Alternative music in the US circa 1994

Cafe Society
1

I was hoping you all could help me compile a list of songs that were popular in very late 1993, 1994 and the early part of 1995.

I am looking for music that was popular when I was in grad school (Fall 93 - Spring 95) so I can go buy some CDs and make mix CDs for a party.

I should specify that I am looking for the alternative-leaning stuff, though not way out there.
For example, I already know I need:
Beck - Loser
James - Laid
Offspring - Come Out and Play
Weezer - Undone
Breeders - Cannonball
It was a joyous time for me, since I was happy the music I liked was becoming mainstream and I could hear it wherever I went (is Kurt Cobain rolling over in his grave as I express this opinion? :wink: )
This was right around the time that I started complaining that people shouldn’t be labelling anything “aletrnative” if it appears on the Billboard Top 40, it is by definition “Top 40” - but that is a rant for another day).

I listened to WFNX and WBCN in Boston during that time, in case that helps.

I’ve done some web searching for top 40 and top 100 charts for those years, but haven’t come up with anything truly useful yet, though if you have a url you think I should visit, post away!

2

This might help.

Allmusic.com offer ‘similar artists’ for bands, and putting in The Breeders led me on to Veruca Salt (“Seether”), the Pixies and probably a lot more that’ll ring bells for you.

3

No Excuses - Alice in Chains
No Rain - Blind Melon
Can’t find a Better Man - Pearl Jam
Last Goodbye - Jeff Buckley
Unbreak My Heart - Reef
Wonderwall - Oasis
Best I can do for now off the top of my head but I’ll get back to you.

4

Radiohead - Creep

5

When did ‘Screamadelica’ by Primal Scream hit the States (released here in late '91 I think) - actually, I don’t know if it was even big in the US…

Stone Roses ?

Happy Mondays ?

6

“Eurotrash Girl” by Cracker, and pretty much everything else on “Kerosene Hat”

Your favorite tracks from “Throwing Copper” by Live

7

Sonic Youth - 100% (I think that’s 1993, but it could’ve been slightly earlier)
Blur - Parklife (May or may not fit… they’re not exactly alt-rock. How big were they on your side of the pond, anyway?)
Nirvana - All Apologies
Smashing Pumpkins - Today
Garbage - Happy When It Rains
Nine Inch Nails - Closer

8

Sponge - Anything off Rotting Pinata, but most popular were either Plowed or Molly

9

AsDryga_Yes noted, NIN’s The Downward Spiral came out during that period, although IMO we were still listening more to Head Like a Hole.

Belly’s 2d album came out in I think fall of 1994 – “Now They’ll Sleep” and “Super-Connected” were on the radio then I think.

–Cliffy

10

“Molly” from Sponge, off the CD Rotting Pinata

Anything from Sixteen Stone by Bush

Anything from Stone Temple Pilots - what were those first couple of CDs…

“New Age Girl” by Deadeye Dick (“she don’t eat meat but she sure loves the bone”)

“Machine Punch Through” by Moist

“Ridiculous Thoughts” by The Cranberries (and many others off that CD)

“Feed the tree” by Belly

“Cannonball” by The Breeders

11

australian alternative radio station triple j holds a poll each year to compile the ‘hottest 100’ songs of the previous. listeners vote for the songs they liked and a list is compiled.

although the list is australian orientated, i don’t think there are major differences between listening patterns of the two countries. the triple j list contains a few australian groups and may have more british music than you’d hear in america, but the similarities far outweigh the differences.

the top ten in 1994 was:

  1. Zombie - Cranberries
  2. Closer - Nine Inch Nails
  3. Self Esteem - Offspring
  4. Come Out & Play - Offspring
  5. Tomorrow - Silverchair
  6. Seether - Veruca Salt
  7. About A Girl - Nirvana
  8. Coma - Max Sharam
  9. If I Only Knew - Tom Jones
  10. Deadeyes Open (Remix) - Severed Heads

the rest of the list can be found here

12

Soundgarden - black hole sun

13

Afghan Whigs - Debonair
Sebadoh - Violet Execution
PJ Harvey - 50-Ft. Queenie (or Man-Sized)
Lemonheads - It’s a Shame About Ray
Elvis Costello - You Tripped at Every Step
Shudder to Think - Hit Liquor
Girls Against Boys - Bulletproof Cupid
Pixies - Monkey Gone to Heaven

14

Great stuff, everybody!!

and gex gex, thanks for the link, I think it will come in very handy.

15

Doll Parts - Hole
Bullet with Butterfly Wings - Smashing Pumpkins
Lump - The Presidents of the United States of America
Backwater - The Meat Puppets

16

These might be a couple of years off what you’re looking for, but you might want to get

Jane’s Addiction - Been Caught Stealing
James - Laid
Siouxie and the Banshees - Kiss Them for Me
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Give It Away
K.D. Lang - Constant Craving

What a great thread! Motorgirl, I was at the exact same point in my life, and listened to FNX and BCN. I was a Lansdowne Street regular! (Back when X night at Axis was actually cool, and Venus De Milo was the place to be. I also went to the Ratskeller and ManRay.)

17

Oh, and how could I forget?

Beastie Boys - Sabotage!

18

Kind of at the edges of your timeframe but they made the rounds of alt rock radio at the time.

Sick of Myself - Matthew Sweet
Drown - Son Volt
Live Forever - Oasis
Walk On The Ocean - Toad The Wet Sprocket
Anything by the Gin Blossoms
Liz Phair’s Exile in Guyville album

19

I lived a couple blocks away from Lansdowne, in the Fenway.

Loved being able to walk home from Axis.
Loved staring at weirdos at the Deli Haus.
Loved Cornwall’s before it moved across the street (haven’t checked out the new digs yet).
Haven’t been to Axis (or any other Lansdowne club) in years. Now I feel so old!

20

Good stuff mentioned so far. On the harder side of alternative, let me add:
Thunder Kiss '65- White Zombie
Black Sunshine - White Zombie
Prison Sex - Tool
Sober - Tool
Jesus Built My Hot Rod - Ministry
Just One Fix - Ministry
and on the Punker side of alternative:
Long View - Green Day
Welcome to Paradise - Green Day
and on the alternative side of alternative:
Lump - Presidents of the United States of America
Fire Water Burn - Bloodhound Gang

dead0man