valentine, Ministry, Tool, Guided by Voices, Built to Spill, Sleater-Kinney, Portishead or others that you might include (additional "also-rans" are included after the top 100).
So take it for what it's worth--if I made the same list tomorrow, it would likely be ordered slighly differently--but this is how I rate the 100 Best Alternative Rock Bands (and Solo Acts) of the Past 25 Years:
2. U2
3. R.E.M.
4. Pearl Jam
5. The Smashing Pumpkins (+ Zwan)
6. Radiohead
7. The Replacements (+ Paul Westerberg solo)
8. Midnight Oil
9. Green Day
10. Soundgarden
11. The Cure
12. Foo Fighters
13. Red Hot Chili Peppers
14. Dinosaur Jr.
15. Nine Inch Nails
16. The Pixies
17. Arcade Fire
18. The Flaming Lips
19. The Beastie Boys
21. Depeche Mode
22. Blur
23. Wilco
24. The White Stripes
25. The Killers
26. Weezer
27. Bob Mould (including Sugar)
28. Jane's Addiction
29. System of a Down
30. Stone Temple Pilots
31. Paul Weller
32. Rage Against The Machine
33. Elvis Costello (remember, this is '87 onward)
34. Phish
35. Smoking Popes
36. Stereophonics
37. The Waterboys
38. Garbage
40. BoDeans
41. Maximo Park
42. Ash
43. Social Distortion
44. Oasis
45. Sonic Youth
46. No Doubt
47. Coldplay
48. Counting Crows
49. Teenage Fanclub
50. Material Issue
51. Pulp
52. Moby
53. LCD Soundsystem
54. Alice in Chains
55. The Lemonheads
56. Screaming Trees
57. Everclear
59. The Wallflowers
60. Faith No More
61. Stone Roses
62. Liz Phair
63. Snow Patrol
64. Hole
65. Urge Overkill
66. Supergrass
67. Manic Street Preachers
68. Pavement
69. Mudhoney
70. Cracker
71. Muse
72. Incubus
73. Live
74. Alanis Morrisette
75. Franz Ferdinand
77. The Cranberries
78. The Wedding Present
79. PJ Harvey
80. The Jesus and Mary Chain
81. Blink 182
82. Suede
83. Placebo
84. The Charlatans UK
85. Matthew Sweet
86. The Tragically Hip
87. Fishbone
88. Dave Matthews Band
89. The Fratellis
90. Local H
91. The Decemberists
92. Kaiser Chiefs
93. Bush
95. Sponge
96. TV on the Radio
97. Son Volt
98. The Hold Steady
99. Feeder
100. Soul Coughing
Assorted Others in No Particular Order
Primal Scream
Arctic Monkeys
James
My Morning Jacket
Keane
Rancid
Soul Asylum
Linkin Park
Mission of Burma
Fastball
The La's
Uncle Tupelo
Goo Goo Dolls
Toad the Wet Sprocket
Queens of the Stone Age
Primus
Sublime
Korn
Death Cab for Cutie
My Chemical Romance
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
My Bloody Valentine
Ministry
Tool
311
Guided by Voices
Built to Spill
Sleater-Kinney
Portishead
Sloan
30 comments:
So who did I miss? Following are some additional candidates that were suggested to me, or that I recalled after making my list.
I don't consider any of them egregious oversights, with only a few that I might consider deserving of a Top 100 spot.
The Black Keys
Fleet Foxes
Elastica
At The Drive In
The National
Modest Mouse
Bad Religion
Kid Rock - Not sure he's alternative
Sublime
The Cult
The Church
INXS - Was never that big a fan
Morrissey - I'm not all that familiar with his solo work
Neutral Milk Hotel
The Eels
L7
The Breeders
The Verve
Veruca Salt
Who else is still missing?
I won't argue with your list especially the first 10. I love these bands. Although The Bush and The Offspring are way down under but they're still in the list.
I remember now my friend Tim Jones in Spokane. He plays in a band and on tour.
