The Best of the 1990s: A Guide to Grunge Music The Best of the 1990s: A Guide to Grunge Music Reddit Seattle skyline | Dan Callister/Hulton Archive/Getty Images The early 1990s were characterized by a music movement from the Pacific Northwest known as grunge. The grunge movement is best known for its distorted guitars, moody or apathetic lyrics, DIY ethos, and flannel shirts. Grunge music is often credited with popularizing punk rock , which had been a vibrant if not very successful genre since the early 1970s. Grunge is indeed heavily influenced by punk, both musically and in its aesthetics and ethos, but the isolation of the Pacific Northwest allowed a unique genre to develop away from the influence of the typical American cultural centers of Los Angeles and New York City. Of course, grunge didn’t stay isolated for long.

After Nirvana’s sophomore album, Nevermind, topped the charts in 1991, grunge was credited with saving rock and roll from over-indulgent ’80s hair bands, introducing more people to punk than ever knew about it in the 20 years the genre had been around, and causing the demise of the formerly pure scene in the Pacific Northwest and Seattle specifically. Here’s a quick look at the history of grunge music, its influences, and why it was important, along with some suggested listening. 1. Location Aberdeen town limits sign | AFP/Getty Images The relative isolation of the Pacific Northwest allowed grunge bands to develop their own scene independently while operating under their own ethos, away from the lure of major labels and other corporate trappings more readily found in bigger cities. Seattle is the city most frequently associated with grunge music, but neighboring Portland had its own grunge scene and was home to the infamous Satyricon club, where Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love met. In Seattle, the most famous grunge venue was the Crocodile Cafe, which is still open today.

It’s worth noting, though, that Cobain and the other members of Nirvana are not even from Seattle, but from the small town of Aberdeen, a two-hour drive from the big city. Many influential grunge bands, and in particular riot grrrl acts, came out of Evergreen State College in Olympia. So while Seattle is known as the capital of grunge, the entire Pacific Northwest proved a breeding ground for the style. The independent, Seattle-based label Sub Pop was crucial to helping young grunge bands develop their sound and is famous for being the first label to sign Nirvana, Soundgarden, Mudhoney, and others. 2. Influences Neil Young in concert | Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images Some of the biggest influences on the grunge movement were punk, heavy metal, and Neil Young. Punk’s ethos that anyone can play an instrument and that music should be a form of rebellion was highly influential on the grunge movement’s beliefs. Grunge is much slower and more distorted than punk, though, showing the musical influence of heavy metal bands like Black Sabbath, though grunge groups for the most part disavowed the beliefs and behavior of metal bands.

Neil Young has been called “the Godfather of Grunge” due to his use of highly distorted guitar, especially on the album Rust Never Sleeps. Suggested listening: Neil Young, Rust Never Sleeps; The Sex Pistols, Never Mind the Bullocks; The Stooges, The Stooges; Black Sabbath, Paranoid 3. Early grunge The band Sonic Youth | Source: Sonic Youth Important early influences on the grunge scene in the 1980s included groups from the local hardcore and punk rock scenes that were developing the grunge style, as well as alternative bands from the northeastern United States. Sonic Youth and the Pixies were two bands from the Northeast that were incalculably important to the grunge scene. Kurt Cobain went so far as to say several times after Nirvana got famous that most of his music is just a ripoff of the Pixies’ style. Sonic Youth in particular was highly supportive of the Seattle scene. The Melvins were a Seattle band that slowed down hardcore music to make the heavy sound that would characterize grunge, and they served as mentors to many of the grunge groups that would later make it big.

Along with the Melvins, Mudhoney, Soundgarden, and Tad are considered to be the earliest “grunge” bands, all signed to Sub Pop. Sub Pop and Mudhoney’s Mark Arm are both credited with coining the term. Suggested listening: The Pixies, Surfer Rosa; Sonic Youth, Daydream Nation; The Melvins, Gluey Porch Treatments; Sub Pop 100 Compilation 4. Nirvana Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain performs. | Frank Micelotta/Hulton Archive/Getty Images Nirvana is the most famous, the most important, and the most influential band to come out of Seattle’s grunge movement. Frontman Kurt Cobain was deemed the tortured voice of a generation, a label that tortured him even more. The release of the group’s first major label record, Nevermind, in 1991, with the single “Smells Like Teen Spirit” represented a significant cultural shift, the likes of which many think hasn’t been seen in music since. But the wild popularity of grunge that came with Nirvana isn’t the point.

The band’s brutal take on pop melodies filtered through Cobain’s unique artistry created some of the most beautiful, interesting, and important rock and roll music ever made. Nevermind made Cobain and company famous, but the followup, 1993’s In Utero, made with legendary producer Steve Albini, is an even better album. Cobain’s suicide in 1994 is considered to be one of the biggest tragedies in rock and roll music, as well as one mark of the end of grunge. Suggested listening: All three of Nirvana’s studio albums, plus MTV Unplugged 5. Grunge Made Popular Pearl Jam at the MTV Music Awards. | Frank Micelotta/Hulton Archive/Getty Images Nirvana is also credited with ruining the grunge scene, as the band’s immense popularity made grunge the most popular genre among American teenagers, caused major labels to descend on Seattle clubs like a Biblical plague, and made terrible bands copy the style in order to cash in. One of the most famous and controversial examples of this is Pearl Jam. Pearl Jam is arguably the second-most popular band of the grunge movement, but the group was attacked for lacking authenticity, most famously by Cobain.

