Grunge music: You either love it or hate it. It came out at the time in my life where I was starting to enter adulthood. Grunge basically ended the era of the hair bands. Admittedly, I loved "glam rock" because it suited my teenage years just fine. Yet, grunge was a welcome change adding a more serious note to the lyrics and my life.
I think of the three grandfathers of grunge as Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Alice In Chains. Nirvana hooked me in first with the vocals of Kurt Cobain and their overall attitude. The sound and the style fit just right during this transitional time for me.
Pearl Jam is "considered one of the most influential bands of the decade, and "the most popular American rock & roll band of the '90s"", according to wikipedia. While I enjoyed many of Pearl Jam's songs, they never were one of my favorites. I preferred some other groups such as Sound Garden and Stone Temple Pilots.
My absolute favorite band from the grunge era was Alice In Chains. I couldn't get enough of the sound of lead singer Layne Staley. His voice is one of my favorites to this day. Alice In Chains is working on their first studio album in 14 years. I will be interested in hearing it but really cannot imagine their sound without Layne Staley, who died in 2002.
Think about being 19 or 20. You have a bunch of friends, too much time on your hands and not near enough common sense. Yeah, grunge fit in quite well for me back then. I still pop in some grunge Cd's often enough. In just the blink of an eye, I am sitting right back in Gary's house surrounded by the sound and the smell of grunge music.
Two bands. Both from Seattle. I say Alice In Chains RULED over Pearl Jam. What do you say?
My favorite song from each band:
Pearl Jam's "Black", one of the most heart felt songs ever:
Alice In Chains..... well I can't just pick one, so I will pick two (although I could keep going on and easily pick lots more):
Alice In Chains "Down In A Hole":
Alice In Chains "No Excuses":
Awww heck, one more! Alice In Chains "Would":
Don't forget to vote in the poll above as to who you think is better.... Alice In Chains (yep) or Pearl Jam!
11 comments:
I had to pick Pearl Jam, their song "Jeremy" hits a cord with me each time I hear it. Plus I like most all of their music. That said, Alice in Chains are good also, but they don't reach me like Pearl Jam. Just my humble opinion.
Hello Kelly,
I choose Alice In Chains, Not because I think any of the two bands are my favorites. I'm not that taken by them.
Here is a story about why I made a choice at all.
Eddie Vedder is a thief!!!!
I was playing around with the old song Last Kiss and came up with an acoustical version of the song and released it on Napster, back when Napster was free, somewhere in the late 90s. To make a long story short, I heard this version about a year later. The guitar work is similar to my own work but I have to say Eddies voice sucks.
Last
Kiss
Have you heard the song Hunger Strike? It is Eddie Vedder and the lead singer of Sound Garden ( I believe).
For the best band,sorry I have to pick Pearl Jam. But, if NIrvana were still here then I go with Cobain.
~ Jim
Alice in Chains definitely rule. I never got Pearl Jam, the vocals suck.
UGH!
It looks like the poll is pointing towards Pearl Jam so far. Very interesting........ looking forward to seeing the final results! Thanks for everyone's comments :)
Oh yes, and thank you anonymous for you now famous "UGH!" remarks here :) At least you are consistent!
I picked Alice In Chains but, I am a huge Pearl Jam fan too. My husband has (had) a concert shirt from one of the AIC concerts but, he wore it so much it started getting holes in it and I had to hide it. Shh don't tell him =)
As an "expert" (in my own mind anyway) on all things related to grunge music, I say Alice in Chains is better (mostly for my personal contempt for Eddie Vedder). However, that comes with a caviat. Alice in Chains were not a "grunge" band persay. They were created by Columbia record execs and toured the metal scene in the late 80s. When Nirvana exploded, Alice in Chains began touring the "grunge scene". Still, Dirt is a tremendous record.
To get a true essence of the grunge music, one must delve into the underground scene of the late 80s to see what was really happening. By the time grunge reached mainstream acceptance, it was watered down and a shell of its former intensity.
GrungeGuru: You certainly sound like an expert on grunge. Thanks for the great comment!
chris cornell's vocals ruled them all..!
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