Genres: Rock: Contemporary Alternative

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.

The best stadium-ready modern rock songs have several key ingredients: a soft intro, a slow build to the chorus, and then a gratifying, transcendent melody backed by ethereal guitars and a driving rhythm section.

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.

With the fast tempos of traditional punk, today's pop punk prominently features electronic keyboards and hi-fi production for an accessible, radio friendly sound.

The Foo Fighters are one of the most enduring bands in rock and roll. Listen to their greatest hits plus songs by their influences, contemporaries, and side projects.

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.

Radiohead are always tinkering, restlessly, with their strange yet soulful fusion of rock and electronica. Listen to songs from cited influences and indebted followers while getting a taste of the band's current setlist.

This playlist includes songs from essential emo-pop artists like genre “founders” Jimmy Eat World and newcomers All Time Low.

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

It wasn't all about grunge at the birth of The Alternative Era. Some artists took from the rich history of elegantly-constructed pop and made their own indie-minded version of sophistication.

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.

Covering songs -- or entire albums -- is a long standing tradition amongst jam bands. This playlist collects the greatest recorded covers by some of the best jam bands, past and present.

Epic-length explorations from the jam band underground, along with a few tunes by the bands who inspired the style.

Listen to songs by all the artists performing at the 2011 Vans Warped Tour.

Spastic, experimental emo with a touch of metal thrown in for good measure. Careful not to shred your vocal chords.

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.

Celebrate the release of Jack White's new album Blunderbuss (http://bit.ly/Io5JGE) with this playlist, featuring the best of the White Stripes, his side projects, artists on his Third Man Records label, and other collaborations.

The perfect soundtrack for hanging out with your friends on the quad, drinking beers, grilling burgers, and tossing a frisbee.

Punk may not be known for its sentimentality, but these tunes would leave Sid and Nancy swooning. So grab your partner by the studded dog collar and bask in punk-rock puppy love.

Cramming for finals requires cool, calming tunes to balance the stress of studying. Help put yourself in the right state of mind with these pop and rock tunes.

Featuring songs from modern surf movies such as "Innersection," "Leave a Message," and "High Five," this playlist will get you in the mood to rip.

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.

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

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.

The history of industrial music, from its pre-punk roots to its first wave pioneers in the post-punk era to its modern-day genre offspring -- this playlist includes EBM, coldwave, industrial rock, power electronics and more.

These true believers carried the prog torch into the post-punk era, from '80s trailblazers to 21st-century new seekers who have drawn on decades of progressive inspiration.

Mom-friendly tunes from classic rockers and newer artists. Nothing too loud or outrageous: you get enough of that in your day as it is.

Whether they're redefining their own songs or taking a cheeky crack at a popular favorite, artists love to perform without the aid of electricity. Check out some acoustic covers of popular rock songs throughout the years.