Grunge music is mostly associated with the 90s and Seattle, the appreciation of the music should not be forgotten by newer generations. What is the sound of grunge? Grunge music incorporates angsty, dark, and feminist lyrics with a reliance on the use of bass and electric guitar to achieve a heavy blend of punk and metal sound. This playlist is curated to bring life back to this beloved genre and prove to new listeners why grunge is not dead.
- “Down in a Hole” by Alice In Chains
Love is a scary concept. How does one know they met their soulmate? The song ‘Down in a Hole’ can help clarify romance frustrations. Jerry Contell, guitarist and songwriter, wrote this song to describe his love for his love interest, Courtney Clarke. This song is the fourth track from the Dirt album released in 1992.
- “Black Hole Sun” by SoundGarden
Contrary to the upbeat catchy melody of the chorus, the speaker is begging for the end of the world to consume them into nothingness as shown by the lyric “Black hole sun won’t you come/And wash away the rain?” In the song’s music video, there are obvious subliminal messages such as the corruption of religion, and dangers of suburbia. This song is the seventh track from the Superunknown album released in 1994.
- “In Bloom” by Nirvana
Similar to the song “Black Hole Sun”, both include a captivating melody. This can catch the listeners off guard if not paying attention to the lyrics. The song criticizes fans who enjoy their music but not understanding the meaning behind the songs. Nirvana is known for popularizing the grunge sound but haven’t made music since the passing of their Kurt Cobain, lead singer, guitarist and songwriter, in 1994. This song is the second track from the Nevermind album released in 1991.
- “Hunger Strike” by Temple of the Dog
How can listeners’ not fall in love with the blend of vocals from Chris Cornell, lead singer of AudioSlave and SoundGarden , and Eddie Vendor, lead singer of Pearl Jam. The underlying message of the song is expressing the loss of equality in the world. Also, bringing attention to classism and the power struggle of the poor with lyrics such as, “But I can’t feed on the powerless, when my cup’s already overfilled”. This song is the sixth track from the Temple of the Dog album released in 1990.
- “Black” by Pearl Jam
Experiencing unrequited love? The song “Black” tells a sad story about watching someone you love with another person and the feeling of unreciprocated love. Lyrics such as “All the love gone bad turned my world to black” expresses the immense impact love has on an individual when their lover leaves them for another person. This song is the fifth track from the Ten album released 1990.
This playlist has a total of five songs that captures the sound of grunge for new listeners. There are more bands and artists that produce grunge music not mentioned in this article such as the Melvins, Mudhoney, Screaming Trees, Stone Temple Pilots, Silverchair and many more. If interested in checking out the playlist, click this link to the Eagle Eye’s account on Spotify.
