Underrated 90s alternative bands

[HoneySpider]

I canceled Sirius XM in my car a few months ago because I got tired of listening to the same songs all the time, so I've been rocking out to all of my old CDs (yes, complete with the big case to hold them all). My favorite band is Smashing Pumpkins (my screen name is from one of their lesser-known songs) but obviously they are very well known. We all know the big players but what bands do you consider underrated from this time?

The 2 that come to mind for me are Oleander and Our Lady Peace. 

[Jalapeñomel]

The Violent Femmes
Liz Phair
NIN
Sublime

(Although I don’t think they’re underrated just not on the radio very much)

[moreace01]

Blind Melon

Mary's Danish

[HoneySpider]

Aug 15, 2022 10:49:06 GMT -5 moreace01 said:

Blind Melon

Mary's Danish

I've never heard of Mary's Danish! Are they a local to you band?

[namasteak]

Old 97s

[moreace01]

Aug 15, 2022 10:56:00 GMT -5 HoneySpider said:

Aug 15, 2022 10:49:06 GMT -5 moreace01 said:

I've never heard of Mary's Danish! Are they a local to you band?

Nope. I just remember listening to them a lot.  

I'm trying to think of other bands I listened to that weren't like... The Pixies or Jane's Addiction or something everyone was listening to. 
I listened to a lot of Industrial - and it's...probably not something anyone needs to listen to. Lol. I'll have to think harder. 

[Patsy Baloney]

Early Goo Goo Dolls stuff - Superstar Carwash and back. I hate the band they are now, but looooved them back in the day. You’d think they didn’t exist prior to Iris. Annoying.

Splendora (they did the Daria theme)

Also, my H and I have been going on a nostalgia spree through Third Eye Blind and Matchbox 20. They’re not underrated or unknown, but their albums are so fuuuun beyond the radio songs.

[cjcouple]

I loved Stone Temple Pilots and The Cranberries. Both were popular though.

[cherryvalance]

Bikini Kill.

[wildrice]

Not bands but two of my favorites from that era were Fiona Apple and Poe.

[Susie]

I feel like Sirius XM does the 90s dirty, there is no station that really covers with much depth.  I used to listen to Lithium when I had it, but I cancelled it too.

I love Live, Collective Soul, REM, Everlast, Gin Blossoms, Pearl Jam, older U2, STP, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Blind Melon, the Cranberries, etc.  Not really "underrated," but good.

[twilightmv]

Perfect Circle?

[mysteriouswife]

Aug 15, 2022 11:22:51 GMT -5 twilightmv said:

Perfect Circle?

I feel they didn’t come to fame until 2000/2001.

[mysteriouswife]

Eve 6 was my jam in middle school. I feel like Incubus is also left out a lot.

[namasteak]

Gin Blossoms

[Patsy Baloney]

Letters to Cleo. Verunca Salt.

I also really like Hole.

[ny96]

The Lemonheads

[Vespasia]

Two that come to mind:
Heavens to Betsy (similar vibe to L7 or Babes in Toyland but maybe angrier and screamier)
Eve's Plumb (the singer later had some pop hits as Vitamin C)


If you're listening to actual CDs I would go with movie soundtracks. There were so many fantastic albums in the 90s! A lot of them aren't available on streaming so I am glad I still have my disks.

S.F.W.
Tank Girl
Romeo & Juliette
Natural Born Killers
Pulp Fiction

[bugandbibs]

This thread is like the soundtrack to upper school/college! I still use CDs too, but I also stream Amazon music through my car. They have some decent alternative bands you can make playlists from. Some music is free with your regular prime subscription and more is included if you have a music subscription.

[darby]

Screaming Trees
The Posies
Fuel

[marvine]

Better than Ezra. I love their first cd!

[HoneySpider]

Aug 15, 2022 11:41:13 GMT -5 bugandbibs said:

This thread is like the soundtrack to upper school/college! I still use CDs too, but I also stream Amazon music through my car. They have some decent alternative bands you can make playlists from. Some music is free with your regular prime subscription and more is included if you have a music subscription.

I'll need to look into this

[missva]

I second Sublime. 40 Oz to Freedom is one of my all time favorite albums. Other underrated bands I loved were The Stone Roses, Hole, Sneaker Pimps, Porno for Pyros, Screaming Trees

[carrierroe]

While Smashing Pumpkins was my favorite, I also loved Jane’s Addiction, Live, and Counting Crows.

[bugandbibs]

Aug 15, 2022 11:44:32 GMT -5 HoneySpider said:

Aug 15, 2022 11:41:13 GMT -5 bugandbibs said:

This thread is like the soundtrack to upper school/college! I still use CDs too, but I also stream Amazon music through my car. They have some decent alternative bands you can make playlists from. Some music is free with your regular prime subscription and more is included if you have a music subscription.

I'll need to look into this

I have the app on my phone and then chose it as the audio source- it’s the same way I listen to podcasts while driving too.

[missva]

Aug 15, 2022 11:45:22 GMT -5 carrierroe said:

While Smashing Pumpkins was my favorite, I also loved Jane’s Addiction, Live, and Counting Crows.

I'm going to see Smashing Pumpkins and Janes Addiction in October. So excited!

[archiethedragon]

4 non blonds

[carrierroe]

Aug 15, 2022 11:50:39 GMT -5 missva said:

Aug 15, 2022 11:45:22 GMT -5 carrierroe said:

While Smashing Pumpkins was my favorite, I also loved Jane’s Addiction, Live, and Counting Crows.

I'm going to see Smashing Pumpkins and Janes Addiction in October. So excited!

Oh my goodness - brilliant! I just looked to see if they are coming to Denver and they are on 11/7 which is unfortunately a Monday — gah! Don’t they know we’re all old and go to bed by 10 pm?

[suzyp]

The Samples, Big Head Todd, less so Blues Traveler

[moreace01]

Portishead