• Top 10 Bands of The 90’s

  

  Written by Zeromage 41 Comments
  Last Updated:: May 9, 2008

  When one reads or watches a “traditional” best bands of all time list, the assumptions get unquestioned. What happens is that people who profess to be “music listeners” accept these lists without ever asking themselves “Why the fuck should I listen to anything VH1 says”. When one list “argues” for its content, others will follow suit without ever questioning the quality of the bands on the list. This being utterly lost and absorbed in the publicness of the “they” solidifies the image of bands and best bands for decades and maybe even centuries to come. For example, you will get a “traditional” barrage of answers on what the best bands from the 90’s are from people who don’t realize they are simply restating what they saw or read on the most public of public media.

  Certain bands get ingrained in people’s heads as “clearly the best band of the 90’s”, even without these people realizing that they themselves, NEVER LISTEN TO THESE BANDS! Another unctuous platitude comes in the way of “well, you have to include ’such and such’ when doing a greatest bands of the 90’s list” striking an imperative command that is far and away from anything that’s actually happening in the music. It’s with this in mind that Old-Wizard has decided to explore the greatest bands of the 90’s without ANY “help” from outside sources.

  As avid music listeners ourselves, we trust our instincts over and above the people who will get angry at not including a certain band on the list because it doesn’t unconsciously remind them of the latest list in a hackneyed “Rolling Stone” issue. It’s important for the reader to realize this before they jump into any vexation regarding this list. It’s also important for the reader to realize, that they should get angry at a list because it doesn’t include a band they actually LISTEN to, not because it doesn’t follow suit with “traditional” lists. Let’s get started.
  
  10. The Flaming Lips

  The Flaming Lips formed in Oklahoma in 1983 and accrued some decent albums in the late 80’s with “Here it is” and “Telepathic Surgery”, although they were sometimes over-the-top with their psychedelic Syd Barettesque musings. It was their 90’s output that garnered the Flaming lips both their commercial and critical reverence. “Transmissions from the Satellite Heart” was filled with the obvious single that became a staple on modern rock radio and even on “Beavis and Butthead”. The album acquiesced its early love for oblique psychedelic with more modern pop themes creating a pert mix of each that was easy on the ears. However, with all the success that came The Flaming Lips way with their mid 90’s work, it was their 1999 opus entitled “The Soft Bulletin” that took them from amateur psychedelic popsters into one of the more sophisticated and dovetailing pop bands in the world. “The Soft Bulletin” would clearly be heard as their best album to date and probably their best album they would ever create. With the Soft Bulletin, the Lips would continue the same sonic palette on their albums afterward, especially “Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots”. It was the employing of David Fridmann on the production boards that turned this more Lo-Fi sounding band into a majestic, sprawling beast in the likes of a “Mercury Rev”. “Race for the Prize” and “Spiderbite Song” were soaked in large reverb with Wayne Coyne taking on philosophical themes as aggrandized as 19th century German Idealism. The style of The Lips afterwards would be sustained in its large chamber pop modes, all the better for them, because it was this unique style in the Soft Bulletin that clearly broaches them into the best of the 90’s.

  9. Belle and Sebastion

  Belle and Sebastion released their first album in 1996 entitled “Tiger Milk” that was recorded in three short days. What the public procured was perfect pop music challenging the Smiths best baroque moments. Clean production and precise playing added to Stuart Murdoch’s floating songwriting that swooned and laid back ubiquitously. “If you’re feeling sinister” followed suit with more of a dark emotional palette invoking the best of Syd Barret’s solo work amalgamated with modern production techniques. Over the course of all of B and S’s work is standard great songwriting touching the listener in an always romantic place, but never overly romantic to the point of coquettishness. The honesty in Murdoch’s approach to songwriting has established B and S with an extremely loyal fan base and placed them in the upper ranks of the best bands of the 90’s. As we have watched them grow from the expansive chamber pop of “Boy with the Arab Strap” to the 70’s boogie/glam rock of “The Life Pursuit”, they have continually perfected their songwriting craft with always infectious chorus’s and witty aphorisms. Anyone at this point in music listening who hasn’t heard “The State I’m In” or “White Collar Boy”, are missing out on some of the best moments in modern pop that are always conspicuous when one looks beneath the surface. Belle and Sebastian are often and appropriately referred to as “ear candy”, that which great music should always aspire to.

