NationStates Jolt Archive

Yet another shameless ripoff thread!!!

Any people like me clinging to rock's last (apparently) great moments?

Choices:

Soundgarden
Nirvana
Mudhoney
Melvins
Pearl Jam
Alice In Chains
Stone Temple Pilots
L7
Smashing Pumpkins
Other

(Smashing Pumpkins not really strictly grunge, I know, but if anyone would like to write a paragraph or two explaining the differences between their early work and that of their grunge contemporaries feel free, provided you don't mention Billy Corgan's voice.)

Alice in Chains

Alice in Chains

They grow on you more the more you listen to them, hey?

Alice in Chains

agreed

AIC? Oh gawdddddddddd, you're kidding.

Pearl Jam, only because you left off the Godfather of Grunge, Neil Young and Crazy Horse ("the 3rd Best Garage Band in the World").

Pearl Jam, only because you left off the Godfather of Grunge, Neal Young and Crazy Horse ("the 3rd Best Garage Band in the World").

While that may be true, he himself wasn't a grunge artist.

...hell...Black Flag and Led Zeppelin did their part too, should I have put them on the list? :p

While that may be true, he himself wasn't a grunge artist.

...hell...Black Flag and Led Zeppelin did their part too, should I have put them on the list? :p

Neil didn't do his part - he invented Grunge.

Sonic Youth

Sonic Youth

Yeah, wish I could have fitted them.

I semi-liked grunge in the early days, or at least Pearl Jam and Soundgarden, but now, trying to listen to some of those early cd's, except Ten, I can see what crap it was.

Nirvana. Please God. If I could go back in time and remove one band from history, it would be them.

Scott Weiland. I never understood his appeal as a lead singer. Now that he's fronting Velvet Revolver, I really don't understand how anyone could like him. He looks like a more drugged out (and that's hard to believe) version of Mick Jagger, only more gay (which is also hard to believe).

Alice in Chains. Hated them. Still hate them.

Props to the one who mentioned Neil Young as the Godfather of grunge, or even a great extension of garage rock. He doesn't get enough credit for anything he's done.

They grow on you more the more you listen to them, hey?
Indeed. In the beginning I was freaked out by songs like God Am and Sludge Factory... Layne Staley's voice takes a while to get used to.

Great songs. Too bad Layne is dead :(

Nirvana or Pearl Jam probably

If I could base it on one song, I would give it to Mudhoney for "Pump It Up".

If they were on the list I would give it to The Pixies

As it is I gave Soundgarden their only vote so far.

Indeed. In the beginning I was freaked out by songs like God Am and Sludge Factory... Layne Staley's voice takes a while to get used to.

Great songs. Too bad Layne is dead :(

He was worthless.

That band wouldn't have been shit without Jerry Cantrell.

May I point out that saying Neil Young is Grunge, is like saying Mozart is Jazz

If they were on the list I would give it to The Pixies

Aww crap shit poo!

No idea how the hell they skipped my mind.

He was worthless.

That band wouldn't have been shit without Jerry Cantrell.
:confused:

:confused:

Name a song you like and it was entirely composed by Jerry Cantrell.

The only exception might be Angry Chair.

Hate to Feel?

Where is my mind?

Hate to Feel?

Ooops, sorry, two.

How about Down in a Hole, Them Bones, Rooster, Would?, We Die Young, Grind, Heaven Beside You, Over Now.

Staley is the principle reason they only released two truly successful albums and didn't tour after 1993.

Where is my mind?

This Monkey's Gone to Heaven

This Monkey's Gone to Heaven

I'm kind of upset that the Pixies weren't on that list.

I always liked the sounds in Blind Mellon... to bad Shane died.

The Toadies were a band that could qualify, not well known enough, though.

I also think Radiohead circa Pablo Honey and The Bends could qualify, too.

This Monkey's Gone to Heaven

If the Devil is 6, then God is 7 :D


Name a song you like and it was entirely composed by Jerry Cantrell.

Composed, yeah, but Staley wrote lyrics as well on a few that I like, eg, Bleed the Freak and Real Thing to name two (listening to their first album right now).

Ooops, sorry, two.

