90s Alternative Era
tagStarted 1991Peak 1993-1998Last big hit 1999
Located in 2 routes
Post-Nevermind mainstream alt-rock: chunky distorted-clean dynamics, half-detuned guitars, sardonic or earnest vocals and big modern-rock-radio choruses. Spans jangly college-rock graduates, fuzzed alt-pop and angular weirdos, all funneled through Buzz Bin video rotation and the new 'Alternative' commercial format.
History
Nirvana's 1991 breakthrough flipped 'alternative' from a college-radio descriptor into a chart juggernaut, and labels rushed to sign guitar bands. MTV's Buzz Bin and the new commercial Alternative radio format spread R.E.M., Beck and Weezer nationwide before late-90s rap-rock and teen-pop eroded its chart dominance.
Defining artists
Essential listening
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternative_rock
- https://www.allmusic.com/style/alternative-indie-rock-ma0000002467
- https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-90s-alternative-songs/