Beyond Nirvana – Great Grunge Songs

Nirvana was credited for taking Grunge to the mainstream. They also put a merciful end to “Hair Metal,” which was in a steep decline anyway. Still, the band deserved every accolade it received.

But whenever there was a list of great Gunge songs you could bet “Smells Like Teen Spirit” would land at #1 with couple other Nirvana songs near the top.

There was more to Grunge than Nirvana – a lot more. Here’s a taste of some of the best from the era… and no Nirvana,

Doll Parts – Hole

Lead vocalist Courtney Love (the widow Cobain) wrote the song in late 1991, soon after she met Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain, and has stated that its lyrics were about her insecurity regarding his romantic interest in her.

No Excuses – Alice In Chains

Written by guitarist and co-lead vocalist Jerry Cantrell, it became the first Alice in Chains song to reach #1 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart. 

Plush – Stone Temple Pilots

From their debut album, “Core,” the song became their first single to top the “Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart. it went on to become that listing’s #1 song of 1993,

Rooster – Alice In Chains

The song was written by guitarist/vocalist Jery Cantrell for his father, Jerry Cantrell Sr., whose childhood nickname was “Rooster” and served with the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War.

Seether – Veruca Salt

Written by Veruca Salt singer-guitarist Nina Gordon, “Seether” peaked at #8 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and became an MTV hit. 

Nearly Lost You – Screaming Trees

Perhaps their best-known song, partly because of its appearance on the “Singles” soundtrack in 1992.  

Hunger Strike – Temple Of The Dog

A&M Records realized that they had in their catalog what was essentially a collaboration between Soundgarden and Pearl Jam (both were now successful).  A&M decided to reissue the “Temple Of The Dog’s self-titled debut album and promote “Hunger Strike” as a single – it became the most successful song from the set.

Even Flow – Pearl Jam

The lyrics were written by vocalist Eddie Vedder with the music composed by guitarist Stone Gossard, Released in 1992, it was the second single from the band’s debut album, “Ten” (1991).

Bullet With Butterfly Wings – Smashing Pumpkins

The lead single from their 1995 double-set “Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness” was the band’s first Top-40 hit, peaking at #22 on the Billboard Hot 100. 

Black Hole Sun – Soundgarden

Written by frontman Chris Cornell, the song was released in 1994. Featured on Soundgarden’s fourth studio album, “Superunknown,” the song was considered to be band’s signature effort, topping the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart.

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