# What 1990s alternative rock bands do you think have stood the test of time? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [May 30, 2021, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-1990s-alternative-rock-bands-do-you-think-have-stood-the-test-of-time/943242 "2021-05-30T21:43:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![glowacks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/glowacks/32/5548_2.png) [@glowacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glowacks)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2021, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-1990s-alternative-rock-bands-do-you-think-have-stood-the-test-of-time/943242/41 "2021-06-20T00:44:10Z")
My only choices for bands that people might have been aware of when I was in middle/high school (ie, the 90s) would be Radiohead and Tool, and I didn’t pick them up until after the 90s were over, so in that way, they did stand the test of time by being bands I like now. The rest of them, bleh. Your favorite band sucks, etc. Kamelot and Nightwish had released material in the 90s I still listen to today, but there’s no way I’d call them 90s bands, and they’re not even alt-rock at all, while the above two are at least maybe. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2021, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-1990s-alternative-rock-bands-do-you-think-have-stood-the-test-of-time/943242/42 "2021-06-20T00:52:52Z")
I spent several hours today down a psychedelic rabbit hole with The Brian Jonestown Massacre and The Dandy Warhols. Are they still on anybody’s radar? ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2021, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-1990s-alternative-rock-bands-do-you-think-have-stood-the-test-of-time/943242/43 "2021-06-20T01:09:53Z")
NOMEANSNO were the hardcore kings of the 90s, in my opinion. _Wrong_ through _The Worldhood of the World (As Such)_ was a great run of albums. ---
**Author:** ![The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_wind_of_my_soul)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2021, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-1990s-alternative-rock-bands-do-you-think-have-stood-the-test-of-time/943242/44 "2021-06-22T14:15:49Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > IMO, those of us who listened to and enjoyed alternative music in the Nineties are the least qualified to determine which bands have stood the test of time. A valid point. Since I’m hopelessly biased anyways, I figured the best way to answer this question would be to look through some of the recent playlists I’ve created and see what 90s alternative rock band shows up most frequently. The winner was The Cranberries. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2021, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-1990s-alternative-rock-bands-do-you-think-have-stood-the-test-of-time/943242/45 "2021-06-22T14:21:30Z")
> [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](#): > > The winner was The Cranberries. You won’t get an argument from me. I’m not sure if it’s nostalgia or that Dolores O’Riordan died so young, but I get emotional these days when I hear The Cranberries. ---
**Author:** ![motu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/motu/32/259_2.png) [@motu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/motu)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2021, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-1990s-alternative-rock-bands-do-you-think-have-stood-the-test-of-time/943242/46 "2021-06-22T14:47:18Z")
the answer is WEEN ---
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2021, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-1990s-alternative-rock-bands-do-you-think-have-stood-the-test-of-time/943242/47 "2021-06-22T15:25:38Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I’m not sure what adjective is right, but to me “waif voice” is a thin, delicate one, sometimes cutesily affected, usually breathy. I call it the “I’m just a girl” voice. ---
**Author:** ![The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_wind_of_my_soul)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2021, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-1990s-alternative-rock-bands-do-you-think-have-stood-the-test-of-time/943242/48 "2021-06-22T15:39:51Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > You won’t get an argument from me. I’m not sure if it’s nostalgia or that Dolores O’Riordan died so young, but I get emotional these days when I hear The Cranberries. Bear with me because I’m having trouble articulating this thought, but I think I actually appreciate The Cranberries more as an adult than I did as a teen. I think they weren’t really belligerent or angry enough for my teenage ears – but that’s also exactly why they’re more palatable to me than most other alt-rock bands now. ---
**Author:** ![Happytree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happytree/32/3555_2.png) [@Happytree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happytree)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2021, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-1990s-alternative-rock-bands-do-you-think-have-stood-the-test-of-time/943242/49 "2021-06-22T17:26:02Z")
The Flaming Lips are still great. Their new stuff is really good. They did a lot of experimental stuff, but there’s probably something in their catalog for anybody. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2021, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-1990s-alternative-rock-bands-do-you-think-have-stood-the-test-of-time/943242/50 "2021-06-22T17:31:42Z")
> [@scabpicker](#): > > NOMEANSNO were the hardcore kings of the 90s Big fan. My interest starts from the debut and ends slightly earlier than you at Why Do They Call Me Mr. Happy (there I go running into that early 90’s block again). But probably my favorite hardcore band. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2021, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-1990s-alternative-rock-bands-do-you-think-have-stood-the-test-of-time/943242/51 "2021-06-22T17:47:25Z")