On the heels of Nevermind’s success, Pearl Jam’s debut, Ten, soared up the charts, as well. While Pearl Jam received some good critical attention — even more as the band’s career continued and its members distanced themselves from grunge — Stone Temple Pilots are the prime example of a group made to profit off the grunge fad. The media had a field day covering grunge and Seattle, with some saying that the city held the biggest counter-cultural movement since San Francisco in the 1960s. All the attention quickly became tiring for the people originally involved in the movement. Suggested listening: Pearl Jam, Ten; Stone Temple Pilots, Core; Soundgarden, Badmotorfinger; Alice in Chains, Dirt 6. Riot Grrrl Courtney Love of Hole performs onstage | Frank Micelotta/Hulton Archive/Getty Images One of the most important and overlooked offshoots of the grunge movement was a separate genre that called itself riot grrrl. Riot grrrl was born out of a fusion of punk and grunge music with feminist politics at Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington.

Riot grrrl bands discussed women’s issues like rape, domestic abuse, female empowerment, and the patriarchy in their music, and dedicated time to organizing women to encourage their participation in rock and roll music. Members of the movement embraced grunge’s DIY ethos by creating zines to promote their causes and shows. Members of riot grrrl bands often wore baby-doll dresses and bows in their hair. Like many politically based music movements, there is a lot of controversy as to who deserves to be called riot grrrl and who doesn’t, but overall, grunge’s inclusive attitude and politics — not to mention the fact that Cobain frequently identified as a feminist — fostered more great rock bands with women involved in various capacities than almost any other movement in rock and roll music. Cobain was famously married to Hole front woman Courtney Love, who had a contentious relationship with riot grrrl (see the song “Rock Star”) but also made one of the best albums of grunge right before Cobain died. Suggested listening: Hole, Live Through This; Bikini Kill, Pussy Whipped; Sleater-Kinney, Sleater-Kinney 7.

Post-grunge Nickelback in concert | Jonathan Wood/Getty Images After Kurt Cobain’s suicide in the spring of 1994, grunge and alternative rock continued to go downhill, spiraling further away from the sound and the ethos that comprised the original Seattle movement. Major labels figured out they could cash in, so from the Stone Temple Pilots came post-grunge: commercialized alternative bands like Matchbox Twenty, Nickelback, and Creed. Those acts dominated rock airwaves in the later 1990s, but are also some of the most critically reviled bands of all time. Grunge may have saved rock and roll for a time, but it died a miserable death at the hands of corporate America. Suggested listening: nothing Many believe that grunge more or less died out after Cobain’s suicide; it’s not often considered to be a current genre. Can you think of any contemporary bands that could be characterized as grunge, either due to their ethos or their music?

More from Entertainment Cheat Sheet: America's top cities for music lovers | Fox News America's top cities for music lovers By Amy Plitt Facebook 0 Twitter 0 Email Print Blues, jazz, hip-hop, rock & roll—all are hugely influential musical genres, and all are uniquely American. Given how the history of popular music is intertwined with the history of the United States, it's no surprise that cities across the country are filled with musical landmarks, historic venues, and other points of interest. And these awesome cities are just some of the country's best destinations for music lovers. 1. Washington, D.C. Kyle Gustafson / For The Washington Post via Getty Images Despite its staid reputation—or maybe because of it—the nation's capital has fostered thriving underground music scenes for decades, including go-go (the funky genre's driving force, Chuck Brown, was from D.C.) and hardcore, led by bands like Bad Brains and Fugazi. Today there are plenty of places to see live music in D.C., including legendary venues like Bohemian Caverns, where Miles Davis and John Coltrane once played; the 9:30 Club has hosted everyone from Arcade Fire to Rob Zombie.

D.C.'s museums are also filled with music history: The National Museum of American History, for instance, has old cassettes and other pop-culture ephemera in its collection. Places to go: The 9:30 Club (pictured); John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts; Bohemian CavernsThe Black CatNational Museum of American HistoryBlues Alley 2. New York, NY Cory Schwartz/Getty Images New York City can lay claim to being the birthplace of so much in music's history: hip-hop, punk, and disco, not to mention an absurd number of legendary musicians. Heck, the Ramones, Simon & Garfunkel, and Burt Bacharach all graduated from the same Queens high school; meanwhile, Jay-Z, the Notorious B.I.G., and Lil Kim all hail from Brooklyn. No matter your taste, there's a venue for you: See cabaret acts at Studio 54; the next indie-rock up-and-comer at the Mercury Lounge; dance until the wee hours at Verboten; or see which big names are playing at legendary spots like Radio City Music Hall or the Beacon Theatre.

Places to go: Bowery Ballroom; Metropolitan Opera HouseThe Town HallBlue NoteBaby's All RightThe Apollo Theater; Central Park Summerstage (pictured); Rough Trade NYC 3. Los Angeles, CA Kevin Winter/Getty Images for CBS Radio Inc. Like New York City, Los Angeles has more musical history than you can take in on one trip: Countless acts got their start there (to name a few: The Doors, Tupac Shakur, Guns N' Roses, Haim, Kendrick Lamar, we could go on); it's full of music landmarks including clubs and hotels; and there is no shortage of places to see bands play. L.A. also has an impressive classical-music scene: The Los Angeles Philharmonic, led by Gustavo Dudamel, plays at Frank Gehry's twisty Walt Disney Concert Hall, among other L.A. venues. Places to go: Hollywood Bowl (pictured); Capitol Records building; Walt Disney Concert Hall; Grammy MuseumTroubadorThe Echo/EchoplexLaurel CanyonChateau Marmont 4.

Nashville, TN James Lange / Alamy Nashville's nickname is "Music City" for a reason: The city is home to hundreds of places to see live music, not to mention a stadium's worth of big-name acts (Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire, Taylor Swift, and Blake Shelton are just the tip of the iceberg). It's known as an incubator for country acts, even leading to ABC's Nashville, a TV series inspired by the city's music history. Music Row and the honky-tonks aren't the only draw: The city also has a thriving rock & roll scene, which can be found at venues like the Basement. Places to go: The Grand Ole Opry House; Third Man Records (pictured); Robert's Western WorldCountry Music Hall of Fame and MuseumThe Johnny Cash MuseumThe Bluebird Cafe 5. Detroit, MI Ian Dagnall / Alamy Kiss may have dubbed this town "Detroit Rock City," but the genre it's best known for is almost certainly Motown.