  8. Suede

  In 1993, when pop music was seemingly in the mud with cacophonous personality, Suede came along and wrote a new age glam rock album so heavy on bolanesque riffs and enjoined with lascivious themes, that it felt like the glam rock era of the early 70’s had been perfectly justifiable and not “decadent”. What Suede accentuated with style, they equaled with their songwriting. “Animal Nitrate” had the slinkiest of hooks, throwing an audience into a wild frenzy of loose grooves and hip moves. “So Young”, would hit at the type of music that would define much of Suede’s greatness being lost in “being young”, “chasing dragons”, and “tigers eyes”. Their conspicuousness in dreaming large and epitomizing the glory of youth was a refreshing rejoinder to those other bands who glorified being miserable who wouldn’t know a groove if it hit them straight in the ears VIA “Queen Bitch”. Suede would go on to write the epic forlorn “Dog Man Star” in 1995 striking a mood so sophisticated yet so dirty, it was as if Marc Bolan himself had entered into the spirit of the band as they were recording the album in the broken down church where the sessions took place. In 1997, “Coming Up” would prove to be hugely successful as every song on that album could have been released as a single. What Brett Anderson famously stated about wanting to “make an album to do your hair to” was accomplished in this hook heavy monster of a pop album. Those who listen to music with their ears and their hips will understand the greatness of Suede in reinvigorating the 90’s. Those who listen to music for other reasons that usually have nothing to do with music, may not understand the grace and slide in which a band like Suede can move you.

  7. The Happy Mondays

  While some could consider the Mondays an 80’s band because of the success of their early material, especially “Bummed”, it was their 1990 release “Pills Thrills and Bellyaches”, that established them as the most wild coming of age band the music world had ever seen until that point. Part dance, part hip hop, and all thick Manchurian accents would establish the Happy Mondays as the premiere “Madchester” band efflorescing ecstasy based raves that would go on to the early hours of the morning. The groove of the 90’s starts with the Happy Mondays who made no bones of their love for funk base lines and Wah-Wah effected guitar lines. Shaun Ryder would become the poster boy for 90’s rock star excess being reported as having his stomach pumped 12 times for a variegated amount substances, often being cited as the “human doctor bag”. Rock star excess withstanding; “Pills Thrills and Bellyaches” was an untold accomplishment creating the utmost sense of looseness in the listener who took on the album. From the affable groove of “Step On”, to the purposely extraneous musings of “Holiday”, The Happy Mondays would dominate the bands of the early 90’s who were overtly concerned with themselves in their smarmy modesty and who were afraid to have a good time, or at least fooled themselves into thinking it wasn’t possible. While those little adolescent boys were sulking in corners, Shawn Ryder and Co were stranded on islands having the time of their life even while having no money to get back to where they actually lived. This non-self-concerned lifestyle is perfectly embodied in “Pills Thrills and Bellyaches”. The groove, the rave, and the much often cited absurdity of this band absolutely places them in the best of the 90’s.

  6. Radiohead

  Radiohead in the 90’s matched mellifluous melodies with overtly lugubrious personality, paving the way for bands who could write pop music in a more “dismal” setting. “The Bends” and “Ok Computer” were clearly their crowing achievements released in 95′ and 97′ respectively. The Bends is often perceived as a “dark rock album”, but what is often ignored is how strong of a pop songwriter Thom Yorke is which is most conspicuous when listening to “Black Star”, and even “Just”. “Street Spirit” would establish Radiohead perennially for their moodiness that was never short in perfect execution and assiduousness. Radiohead were perfectionists and the way they may have saw the world never got in the way from their realization that music can always sound great. “Ok Computer” would go on to garner enormous success both commercially and critically, dominating peoples play lists for years to come. It’s protention into a bleak future of salesmen and merchant class “middle men” scared the listener into listening to his inner gut on what was really genuine in his life. The quality of songwriting never suffered in the band’s image and thought about the world they lived in. Songs like “Paranoid Android” and “No Surprises” were first and foremost focused on strong melodies rather than philosophical thought. The later becomes justified in the former, and Radiohead is one of the few bands in the 90’s who understood this and could execute their craft well because of this. Radiohead would go onto more baroque and oblique directions in the new century, but it was these two albums in the 90’s that made them one of the most formidable bands of the decade.

