Sunday Morning Playlist: Grunge - Page 3

Among the important songs and artists of the grunge era:

1. Nirvana: Smells Like Teen Spirit

For better and worse, this was the song that thrust doomed reluctant hero Kurt Cobain and band into the forefront of the music scene. Their previous album, Bleach, was recorded at a cost of $600, and sold 35,000 copies. Nevermind, their sophomore album, and debut for record titan David Geffen's label sold 3 million, exceeding its modest sales goal 30 times. "Smells Like Teen Spirit" reached #6; when it appeared it was arguably the hardest rock ever to reach the top-10. Following this breakthough, the floodgates opened, and the world at large learned of grunge's existence.

2. Pearl Jam: Alive

"Even Flow" was their breakthrough, but "Alive" remains one of their most beloved songs, with a big meaty hook for a chorus, and unusually poignant autobiographical lyrics, about the father he never knew he had, from Eddie Vedder. Guitarist Mike McCready is in firey form throughout; Vedder alternates between quiet and intimate and bellowing over the din. Pearl Jam is one of the few grunge bands to maintain a career into the 00's and still remain vital.

3. Soundgarden: Black Hole Sun

In some ways, Soundgarden is the very definition of grunge; their oppressively heavy Black Sabbath style riffs meshed with the DIY post-punk ethic and sense of irony to create a mammoth, defiant sound. By the time of Superunknown they had refined this approach as much as it could be refined. "Black Hole Sun" is their biggest hit, a gloomy piece of psychedelic lead that reflected the mood of the scene in the wake of Cobain's suicide. They had many better songs, including "Rusty Cage" (later covered by Johnny Cash), but this leaves the longest shadow.

4. L7: Pretend We're Dead

L7 was often associated with the Seattle/grunge scene via Sup Pop records, the Seattle label that also released Nirvana's first album. Actually, L7 was an all female quartet from Los Angeles. "Pretend We're Dead" was from Bricks Are Heavy, produced by Butch Vig (who had produced Nevermind) in 1992. It was their biggest single, reaching #8 on the Modern Rock charts. Their sound was raw and abrasive, but with a depth and substance to this album, which put them at the forefront of the "riot grrrl" movement.

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