100 Best Alternative Rock Bands
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The alternative rock scene emerged through the independent underground music movement of the ‘70s. The genre gained popularity in the ‘80s, and since has become one of the most popular music forms encompassing DIY ethos. A number of bands and artists with an eclectic music style have emerged through the ranks of alternative culture. Although alternate music is often identified with non-mainstream, some of the most influential bands in rock history are associated with the genre.
The list below showcase an epic collection of alternative bands from different decades. If you love all things alternative you will definitely have a lot to say.
Top 10 Best Alternative Rock Bands
- R.E.M.
- Nirvana
- Radiohead
- Red Hot Chili Peppers
- Pearl Jam
- U2
- Coldplay
- Sonic Youth
- Smashing Pumpkins
- Oasis
What Is Alternative Rock?
A category of rock music, alternative rock is a musical style that incorporates distinctly different styles and culture norms in terms of sound, regional roots and social context. Over the years the term alternative is used as an umbrella term to describe artists and bands from the independent, underground or non-commercial music scene. The alternative scene has evolved into a diversified sound through subgenres such as indie rock, grunge, shoegaze and noise pop. Although alternative rock has achieved far less mainstream success in comparison to other rock genres, a number of bands from the alternative movement have a cult following globally.
#11—20
11. Pixies
12. Foo Fighters
13. The Sugarcubes
14. Mudhoney
15. Dinosaur Jr.
16. Husker Du
17. Muse
18. Pavement
19. Jane’s Addiction
20. Siouxsie and the Banshees
Usage of the Term Alternative in Music
The term alternative rock started being used commonly in the ‘90s. However, in the ‘80s alternative music forms identified with different sorts of music that included new wave, jangle pop, post-punk, and college rock. Alternative music became hugely popular with the college radio circuit and depended heavily on college students for music promotion on college radio.
Alternative charts first made their presence in magazines and fanzines in the early ‘80s. By 1988 Billboard introduced ‘Alternative Songs’ a charting system that featured purely alternative artists. Usage of the term alternative broadened considerably with the dawn of the ‘90s. Although at first the term alternative was intentionally used to refer to non-mainstream rock bands, over the years it’s paradoxically become a commercially marketable entity in mainstream.
#21—40
21. The Replacements
22. Blur
23. 10,000 Maniacs
24. They Might Be Giants
25. Superchunk
26. The Dream Syndicate
27. Skunk Anansie
28. Keane
29. The Smiths
30. My Bloody Valentine
31. Violent Femmes
32. The Cure
33. Soundgarden
34. Thirty Seconds to Mars
35. Jimmy Eat World
36. The Killers
37. Collective Soul
38. No Doubt
39. Linkin Park
40. Fugazi
Characteristics of Alternative Genres
The music and lyrics in alternative genres are diverse. Typically the music comprises of chiming riffs, power chords, fuzz tone buzz, drums, sequenced sounds, and sound of feedback. Lyrically songs in this genre stem from varied concepts. Some of the commonly addressed topics through lyrical themes include social concerns such as depression, drug use, environmentalism, addiction, and suicide. The socio-economic strains people deal with in their everyday lives are reflected thoughtfully in lyrics of certain songs. Different aspects associated with love, hate, breakup, anger, betrayal, and conflict have been brought to life through confessional lyrics by alternative bands.
#41—60
41. The Stone Roses
42. Suede
43. Green Day
44. The White Stripes
45. Rage Against the Machine
46. Incubus
47. Dashboard Confessional
48. My Chemical Romance
49. The Strokes
50. Camper Van Beethoven
51. Stone Temple Pilots
52. Primal Scream
53. Imagine Dragons
54. Arctic Monkeys
55. Queens of the Stone Age
56. Blink-182
57. Paramore
58. The Jesus Lizard
59. The Cranberries
60. Nine Inch Nails
Alternative Music in the ‘80s
Although alternative rock emerged big in the ‘80s, it remained an underground phenomenon. A number of bands in this decade were featured on independent record labels. While alternative rock bands built a cult following in the underground music movement, many bands failed to land recording contracts with major record labels. While a number of alternative bands in this decade remained unsigned, these bands came up with innovative ways to promote their music.
A number of alternative bands would fund their own albums from money they would make from touring and playing underground gigs. Many alternative rock bands earned an epic status from word of mouth publicity, airplay at college radio stations, and reviews in fanzines. Majority of bands sold their low-budget albums at small music concerts and underground gigs at clubs. While the ‘80s never generated spectacular album sales for alternative musicians it paved the way for their success in later years.
#61—80
61. Gorillaz
62. Twenty One Pilots
63. Fall Out Boy
64. Ben Folds Five
65. Matchbox Twenty
66. Travis
67. Pulp
68. Beastie Boys
69. Snow Patrol
70. Franz Ferdinand
71. Depeche Mode
72. Bush
73. Audioslave
74. Panic! At the Disco
75. The Jesus and Mary Chain
76. Arcade Fire
77. Counting Crows
78. The Offspring
79. 3 Doors Down
80. Lifehouse
Alternative Music in the ‘90s
The alternative music scene reached its height of popularity in the ‘90s. The commercial viability of the genre grew significantly with the popularity of grunge. A number of alternative rock bands had breakthrough success in this decade. Music television channels, MTV, in particular, showcased alternative bands in a new light. Furthermore, commercial radio stations started playing singles of alternative rock bands, thereby helping this form of music reach a wider audience. Many alternative bands signed recording contracts with major record labels. The Britpop scene, emo scene, and indie rock scene that flourished through stylistic origins of alternative rock evolved significantly in the later decades.