> [@swampspruce](#): > > Canadian entries but Tragically Hip, Econoline Crush and Our Lady peace have held up well IMO. The Tragically Hip are pretty straightforward Canadian blues rock. I’ve never heard them called “alternative” and they were much too popular to really be classified that from a commercial point of view. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2021, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-1990s-alternative-rock-bands-do-you-think-have-stood-the-test-of-time/943242/52 "2021-06-22T22:23:11Z")
> [@Happytree](#): > > The Flaming Lips are still great. Their new stuff is really good. They did a lot of experimental stuff, but there’s probably something in their catalog for anybody. Oh yeah. My favorite part of their career stretches back into the 80’s, but I love pretty much all of The Flaming Lips. _Hit to Death In The Future Head_ is a particular favorite. > [@Tamerlane](#): > > > [@scabpicker](#): > > > > NOMEANSNO were the hardcore kings of the 90s > > Big fan. My interest starts from the debut and ends slightly earlier than you at Why Do They Call Me Mr. Happy (there I go running into that early 90’s block again). But probably my favorite hardcore band. Hehehe, you don’t go in for their cover of “Bitches Brew”, then? Ok, more for the rest of us. 😃 Another band that I really think holds up from the 90s that works in a kind of similar vein is The Jesus Lizard. Their odd arrangements, tonality, unique lyrics and odd time signatures still rock. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/A_XYSVJjfYw/maxresdefault.jpg "Mistletoe") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_XYSVJjfYw) ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2021, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-1990s-alternative-rock-bands-do-you-think-have-stood-the-test-of-time/943242/53 "2021-06-22T22:30:10Z")
**Alice in Chains** : They had a unique sound that would still be unique today. They were from Seattle and broke in the 90s so got lumped into the “grunge” genre, but they were always way more metal than anything else. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2021, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-1990s-alternative-rock-bands-do-you-think-have-stood-the-test-of-time/943242/54 "2021-06-23T00:15:11Z")
I’m not in a position to judge since this was a significant part of the music I liked. I never liked the term _alternative_ although plenty of bands remained edgy despite becoming popular. Things like house, Britpop, early techno and such sometimes were labelled alternative as well. I really think most of the music stood the test of time pretty well, but am clearly a supporter. I like almost all the groups mentioned above. I’ve been lucky enough to see most of them in concert at one time or another. Rather than list all my favourites, a simple shout-out to some particularly good or not yet mentioned. So thanks: Swervedriver, PJ Harvey, Bjork, The Stone Roses, The Breeders, Supergrass, Sabres of Paradise, DJ Carl Cox, Yo La Tengo, B-Tribe, Afghan Whigs, Cast, Nirvana… A personal thank you to Morphine and Echobelly. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2021, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-1990s-alternative-rock-bands-do-you-think-have-stood-the-test-of-time/943242/55 "2021-06-23T03:33:11Z")
Oasis has not aged well - the Beatles comparisons were always thin - but a few songs are still okay, such as Don’t Look Back In Anger. ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2021, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-1990s-alternative-rock-bands-do-you-think-have-stood-the-test-of-time/943242/56 "2021-06-23T22:49:58Z")
Present day maybe, but in a sea of Guess Who, BTO, April Wine, Gino Vanelli and Aldo Nova the Tragically Hip definitely didn’t fit in anything resembling any of the above. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2021, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-1990s-alternative-rock-bands-do-you-think-have-stood-the-test-of-time/943242/57 "2021-06-24T17:37:23Z")
It’s slightly amusing that you decry the Beatles comparisons and then laud Noel’s most obvious Lennon rip-off. 🙂 But it is still a cracking tune, I’ll concede that. I just can’t separate it from the twats singing and playing it. Which is odd, because Ian Brown’s [a complete tosser](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/mar/04/ian-brown-pulls-out-of-music-festival-over-covid-vaccination-row), and you’ll have to pry my _The Stone Roses_ from my cold dead hands…just was never that attached to the Gallagher Bros’ music, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2021, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-1990s-alternative-rock-bands-do-you-think-have-stood-the-test-of-time/943242/58 "2021-06-24T20:06:19Z")
Oasis was overhyped in the moment and has not done well with time. I agree with you in general. If I like their sappiest song, so be it. The Beatles were always far more clever, cooler and more talented than two feuding primae donnae. The Stone Roses were also less talented, but were at least clever and cool by times. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2021, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-1990s-alternative-rock-bands-do-you-think-have-stood-the-test-of-time/943242/59 "2021-06-24T23:28:17Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Which is odd, because Ian Brown’s [a complete tosser](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/mar/04/ian-brown-pulls-out-of-music-festival-over-covid-vaccination-row), and you’ll have to pry my _The Stone Roses_ from my cold dead hands…just was never that attached to the Gallagher Bros’ music, I guess. Hehehe, I would have never accused him of being a mental giant. I still cherish my copy of that album. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2021, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-1990s-alternative-rock-bands-do-you-think-have-stood-the-test-of-time/943242/60 "2021-06-25T12:18:42Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > The Stone Roses were also less talented I would strongly dispute that. I’ll take Squires’ guitar work over Gallagher’s, any day. And tosser he may be, but Brown’s lyrics are awesome. And Mani and Reni are _tight_. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-1990s-alternative-rock-bands-do-you-think-have-stood-the-test-of-time/943242.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-1990s-alternative-rock-bands-do-you-think-have-stood-the-test-of-time/943242.md?page=4)