Berry Gordy founded the record label in 1959, and over the years, artists like Smokey Robinson, Diana Ross, and Marvin Gaye recorded in the small house on West Grand Boulevard. Now, it's a museum where you can see artifacts, and even stand in the studio where those musicians laid down tracks. Other acts with roots in the Motor City include Elaine Stritch, Eminem, the White Stripes, and Insane Clown Posse. (Madonna was born there, but moved to NYC before she made it big.) Places to go: Motown Museum; Cobo Center; Eight Mile Road; The Masonic TempleThe Magic Stick 6. Atlanta, GA Sean Pavone / Alamy Hip-hop is thriving in Atlanta: Acts like OutKast, Janelle Monae, Jermaine Dupri, and T.I. have roots in the city, and the radio station Hot 107.9 was a big influence in getting those artists more prominent coverage. The city also hosts the A3C Festival, a decade-old hip-hop event that hosts both legendary artists and up-and-comers.

If you're looking to check out bigger names in a beautiful setting, head to the Fox Theatre, a restored former vaudeville house, or the Tabernacle, which was once a Baptist church. There's also the free Atlanta Jazz Festival in the spring. Places to go: Fox Theatre; The EarlCriminal RecordsThe TabernacleBlind Willie's 7. Seattle, WA Pep Roig / Alamy More than 20 years after Nirvana's Nevermind was released, Seattle is still most closely associated with that band, and the grunge music scene that it spawned in the early '90s. And grunge fans, rest assured that the city embraces it: The EMP Museum, founded by Microsoft's Paul Allen, has a permanent exhibit devoted to Nirvana, and Sea-Tac Airport is home to a stand-alone Sub-Pop Records store. But there's more to the city than crunchy guitars: The Seattle Symphony led by maestro Ludovic Morlot hosts world-class performances, locals Macklemore and Ryan Lewis are international stars, and indie-rockers (including locals like Death Cab for Cutie) can be found at the Bumbershoot Festival every summer.

Places to go: EMP Museum (pictured); The Showbox at the Market; Sub-Pop Records store at SeaTacNeumosColumbia City Theater Take a trip to more of country's best music cities. More from Conde Nast Traveler How to Be Grunge: 13 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow Looking the Part 1 Wear flannel and boots. Nothing signals the grunge look more quickly than a lumberjack-style shirt and a pair of work boots. These are typically available at second-hand stores quite cheaply, a few dollars each. The shirts work well for men and women interested in cultivating a grunge look. Other unisex items that are good for your grunge wardrobe include old leather or jean jackets, band shirts, long shorts, and old, oversized cardigan sweaters. For girls, maxi skirts and dresses, and tights patterned with dated or otherwise "ironic" patterns are a smart investment. 2 Shop at thrift stores. Look for items that are comfortable and practical rather than looking for clothes that are traditionally stylish. People who consider themselves grunge value thrift and utility, rather than style. Anything second-hand is automatically more appropriate and more desirable. 3 Embrace opposites.

For a woman, a famous "grunge" look is a used babydoll-style dress with thick, chunky work boots. If you like to wear a flowy floral skirt, combine it with a leather jacket. The most famous grunge look for a man is to wear long, feminine-style hair with tattered flannel shirts, jeans, and boots. If you've got a pair of bright shorts you love wearing, mix it with a wool blazer-style jacket and boots for a grunge look. Any clothes that look ratty or otherwise rundown can be part of a grunge wardrobe. It's more about communicating a particular worldview and aesthetic than a brand or style of clothing. Accessorize. Sunglasses and tall socks are an often-seen grunge look. Get buttons from your favorite bands and bedeck your backpack or jacket with them. Wear dated snap-bracelets or cheap jewelry. 4 Spend little time doing your hair. Messy and greasy hair are both calling cards of the grunge look. For men, ungroomed facial hair and long dark hair quickly signal grunge. For women, consider dying a section of your hair a muted pink, blue, purple or ombre.

Beyond that don't focus on "perfecting a hair look." Instead throw it up in a bun or ponytail or leave it down with its natural kinks. Don't worry about frizz or matting. 5 Makeup should be a mix of natural and bold. Using some makeup can augment a grunge look, but generally you won't want to use too much or spend too much time on it. Try using some bright red lipstick without any foundation or eye-makeup, or do up your eyes with dark shades and leave your lips natural. Part 2 Acting the Part 1 Protest the mainstream by opting out. The fashion and music we associate with grunge culture were the outward displays of a prevailing attitude of frustration and apathy with contemporary culture. The social prejudices and increasing wealth inequality of the 1980s led some of the most jaded members of Generation X to reject the concept of a "9 to 5 career" and seek other alternative lifestyles. The early 90's saw a rise in the concept of sustainability and organic agriculture that, in some ways, is a direct result of this rejection of traditional career choices and lifestyles by members of the grunge subculture. 2 Learn to appreciate unpopular things.

Students of grunge learn to develop and interest in culture, music, art, and dress that would traditionally be disliked by the mainstream. For you, cultivating a grunge image may have nothing to do with flannel shirts, combat boots, and a band that's older than you are. Grunge philosophy is larger than any proscribed set of clothes or values. 3 Make your hobbies your life. Grunge culture is also closely linked with the do-it-yourself (DiY) aesthetic and philosophy: you don't need a theatre to play a show, just a basement. You don't need to read Rolling Stone, you need a hand-stapled zine your friend made. You don't need a career with life insurance benefits, you need a part time restaurant gig and to make some extra cash selling produce at the farmer's market so your band has enough time to practice. Avoiding the traditional idea of upward mobility by going to college, getting a job, and retiring is, in part, a grunge sensibility. 4 Move to the city. What we associate as grunge was largely the result of small-town kids who moved to the big city and carved out a place for themselves in neighborhoods with cheap rent and who created an international scene.