How about Down in a Hole, Them Bones, Rooster, Would?, We Die Young, Grind, Heaven Beside You, Over Now.

Staley is the principle reason they only released two truly successful albums and didn't tour after 1993.
Drugs are a bitch...

PS Have you heard anything by Jerry Cantrell (the band). That sucks in comparison to AIC. THEY made the music. Not just Jerry.

The Toadies were a band that could qualify, not well known enough, though.

They're good, from the few songs I know. Unattractive is a great song.

I also think Radiohead circa Pablo Honey and The Bends could qualify, too.

Hmm, maybe Pablo Honey, but I don't think the Bends was, despite it being one of my favourite albums.

I'm kind of upset that the Pixies weren't on that list.

Yeah, sorry. I don't know how they slipped my mind. I would have bumped L7 off the list since they're a little obscure.

Drugs are a bitch...

PS Have you heard anything by Jerry Cantrell (the band). That sucks in comparison to AIC. THEY made the music. Not just Jerry.

Look at the principle credits, all of the songs I listed were Cantrell only.

I like his new stuff, and it has generally been well recieved.

May I point out that saying Neil Young is Grunge, is like saying Mozart is Jazz

Thank You!

I've been sitting here for the last 14 years trying to figure out just how in the hell "Harvest Moon" and "Heart of Gold" are grunge. Young is a great musician, sure, his work with Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills, and Nash is great and all .... but grunge?!

I've heard a lot of Neil Young and I just don't get it. Is it just cuz Eddie "please just leave me alone" Vedder idolized him? Pearl Jam was a better band as Mother Love Bone anyway.

If anybody can be credited for planting the seed of Grunge, it's The Clash.

Neal Young .... puleeeze.

May I point out that saying Neil Young is Grunge, is like saying Mozart is Jazz

You can say it, but it is silly. Ask Pearl Jam if Neil Young plays Grunge.

[Grunge:


"As a style of music, it is generally characterized by 'dirty' guitar, strong riffs, and heavy drumming. Grunge is also popularly referred to as the Seattle Sound."

In many ways, grunge music was to the 90's what punk was to 70's. Both grunge and punk were relatively short lived musical genres that had a much greater impact than their sales, radio play, and concert performances would indicate. However, critically, both genres were both hailed and disparaged as either the future of rock or an indication that rock was dead.

So just as Neil Young's 1979 release of "Rust Never Sleeps" marked a turning point in both punk and rock, so did "Ragged Glory"'s release in 1991 foreshadow the emergence of grunge. Ragged Glory's raging feedback was widely emulated and influenced numerous bands, including Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Sonic Youth among others.

The earliest written reference to Neil Young as the 'Godfather Of Grunge' was in December 1991, when Tower Records in house publication Pulse! published a cover article on Neil Young titled 'The Godfather Of Grunge Rock' by Steve Martin.

The album Freedom is considered to be one of the ten most important albums in the history of alternative music. Pagewise in 2001 said:

"Despite what some Nirvana fans might say, this is the album that started it all. Neil Young is the grandfather of grunge. 'Freedom,' which Young released in 1989, was the first true alternative album. It seems a stretch to call an album by someone Young's age alternative, but the label is applied to the music...."] http://www.thrasherswheat.org/gog.htm

All I got to say … so many mindless nirvana followers … they were good but sheesh

"I've been sitting here for the last 14 years trying to figure out just how in the hell "Harvest Moon" and "Heart of Gold" are grunge. Young is a great musician, sure, his work with Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills, and Nash is great and all .... but grunge?!"

You've been sitting there so long because you've been listening to the wrong records. The person who posted a few back, who broke down the albums and mentioned the article where Young was referred to as the "Godfather of Grunge" that is right on.

No CSNY isn't grunge. Neither is Harvest Moon or any of his acoustic stuff that he is most reknowned for.

But that isn't but a fraction of his total merit.

And "grunge" IMO was just a regurgitation of bad punk music. Only punk music has lasted for the better of thirty years. Grunge faded pretty quickly.

And "grunge" IMO was just a regurgitation of bad punk music. Only punk music has lasted for the better of thirty years. Grunge faded pretty quickly.

I disagree. Grunge has a metal influence as well- it's distinct from punk.

