Decades: '90s Rock

One of the most important and popular developments in rock history, the alternative sounds of grunge and Britpop ruled the airwaves in the 1990s. Get out your flannel shirt and listen to these essential '90s alt-rock songs.

Tap into your teenage angst with classic songs from the '90s era of pop punk.

Remember those CD compilations of popular '90s alt-rock radio hits that used to be advertised on late-night cable TV? Relive those days with this playlist of popular '90s mid-tempo hits.

Before grunge entered mainstream consciousness in the early 1990s, it was a vibrant, restless rock scene rooted in the Pacific Northwest. Get on your flannels, ripped jeans and Docs and head back.

A sunny, nostalgia-drenched playlist packed with memorable hits from the ska-punk of Sublime and Reel Big Fish to the pop-rock of No Doubt and Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Born of the '90s DIY scene in the Pacific Northwest, the riot grrrl movement features bands that combine aggressive vocals and lyrics with thrashing punk instrumentals.

During the 1990s, the unconventional indie side of the alt-rock boom thrived even as the fortunes of more accessible acts waxed and waned. Guitar-heavy, smart, and often slightly strange, this sound is exemplified by Pavement and its peers.

In the 1990s, these bands revitalized and re-imagined the British tradition of tuneful, guitar driven pop bands (established, of course, by The Beatles). The lyrics celebrate British youth culture and the music is packed full of big, bright, catchy hooks.

Unleash your inner daredevil with these songs from MTV's Jackass television series and films.

Rock's greatest in-concert moments, from the grunge gods of the '90s (Nirvana, Soundgarden) to the indie icons of the '00s (Decemberists, Bright Eyes) and beyond.

The mid-1990s brought about the end of the grunge heyday, but many of its key players have continued performing in various incarnations. This selection of songs presents many of them, along with a number of their notable followers.

Post-rock tracks ranging from the abstract (Godspeed You! Black Emperor) to the melodic (Stereolab) and everything in between.

Precision-mounted industrial tracks from the style's late-1980s/early-'90s peak era.

Fierce tracks from the thrash/speed-metal heyday of the 1980s and early '90s.

The heavier side of the alternative boom of the late 1980s and early '90s.

Whether they're jamming on extended improvisational solos, combining unlikely genres, or playing songs backwards, jam bands make innovative, risky, and unclassifiable music that'll never sound the same way twice.

Developed in the 1980s, Math rock is a guitar-based genre influenced by progressive and experimental rock known for using odd time signatures, interlocking rhythms and complex arrangements.

Contemporary pop-rock ('90s to today), focusing on female vocalists and sensitive guys. Contemplative and emotional yet SFW (Safe for Work).

During the 1980s and '90s, D.C. was the place to be for hardcore. Enjoy the finest bands from that time and place, as well as their latter-day incarnations that branched out in different sonic directions.

As the '80s became the '90s, Manchester's lively, drug-fueled music scene smashed together dance music and psychedelia with wild-eyed glee. Recall the acts that peaked during 1989's New Summer of Love, as well as the bands that book-ended the era.

From the stylish East Coast multi-piece bands to the more playful, slacker-style SoCal scene, here are all your third-wave ska favorites that made the '90s so much fun.