# Alternative music in the US circa 1994 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 28, 2002, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternative-music-in-the-us-circa-1994/116359 "2002-06-28T11:06:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2002, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternative-music-in-the-us-circa-1994/116359/1 "2002-06-28T11:06:13Z")
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? 😉 ) 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! ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2002, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternative-music-in-the-us-circa-1994/116359/2 "2002-06-28T11:12:15Z")
This might help. [Allmusic.com](http://Allmusic.com) offer ‘similar artists’ for bands, and putting in [The Breeders](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=Bjtknu3t5an1k) led me on to Veruca Salt (“Seether”), the Pixies and probably a lot more that’ll ring bells for you. ---
**Author:** ![Boo\_Boo\_Foo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@Boo\_Boo\_Foo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boo_Boo_Foo)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2002, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternative-music-in-the-us-circa-1994/116359/3 "2002-06-28T11:16:21Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2002, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternative-music-in-the-us-circa-1994/116359/4 "2002-06-28T11:39:18Z")
Radiohead - Creep ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2002, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternative-music-in-the-us-circa-1994/116359/5 "2002-06-28T12:39:26Z")
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 ? ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2002, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternative-music-in-the-us-circa-1994/116359/6 "2002-06-28T12:48:30Z")
“Eurotrash Girl” by Cracker, and pretty much everything else on “Kerosene Hat” Your favorite tracks from “Throwing Copper” by Live ---
**Author:** ![Dryga\_Yes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/838e76/32.png) [@Dryga\_Yes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dryga_Yes)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2002, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternative-music-in-the-us-circa-1994/116359/7 "2002-06-28T13:57:10Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![HoldenCaulfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/22d042/32.png) [@HoldenCaulfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoldenCaulfield)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2002, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternative-music-in-the-us-circa-1994/116359/8 "2002-06-28T14:08:54Z")
Sponge - Anything off Rotting Pinata, but most popular were either Plowed or Molly ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2002, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternative-music-in-the-us-circa-1994/116359/9 "2002-06-28T16:28:55Z")
As **Dryga\_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 ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2002, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternative-music-in-the-us-circa-1994/116359/10 "2002-06-28T16:38:52Z")
“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 ---
**Author:** ![gex\_gex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/94ad74/32.png) [@gex\_gex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gex_gex)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2002, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternative-music-in-the-us-circa-1994/116359/11 "2002-06-28T16:55:16Z")
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](http://triplej.abc.net.au/hottest100/history/1994.htm) ---
**Author:** ![fisico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/cab0a1/32.png) [@fisico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fisico)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2002, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternative-music-in-the-us-circa-1994/116359/12 "2002-06-28T17:08:13Z")
Soundgarden - black hole sun ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2002, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternative-music-in-the-us-circa-1994/116359/13 "2002-06-28T17:26:31Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2002, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternative-music-in-the-us-circa-1994/116359/14 "2002-06-28T17:51:55Z")
Great stuff, everybody!! and **gex gex** , thanks for the link, I think it will come in very handy. ---
**Author:** ![Pashnish\_Ewing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8797f3/32.png) [@Pashnish\_Ewing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pashnish_Ewing)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2002, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternative-music-in-the-us-circa-1994/116359/15 "2002-06-28T18:22:40Z")
Doll Parts - Hole Bullet with Butterfly Wings - Smashing Pumpkins Lump - The Presidents of the United States of America Backwater - The Meat Puppets ---
**Author:** ![Morgainelf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Morgainelf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgainelf)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2002, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternative-music-in-the-us-circa-1994/116359/16 "2002-06-28T20:13:34Z")
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.) ---
**Author:** ![Morgainelf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Morgainelf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgainelf)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2002, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternative-music-in-the-us-circa-1994/116359/17 "2002-06-28T20:20:19Z")
Oh, and how could I forget? Beastie Boys - Sabotage! ---
**Author:** ![widdershins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f0a364/32.png) [@widdershins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/widdershins)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2002, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternative-music-in-the-us-circa-1994/116359/18 "2002-06-28T21:26:55Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2002, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternative-music-in-the-us-circa-1994/116359/19 "2002-06-28T22:41:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Morgainelf \* > \*\* > 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.) \*\* 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! ---
**Author:** ![dead0man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/edb3f5/32.png) [@dead0man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dead0man)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2002, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternative-music-in-the-us-circa-1994/116359/20 "2002-06-29T04:36:04Z")
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 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternative-music-in-the-us-circa-1994/116359.md?page=2)