90s
AJR knew exactly what they needed to say on 'OK ORCHESTRA'
For most of us, being locked down with our siblings for the entirety of 2020 seems like a nightmare. For brothers Jack, Adam and Ryan Met, however, it was nothing new. The trio, better known as indie-pop band AJR, already wrote, produced and recorded their first three albums in their living room, so for their […]
12 artists who got their names from other alternative songs
For as long as music has existed, artists have been inspiring other artists. Right here within our own beloved scene, we’ve witnessed many examples of newer-era bands drawing inspiration from the OGs. What’s especially endearing is that not only have bands influenced each other in terms of musical style; they’ve also taken from the lyrics […]
10 Joan Jett-inspired artists who are breaking boundaries just like her
“Joan Jett doesn’t play rock ’n’ roll,” I wrote two years back, reviewing her SXSW showcase for The Austin Chronicle. “She is rock ’n’ roll.” It’s true. The individual born Joan Marie Larkin in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, embodies the music and spirit better than anyone this side of Keith Richards. As Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong […]
10 alternative duets from the '90s that deserved more recognition
Duets are all the rage these days, and largely without the intention of releasing said duet as a single. Case in point: YUNGBLUD’s recent sitdown with Avril Lavigne to blaze through her hit “I’m With You.” That’s just all about making it go viral. But there was a time when duets were truly something special—two […]
20 bands keeping the riot grrrl spirit alive in their own unique way
The riot grrrl underground feminist punk movement began in the early ’90s in the Pacific Northwest before expanding to the rest of the world. Credited by some for kick-starting third-wave feminism, riot grrrl was a scene where women could express themselves through music. Many bands were influenced and started because of riot grrrl, with the […]
10 iconic ’90s songs that you can easily learn to play on guitar
Every guitarist knows the feeling of first picking up the instrument and being at a total loss for where to start. While everyone just wants to jam out to their favorite hits, there’s often a learning curve involved. That said, there are plenty of beginner-level songs that you can learn how to play with just […]
10 albums from the ’90s that pushed the feminist movement to new heights
It’s a bit sad that feminism and music go so perfectly hand in hand. The movement shouldn’t have to be twisted into a countercultural phenomenon driven by defiance. After all, in any reasonable world, the equality and representation of women and marginalized groups should be inherent. As it stands, though, feminism depends on rationally minded […]
20 women vocalists in metal who are a driving force for the genre
Metal is no longer a man’s world. All across the genre’s many subcategories, from folk to black metal, powerful female figures are putting their stamp on a genre that’s finally coming to terms with the inclusivity of the present day. Where symphonic icons Nightwish and Within Temptation blazed the trail for female leaders to step […]
10 alternative albums by women that have influenced music since the '90s
As some of our favorite pop-punk bands continue to show us, we have a lot to thank 1990s alternative music for. Not only did the mainstream explosion set the foundations for the genre collective as we know it, but it put quite a number of women on the forefront. While the gender distribution across the alternative genre […]
Here's every riot grrrl reference you might've missed in Netflix's 'Moxie'
Amy Poehler’s Moxie is an impeccable homage to the riot grrrls of the ’90s and features numerous Easter eggs that highlight the importance of the women-led feminist punk movement. From Bikini Kill to Tacocat, the film is filled with iconic tracks, images and merch that defined an era of revolution. Moxie follows Vivian (Hadley Robinson) […]
15 punk albums from 1993 that embraced contrarianism over prefab rebellion
Alternative rock still dominated popular music in 1993. This obviously begged the question of just how “alternative” something was if it was now on a major label and on the radio. Not necessarily a bad thing. After all, we’d never have to hear Whitesnake again. Bottom end and distortion returned to rock record-making in a […]
10 women and non-binary pop-punk bands who are taking over the genre
Despite being heralded as a widely inclusive space, the pop-punk scene has been historically male-dominated. It’s an uncomfortable reality for many, but as iconic artists such as Hayley Williams drag it, kicking and screaming, into the forefront of discussion, we maintain hope that marginalized artists might one day not be regarded as anomalies. In honor […]
7 artists who were banned from ‘SNL’ for their badass performances
Getting booked as the musical guest on Saturday Night Live is the perfect way for any artist to become a household name. But with the national spotlight comes the show’s strict standards for guests, leaving some outspoken artists to feel restrained. As punk and alternative became more mainstream in the ’80s, the show began to […]
Eyedress races King Krule in the retro-inspired "Jealous" remix video
Eyedress dropped a new remix of his popular song “Jealous,” touched up by frequent collaborator King Krule. Titled “Jealous (King Krule Nothing Special Remix),” the track is accompanied by a trippy video directed by Eyedress. Earlier this week, Eyedress—aka Idris Vicuña— teased the track on his social media. The artist took to Twitter to express […]
Mike Shinoda drops “Happy Endings” video with iann dior and UPSAHL
Last month, Mike Shinoda made history with his new single “Happy Endings” which features iann dior and UPSAHL. After its debut, Shinoda became the first major label artist to successfully launch a single through NFT Auction. All of the proceeds from the auction were donated to the ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, California. Now, the […]
10 collabs from the 2000s that were so good, we wish they'd happen again
Is there anything more exciting than a good song collaboration? Given all the hype generated by guest appearances such as Travis Barker and phem on Tyler Posey‘s debut solo single, we can’t imagine so. While 2020 was undoubtedly a year for collaborations, that’s not to say such joint efforts went unappreciated in the past. In fact, […]
Hayley Williams reimagines this ’90s Failure classic in new cover—watch
Hayley Williams is bringing back her self-serenades for a special new cover. This week, the Paramore vocalist took to social media to share her own acoustic rendition of the Failure classic “The Nurse Who Loved Me” from the ’90s. Read more: Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross win 2021 Critics Choice Award for Best Score Over […]
10 ‘MTV Unplugged’ performances from the ’90s that remain iconic
There’s no doubt that the relative abundance of “unplugged” performances has skyrocketed in the past year. It makes sense, given that pared-back sessions are far easier to conduct over a livestream than a full-band setup. Still, though, we can’t help but feel like we’re experiencing a bit of a ’90s cultural revival. If you have […]
10 bands from the 2000s who have stayed true to their sound
The further we get into our scene “phases,” the more we understand the concept of “love and loss” as it pertains to music. Over the years, we’ve lost a number of our favorite bands to breakups and significant genre changes. Fortunately, though, there are still a number who have stayed active and alternative. While it’s easy to […]
10 underrated Avril Lavigne tracks that show off her unique sound
Avril Lavigne really just flew into 2021 with a fire underfoot. Just after her show-stopping collaboration with MOD SUN on “Flames,” the long-reigning “pop-punk princess” confirmed that her new album will be coming our way this year. Produced by John Feldmann and MOD SUN, the 2000s alternative icon’s upcoming record is reportedly a return to her roots. Needless […]