Consider moving to a city and taking advantage of the resources there when you're old enough. Part 3 Listening to the Music 1 Do your research. Grunge was invented by Nirvana in Seattle, right? Well, kinda. Kurt Cobain and company made grunge internationally famous, but the genre itself is most commonly associated with bands signed to Seattle-based SubPop records, and the music has roots in the early metal sounds of Black Sabbath and the loose scuzz-rock of Scientists, who are from England and Australia, respectively. SubPop's flagship band was Mudhoney, not Nirvana. They formed from the ashes of the aforementioned Green River and are still active today, releasing great music. Cobain and Krist Novoselic, founders of Nirvana, are both from Aberdeen, WA and were living elsewhere when their big record, Nevermind, made them famous. Dave Grohl, who doesn't play on the first Nirvana record, is from Washington D.C. 2 Learn what you're listening to. Grunge music is generally notable for its loose song structures, its extremely loud, overdriven, and fuzzy guitar tone, and its growling aggressive vocals, all of which belies a deeply melodic undertone.

Cobain loved the Beatles, Johnny Cash, and ABBA, as well as contemporary groups like R.E.M., and the tension between loud and soft, ugly and pretty, dissonant and melodic, is at the core of grunge music. [1] Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin are often cited as influences of grunge. Less frequently cited are the grungy guitar workouts of Neil Young when playing with his backing band, Crazy Horse. Also hardcore punk bands like Black Flag or Minor Threat were greatly influential. [2] 3 Get familiar with the essential records and bands. The canonical masterpieces of grunge and the best most accessible places to start are arguably the three studio albums of Nirvana (Bleach, Nevermind, and In Utero). Follow those up with Soundgarden's Badmotorfinger and Superunknown, the albums Ten and Vs., both by Pearl Jam, Superfuzz Bigmuff by Mudhoney, and Dirt by Alice in Chains. Listen to the records and form your own opinions. Big grunge fans might have some argument with any list of favorites, or think Bikini Kill's first impossible-to-get EP is the only grunge album worth listening to. That's ok.

Check out these and find out what you like, and don't listen to what you don't like. 4 Go deeper. When you've exhausted the mainstream hits, check out the rosters of other labels like Kill Rock Stars, and other bands like the Melvins that are more challenging and received less mainstream popularity than Nirvana and Pearl Jam. Find out who the members of the bands listened to. Research their favorite grunge acts, and find out what bands influenced their sound. Dead Moon, Tad, Love Battery, Screaming Trees, The Afghan Whigs, Hole, Babes In Toyland, L7, and Mother Love Bone are other grunge bands worth checking out. Community Q&A Post-Grunge Music Genre Overview | AllMusic Pop/Rock » Alternative/Indie Rock » Post-Grunge Post-Grunge refers to the wave of bands who appeared shortly after Seattle grunge hit the mainstream. The major difference is that while the Seattle bands were firmly rooted in underground alternative rock of the '80s, post-grunge was influenced by what grunge became -- a wildly popular form of inward-looking, serious-minded hard rock.

That meant many post-grunge groups imitated the sound and style of grunge, but not necessarily the individual idiosyncracies of its original artists. The angst-ridden, sober introspection typically associated with grunge became virtual requirements in the hands of post-grunge, which tended to view it as a path to artistic legitimacy. In its worst excesses, post-grunge took itself extremely seriously, and was highly self-conscious about its own significance; as a result, grunge's most personal aspects essentially became components of a formula for making grand musical statements. That wasn't universally true, of course, but post-grunge did help codify what was expected of mature, mainstream hard rockers for the rest of the '90s. And despite its alternative roots, post-grunge was definitely a mainstream, commercial style -- it was released on major labels, and its thick, distorted grunge guitars were given a polished, radio-ready production. Yet while much post-grunge is similar, it isn't identical; in addition to grunge, post-grunge bands might draw from early-'80s jangle pop, punk-pop, ska revival, alternative metal, or classic album rock.

Plus, a few quirky post-grunge outfits succeeded because of their wiseass senses of humor, rather than the style's typically dour melancholy. After grunge's breakthrough, it didn't take long for post-grunge to appear; bands like Bush and Candlebox became huge successes just a couple years after Nirvana topped the charts at the beginning of 1992. After grunge's initial heyday had passed, post-grunge kept going strong, with a new wave of bands appearing in the mid- to late '90s; some were able to maintain their popularity from one album to the next, while others wound up as one-hit wonders. At the turn of the millennium, post-grunge was still a popular style, and Creed and Matchbox 20 were two of the biggest-selling rock bands in the U.S.

10 Best Grunge Bands of All Time 10 Best Grunge Bands of All Time By Chad Childers September 28, 2012 5:13 PM REDDIT George De Soto / Frank Micelotta (2), Getty Images Grunge — it was the sound that defined the early ’90s, and with this list of the 10 Best Grunge Bands, we’re looking back on the acts that started a musical revolution and turned the music world on its ear. As the ’80s gave way to the ’90s, there was a need to shake things up from the status quo, and the sound called grunge was there to not only fill a void but to engulf the music scene as a whole. It paved the way for a wealth of frequently overlooked acts and all of a sudden, harder-edged, gritty music typically only heard on college radio was finally making its way into the public lexicon. Seattle became the center of the music universe; sweaty concert halls were once again the place to be; and flannel became a fashion statement.

