Now that I’ve made that make sense, I’ll go to bed.
The Jesus Lizard.
Even given, as Husker Dude mentioned, that their last 2 albums were sub-par…Goat, Liar and Down each just kick the snot out of nearly every other album on earth.
Honorable mentions: Radiohead, Fugazi, PJ Harvey.
And, just so CaptBushido can hate me: I’ve always thought Pavement was all sorts of overrated and I never liked them at all. I heard Slanted, Crooked, and Wowee Zowee as they were released and I just never understood the appeal. Same goes for Superchunk.
For those suggesting the Pixies: Pilgram, Surfer Rosa and Doolittle were all released in the 80s. You’re really not suggesting that the Pixies belong on this list becuase of Bassonova and Trompe le Monde, are you? Don’t get me wrong… I love them and I always will, but by the time Bassanova dropped they were past their peak.
- Weezer
- Nirvana
- Red Hot Chili Peppers
These bands had some of the hottest singles of the 90s.
The Pixies may have been past their peak in the 90’s, but they were still miles ahead of 99%+ of anything else available. I’d say that it’s quite right to place them on any list of top 90’s bands based on their last two albums.
Hey, I’m surprised at you for making a statement like that. You know better.
Sloan.
They released five above-average albums in the '90s, including two classics - Twice Removed and One Chord to Another. Twice Removed was named “Best Canadian Album of All Time” by Chart magazine, and the last track, “I Can Feel It” might be the sweetest song about infatuation ever penned. They were unfairly neglected in the States, largely because their record label screwed them over when they were just getting big here, but their influence on Canadian alt-pop and indie rock has been immeasurable.
Plus, they out-and-out rock. Slooooooooooooannnnn!
As much as I like ‘Milo Goes To College’ (I even sort of like ‘Everything Sucks’ from '96), I doubt a bunch of old guys playing exactly the same music they did when they were teenagers, with not even the slightest hint of progress, can be considered even remotly relevant today, and they would probably be the first to aknowledge it.
The members of Fugazi have played in various bands since 1979, and are still playing, acting as one of the few remaining links to the great American hardcore scene in the 80’s (which spawned so many excellent bands), and unlike most of their peers from the same era, they are still making important music today. Fugazi has always been about musical growth, which is why they are so important.
Okay, they are probably not the only relevant punk band left in 2004 (I can’t think of anybody else I care about though), but still, if they aren’t the only, then they are surely the most. ‘The Argument’ proves that, beyond any doubt.
My post(s) aren’t meant as statements, by the way, just opinions. I did include an IMHO disclaimer in the last sentence of my previous post.
A fan of the shoegazing genre?
I second Verve. From their shoegazing A Storm In Heaven, to their psychedelic A Northern Soul to the relatively mellow Urban Hymns it’s all good. Plus I come from Wigan so I’m biased 
Well, if we aren’t talking “most influential” or commercially successful, it’s a toss up between The Afghan Whigs and The Catherine Wheel for me.
Radiohead would be on the list, but they really didn’t get going until late in the decade, and their most diverse work is more recent.
Most influential… I’ll jump on The Pixies or the Uncle Tupelo bandwagon.
Commercial success (while still maintaining at least a modicum of artistic integrity), I’d say U2.
I didn’t mean for that to sound as rude as it came out Husker. I was just kind of surprised that you felt that way, 'cause you always seem pretty open minded about music.
The OP said what was the BEST band of the 90s not the most influencial. Crap can be influencial doesnt mean it’s best.
No worries dude, we’re cool.
I’ll probably be alone in this, but:
Counting Crows
Julie
Some great artists from the 90’s (not all necessarily future Rock and Roll Hall Fame inductees, I grant you, but great anyway):
-Beastie Boys
Released Check Your Head, Ill Communication and Hello Nasty, as well as a slew of other mini eps and collections in the 90’s.
-Primus
Starting with Frizzle Fry in 1990, Primus made some of the most interesting and original music of the decade.
