The 90s were absolutely huge for music! Some of the best bands in the world were born from that time. It’s likely you already know the hits from the likes of Nirvana, Oasis, The Stone Roses, Green Day, Radiohead and The Cranberries, but what about some of the more obscure bands from the decade? You might have heard of some of the below, but we’ll help you get to know them and get you clued up so you can brag to your mates! Here’s seven great bands from the 90s you might not have listened to yet…
Soundgarden
There is a good chance you might have heard of Soundgarden, as they’re often referenced in movies or pop culture! That’s because they were so influential, being the first Grunge band to be signed by a major label! Originally formed in Seattle (USA) in 1984 by Chris Cornell, Kim Thayil, and Hiro Yamamoto, they became known as one of the most pivotal rock groups of the 90s, releasing their iconic album Superunknown which featured the Grammy-winning “Black Hole Sun”. It is said that the band’s lead singer: the mighty Chris Cornell, used to ruin expensive microphones in the studio from singing so powerfully into them!
Listen to: “Black Hole Sun”
Mazzy Star
This iconic 90s band was formed in 1989 in California and fronted by the ethereal lead singer, Hope Sandoval. The three piece became famous for their slow-tempo alt-folk, dream-pop songs, often featuring acoustic guitars and tambourines. Their most famous song “Fade Into You”, has been used in over 30 films across Hollywood and is still extremely popular today, despite taking a year to become mainstream after its release back in 1993. The band were very shy of their extreme success, barely appearing for interviews or speaking to the audience, so much so that shortly after they released their third album in 1996, they retreated from the music scene for 17 years! Woah!
Listen to: “Fade Into You”
The Sundays
The Sundays were an English band who met while at University in Bristol, which certainly made their degree worthwhile! They were made up of vocalist Harriet Wheeler, guitarist David Gavurin (who Harriet later married), bassist Paul Brindley, and drummer Patrick Hannan. The band formed in 1988 and were signed by Rough Trade Records, who are still signing many young alternative bands today. Their most famous track “Here’s Where the Story Ends” is now widely considered a cult classic from the era. The story did end in 1997, when they released their final album Static and Silence, before leaving the music industry for a quiet life with family.
Listen to: “Here’s Where the Story Ends”
Boyz II Men
Boyz II Men were a pop and RnB band who became famous for their soft vocals, smooth harmonies, and polished ballads that helped shape the sound of pop music today. They are the most successful R&B male vocal group of all time, and they still hold the record for three of the longest-running number-one hits in chart history! We doubt there would be boybands like Take That, Westlife or One Direction without groups like Boyz II Men laying the groundwork first. Their famous tracks include the likes of “End of the Road” and “Motownphilly”, as well as “On Bended Knee”.
Listen to: “End of The Road”
The Smashing Pumpkins
The Smashing Pumpkins are another cult classic band of the decade, known for their angsty songs and guitar heavy sound. The group formed in Chicago, 1988, and made music which combined heavy metal, grunge, psychedelic rock, progressive rock, shoegaze, dream pop, and electronica to create a massively influential sound, making them one of the most commercially successful American bands of their time! The band were said to just look like everyday kids, helping their appeal to fans. You should check out their hit tracks “1979”, “Bullet With Butterfly Wings”, “Tonight, Tonight” and “Cherub Rock” to get an idea of their sound.
Listen to: “Bullet With Butterfly Wings”
Salad
Salad were a very cool and lesser known Britpop band who formed in London in 1992. They were a little more underground than their fellow Britpop bands (like Blur and Pulp) and included more wonky sounding guitar riffs which made them less mainstream. Their lead vocalist Marijne van der Vlugt, formed the band. She was a Dutch model and MTV Europe presenter, who collaborated with Paul Kennedy (guitars), Pete Brown (bass), and Rob Wakeman (drums). The group soon signed to Island Records’ indie subsidiary, Island Red, and released some of their best songs, “Drink the Elixir” and “Motorbike to Heaven” into the world. They were later dropped in 1997 and disbanded in 1998, but reformed in 2017 and are still going now!
Listen to: “Drink the Elixir”
TLC
You might already know this three-piece girl band from their hit singles “No Scrubs” and “Waterfalls” – both of which are still widely played in venues and featured on playlists today. TLC formed in 1990 in Georgia in the USA and were made up of members Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins, Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, and Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas – which is how they got their band name! They achieved four number one hits in the US for their catchy tracks “Creep”, “Waterfalls”, “No Scrubs” and “Unpretty”. The trio were heralded for their unique blend of RnB Hip-Hop and lyrics surrounding empowerment for women, which made their mega, longstanding and unique sound! Very cool!
Listen to: “No Scrubs”
