So, the best rock song of the 90's...

[mouthbreather]

*Originally posted by Corbomite *
**
More early 1990’s stuff:
…
Beck, “Where it’s at”
**

Odelay by Beck was released in mid-1996
My vote: i dunno that I could pick one, some 1990s rock songs that I like are:

“Savory” by Jawbox
“Returning the Screw” by Fugazi
“Turn on the Water” by Afghan Whigs
“Boilermaker” by The Jesus Lizard
“Randy Described Eternity” by Built to Spill
“Solaris” by Failure
“Belted Sweater” by Don Caballero
“Cowboy Dan” by Modest Mouse

[bluecanary]

“Buddy Holly” by Weezer
“Basket Case” by Green Day
“Nancy Boy” by Placebo
“The Way” by Fastball
“Iris” by Goo Goo Dolls
“Country House” or “Stereotypes” by Blur
“Self Esteem” or “All I Want” by Offspring

[Kyomara]

*Originally posted by gex gex *
In addition to the mumbled lyrics about mullatos and mosquitos, we have a ferocious unforgettable riff, a pummelling drum attack that instantly elevated Dave Grohl to legend status and one of the best choruses ever written. Not to mention the eerie two note guitar sequence echoing through the verses and Kurt Cobain’s brilliantly versatile voice swooping from apathetic drone to anthemic scream.

You’re right. Now I remember. I rescind my previous post.

[gex_gex]

Kyomara: Can I smell sarcasm… Don’t worry… I’m only engaging in irritating fanboy know-it-allism… oh. That’s the problem isn’t it?

Finglofin: Sweetness was released in 2001, on the Bleed American album. Nothing like 90s.

[New_Improved_Scott]

I don’t think you can argue with the success, attachment of the fans, or lasting power that “Smells Like Teen Spirit” has, and easily makes it the best rock song of the 90’s. No other song comes so easily to mind, in most peoples mind’s, even today, about rock in the 90’s.

[Rubicon]

Smells has to win. Hard not to get fired up listening to that one.

A strong song that has not been mentioned: “Spoon Man” by Soundgarden.

Rounding out my unsolicited top 5: “Alive”, “What I Got”, and “Tones of Home” by Blind Melon.

–Betraying my age by biasing early nineties

[typhoon]

*Originally posted by meyer *
**Spoken like one who wasn’t there. **

This is how I remember it. Nirvana just made rock whiny and formulaic, which I could’ve done without.

[Kyomara]

*Originally posted by gex gex *
Kyomara: Can I smell sarcasm… Don’t worry… I’m only engaging in irritating fanboy know-it-allism… oh. That’s the problem isn’t it?

Amazing as it may seem, I was being serious. I’m going to sound like a broken record here (I say the same thing in every damn thread where Nirvana is mentioned), but despite how good Nirvana were, the wilingness of so many of their fans to whisper the word “genius” when they come up has always pissed me off, and that colors my attitude whenever I discuss them.

But your description (fanboy description though it might be :D) reminded me of why the song was such a big deal when it came out, and how, for better or worse, it made the classic indy rock loud-soft dynamic (which I think Nirvana learned from the Pixies) a staple in much of the pop music that followed it.

But I still say that this was a bad thing, made even worse by the fact that it didn’t have to be.

[Bullwinkle]

How about “Brain Stew” by Green Day?
Nothing particularly groundbreaking about it, but it’s a solid tune and it’s a good example of that whole 90’s vibe.

[pkbites]

ANYTHING by Collective Soul. Those guys are great!

By “ANYTHING” I mean any song they did. Not a song titled “ANYTHING”. I don’t think they had a song named “ANYTHING”, but if they do, It’s probably great!

[alex_arg]

What? No one has mentioned this? Well, maybe its the country gap, but Creep by Radiohead is pretty much an anthem here. I don’t belong here…

[gex_gex]

originally posted by kyomara
But your description (fanboy description though it might be :D) reminded me of why the song was such a big deal when it came out, and how, for better or worse, it made the classic indy rock loud-soft dynamic (which I think Nirvana learned from the Pixies) a staple in much of the pop music that followed it.

Well… thanks Though, I do understand what you’re saying re the loud-soft thing. It can get awfully tiresome.

But… the Pixies were great.

[Lizard]

I agree Smells Like Teen Spirit deserves some mention on this list, but. . . . .

but I’m going with Pearl Jam’s Jeremy. The song portrays (and its video depicted) a child acting out his loneliness and rage on his classmates with a gun. Within the next few years, identical events happened in reality all over the country.
For political timelininess about a serious subject, and for actually being a rocking good tune on par with Teen Spirit, this song takes the title of “Best.”

[ravage2]

Originally posted by Lizard *
**
… but I’m going with Pearl Jam’s Jeremy. The song portrays (and its video depicted) a child acting out his loneliness and rage on his classmates with a gun.*

I thought Pearl Jam didn’t make videos, didn’t they?

Anyway, I think a good song is Lightning Crashes by Live. Not necessarily the best but at least in the top 10. And Semi-charmed Life by Third Eye Blind.

[krazy_kat]

a few alternatives:

ready to go: republica
casino queen: wilco
What’s the Story (morning Glory): Oasis
Wilco : A Shot in the Arm
Massive Attack : Teardrop

[Nightime]

Lizard:

but I’m going with Pearl Jam’s Jeremy. The song portrays (and its video depicted) a child acting out his loneliness and rage on his classmates with a gun. Within the next few years, identical events happened in reality all over the country.

Jeremy was about a boy who shot himself in front of his class. He didn’t shoot the class, although the video sort of makes it look like that.

I would probably go with Nirvana as the best rock band of the 90’s. But I would choose Even in his Youth, Milk It, or Aneurysm over Teen Spirit. Or maybe Slint’s Nosferatu Man is the best.