So let’s crank up some distortion and count down the 10 Best Grunge Bands: Sub Pop The city most often associated with grunge is Seattle, Washington. A. true B. false The city most often associated with grunge is Seattle, Washington. A. true B. false The city most often associated with grunge is Seattle, Washington. This is TRUE. The city most often associated with grunge is Seattle, Washington. A. true B. false New answers This answer has been confirmed as correct, not copied, and helpful. Confirmed by jeifunk [6/11/2014 1:57:43 AM], Rated good by jeifunk Comments Log in or sign up first. Questions asked by the same visitor Weegy: True. One of the first rap hits by a white artist was Blondie's song "Rapture." It is one of the first hit songs to incorporate elements of hip-hop. (More) Question Asked 5/29/2013 6:12:26 PM 0 Answers/Comments Weegy: True. The Live Aid concert was held to help feed starving people in Ethiopia.

It was held on July 13, 1985. (More) Question Top 10 Most Influential Seattle Bands Top 10 Most Influential Seattle Bands By Tim Grierson Updated September 24, 2016. During the 1980s and early 1990s, a collection of bands from Seattle, Washington, cultivated a distinct sound commonly known as grunge. A mixture of hard rock, punk, and metal, the so-called “Seattle sound” helped foster the contemporary rock movement. Here’s a look back at the 10 most influential Seattle bands. Getty Images/ Raffaella Cavalieri/Redferns 1. Nirvana No band did more to vanquish the reign of tacky ‘80s hair metal than this trio. Attacking his insecurities and social awkwardness with sardonic humor, frontman Kurt Cobain made punk palatable to the masses with impossibly catchy radio hooks. Nevermind was the group’s high-water mark, making the case that personal anguish could be the basis for powerful songwriting that reached millions of listeners.

And when Nirvana imploded after Cobain's suicide, the group spawned one of contemporary rock's biggest acts: Foo Fighters . More » continue reading below our video What Do Movie Ratings Mean? Pearl Jam in Concert at Wetlands, New York City - 1991. WireImage / Getty Images 2. Pearl Jam Nirvana’s chart rival perfected an arena-rock variation of grunge, highlighted by singer Eddie Vedder’s booming, empathetic tales of teenage disillusionment and family dysfunction. Ten made their name, but subsequent albums have revealed a group interested in pursuing folk-rock, punk and whatever other genres catch their fancy. More » American band Soundgarden in a posed portrait, 1989. Redferns / Getty Images 3. Soundgarden Of the Seattle bands who catapulted to mainstream success, Soundgarden was the most indebted to bygone metal groups like Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin. Chris Cornell had the pinup good looks and majestic pipes, but underrated guitarist Kim Thayil provided the dense thicket of power chords and fiery solos. Superunknown is both their best and bestselling album, the record that made the rest of the competition look positively puny by comparison.

More » (L - R) Sean Kinney, Jerry Cantrell, Mike Inez, and Layne Staley of Alice in Chains pose at Lollapalooza 1993 at Shoreline Amphitheatre on June 23, 1993 in Mountain View, California. Tim Mosenfelder / Getty Images Buy from Amazon Dark lyrical themes were a hallmark of Seattle bands, but nobody dug as deep as this quartet. Utilizing metal’s grim urgency while forgoing the accessibility of their popular grunge peers, Alice in Chains chronicled the scourge of drug addiction on albums like Dirt. Frontman Layne Staley howled and whaled like a man up to his chin in quicksand, but, sadly, his subject matter wasn’t entirely fictional – he died in 2002 of an overdose. Check Amazon rating » Screaming Trees (including Mark Lanegan on left), backstage at the Fulham Greyhound in London, United Kingdom, 1989.

Martyn Goodacre / Getty Images Buy from Amazon Grunge was losing popularity by 1996, which might explain why even though this garage-rock unit released its strongest album, Dust, that year, it barely made a ripple. Soon, the band broke up, but they left behind a legacy of gritty rockers that rejected studio polish for raw combustion. Lead singer Mark Lanegan has since moved on to contribute occasional vocals to Queens of the Stone Age . Check Amazon rating » Photo courtesy Sub Pop. 6. Green River Sometimes, the true originators of a movement are forgotten in the wake of the bands that followed in their trailblazing ways. Such is the case with Green River, best remembered now as the group whose members included future contributors to Pearl Jam. Their mid-‘80s output remains a mystery to most rock fans but seek out Dry as a Bone/Rehab Doll, which plays like a blueprint of what was to come in the ‘90s. More » Photo courtesy Mercury. Buy from Amazon An unhappy undercurrent to the story of the Seattle sound is the amount of artists who died young.

Staley’s and Cobain’s deaths are more widely known, but Mother Love Bone’s lead singer, Andrew Wood, suffered a fatal drug overdose in 1990 just as his band seemed headed to prominence. Stardog Champion, also known simply as Mother Love Bone, compiles the group’s catalog on one disc, highlighting Wood’s melancholy spirit that was snuffed out much too early. Check Amazon rating » Photo courtesy A&M. Buy from Amazon A supergroup with a cause, Temple of the Dog united members of Pearl Jam and Soundgarden to pay tribute to their deceased friend Andrew Wood. Their self-titled album contains the expected ruminations on death, but Soundgarden singer Chris Cornell reveals a softer, more romantic side as well, looking to love as a way to help keep grief at bay. Check Amazon rating » Mudhoney perform on stage on day 3 of MusicFest NW at Dantes on September 18, 2009 in Portland, Oregon.U.S.A.

Redferns / Getty Images Buy from Amazon The class clowns of the genre, Mudhoney flaunted a messy looseness that guaranteed they’d never be superstars but did result in a series of playful albums that sounded like they were recorded live in the garage. For the uninitiated, the best place to start is​ March to Fuzz, a greatest-hits compilation that spans their ‘80s and ‘90s peaks, including their immortal single “Touch Me I’m Sick.” Check Amazon rating » Candlebox at Woodstock '94. Redferns / Getty Images Buy from Amazon They were roundly chastised for their homogenized grunge aesthetic when they become radio staples on the strength of their self-titled 1993 debut. But while there’s plenty of validity to the claims that the quartet represented the most cynical commercialization of the Seattle scene’s deeply-felt anger and disenchantment, hits like “Far Behind” have become the template for mainstream rock bands looking for a combination of tunefulness and introspection.

