Grunge
The dark, dirty, murky Seattle Sound.
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Table Of Contents
What is Grunge?
Examples
In Closing
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What is Grunge?
Grunge is generally characterized by a sludgy guitar sound that uses a high level of distortion, fuzz and feedback effects. Grunge fuses elements of hardcore punk and heavy metal, although some bands performed with more emphasis on one or the other. Grunge bands were noted for their punk/indie attitudes; and the music shares with punk a raw sound and similar lyrical concerns. However, grunge also involves slower tempos, dissonant harmonies, and more complex instrumentation; often reminiscent of heavy metal. Some individuals associated with the development of grunge, including Sub Pop producer Jack Endino and The Melvins, explained grunge's incorporation of heavy rock influences such as Kiss as "musical provocation." Grunge artists considered these bands "cheesy" but nonetheless enjoyed them; Buzz Osborne of the Melvins described it as an attempt to see what ridiculous things bands could do and get away with. In the early 1990s, Nirvana introduced a "stop-start" song format, which became a genre convention.
Lyrics are typically angst-filled, often addressing themes such as social alienation, apathy, confinement, and a desire for freedom. A number of factors influenced the focus on such subject matter. Many grunge musicians displayed a general disenchantment with the state of society, as well as a discomfort with social prejudices. Such themes bear similarities to those addressed by punk rock musicians and the perceptions of Generation X. Music critic Simon Reynolds said in 1992 that "there's a feeling of burnout in the culture at large. Kids are depressed about the future." However, not all grunge songs dealt with these issues. Nirvana's satirical "In Bloom" is a notable example of more humorous writing. Several other grunge songs are filled with either a dark or fun sense of humor—Mudhoney's "Touch Me I'm Sick" or Tad's "Stumblin' Man"—though this often went unnoticed by the general public at the time. Humor in grunge often satirized glam metal—for example, Soundgarden's "Big Dumb Sex"—and other forms of popular rock music during the 1980s.
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Examples
Harmonix is doing good by having announced Nirvana's landmark album "Nevermind". But other great grunge bands aren't in the game.
Alice In Chains, for example.
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Alice In Chains - Would
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Alice In Chains - Man In The Box
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Alice In Chains - Angry Chair
AIC has a unique vocal style that makes it sound very metal. Onto Soundgarden...I want some more Soundgarden!
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Soundgarden - Burden In My Hand
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Soundgarden - Blow Up The Outside World
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Soundgarden - Spoonman
Soundgarden combines a talented vocalist with great lyrics and good guitar for an awesome band.
Onto what you may consider, the definition of grunge, Nirvana.
Dark lyrics make this good music. Only tracks not already on Nevermind.
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Nirvana - Rape Me
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Nirvana - Heart-Shaped Box
Moving on to Pearl Jam, some another good grunge band (and the only one still together, not counting AIC without Layne)
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Pearl Jam - Even Flow
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Pearl Jam - Jeremy
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Pearl Jam - Do The Evolution
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Pearl Jam - Alive
A few others...
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Mudhoney - Let It Slide (no embedding)
Mudhoney - This Gift
Monkey Wrench - Bottle Up And Go
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In Closing
Grunge played a major role in 90's music. There are dozen's of good grunge songs out there, just look for them. The ones I posted were just a few I found, I've recently become a big AIC, Soundgarden, Nirvana and Pearl Jam fan, the others are some I've heard of though.
Thanks to Harmonix for introducing me to grunge. I played "In Bloom" and "Black Hole Sun" and now I'm hooked to the point that I want more of these kind of tracks in Rock Band.
Thanks to the fallen grunge artists. Kurt Cobain and Layne Stayley. And the others who have just broken up like Chris Cornell and Soundgarden.
And vote Sublime (see signature, click the picture and vote on Sublime). They weren't as much grunge as they were ska/punk/ and thrash, but good nonetheless. Bradley Nowell is often compared to Kurt Cobain in terms of lifestyle and music. If Brad was still alive, he very well could be bigger than Kurt.
And thanks for the time.
- Flame Sama
Another request: All grunge DLC pack!
. Let's just hope that we'll find some more support! 
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