Onto your second point- Punk may have lasted that long, but it has never reached the giddy heights it formerly held in its early years, and is now (mostly) commercial slop. There are still grunge bands being created today, but they're pretty underground and thats the way it should be.

AAAAHHH! Melvins are NOT a grunge band!! But they kick the shite out of all those other bands

"Despite what some Nirvana fans might say, this is the album that started it all."

Erm...

Tim (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000002L8C/qid%3D1106327851/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr_11_1/103-4580881-4855063)?

Hang Time (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000002GHX/qid=1106327894/sr=1-4/ref=sr_1_4/103-4580881-4855063?v=glance&s=music)?


Minneapolis did once have some tourist attractions that were actually interesting, instead of just having a really, really big mall. And, well, you could argue whether or not Tim was Grunge (iff Smashing Pumpkins), but it's earlier than anything else even in the race, and definitely in the top 5.

Erm...

Tim (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000002L8C/qid%3D1106327851/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr_11_1/103-4580881-4855063)?

Hang Time (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000002GHX/qid=1106327894/sr=1-4/ref=sr_1_4/103-4580881-4855063?v=glance&s=music)?


Minneapolis did once have some tourist attractions that were actually interesting, instead of just having a really, really big mall. And, well, you could argue whether or not Tim was Grunge (iff Smashing Pumpkins), but it's earlier than anything else even in the race, and definitely in the top 5.
How old are they?

Neil didn't do his part - he invented Grunge.

coughthestooges/iggyandthestoogescough

Tim?

Just the Placemats (much as I love 'em) doing some post-punk stuff. Not grunge.

L7?

Punk band that then moved into playing hardcore influence rock. Not grunge.

All I got to say … so many mindless nirvana followers … they were good but sheesh
EXACTLY! They were good and all... but come on.

Punk band that then moved into playing hardcore influence rock. Not grunge.

I just listened to a few songs and there isn't a whole lot of difference, regardless of their roots. The guitar and bass has the same muddy grunge sound. It feels grunge to me.

Alice in Chains.

How the hell Nirvana is winning I do not know... awful band.

I think Pearl Jam is without a doubt the best in the genre. Of all the bands mentioned, Pearl Jam is the only one that has continued making relevant music to this very day.

Soundgarden kicks ass. Nirvana, IMHO, is only famous because their music video for smells like teen spirit killed the hair bands. Alice in chains is a good choice, but Soundgarden rocks harder. Pearl Jam is, IMHO, weak and has delusions of being profound.

All I got to say … so many mindless nirvana followers … they were good but sheesh


I feel ashamed for voting...but in the UK we were kind of going through a different mood......Happy Mondays and E's...Nirvana are the only band I can remember from that time because everyone wore the t-shirts....!

I don't listen to much grunge, but I really like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Bush.

Soundgarden kicks ass. Nirvana, IMHO, is only famous because their music video for smells like teen spirit killed the hair bands. Alice in chains is a good choice, but Soundgarden rocks harder. Pearl Jam is, IMHO, weak and has delusions of being profound.

Listening to Badmotorfinger right now, actually. Soundgarden are probably the best "technical" choice on the list (Some really good guitarwork), but they did a couple of cruddy songs. Usually Chris Cornells singing is the issue...I think he ruins "Drawing Flies" for example.

I feel ashamed for voting...but in the UK we were kind of going through a different mood......Happy Mondays and E's...Nirvana are the only band I can remember from that time because everyone wore the t-shirts....!

Naw, Nirvana were a good band, don't feel ashamed. :) I personally like their very early and late stuff the best though.

AAAAHHH! Melvins are NOT a grunge band!! But they kick the shite out of all those other bands
The Melvins were the first grunge band.

Alice in Chains.

How the hell Nirvana is winning I do not know... awful band.
Alice in Chains didn't have enough of a catalogue to be the best of anything. Not to mention the awful "Sap" EP.
Nirvana is winning because they should be.

Look at the principle credits, all of the songs I listed were Cantrell only.

I like his new stuff, and it has generally been well recieved.
I'm not sure why they haven't reformed Alice in Chains yet. Sure, Layne made a contribution, but not enough of one for the band to not be around anymore.