Check Amazon rating » Nirvana's grunge anthem tops list of most iconic songs - Houston Chronicle Nirvana's grunge anthem tops list of most iconic songs By Craig Hlavaty , Houston Chronicle Updated 11:22 am, Thursday, September 24, 2015 Photo: D. Fahleson, Houston Chronicle Image 1of/50 Image 1 of 50 When Nirvana came to Houston... On Dec. 6, 1993, Kurt Cobain and Nirvana cruised through an 80-minute show Monday at the AstroArena. When Nirvana came to Houston... On Dec. 6, 1993, Kurt Cobain and Nirvana cruised through an 80-minute show Monday at the AstroArena. Photo: D. Fahleson, Houston Chronicle Image 2 of 50 12/06/1993 - Kurt Cobain and Nirvana cruised through an 80-minute show Monday at AstroArena. 12/06/1993 - Kurt Cobain and Nirvana cruised through an 80-minute show Monday at AstroArena. Photo: D.

Fahleson, Houston Chronicle Image 3 of 50 12/06/1993 - Krist Novoselic and Nirvana cruised through an 80-minute show Monday at AstroArena. 12/06/1993 - Krist Novoselic and Nirvana cruised through an 80-minute show Monday at AstroArena. Photo: D. Fahleson, Houston Chronicle Image 4 of 50 A ticket stub from the show A ticket stub from the show Image 5 of 50 Image 7 of 50 Image 8 of 50 This Dec. 13, 1993 file photo shows Kurt Cobain of the Seattle band Nirvana performing in Seattle, Wash. It's been two decades since the Nirvana frontman took his own life yet he remains on in the thoughts of those he influenced and entertained. He's a touchstone for young musicians clutching guitars the world over and his story is a tale of both inspiration and caution.

His influence still ripples across the surface of pop music and his shadow even looms in the hip-hop world where he's been a referenced by Jay Z, Kanye, Kendrick Lamar, Drake and Jay Electronica in various ways recently. (AP Photo/Robert Sorbo, file) less This Dec. 13, 1993 file photo shows Kurt Cobain of the Seattle band Nirvana performing in Seattle, Wash. It's been two decades since the Nirvana frontman took his own life yet he remains on in the thoughts of ... more Photo: ROBERT SORBO, Associated Press Image 9 of 50 This 1991 file photo shows the band Nirvana, from left, Krist Novoselic, Dave Grohl, and Kurt Cobain. Nirvana will be inducted into the 2014 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on April 10, 2014, at the Barclays Center in New York. (AP Photo/Chris Cuffaro, File) less This 1991 file photo shows the band Nirvana, from left, Krist Novoselic, Dave Grohl, and Kurt Cobain.

Nirvana will be inducted into the 2014 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on April 10, 2014, at the Barclays Center ... more Photo: CHRIS CUFFARO, Associated Press Image 10 of 50 Dave Grohl, Kurt Cobain and Krist Novoselic of Nirvana. Dave Grohl, Kurt Cobain and Krist Novoselic of Nirvana. Photo: Chris Cuffaro Image 11 of 50 In this 1993 file photo, lead singer of Nirvana Kurt Cobain is photographed. Seattle police in April 2014, plan to release new photographs discovered during a re-examination of the death of Nirvana's Cobain. Cobain, who was 27 when he died. (AP Photo/Mark J.Terrill, file) less In this 1993 file photo, lead singer of Nirvana Kurt Cobain is photographed. Seattle police in April 2014, plan to release new photographs discovered during a re-examination of the death of Nirvana's Cobain. ...

more Photo: Mark Terrill, Associated Press Image 12 of 50 Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl of Nirvana. Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl of Nirvana. Photo: Michael Lavine rock band Nirvana: Krist Novoselic, Kurt Cobain and Dave Grohl rock band Nirvana: Krist Novoselic, Kurt Cobain and Dave Grohl Photo: Anton Corbijn Kurt Cobain, Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic of Nirvana. Kurt Cobain, Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic of Nirvana. Photo: Michael Lavine Image 15 of 50 Dave Grohl, Kurt Cobain, and Krist Novoselic boarding an airplane in Australia, circa February 10, 1992. Courtesy of Shelli Hyrkas. On display as part of the Experience Music Project. Dave Grohl, Kurt Cobain, and Krist Novoselic boarding an airplane in Australia, circa February 10, 1992. Courtesy of Shelli Hyrkas. On display as part of the Experience Music Project.

Photo: Courtesy Of Shelli Hyrkas Image 16 of 50 Dave Grohl, Kurt Cobain and Krist Novoselic of Nirvana. Dave Grohl, Kurt Cobain and Krist Novoselic of Nirvana. Photo: Kirk Weddle Image 17 of 50 This April 1994 photo provided by the Seattle Police Department shows Kurt Cobain's arm at the scene of the musician's suicide, in Seattle. The photo was released Thursday, April 3, 2014, in response to a public records request by The Associated Press. (AP Photo/Seattle Police Department) less This April 1994 photo provided by the Seattle Police Department shows Kurt Cobain's arm at the scene of the musician's suicide, in Seattle. The photo was released Thursday, April 3, 2014, in response to a ... more Photo: Uncredited, Associated Press Image 18 of 50 This April 1994 photo provided by the Seattle Police Department shows a wallet containing Kurt Cobain's Washington state driver's license, found at the scene of his suicide, in Seattle.