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41 Comments

1. #1 Tristan says:
   November 20th, 2009 at 12:08 am

   Didn’t the Stone Roses release their album in 1989?

   Thinking back to the 90’s, Weezer comes to mind as poster-childs for 90’s irony and later proto-emo music. Beck is also a central figure of the era. Nirvana remain icons of the era.
2. #2 The REAl zeromage says:
   November 20th, 2009 at 1:51 am

   This is the worst list ever, The Stone Roses, Wilco, Oasis, please. What are we a bunch of college frat boys! OW this is lame.
3. #3 Jamie says:
   November 20th, 2009 at 7:16 pm

   I agree with all but the top two, which I would only include on a list of “most pretentious and overrated.”
4. #4 MountainMaverick says:
   November 20th, 2009 at 8:39 pm

   Oasis is the greatest band of all time. Cmon now
5. #5 Chad says:
   November 20th, 2009 at 2:48 pm

   man you like a lot of shitty music.
6. #6 Kurasuke says:
   November 20th, 2009 at 5:34 am

   Lol, Oasis is awful.
7. #7 Bobby says:
   November 20th, 2009 at 7:55 pm

   I thought R.E.M. was a 80’s band.
8. #8 Noel's Nose says:
   November 20th, 2009 at 11:35 pm

   Kurasuke, are you one of the many unfortunate people in this world that has only heard Wonderwall and Champagne Supernova?

   You do not know the power of Oasis until you see them live. The only way anyone can dismiss Oasis is if they haven’t actually listened to all of their stuff, especially the first two entire albums and b-sides. Greatest b-sides ever!
9. #9 Bobby says:
   November 20th, 2009 at 11:37 pm

   The true meaning of the 90’s were:

   1. A Mulatto
   2. An Albino
   3. A Mosquito
   4. My Libido
10. #10 Felix the Furry Tree says:
    November 20th, 2009 at 11:47 pm

    Only if you were born senseless and scentless.
11. #11 emo bloodz says:
    November 20th, 2009 at 3:39 am

    i really love emo bands!!!!!!!!!!

    bLess tHe fall is the best emo band eveR!!!!!!!
12. #12 nuclearrabbit33 says:
    November 20th, 2009 at 10:38 pm

    Funny how Built to Spill didn’t make it, yet they’re in the top-10 American bands of all time? Get your shit together here dude.
13. #13 Mr. Vorhias says:
    November 20th, 2009 at 3:49 am

    - R.E.M. is a band who got their start in the 80s.
    - So are the Flaming Lips.
    - Radiohead are way better than Oasis.
    - Suede is vastly overrated.
14. #14 Mike says:
    November 20th, 2009 at 10:20 pm

    I don’t quite agree with Oasis as the greatest band of the 90s, mostly for this reason:

    “Definitely Maybe” was a phenomenal debut album by the Brothers Gallagher, and definitely put the world on notice about them. “What’s The Story (Morning Glory)?” broke the trend of British rock stardom (hit album, then massive failure for a follow-up which leads to obscurity) and did the unthinkable: it TOPPED “Definitely Maybe” and showed that the Brothers Gallagher were WAY ahead of everyone else.

    Unfortunately, those are their only two good albums. Most everything else is crap, primarily because the band got hooked on drugs and in the process lost the ability to make music up to a high standard.
15. #15 old-wizard.com says:
    November 20th, 2009 at 10:29 pm

    Be Here Now had “Stand By Me”, “Do Go Away” and “All Around the World”. I’d hardly call that a failure.
16. #16 old-wizard.com says:
    November 20th, 2009 at 10:29 pm

    Not only that, but its the fastest selling album of all time.
17. #17 s says:
    November 20th, 2009 at 1:09 pm

    no my bloody valentine? wtf?
18. #18 ken says:
    November 20th, 2009 at 5:59 pm

    nirvana’s not even included in this list..wtf
19. #19 Michael says:
    November 20th, 2009 at 6:01 pm