Alternative Bands Post-2000
Since the year 2000, a number of bands in the alternative rock genre have evolved with diverse post-punk and new wave influences. Many new alternative rock bands with distinctive pop-rock and indie sensibilities have had mainstream success with their albums. Post-2010 a number of alternative bands are fusing diverse styles of indie, punk, hip-hop, emo, hard rock and electronic in their music.
A number of emerging alternative acts are promoting their music in a big way on video streaming channels. YouTube in particular has paved new beginnings for unsigned alternative bands. While there has been severe criticism of stylistic origins and formats of alternative rock changing their relevance in favor of mainstream success, the core elements that define the movement remain true to its roots.
#81—100
81. Three Days Grace
82. Nickelback
83. Blue October
84. AFI
85. The Fray
86. Cake
87. Sublime
88. Barenaked Ladies
89. The Cardigans
90. The Wallflowers
91. Garbage
92. Biffy Clyro
93. Finger Eleven
94. Modest Mouse
95. The Dandy Warhols
96. Crash Test Dummies
97. The All-American Rejects
98. Butthole Surfers
99. Live
100. The Boo Radleys
Other Notable Alternative Rock Bands
- The Feelies
- Big Black
- The Bongos
- Rites of Spring
- Cocteau Twins
- The Afghan Whigs
- New Order
- Happy Mondays
- Deep Blue Something
- Chumbawamba
- Sleater-Kinney
- Candlebox
- Public Image Ltd
- 4 Non Blondes
- Elastica
- A Perfect Circle
- The Wedding Present
- Fishbone
- Sebadoh
- Babes in Toyland
- Yeah Yeah Yeahs
- The Black Keys
- Cage the Elephant
- Fastball
- 311
- Bloodhound Gang
- Interpol
- Fuel
- Blind Melon
- Vertical Horizon
- Dave Matthews Band
- The Calling
- The Alarm
- Fun Lovin’ Criminals
- Jack’s Mannequin
- Sugar Ray
- Plain White T’s
- Better than Ezra
- Third Eye Blind
- Crowded House
- Supergrass
- Placebo
- The Flaming Lips
- Everclear
- Goo Goo Dolls
- Transvision Vamp
- Our Lady Peace
- Poets of the Fall
- The Verve
- Slowdive
- Lostprophets
- The Church
- Hole
- Kula Shaker
- Screaming Trees
- OneRepublic
- Toad the Wet Sprocket
- Gin Blossoms
- James
- Super Furry Animals
- Elbow
- Circa Survive
- Sixpence None the Richer
- Letters to Cleo
- Jack off Jill
- Hootie & the Blowfish
- Smash Mouth
- Veruca Salt
- Ocean Colour Scene
- Throwing Muses
- Grouplove
- The Lightning Seeds
- Kings of Leon
- TISM
- Curve
- Toadies
- Mazzy Star
- VAST
- Spacemen 3
- Creed
- Band of Horses
- The Thrash Can Sinatras
- Wilco
- Hinder
- Portishead
- The La’s
- Semisonic
- The The
- Ride
- Meat Puppets
- Tonic
- Flyleaf
- Soul Asylum
- Dead Letter Circus
- Twin Atlantic
- Primitive Radio Gods
- The Psychedelic Furs
- Yellowcard
- The Rapture
- Jars of Clay
- Sloan
- Pulled Apart By Horses
- Redd Kross
- OK Go
- Texas
- LCD Soundsystem
- The National
- The Soup Dragons
- Failure
- Maximo Park
- The House of Love
- Razorlight
- Brand New
- Reef
- Ween
- Let’s Active
- Hundred Reasons
- Lush
- Quietdrive
- Portugal. The Man
- The Fall
- Daughtry
- The Smithereens
- Mobile
- Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
- Magic Dirt
- Sugar
- Royal Blood
- Violent Soho
- New Radicals
- Swervedriver
- The Presidents of the United States of America
- Fountains of Wayne
- Starsailor
- The Raconteurs
- Silverchair
- Madina lake
- The Breeders
- Love and Rockets
- The Neighborhood
- Wheatus
- Feeder
- The Sundays
- Weezer
- The Vines
- Temple of the Dog
- Death Cab For Cutie
- Marcy Playground
- Hoobastank
- The Pretenders
- Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
- The Charlatans
- Self
- Kent
- Enter Shikari
- Taking Back Sunday
- Phantom Planet
- Manic Street Preachers
- Kaiser Chiefs
- Nada Surf
- Pale Saints
- The Refreshments
- Matthew Good Band
- Shed Seven
- Go Radio
- Possum Dixon
- Filter
- Soul Coughing
- Nothing But Thieves
- INXS
- Mallory Knox
- Sister Hazel
- Hum
- Republica
- Blood Red Shoes
- Morphine
- Silversun Pickups
- The Rentals
- The Lemonheads
- Gomez
- Superdrag
- Switchfoot
- Midnight Oil
- Helium
- The Posies
- Stereophonics
- Lit
- The Hives
- New Found Glory
- The Fratellis
- The Subways
- Mad Season
- Simple Plan
- Boys Like Girls
- Kasabian
- Mutemath
- Guster
- Mando Diao
- Jet
- The Music
© 2020 Ansel Pereira