(AP Photo/Seattle Police Department) less This April 1994 photo provided by the Seattle Police Department shows a wallet containing Kurt Cobain's Washington state driver's license, found at the scene of his suicide, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Seattle Police ... more Photo: Uncredited, Associated Press Image 19 of 50 This April 1994 photo provided by the Seattle Police Department shows a box of ammunition lying next to Kurt Cobain's foot at the scene of the musician's suicide, in Seattle. The photo was released Thursday, April 3, 2014, in response to a public records request by The Associated Press. (AP Photo/Seattle Police Department) less This April 1994 photo provided by the Seattle Police Department shows a box of ammunition lying next to Kurt Cobain's foot at the scene of the musician's suicide, in Seattle. The photo was released Thursday, ... more Photo: Uncredited, Associated Press Image 20 of 50 En esta foto de abril de 1994 proporcionada por el Departamento de Policía de Seattle, artículos hallados en la escena del suicidio de Kurt Cobain en una imagen nunca antes vista.

La vocera policial Renee Witt dijo el jueves 20 de marzo del 2014 que varios rollos de fotos sin revelar fueron hallados cuando un detective reestudiaba el caso de Cobain recientemente. (AP Foto/Departamento de Policía de Seattle) less En esta foto de abril de 1994 proporcionada por el Departamento de Policía de Seattle, artículos hallados en la escena del suicidio de Kurt Cobain en una imagen nunca antes vista. La vocera policial Renee ... more Photo: Uncredited, Associated Press Image 21 of 50 This April 1994 photo provided by the Seattle Police Department shows items found at the scene of Kurt Cobain's suicide, in Seattle. The image has never before been released. Police spokeswoman Renee Witt said Thursday, March 20, 2014, that several rolls of undeveloped film were found when a detective re-examined the Cobain case recently. (AP Photo/Seattle Police Department) less This April 1994 photo provided by the Seattle Police Department shows items found at the scene of Kurt Cobain's suicide, in Seattle.

The image has never before been released. Police spokeswoman Renee Witt said ... more Photo: Uncredited, Associated Press Photo: MARK J. TERRILL, AP Image 23 of 50 Guitarist/vocalist Dave Grohl performs with The Foo Fighters Wednesday, April 23, 2003 in support of latest album "One By One" at Reliant Arena, part of the Reliant Complex. Guitarist/vocalist Dave Grohl performs with The Foo Fighters Wednesday, April 23, 2003 in support of latest album "One By One" at Reliant Arena, part of the Reliant Complex. Photo: Ben DeSoto, Houston Chronicle Image 24 of 50 Photo: Ben DeSoto, Houston Chronicle Image 25 of 50 Foo Fighters guitarist and vocalist Dave Grohl performs at the Toyota Center Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008, in Houston. ( Johnny Hanson / Chronicle) Foo Fighters guitarist and vocalist Dave Grohl performs at the Toyota Center Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008, in Houston.

( Johnny Hanson / Chronicle) Photo: Johnny Hanson, Houston Chronicle Image 26 of 50 Foo Fighters guitarist and vocalist Dave Grohl performs at the Toyota Center Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008, in Houston. ( Johnny Hanson / Chronicle) Foo Fighters guitarist and vocalist Dave Grohl performs at the Toyota Center Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008, in Houston. ( Johnny Hanson / Chronicle) Photo: Johnny Hanson, Houston Chronicle Image 27 of 50 Foo Fighters guitarist and vocalist Dave Grohl performs at the Toyota Center Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008, in Houston. ( Johnny Hanson / Chronicle) Foo Fighters guitarist and vocalist Dave Grohl performs at the Toyota Center Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008, in Houston. ( Johnny Hanson / Chronicle) Photo: Johnny Hanson, Houston Chronicle Image 28 of 50 Foo Fighters guitarist and vocalist Dave Grohl performs at the Toyota Center Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008, in Houston. ( Johnny Hanson / Chronicle) Foo Fighters guitarist and vocalist Dave Grohl performs at the Toyota Center Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008, in Houston.

( Johnny Hanson / Chronicle) Photo: Johnny Hanson, Houston Chronicle Image 29 of 50 Foo Fighters guitarist and vocalist Dave Grohl performs at the Toyota Center Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008, in Houston. ( Johnny Hanson / Chronicle) Foo Fighters guitarist and vocalist Dave Grohl performs at the Toyota Center Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008, in Houston. ( Johnny Hanson / Chronicle) Photo: Johnny Hanson, Houston Chronicle Image 30 of 50 Foo Fighters guitarist and vocalist Dave Grohl performs at the Toyota Center Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008, in Houston. ( Johnny Hanson / Chronicle) Foo Fighters guitarist and vocalist Dave Grohl performs at the Toyota Center Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008, in Houston. ( Johnny Hanson / Chronicle) Photo: Johnny Hanson, Houston Chronicle Image 31 of 50 Foo Fighters guitarist and vocalist Dave Grohl performs at the Toyota Center Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008, in Houston. ( Johnny Hanson / Chronicle) Foo Fighters guitarist and vocalist Dave Grohl performs at the Toyota Center Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008, in Houston.

( Johnny Hanson / Chronicle) Photo: Johnny Hanson, Houston Chronicle Image 32 of 50 Foo Fighters guitarist and vocalist Dave Grohl performs at the Toyota Center Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008, in Houston. ( Johnny Hanson / Chronicle) Foo Fighters guitarist and vocalist Dave Grohl performs at the Toyota Center Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008, in Houston. ( Johnny Hanson / Chronicle) Photo: Johnny Hanson, Houston Chronicle Image 33 of 50 Foo Fighters guitarist and vocalist Dave Grohl performs at the Toyota Center Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008, in Houston. ( Johnny Hanson / Chronicle) Foo Fighters guitarist and vocalist Dave Grohl performs at the Toyota Center Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008, in Houston. ( Johnny Hanson / Chronicle) Photo: Johnny Hanson, Houston Chronicle Image 34 of 50 Foo Fighters guitarist and vocalist Dave Grohl performs at the Toyota Center Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008, in Houston. ( Johnny Hanson / Chronicle) Foo Fighters guitarist and vocalist Dave Grohl performs at the Toyota Center Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008, in Houston.