    Oasis should be No. 1
20. #20 Alpha says:
    November 20th, 2009 at 9:02 am

    Where the Fuck is System of a Down!
21. #21 stfulolerskayes says:
    November 20th, 2009 at 12:16 pm

    someone needs to get off british band’s nut sacks.
22. #22 stfulolerskayes says:
    November 20th, 2009 at 12:19 pm

    Oh, and where the fuck are the Smashing Pumpkins & Nirvana?
23. #23 matt.musician says:
    November 20th, 2009 at 1:33 pm

    Rage Against the Machine
24. #24 Ledhead says:
    November 20th, 2009 at 6:26 am

    NIN
25. #25 sean says:
    November 20th, 2009 at 3:50 am

    GET THE FUCK OFF OASIS’ dick

    they suck

    however, Wilco is fucking phenominal, although they got better after the turn of the century
26. #26 TrixRabbi says:
    November 20th, 2009 at 3:19 am

    I always thought of R.E.M. as an 80s band that stuck around. Same as the Stone Roses.

    Bands you missed:

    Nirvana (Seriously?)
    Alice In Chains
    Soundgarden
    Pearl Jam
    Neutral Milk Hotel
    Cake
    Sublime
    Beck
    Weezer
    Rage Against the Machine
    Nine Inch Nails
27. #27 Jabba says:
    November 20th, 2009 at 2:36 pm

    Someone needs to read some music history.
28. #28 ThisListSucks says:
    November 20th, 2009 at 6:02 pm

    Radiohead should be 1. OASIS FUCKING SUCKS!! Where are Soundgarden and Nirvana?
29. #29 Relayer71 says:
    November 20th, 2009 at 1:26 am

    “I always thought of R.E.M. as an 80s band that stuck around. Same as the Stone Roses.”

    Well I wouldn’t say “stuck around”. More like the 90s is when they became huge megastars.

    Sadly, their best work was in the 80s.
30. #30 JeZeP says:
    November 20th, 2009 at 2:17 pm

    All these bands suck balls, you guys are morons.

    How about the Guns and Roses, aerosmith, Acdc….
31. #31 Mimi says:
    November 20th, 2009 at 8:22 pm

    Seriously where’s U2? For god’s sake their lyrics are unforgettable and so as their marvelous tunes!
32. #32 Luke says:
    November 20th, 2009 at 3:22 pm

    Come on jesus, is this the worst list ever made, Nirvana? Where? whether you like them or not you have to acknowledge what they did and how good they were.
33. #33 Sinfre says:
    November 20th, 2009 at 3:44 pm

    SILVERCHAIR!!!!!!!!!! DAMN IT!!!
34. #34 Dragomir says:
    November 20th, 2009 at 3:33 pm

    How is Oasis on this list ahead of bands like Pearl Jam and Nirvana? And who the fuck is Wilco?
35. #35 Leroi says:
    November 20th, 2009 at 4:28 pm

    hey, you know what’s in your ass? no? i thought so. well, let me tell you. pitchfork.
36. #36 Luskar says:
    November 20th, 2009 at 4:02 pm

    Not the worst from Zeromage. Most are great band from the 90’s.

    But it fail big time with Oasis. Most of all when you read the intro by Zeromage. Oasis is THE archetype of band that people like just because other people tell them so…

    As for R.E.M. and some other older bands, I think that even if their debut where in the 80’s, their most popular and remanber work are from the 90’s.

    With band like Nirvana, RATM and NIN missing, the list should be rename ‘Best 90’s indi-rock band’.
37. #37 Zach says:
    November 20th, 2009 at 8:38 am

    Hey, all you Wilco haters go listen to Mermaid Avenue Vol. 1 & 2 and then tell me they suck. They were chosen to write the music to some of Woodie Guthrie’s unfinished lyrics. That is one of the highest honors in American music that I can imagine.
38. #38 Felix says:
    November 20th, 2009 at 12:34 am

    That list is utter shit. I suggest Zeromage listen to Oasis more closely, songwriting-wise they’re not very good at all and musically and creatively weak compared to the better bands. The intro was also a contradiction, this is a band who’re endlessly forced down your throat either by the media, fans or themselves as the greatest thing ever.

    1. Smashing Pumpkins
    2. REadiohead
    3. Tool