And "grunge" IMO was just a regurgitation of bad punk music. Only punk music has lasted for the better of thirty years. Grunge faded pretty quickly.
The Melvins are still around, as is Mudhoney (and Pearl Jam). Yes, they aren't popular anymore, but the punk that is popular today isn't very good.
Also, metal has been around longer than punk has.

I'm not sure why they haven't reformed Alice in Chains yet. Sure, Layne made a contribution, but not enough of one for the band to not be around anymore.
Have you heard Jerry Cantrell (the band)? It's almost the same music, but it just doesn't work without Layne

I voted Nirvana, depsite preferring Pearl Jam. I prefer Eddie Vedder's voice to Kurdt's, and I like the lyrical content of the songs more. But Nirvana defined a generation, and moved the posts for young musicians who previously thought the only way to succeed in the music business was to buy a set of decks, hire a decent manager and then suck cock to the top.

Have you heard Jerry Cantrell (the band)? It's almost the same music, but it just doesn't work without Layne
Yes, I have. You're right about that, but I think the reason it doesn't work is because most of it wasn't written with the other guys in Alice In Chains. I'd be interested in hearing something the three of them would come up with.

Yes, I have. You're right about that, but I think the reason it doesn't work is because most of it wasn't written with the other guys in Alice In Chains. I'd be interested in hearing something the three of them would come up with.
Which bassist? :p

Which bassist? :p
Lol...either one, it doesn't matter. I don't usually have a preference for bassists.

Since you didn't list Kyuus, I voted Pearljam.

Erm...

Tim (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000002L8C/qid%3D1106327851/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr_11_1/103-4580881-4855063)?

Hang Time (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000002GHX/qid=1106327894/sr=1-4/ref=sr_1_4/103-4580881-4855063?v=glance&s=music)?


Minneapolis did once have some tourist attractions that were actually interesting, instead of just having a really, really big mall. And, well, you could argue whether or not Tim was Grunge (iff Smashing Pumpkins), but it's earlier than anything else even in the race, and definitely in the top 5.
Ooh Minneapolis. Good mention, though I'm a bit surprised you mentioned the Replacements ahead of Husker Du. Minneapolis also has Babes In Toyland, the best all-female group (IMHO)

Have you heard Jerry Cantrell (the band)? It's almost the same music, but it just doesn't work without Layne

I really liked Cantrell's "Degradation Trip," I would actually consider it better than any of AIC's albums that weren't titled "Dirt."

Why is Tesla not up there?!

I really liked Cantrell's "Degradation Trip," I would actually consider it better than any of AIC's albums that weren't titled "Dirt."
Meh...

Aic > Cantrell. IMHO

Grunge sucks. Somebody phrased it right when they called it glorified garage band music. Grunge did more to set musicianship back than rap. Just turn up the bass on your amp so it sounds real muddy, then it doesn't matter if you don't really know how to play. Yes, I mean you, Curt No-Brain. Guy didn't even know how to TUNE his guitar! Rediculous.
The only band on your list worth a damn is Soundgarden. Thayall's guitar playing was inspiring.

Meh...

Aic > Cantrell. IMHO

I will agree with you on that, I am just saying that I think Cantrell was the by far the most integral part of AIC. When AIC was in full form (Dirt, Jar of Flies) with Layne Staley making at least some contribution, and not ruining the band through massive drug use, they were as good as anybody.

I will agree with you on that, I am just saying that I think Cantrell was the by far the most integral part of AIC. When AIC was in full form (Dirt, Jar of Flies) with Layne Staley making at least some contribution, and not ruining the band through massive drug use, they were as good as anybody.
It's very true that Cantrell wrote most songs, by far. But writing them is only the first couple of steps in a long march.

And everyone in the band was on drugs. Jerry too. Mike Starr got kicked out of the band when he OD'd. Just because Layne died of it doesn't make him the only junk.

How old are they?

From the sites I linked, Original Release date of Tim-1985 (which, again, while an absolutely brilliant album, is grunge if and only if Smashing Pumpkins were)
Hang Time-Feb 1988 (which truly grows on you, and was my fav album for about 6 months, and is coming around to that status again.)

