# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2021, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-1990s-alternative-rock-bands-do-you-think-have-stood-the-test-of-time/943242/61 "2021-06-25T12:41:52Z")
Yep. That one as well as, _Supersonic, The Importance of Being Idle,_ and _Cigarettes & Alcohol_ are still on my workout playlist. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2021, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-1990s-alternative-rock-bands-do-you-think-have-stood-the-test-of-time/943242/62 "2021-06-25T13:05:25Z")
Yeah, no way would I say that the Stones Roses were the less talented band. That rhythm section is among my favorites, if not my favorite, or the era. ---
**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 25, 2021, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-1990s-alternative-rock-bands-do-you-think-have-stood-the-test-of-time/943242/63 "2021-06-25T13:09:17Z")
The Stone Roses were less talented than **the Beatles**. They were thirty times as talented as Oasis. No question. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2021, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-1990s-alternative-rock-bands-do-you-think-have-stood-the-test-of-time/943242/64 "2021-06-25T13:27:00Z")
I’m kind of fuzzy on the definition of “stood the test of time”. Like The Pixies are still regarded as a “good band”. But most of their most popular hits are from the 90s and are regarded the way people think of most “classic” rock music. Similarly, “Celebrity Skin” by Hole has stood the test of time in that it quickly tells audiences that Carol Danvers is a “tough 90s chick with an attitude”. Bands like Radiohead, Weezer, Green Day, R.E.M., No Doubt and others have stood the test of time in that they continued to evolve and produce new material that spans decades. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2021, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-1990s-alternative-rock-bands-do-you-think-have-stood-the-test-of-time/943242/65 "2021-06-25T13:48:07Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > The Beatles were always far more clever, cooler and more talented than two feuding primae donnae. The idea that Oasis is comparable to the Beatles is so silly that I have to think Oasis actually benefits from it, because it creates discussion whereby both are mentioned in the same argument. It’s akin to comparing The Killers to the Rolling Stones. ---
**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, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-1990s-alternative-rock-bands-do-you-think-have-stood-the-test-of-time/943242/66 "2021-06-25T14:02:05Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > The Stone Roses were less talented than **the Beatles**. They were thirty times as talented as Oasis. No question. Oh, right, no, no argument from me there (and I’m not even remotely a Beatles fan) ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2021, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-1990s-alternative-rock-bands-do-you-think-have-stood-the-test-of-time/943242/67 "2021-06-26T23:26:44Z")
> [@scabpicker](#): > > NOMEANSNO 🙂 Despite me peaking at _Wrong_, yeah their stuff still stands. And definitely: > [@scabpicker](#): > > The Jesus Lizard. _Liar_ is such an outlandishly great fucking album. There was a lot of whack Japanese stuff like The Boredoms, Melt Banana, Hananatarash (too bad they had to tone down from their incredibly dangerous gig m.o. in the 80’s), Zeni Geva, Gerogerigegege (_Tokyo Anal Dynamite_ ruled), Omoide Hatoba, the mighty Merzbow (gong more into sorta industrial) Germany’s lovable 😛Atari Teenage Riot 😛 were a whole lotta whole grain goodness. Those folks were, um, hopped up? Yes, yes, they were indeed hopped up. Psychotically. > [@China\_Guy](#): > > I did however sing part of Big Picture with Biscuit when the Big Boys played at Club Pitiful in Sacramento in 1984. Well, if you’re gonna go there…this lucky shmuck had the great Rey Washam come way over to my neck of the woods to put on a drum clinic at the bandspace. (Heh - he was midlly disconcerted being caught on camera, later on, toking up with us) (Y’know, those upright Texans, and all) Not enough time and space for the punk/hc/various metal genres, with the first two categories having much more resonance for me in the 80s than they did in the 90s. My bias _at the time_ against pretty-well all radio-friendly alternative probably doesn’t put me in the best stead to comment any further. 🤐 ---
**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 26, 2021, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-1990s-alternative-rock-bands-do-you-think-have-stood-the-test-of-time/943242/68 "2021-06-26T23:55:15Z")
> [@Guest-starring\_Id](#): > > The Boredoms, Melt Banana Oh my, two of my favorites, and both still around as far as I know. Hell, I think Melt Banana actually got better. My favorite song is from 2013 (caution, the vid flashes a LOT): [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/BcqC8LSoBws/maxresdefault.jpg "MELT-BANANA - The Hive - Official Music Video") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcqC8LSoBws) ---
**Author:** ![larsvsnapster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecb155/32.png) [@larsvsnapster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/larsvsnapster)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2021, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-1990s-alternative-rock-bands-do-you-think-have-stood-the-test-of-time/943242/69 "2021-06-28T04:02:22Z")
Stereolab, High Llamas, Pizzicato Five. Most of what is discussed in this thread, I thought at the time was just the sum of the performers’ record collections. It wasn’t interesting then and it’s not interesting now. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2021, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-1990s-alternative-rock-bands-do-you-think-have-stood-the-test-of-time/943242/70 "2021-06-29T23:57:21Z")