( Johnny Hanson / Chronicle) Photo: Johnny Hanson, Houston Chronicle Image 35 of 50 Foo Fighters guitarist and vocalist Dave Grohl performs at the Toyota Center Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008, in Houston. ( Johnny Hanson / Chronicle) Foo Fighters guitarist and vocalist Dave Grohl performs at the Toyota Center Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008, in Houston. ( Johnny Hanson / Chronicle) Photo: Johnny Hanson, Houston Chronicle Image 36 of 50 Foo Fighters guitarist and vocalist Dave Grohl performs at the Toyota Center Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008, in Houston. ( Johnny Hanson / Chronicle) Foo Fighters guitarist and vocalist Dave Grohl performs at the Toyota Center Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008, in Houston. ( Johnny Hanson / Chronicle) Photo: Johnny Hanson, Houston Chronicle Image 37 of 50 Foo Fighters guitarist and vocalist Dave Grohl performs at the Toyota Center Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008, in Houston. ( Johnny Hanson / Chronicle) Foo Fighters guitarist and vocalist Dave Grohl performs at the Toyota Center Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008, in Houston.

( Johnny Hanson / Chronicle) Photo: Johnny Hanson, Houston Chronicle Image 38 of 50 Foo Fighters guitarist and vocalist Dave Grohl performs at the Toyota Center Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008, in Houston. ( Johnny Hanson / Chronicle) Foo Fighters guitarist and vocalist Dave Grohl performs at the Toyota Center Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008, in Houston. ( Johnny Hanson / Chronicle) Photo: Johnny Hanson, Houston Chronicle Image 39 of 50 Foo Fighters guitarist and vocalist Dave Grohl performs at the Toyota Center Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008, in Houston. ( Johnny Hanson / Chronicle) Foo Fighters guitarist and vocalist Dave Grohl performs at the Toyota Center Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008, in Houston. ( Johnny Hanson / Chronicle) Photo: Johnny Hanson, Houston Chronicle Image 40 of 50 Foo Fighters guitarist and vocalist Dave Grohl performs at the Toyota Center Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008, in Houston. ( Johnny Hanson / Chronicle) Foo Fighters guitarist and vocalist Dave Grohl performs at the Toyota Center Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008, in Houston.

( Johnny Hanson / Chronicle) Photo: Johnny Hanson, Houston Chronicle Image 41 of 50 Foo Fighters guitarist and vocalist Dave Grohl performs at the Toyota Center Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008, in Houston. ( Johnny Hanson / Chronicle) Foo Fighters guitarist and vocalist Dave Grohl performs at the Toyota Center Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008, in Houston. ( Johnny Hanson / Chronicle) Photo: Johnny Hanson, Houston Chronicle Image 42 of 50 Foo Fighters guitarist and vocalist Dave Grohl performs at the Toyota Center Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008, in Houston. ( Johnny Hanson / Chronicle) Foo Fighters guitarist and vocalist Dave Grohl performs at the Toyota Center Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008, in Houston. ( Johnny Hanson / Chronicle) Photo: Johnny Hanson, Houston Chronicle Image 43 of 50 Foo Fighters guitarist and vocalist Dave Grohl performs at the Toyota Center Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008, in Houston. ( Johnny Hanson / Chronicle) Foo Fighters guitarist and vocalist Dave Grohl performs at the Toyota Center Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008, in Houston.

( Johnny Hanson / Chronicle) Photo: Johnny Hanson, Houston Chronicle Image 44 of 50 Foo Fighters guitarist and vocalist Dave Grohl performs at the Toyota Center Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008, in Houston. ( Johnny Hanson / Chronicle) Foo Fighters guitarist and vocalist Dave Grohl performs at the Toyota Center Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008, in Houston. ( Johnny Hanson / Chronicle) Photo: Johnny Hanson, Houston Chronicle Image 45 of 50 Foo Fighters guitarist and vocalist Dave Grohl performs at the Toyota Center Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008, in Houston. ( Johnny Hanson / Chronicle) Foo Fighters guitarist and vocalist Dave Grohl performs at the Toyota Center Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008, in Houston. ( Johnny Hanson / Chronicle) Photo: Johnny Hanson, Houston Chronicle Image 46 of 50 Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters performs during a sound check on day three of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S., on Thursday, Sept. 6, 2012.

President Barack Obama's prime-time nomination acceptance speech tonight at the DNC will be aimed at convincing voters that a slow economic recovery will accelerate if they give him a second term. Photographer: Scott Eells/Bloomberg *** Local Caption *** Dave Grohl less Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters performs during a sound check on day three of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S., on Thursday, Sept. 6, 2012. President Barack Obama's ... more Photo: Scott Eells, Bloomberg Image 47 of 50 Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters attends the aftershow of the 2009 MTV Europe Music Awards at the e-werk on November 5, 2009 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images) Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters attends the aftershow of the 2009 MTV Europe Music Awards at the e-werk on November 5, 2009 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images) Photo: Ian Gavan, Getty Images Image 48 of 50 In this Jan.

31, 2013 file photo, Dave Grohl, left, poses with Nirvana bandmate Krist Novoselic at the premiere of the documentary film "Sound City," in Los Angeles. Nirvana will be inducted into the 2014 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on April 10 at the Barclays Center in New York. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File) less In this Jan. 31, 2013 file photo, Dave Grohl, left, poses with Nirvana bandmate Krist Novoselic at the premiere of the documentary film "Sound City," in Los Angeles. Nirvana will be inducted into the 2014 Rock ... more Photo: Chris Pizzello, Associated Press Image 49 of 50 Dave Grohl gives the opening keynote during the SXSW Music Festival, on Thursday, March 14, 2013 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Jack Plunkett/Invision/AP Images) Dave Grohl gives the opening keynote during the SXSW Music Festival, on Thursday, March 14, 2013 in Austin, Texas.

(Photo by Jack Plunkett/Invision/AP Images) Photo: Jack Plunkett, Associated Press Image 50 of 50

Question: What city is most associated with grunge music?
Answer: Seattle