This list is great, but The Brian Jonestown Massacre should be up here somewhere man.
Thank you for sharing this post. Well, many may not concur with your choices but it is your choice and people should respect that. If not, then they just have to make their own list. Anyway, I would say that there are several pop rock bands out there and I even had to search some of these just to recall them. Let us just be thankful that these musicians have shared their talent to us! By the way, you got a great collection.
Coldplay should be higher on the list and mumford and sons should be on the list.
Mumford and sons isn't alternative..... its more indie....
Linkin park man, it's missing.
Alice in Chains is way too low, they should be top 10 AT LEAST if you don't agree then you haven't really listened to them
One Republic!
hey, pretty good job! alot more
credible than any rolling stone list i have ever seen.
great job, totally agree with the replacements in the top ten ... such an underrated band. though i do think new order should be somewhere and elvis costello produced excellent music after 1986 ... veronica? also what about 10,000 maniacs?
What about Paramore and 3 Days Gace? They should be up there. Except Paramore is a more pop-rock band.
What about the all american rejects and sum 41?!?!
Faith no more at 60?? They should be if not Top 10..then atleast in Top 20
Honestly I am offended that the most talented band of the seattle grunge scene, and by far the most talented vocalist of the same scene is disgraced at #54. Alice in chains blows nirvana out of the water, and Layne Staley's vocal ability and range was not touched by any of the other 3 major grunge groups lead vocalists of nirvana, pearl jam, and soundgarden. Also we should note that only 2 of these 4 are still together and recording. These 2 are alice in chains, and pearl jam although pearl jam is only recently back. Seriously Alice in Chains should rank above all of these bands and Ithink deserve a top ten all time.
Breaking Benjamin possibly??
Seether... Alter bridge... Awesome alternative bands. Most definitely should be on the list.
WHY ARE PIXIES NOT ON THE LIST!? ONLY THE MOST INFLUENTAL AMERICAN ALT ROCK BAND OF THE 80s and 90s!
To the Pixies question, they are at #16.
Re: Alice in Chains, I liked and respected them but never quite loved on par with Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden. What albums do you think might convince me otherwise.
Per Faith No More, I loved The Real Thing and Angel Dust, lost track after that, and other than "Epic" can't say I revisit them often.
The Afghan Whigs?
You put Alice in chains behind Moby? ETF dude!!!
Kings of Leon?
What about operation ivy?
what about kings of Leon, third eye blind, afghan whigs, surgar ray, operation ivy, seven Mary three, candlebox, tantric, stabbing westward and helmet?
Come on! Muse should be WAY higher than it is. It should be in top 5. OneRepublic should be added too, it has some wonderful songs. Imagine Dragons too maybe.
I must be way old. I did not see Joy Division, New Order, English Beat, PIL, Fugazi, Jesus and MaryChain....
Regarding the latest comment: Several terrific bands, but to my familiarity none that did their best work (if at all) after 1987, which is what this list covers.
Nirvana is the best alternative band of all time. I grew up with their songs when I was in high school. They are a very talented and hard to beat band. Thank you for making it number one. Nirvana rules!
Great list, very hard to define alternative since it defines such a wide range. Your list brings back memories and emotions of youth, flashbacks of so many different stories. Wish I still had all my CD's now, and some casettes. If we are using popularity as a measuring stick (which I think you are, slightly)a few more bands could be mentioned considering the pop-punk explosion (loved and hated it-love punk and emo) and synth dance-pop alternative of today. Here are a few:
my chemical romance, brand new, new found glory, promise ring, the get-up kids, jimmy eat world, fall-out boy, sunny day realestate, manchester orcherstra, phoenix, portugal the man, bloc party, passion pit, the mars volta
in a few years: cage the elephant.
I love jonah montranga's stuff, not sure if he has a band that makes it though. Also love knapsack and then the jealous sound, but don't think they cut it.
Great list, but since a saw some punk bands on their, these may fight for a spot.
Wait, did you say Creed? Never a fan, but they were loved.
The Script.
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