Best Alternative Bands of the '90s

Easily the most unique and diverse sounding band of the 90s if not of all time, with in my opinion, one of the most unique vocalists of all time- Billy Corgan, especailly with albums Siamese Dream and Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. Their sound captured sadness, happiness, love, depression, yet also a soothing comfort to the soul.

One of the best alternative band in the 90's - firstplace

The only bands that really mattered in the 90s, Smashing Pumpkins and Nirvana.

A classic great alternative rock band.

Overrated. They have quite a few good songs, but many other bands on this list have actually made consistently perfect albums. Nirvana have a lot of trash songs and a lot of "meh" songs. Alice in Chains and Soundgarden are just examples of way more talented grunge bands. - AiCFanboy123

Defined a new style of music, should be #1. They are the equivalent of elvis to rock and roll or black sabbath to metal. No equal.

Nirvana is the band responsible for making grunge music popular. A great band.

The best grunge band, and one of the best bands.

Thank god these guys are above Green Day and The Red Hot Chili Peppers

This band are truly amazing. Ok Computer is one of the best albums of all time. Amazing band.

Radiohead>Nirvana... It's not even close

Fantastic.

Even though every 90's alternative list seems to put Nirvana on top with good reason, but there is no reason Red Hot Chile Peppers should be any worse than 2. Give Californication, Otherside, Dani California, Under the Bridge, and Scar Tissue a listen. (There are many other good RHCP songs but I only listed the most popular ones.) The guitarist precision is astounding (Californication) and the bassist is purely amazing (Listen to Can't Stop for the best bass line of any alternative song) I can't see why Radiohead and Smashing Pumpkins are above RHCP.

Red hot chili peppers is very modern compared to other alternative bands that just sound and look like retro acts or impersonators. And they are still relevant.

I love this band!

RHCP should be no. 2 or 3, not 9! Damn people..

Champagne Supernova is probably the best song from the 90's. Noel Gallagher is one of the best song writers of all time, especially during this time.

Noel Gallagher is an unbelievable song writer. Still remains so today with his solo stuff.

People say they ripped off The Beatles. But they are a great talented band.

Noel Gallagher had/has the best songs, and Liam the best voice, end of it.

Few bands can churn out bangers for 3 decades straight the way Green Day has. Sure we can debate all day about whether they are "true punk" or not, but yo, they are good.

Just one of the oldest bands. They started back in mid 90s but they're still around and still producing hits - firstplace

I'll never understand how Green Day trumps the Offspring. Dookie is awesome, then TWO DECADES later American Idiot is awesome with a few singles in between. The Offspring produced, Smash, Ixnay, Americana and Conspiracy of One and singles as well. - Xean45

They were the only band at the time keeping punk rock alive. Say what you want, they're still punk.

Nirvana Pearl Jam and soundgarden are all grunge weeper should be number one then red hot chilly peppers

WE DESERVE BETTER THAN THE #10 SPOT
Now excuse me as I play D&D in my mom's basement

(Ok... on a serious note, sure their new stuff isn't as good, but this is the best alternative bands of the 90's. Blue and Pinkerton are in my opinion are up their with the likes of Nevermind, Siamese Dream, and Ok Computer.)

I still think this should be way higher as the made the face of alternative you would never hear them in the radio as they were alternative like the meaning

Should be higher! Should be Number ONE!

Best of all time - michaeltre

Favorite band, but I honestly don't think of them when you're talking about "alternative" rock. - AiCFanboy123

Foo fighter is a term used by World War II pilots to identify UFOs.

For sure should be higher up. Just listen to Rooster, Would? And Man In The Box.

AIC should be Number 1 on this list certainly ahead of Chili Peppers.

Foo fighter is a term used by World War II pilots to identify UFOs. And the name of the band is Foo Fighters, it's plural. They are definitely one of my Favorite bands. Founded in 1994 by Dave Grohl, they're not one of the oldest.

One of the oldest, I still wonder about the meaning of their name. I guess it was taken from one of the controversial files I think from area 51. I am not sure. - firstplace

One of the few 90s alternative rock bands that still make great music today.

With tracks like "Rusty Cage" and "Jesus Christ Pose" (and a less known but incredible track "Room a Thousand Years Wide", I can't see how Soundgarden could be left off this list, and be below Pearl Jam for that matter... Just saying!

This should at least be in the Top 10! All five of their albums (Sixth on the way) have awesome songs!

Third Eye Blind is amazing. With The Background, God of Wine, Narcolepsy, Blinded, Semi Charmed Life, Jumper, What's it going to be, Wounded, Alright Caroline, and many others, their early discography is amazing. Easily one of my favorite bands.

One of the best bands of the 90' and still one of the greatest vocals I have ever heard. Plus Stephen Jenkins was amazing, I wonder where he is now. - firstplace

Should be top ten, the last of true punk rock and still significant today

One of the oldest still rocking band - firstplace

Should be a little higher on the list

Should be a lot higher on the list and I’m not even a huge fan

One of the most misunderstood bands, I think because their song isn't really the kind which you will get to like when you first hear it, you have to listen to their songs twice or thrice before you get to like it. And the lyrics is very poetic. But I just put them on the 9th because although they are my favorite, they still are young. - firstplace

They aren't alternative. They fall under the category of alternative metal, but that's a subgenre of metal. Not alternative

Deftones are pioneers of alternative metal, they revolutionized the genre.

At first I was upset they were so low but it's Tool, not everyone is ready. Oh well it's their loss. Number 1 for me.

They defined 90s alternative metal.

Should be higher on the list.

Should be in top 6 In this order Nirvana,Tool,Jane's Addiction,Alice In Chains,Radiohead,Red Hot Chili Peppers

I like the style. - firstplace

Blurs self titled 5th album and follow up 13 are some of the best alternative albums I own. defiantly underrated, if they are not on this list.

Should be higher in the single digits.

The old style of No Doubt, when you hear the song spiderweb, and sunday morning, it brings you back to the old days, it has 90's all over it. - firstplace

Great Band, one many acts in the current Pop and Rock scene are badly copying from, Gwen and the Gang did that in the 90's.

They were better in the 80s but continued consistent in the 90s with the album wish and had the song Friday I'm in love

None of the above bands would be together if not or "EVOL", "Sister", and "Daydream Nation".

How has no one commented about Bush?!?!?

Because they truly threw everything into the kitchen sink and it all sounded good. Their debut album is still the pinnacle of greatness for me.

Combined an alt sound with catchiness and sing ability. Who can forget songs like walkin on the sun and all star

What? They should be at least top 15 all star is a song EVERBODY knows

Ween is an American alternative rock band formed in New Hope, Pennsylvania, in 1984 by childhood friends Aaron Freeman and Mickey Melchiondo, better known by their respective stage names, Gene and Dean Ween.

Simply because they have the best lead singer and song writer - firstplace