90's mainstream vs. 90's underground bands…?

May 2021 5 127 Report

90's mainstream vs. 90's underground bands…?

…which do you prefer? I chose underground bands that weren't overly obscure, so you could easily find them if you haven't heard of them.

Mainstream:

Nirvana, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, Jane's Addiction, Smashing Pumpkins, Alice In Chains, The Offspring, Candlebox, Temple Of The Dog, NIN, Porno For Pyros, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Silverchair, Stone Temple Pilots, Rage Against The Machine,

Underground:

Jawbreaker, Rocket From The Crypt, Seaweed, Screeching Weasel, Built To Spill, The Rock*A*Teens, Fugazi, Superchunk, Bikini Kill, Slant 6, Sleater-Kinney, Jawbox, Operation Ivy, Face To Face, Leatherface, Pavement, Posterchildren, Les Thugs, Hot Water Music, Grade, Scared Of Chaka, American Steel, Les Savy Fav

Questions:

1.) 90's underground or 90's mainstream bands?

2.) Define "alternative".

3.) Do you have favorite record labels? If so, which ones?

4.) Are you 21 or older?

5.) Do you prefer small shows, or big ones?

6.) Where do you look when you look for new music?

Entertainment & Music / Music / Rock and Pop

Verified answer

1.UNDERGROUND, MOST DEFINITELY. That is not to say that I'm not a big fan of the alternative music that got more mainstream likability, but come on-The 90's underground was so beautiful and amazing. There were so many forgotten or overlooked Riot Grrl/Post Hardcore/Emo/Shoegaze/Noise Pop/Alt bands in that day, it hurts my face. In general though, the 90's was a good time for ALL alternative music or music that had alternative roots because of Nirvana. Everyone got visability

2."Alternative" for me is underground/indie/D.I.Y. raw music of all genres that have their foot/influence in the original underground/indie/D.I.Y. movements of avant garde, proto-punk, punk rock and hardcore music from back in the late 70's-80's. There are too many genres to name but I think you get my point haha. Sometimes, there are bands in the mainstream I would still count as alternative. And other times, there are bands that play at shows in my hometown who are crappy, unorignial, and I KNOW are just waiting for their big break/are greedy and want to make money off of shows. It's hard to judge at times.

3. Crap, only three? Really? There are SO many...Friction Records, Beggar's Banquet, Dischord, Kill Rock Stars, 4AD, SST...hahah those are just off the top of my head

4.No, I am not

5.ALL AGES, BRO! I prefer cheap, 3-5 dollar, Home-grown, D.I.Y., in your face basement/**** venue SHOWS, thank you very much. No big bar bands or concerts for me.

6. I look for originality, talent, and TRUE emotion, feeling, and craft. I look for honesty and intelligence in lyrics and music and in what the band members trying to do as people and musicians in the scene or in the world in general. I look for good music with a message for the most part. But sometimes, I just want something to dance/jive/rock out to.

Stuie

Although you didn't list any of my favorite 90's bands mainstream stuff was better. Sure there were some good underground stuff like Guided By Voices and Supergrass but a lot of the mainstream stuff eventually went, well not exactly underground, but are not as mainstream in the 00's. The Verve, Counting Crows, Fastball, Barenaked Ladies, Dave Matthews Band, Blues Traveler, Beck, Oasis, Moby and many more have continued to come out with stuff even though they aren't as popular. Though mainstream still had its share of sellouts that went from Alternative to Pop Rock including: Greenday, Blink 182, The Goo Goo Dolls, Matchbox Twenty, John Mayer, Fuel, and Three Doors Down just to name a few.