Jello, Husker Du is an acquired taste. They're one of those band where, having heard two songs of theirs, you can tell their style (Identify any song as their within 3 seconds). It's got "sonic Youth Syndrome"- everything's good, but it all sounds the same.

Pearl Jam is the shit. Best band of the 90s in my opinion.

I would have chosen the Pixies or Sonic Youth, but as it stands I went for Mudhoney.

Touch me I'm sick.

Smashing Pumpkins, by far, butonly Siamese Dream and Pisces Iscariot could be considered grunge at all.

Second best is Soundgarden.

Nirvana get the "most overrated" award.

Since you didn't list Kyuus, I voted Pearljam.

Kyuss are unbelievably awesome, but they're not Grunge. very close, but they're Stoner-rock, which is a seperate subculture completely. Their music is heavier than pretty much all of these bands.

I would have chosen the Pixies or Sonic Youth, but as it stands I went for Mudhoney.

Touch me I'm sick.

I left Sonic Youth out because they evolved independently from the rest of the Grunge bands. They had already established themselves before grunge was even a word...and their sound is a little more distinct.

Smashing Pumpkins, by far, butonly Siamese Dream and Pisces Iscariot could be considered grunge at all.

There's a few songs on Mellon Collie that are, and Gish definitely has the feel IMHO.

Grunge sucks. Somebody phrased it right when they called it glorified garage band music. Grunge did more to set musicianship back than rap. Just turn up the bass on your amp so it sounds real muddy, then it doesn't matter if you don't really know how to play.

That's true of all genres to some point of the other. There are crap grunge bands, crap punk bands (though it's kinda the point), crap metal bands, and so on. Some of it is more technical than the rest. It's whether you like the muddy sound or not, I guess.

Yes, I mean you, Curt No-Brain. Guy didn't even know how to TUNE his guitar! Rediculous.

Yes he did. Where did you get that idea?

Thayall's guitar playing was inspiring.

I'll agree with you on that point. He's brilliant.

The Melvins were the first grunge band. The melvins were not any "grunge" band at all. Describe "grunge" to me

From the sites I linked, Original Release date of Tim-1985 (which, again, while an absolutely brilliant album, is grunge if and only if Smashing Pumpkins were)
Hang Time-Feb 1988 (which truly grows on you, and was my fav album for about 6 months, and is coming around to that status again.)

Jello, Husker Du is an acquired taste. They're one of those band where, having heard two songs of theirs, you can tell their style (Identify any song as their within 3 seconds). It's got "sonic Youth Syndrome"- everything's good, but it all sounds the same.
Ah, i thought so, they aint as old as the good ol' melvins.

Alice in Chains didn't have enough of a catalogue to be the best of anything. Not to mention the awful "Sap" EP.
Nirvana is winning because they should be.

Why should they be winning? Explain to me how they can qualify as talented?

I've asked these questions to so many fans of awful bands and I have yet for anyone to answer with a decent argument for their opinion.

Nirvana wasn't all that great--they were just made into legends by Cobain. Pearl Jam was a much better band.

Jello, Husker Du is an acquired taste. They're one of those band where, having heard two songs of theirs, you can tell their style (Identify any song as their within 3 seconds). It's got "sonic Youth Syndrome"- everything's good, but it all sounds the same.

Kind of true, but their early stuff such as the tracks on Land Speed Record share very little in common with their later stuff like Warehouse Songs And Stories.

Ah, i thought so, they aint as old as the good ol' melvins.
Yes, but in the post right before that, you said
The melvins were not any "grunge" band at allWhereas it's pretty damned hard not to consider Hang Time "grunge." Around '94, SA moved into "occasionally-depressing-pop," (Note-"Runaway Train") so they weren't grunge 'til the end, and they were very nearly a bastardized mix of country and punk when they formed in '81* as Loud Fast Rules. But, as a first Grunge album, one of those two've gotta be it.


*If you think "bastardized minx of country and punk" is redundant, I cite Joni Mitchell in her entirety, most especially Blue (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000002KBU/qid=1107640179/sr=2-1/ref=pd_ka_b_2_1/103-4580881-4855063). It's been rated multiple times in the "top five rock albums of all time," which I disagree with, but would still put it in the top ten and hurt most people who disagreed.

Other.

Pavement for teh win!!!