My Top 101 AltRock Songs of the '90s

A while ago I created a list of my top 101 alternative rock songs from the '90s.  This was in response to Q101's (R.I.P.) list of top 101 songs they released each year.  Over the period of a few months (2 songs/day), I released this list via IM status updates to my co-workers. While I won't pretend any of you care any more than my fellow employees did, perhaps you'll indulge me.  I've got the list, so why not share it?

You'll see that most of these songs are radio hits.  I have to say that much of my music listening from those days was limited to the radio.  I didn't buy many albums nor did I go out of my way to try and listen to other stuff.  This was obviously before the days of Pandora and Spotify.  I'm not going to feel guilty that these songs are all "popular" because it's my list after all, right?  When considering which songs are my favorites, any or all of 3 factors generally come into play: 1) The sound is really catchy to me, 2) The lyrics speak to me personally, and 3) I associate the song to a good memory/time in my life. 

101 songs is a lengthy list and I can't tell you that the order of songs is exactly the same as it would be if I re-ranked today.  The songs on a list of that length is what matters.  I will say that the top 15 or so is pretty locked in.  I've taken the liberty of "defending" the top 10 songs on my list as you'll see below.  Have any feedback?  Whole-hearted agreement?  Glaring omissions?  I welcome it all.

101     "ALL THE KIDS ARE RIGHT" - LOCAL H

100     "ONE WEEK" - BARENAKED LADIES

99       "LUMP" - PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

98       "SWALLOWED" - BUSH

97       "IN BLOOM" - NIRVANA

96       "YOU" - CANDLEBOX

95       "FATHER OF MINE" - EVERCLEAR

94       "6 UNDERGROUND" - SNEAKER PIMPS

93       "GREEDY FLY" - BUSH

92       "WANT YOU BAD" - THE OFFSPRING

91       "FOLLOW YOU DOWN" - GIN BLOSSOMS

90       "BEAUTIFUL DISASTER" - 311

89       "TONIGHT, TONIGHT" - THE SMASHING PUMPKINS

88       "RE-ARRANGED" - LIMP BIZKIT

87       "DUMB" - NIRVANA

86       "LIVE FOREVER" - OASIS

85       "IRIS" - GOO GOO DOLLS

84       "THE KIDS AREN'T ALRIGHT" - THE OFFSPRING

83       "NUTSHELL" - ALICE IN CHAINS

82       "CALIFORNICATION" - RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS

81       "FAR BEHIND" - CANDLEBOX

80       "COUNTING BLUE CARS" - DISHWALLA

79       "MORE HUMAN THAN HUMAN" - WHITE ZOMBIE

78       "HERO OF THE DAY" - METALLICA

77       "6TH AVENUE HEARTACHE" - WALLFLOWERS

76       "LEARN TO FLY" - FOO FIGHTERS

75       "CREEP" - RADIOHEAD

74       "DATE RAPE" - SUBLIME

73       "ALL OVER YOU" - LIVE

72       "HEART SHAPED BOX" - NIRVANA

71       "HEY MAN, NICE SHOT" - FILTER

70       "BLACK" - PEARL JAM

69       "MAN IN THE BOX" - ALICE IN CHAINS

68       "COME DOWN" - TOAD THE WET SPROCKET

67       "COME AS YOU ARE" - NIRVANA

66       "ONLY GOD KNOWS WHY" - KID ROCK

65       "DISARM" - THE SMASHING PUMPKINS

64       "TIME" - HOOTIE & THE BLOWFISH

63       "THE BAD TOUCH" - THE BLOODHOUND GANG

62       "MUTT" - BLINK 182

61       "ONE HEADLIGHT" - WALLFLOWERS

60       "BLACK BALLOON" - GOO GOO DOLLS

59       "COMEDOWN" - BUSH

58       "GOT YOU (WHERE I WANT YOU)" - THE FLYS

57       "SELL OUT" - REEL BIG FISH

56       "PLUSH" - STONE TEMPLE PILOTS

55       "FREAK ON A LEASH" - KORN

54       "INTERSTATE LOVE SONG" - STONE TEMPLE PILOTS

53       "LOSER" - BECK

52       "HEY JEALOUSY" - GIN BLOSSOMS

51       "GLYCERINE" - BUSH

50       "POPULAR" - NADA SURF

49       "LUNA" - SMASHING PUMPKINS

48       "ALL THE SMALL THINGS" - BLINK 182

47       "ELDERLY WOMAN BEHIND THE COUNTER IN A SMALL TOWN" - PEARL JAM

46       "THE RASCAL KING" - MIGHTY MIGHTY BOSSTONES

45       "NAME" - GOO GOO DOLLS

44       "BASKET CASE" - GREEN DAY

43       "GOT THE LIFE" - KORN

42       "WOULD?" - ALICE IN CHAINS

41       "GOOD" - BETTER THAN EZRA

40       "I WANT YOU" - THIRD EYE BLIND

39       "TRIPPIN ON A HOLE IN A PAPER" - STONE TEMPLE PILOTS

38       "BRICK" - BEN FOLDS FIVE

37       "UNDER THE BRIDGE" - RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS

36       "SEX AND CANDY" - MARCY PLAYGROUND

35       "STARS" - HUM

34       "TODAY" - THE SMASHING PUMPKINS

33       "BUDDY HOLLY" - WEEZER

32       "TIME OF YOUR LIFE" - GREENDAY

31       "YOU GET WHAT YOU GIVE" - NEW RADICALS

30       "CLOSING TIME" - SEMISONIC

29       "THE IMPRESSION THAT I GET" - MIGHTY MIGHTY BOSSTONES

28       "LIGHTNING CRASHES" - LIVE

27       "VASOLINE" - STONE TEMPLE PILOTS

26       "BETTER MAN" - PEARL JAM

25       "CLOSER" - NINE INCH NAILS

24       "AEROPLANE" - RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS

23       "SHE" - GREEN DAY

22       "SAY IT AIN'T SO" - WEEZER

21       "PLOWED" - SPONGE

20       "MAYONAISE" - SMASHING PUMPKINS

19       "WHAT'S MY AGE AGAIN" - BLINK 182

18       "WONDERWALL" - OASIS

17       "EVERLONG" - FOO FIGHTERS

16       "CRASH INTO ME" - DAVE MATTHEWS BAND

15       "SMELLS LIKE TEEN SPIRIT" - NIRVANA

14       "ADAM'S SONG" - BLINK 182

13       "1979" - THE SMASHING PUMPKINS

12       "HURT" - NINE INCH NAILS

11       "WHISKEY IN THE JAR" - METALLICA

10       "MY HERO" - FOO FIGHTERS

Gotta think "Varisty Blues" when you hear this song, don't you?  OK, maybe not, but I do.  And when I think of that movie, I think of Bud Kilmer tossing clipboards and I laugh (yes, I realize "Thunderstruck" was playing during that part).  Don't get wrong, this song would still kick ass even without the movie connection I've made.

9          "3 A.M." - MATCHBOX TWENTY

Interestingly, "Real World" was my favorite track off this album for a long time.  I guess my "ear" evolved over time.  I can't explain this song's progression because there's no underlying memory associated to it nor I am overly attached to the lyrics.  It just works for me.

8          "THE FRESHMAN" - THE VERVE PIPE

Another one that just works but I can really appreciate the lyrics.  I rememeber a kid at JJC singing an acoustic cover of this.  It has nothing to do with my liking of this song but for some reason that memory is etched in my brain.

7          "MACHINE HEAD" - BUSH

"Sixteen Stone" was the first album I ever owned.  You never forget your first they say.  Hearing that opening guitar riff just has to get you going, right?

6          "NOTHINGMAN" - PEARL JAM

Pearl Jam is probably my favorite group of the '90s so it's no surprise they land comfortably in the top 10.  It's all good but I've always enjoyed their "softer" stuff more than the more uptempo songs.  This song just slowly worked its way up the list as time has gone by.

5          "MY OWN WORST ENEMY" - LIT

I felt so cool blasting this song from my '93 Bonneville in high school.  I had to copy the song to a cassette tape (I know, how retro of me) because the car didn't have a CD player.  Even now, when the song comes on a jukebox, I can't help but wistfully smile.

4          "SHIMMER" - FUEL

"All that shimmers in this world is sure to fade away again."  How true.  Except for you, Shimmer.  You will always be a glowing bastion of a time when my musical appreciation was at its height.

3          "EVERYTHING YOU WANT" - VERTICAL HORIZON

This song just has incredible staying power (my buddy Tom would confirm).  By that, I mean it's a song I could hear a thousand times and never get tired of.  If you've read any of my posts lamenting about women, you would understand why I really identify with the lyrics.  I HAVE said all the right things at exactly the right time but I still mean nothing to these women and I don't know why.  (See?  Even in a post about music, you can't escape my lamenting.)

2          "SLIDE" - GOO GOO DOLLS

"Dizzy Up the Girl" was my album of choice for all those bus rides to away games in high school soccer.  "Iris" may get those most love these days from the general populus but I always had a spot for this song.  It's just catchy. 

1          "WHEN I COME AROUND" - GREEN DAY

Even prior to starting this list, there was little doubt which song would hold this spot.  "Dookie" was one of the first albums I ever owned and given my propensity to lock onto songs played on the radio, this became my de facto jam.  If my boom box ever decides to crap out (still have it from jr. high!), it will be due to repeated plays of this song.  Needed to get pumped up before youth bowling?  This song.  Felt like unwinding after some soccer?  This song.  Just plain wanted to listen to music?  Well, you get the idea.