-Ween
One of the most underrated bands in the history of music. First record (The Pod) was released in 1991.
-Kyuss
The true sons of Sabbath, and one of few “pure” rock bands in the 90’s. Sure Pearl Jam, Alice In Chains, Soundgarden and Nirvana could rock, but they were only 90-95% pure rock.( Josh Homme is now securing his place on future straight dope lists of important bands of 2000-2010 with the Queens of the Stone Age.)
-Tool
Considering they only released 2 records and one e.p. in the 90’s, they were probably one of the most influential and important bands of the era. Aenima was a defining record of the genre
-Rage Against the Machine
This band released their self titled debut, Evil Empire, and The Battle of Los Angeles in the 90’s.
I could think of more, but don’t have time…I just wanted to mention some notables that weren’t from the indie rock side of things…
Some great artists from the 90’s (not all necessarily future Rock and Roll Hall Fame inductees, I grant you, but great anyway):
-Beastie Boys
Released Check Your Head, Ill Communication and Hello Nasty, as well as a slew of other mini eps and collections in the 90’s.
-Primus
Starting with Frizzle Fry in 1990, Primus made some of the most interesting and original music of the decade.
-Ween
One of the most underrated bands in the history of music. First record (The Pod) was released in 1991.
-Kyuss
The true sons of Sabbath, and one of few “pure” rock bands in the 90’s. Sure Pearl Jam, Alice In Chains, Soundgarden and Nirvana could rock, but they were only 90-95% pure rock.( Josh Homme is now securing his place on future straight dope lists of important bands of 2000-2010 with the Queens of the Stone Age.)
-Tool
Considering they only released 2 records and one e.p. in the 90’s, they were probably one of the most influential and important bands of the era. Aenima was a defining record of the genre
-Rage Against the Machine
This band released their self titled debut, Evil Empire, and The Battle of Los Angeles in the 90’s.
I could think of more, but don’t have time…I just wanted to mention some notables that weren’t from the indie rock side of things…
Most of the bands listed only had a few good albums in the 90s.
Pearl Jam, in the 90s, put out the following:
Ten
Vs.
Vitalogy
No Code
Yield
Live on Two Legs
No band in the 90s can compete with that, nor can they compete with the live shows PJ puts on.
Another band that might be in the running is Dave Matthews Band.
Jane’s Addiction
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Soundgarden
Alice in Chains
Nine Inch Nails
(Of course, these are just my favorites, I don’t care how influential or popular they are with anyone else. 
)
I’m going to get killed for this, but the biggest and best band of the nineties was Oasis until they, um, “lost the plot” sometime in 1997.
Definitely Maybe - Best British Debut LP since the Stone Roses (who, if they had waited a year and put out that record in 1990, would be my number one choice)
Morning Glory - An incredible hit on both sides of the Atlantic. Although the only thing that anyone here (St. Louis, 2003) remembers is Wonderwall.
Be Here Now - Dissappointing in a lot of parts, but has some of their best moments and songs. Given the low esteem that this record is given, even in freakish Oasis fan circle, I think it’s surprising that Be Here Now was voted the Rolling Stone’s Reader’s Choice Best Album of 1997.
As those incredible b-sides - Acquiecse, The Masterplan, Rockin’ Chair, Fade Away, etc…If Noel wasn’t so dumb and wasn’t obsessed with emulating the b-side legacy of the Beatles, Jam, Stone Roses, Smiths, etc., Oasis would have had more than two perfect albums to their name.
OK, so Noel is a plagerist, and Liam is sometimes too annoying, and the other three are useless, I feel that Oasis was the best band of the nineties.
I think Stereolab’s seven records and three compilations can compete with that (although they don’t put on a really good show.) The Pixies body of work all came out in a four-year time span, which just happened to straddle the 80s and 90s. Otherwise, they’d be well ahead of Pearl Jam.
Don’t get me wrong–I like Pearl Jam…I just think there are several bands who have put out as good or better work.