I agree with loads of bands mentioned in this thread. In a way, I’m a child of the nineties musically, though I already was 22 in 1990. But the alternative revolution that started with _Nevermind_ opened my eyes and ears very widely to music I hadn’t considered or even known before. I already was raised on New Wave and Punk, but the bands that emerged in the early nineties really made the best out of the traditions they were based on, and even had commercial success. A very dear favorite of mine that hasn’t been mentioned yet are Teenage Fanclub. _Bandwagonesque_ still maybe is my favorite album of theirs, but though they mellowed, they still churn out great albums with lots of great pop gems every three years or so. Their current album _Endless Arcade_ is a treat. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2021, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-1990s-alternative-rock-bands-do-you-think-have-stood-the-test-of-time/943242/71 "2021-06-30T05:40:55Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > The Stone Roses I recall some interview, somewhere, where I think it was Mani who said they were, _“A bunch of Cheeky Monkeys”_ I got a laugh outta that. And then I found Ian Brown’s CD _“Unfinished Monkey Business”_ in a thrift store and had to buy it. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2021, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-1990s-alternative-rock-bands-do-you-think-have-stood-the-test-of-time/943242/72 "2021-06-30T11:56:30Z")
bad religion… ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2021, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-1990s-alternative-rock-bands-do-you-think-have-stood-the-test-of-time/943242/73 "2021-06-30T14:28:46Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > I find Oasis unlistenable now. Now? Anyway, I more or less feel like No Doubt, Cranberries, Foo Fighters and Garbage all still hold up- both their 90s stuff and their subsequent output. Part of that is none of them sound _too_ time & place of the 90s, unlike the grunge/grunge-adjacent bands or the Green Day-ish ones (no idea what those bands are called). ---
**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 30, 2021, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-1990s-alternative-rock-bands-do-you-think-have-stood-the-test-of-time/943242/74 "2021-06-30T14:39:25Z")
> [@bump](#): > > Green Day-ish ones (no idea what those bands are called). Just Punk. They were essentially a retro band, which is why I wouldn’t label them a ‘90s Alternative band any more than I would call Sha Na Na a ‘70s vocal group lumped in with The Village People. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2021, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-1990s-alternative-rock-bands-do-you-think-have-stood-the-test-of-time/943242/75 "2021-06-30T15:11:42Z")
> [@snoe](#): > > The Breeders — not the biggest recorded output in the 90s (or since), but influential and absolutely classic stuff. _Pod_ is the album for the cool kids, _Last Splash_ is the summertime trip to the county fair where you have a great fuckin’ time. I second this. Funny story… I’ve lived in the greater Dayton area for most of my 53 years. Many times I heard The Breeders were a band from this area, but for whatever reason I erroneously assumed they were subpar and never listened to them. _Just last year_ I finally listened to them for the first time, and was blown away. It’s great stuff. I play _Last Splash_ or _Pod_ at least once a week now. There’s so much intelligence in the writing of the songs. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2021, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-1990s-alternative-rock-bands-do-you-think-have-stood-the-test-of-time/943242/76 "2021-06-30T15:12:25Z")
Green Day definitely had a modern punk sound at the time that was what I might call Pop Punk or what I loosely classified in my head as California Punk. Sure, the Ramones were poppy as hell, and were Green Day really that much different but, to me, somehow they were. I’d consider them and their ilk like Blink 182 and Offspring (shudder) 90s music, despite their roots in traditional punk. I guess the question to me is more what bands didn’t age well — and, yeah, Offspring is one of them for me. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2021, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-1990s-alternative-rock-bands-do-you-think-have-stood-the-test-of-time/943242/77 "2021-06-30T15:17:23Z")
If you haven’t checked it out already, Kim Deal (and her sister Kelley was briefly involved) also had a side project called The Amps that put out one LP, _Pacer_ that is worth listening, too. Produced by Steve Albini. ---
**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 30, 2021, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-1990s-alternative-rock-bands-do-you-think-have-stood-the-test-of-time/943242/78 "2021-06-30T21:16:20Z")
Are you familiar wit the related Throwing Muses and Belly? ---
**Author:** ![WalterBishop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/aeb1de/32.png) [@WalterBishop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WalterBishop)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2021, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-1990s-alternative-rock-bands-do-you-think-have-stood-the-test-of-time/943242/79 "2021-06-30T21:27:43Z")
I think _Screamadelica_ by Primal Scream still stands up well. I’m also partial to _Weight_ by Rollins Band. Anyone here ever listen to Mansun or Gomez? I used to be obsessed with them both when I was a kid but I don’t really get anything out of them now. ---
**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:** [July 1, 2021, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-1990s-alternative-rock-bands-do-you-think-have-stood-the-test-of-time/943242/80 "2021-07-01T03:13:44Z")
I like Throwing Muses, Belly, Faithless, Elastica, Radiohead and Stereolab too for that matter. I feel a lesser degree of like for Everything But the Girl, Pop Will Eat Itself, Lush, Shed Seven, Liz Phair, The Orb, MC 900 Foot Jesus, The L.A.s, Pizzicato Five, The Cardigans and Tricky. Oasis and The Pixies are harder to listen to now than decades ago. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-1990s-alternative-rock-bands-do-you-think-have-stood-the-test-of-time/943242.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-1990s-alternative-rock-bands-do-you-think-have-stood-the-test-of-time/943242.md?page=5)