04/09/2007
Deep Cuts Home / Music Home / Bullz-Eye Home
Known for its dark lyrics, borderline out-of-tune vocals, and droning guitars, it’d be hard to argue that the grunge era wasn’t accurately titled. Most folks think of Nirvana immediately upon hearing the term “grunge,” but there were plenty of under-the-table bands that not only defined the genre in its heyday, but also influenced groups currently making the rounds. Let’s get to it.
“Frogs” – Alice in Chains (Alice in
Chains)
This eight-minute opus exhibits every last stereotypically
grunge trait, and still stands as one of Alice in
Chains’ best, yet strangely ignored, tracks. They
even busted this thing out on Unplugged and
nobody seemed to care, and the song is a glaring omission on 2004's The Essential Alice in Chains. Jerry Cantrell’s ominous,
simplistic riff sets the mood beautifully, and the
late Layne Staley’s vocals are dynamic and foreboding.
When the tune does finally hit its chorus, you know
it’s vintage AiC.
“Drawing Flies” – Soundgarden (Badmotorfinger)
Back before Chris Cornell decided to sleepwalk his
way through Audioslave, he was one mother of a singer.
This early Soundgarden track displays Cornell at
his wily best. Punctuating nearly every riff with
screams and vocal pinnacles, it was clear from the
get-go that Soundgarden meant business. Kim Thayil’s
crazy riffage only adds to this track’s lasting appeal.
“Milk It” – Nirvana (In Utero)
Nirvana (right) may as well have had its own cable channel
in the early ‘90s (oh yeah, they did – MTV), but
many forget that these dudes made some great traditional
grunge. “Milk It” is the kind of song that had many
a parent up at night. Kurt Cobain’s vocals go from
unintelligibly subdued to monstrous in seconds and
Krist Noveselik’s chunky bass line drives the song.
This ain’t the Nirvana the prom queen remembers.
“Sin” – Stone Temple Pilots (Core)
Core many have won a Grammy and gone platinum
several times over, but ask anyone if they’ve heard
“Sin”
and you’re likely to get a blank stare. This killer
tune is STP’s best-kept secret and features one of
the best intros in all of grunge. Scott Weiland’s
vocals (before he decided to sleepwalk through
Velvet Revolver) are dynamite, and the DeLeo brothers
bring some great guitar melodies to the table.
“Go” – Pearl Jam (Vs.)
I don’t think there was any doubt as to what was
going to be the opening track of Pearl Jam’s 1993
effort, Vs. “Go” is an absolutely wicked
tune, driven by a thundering bass beat and huge guitars.
Eddie Vedder damn near raps this song – it’s that
fast. PJ has always had a messy side, and “Go” is
undoubtedly one of its best, lesser-known grunge
offerings.
“Broken Hands” – Mudhoney (Every Good
Boy Deserves Fudge)
It’s not enough for some people that Mudhoney be
labeled as “underrated” only as a grunge band; there
are folks who believe they are one of the most underrated
bands in all of music. That is debatable, but Mudhoney
certainly dished up some awesome grunge in its day,
and 1991’s Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge stands
as the band’s shining moment. “Broken Hands” is a
masterpiece of grunge vocals and lyrics, and deserves
your immediate attention if you are a true fan of
the genre.
“Hooch” – Melvins (Houdini)
The buzz phrase for Melvins is “dirge metal,” but
they were right smack in the middle of the grunge
movement, and 1993’s Houdini is easily one
of the craziest, if not best, albums in the band’s
catalog. “Hooch” gets things started and it is bizarre.
Loaded with riffs that may make you want to take
a shower soon after you hear them, the song proves
that Melvins know how to take it to the listener.
There are elements of metal throughout the album,
but “Hooch” is a memorable grunge entry.
“Black Sun Morning” – Screaming Trees (Buzz
Factory)
Not to be confused with Soundgarden’s “Black Hole
Sun,” the Screaming Trees certainly made their mark
on the scene. If the title of 1990’s Buzz Factory,
was alluding to guitar sounds, then that’s what I
call truth in advertising! Gary Lee Conner’s guitar
work nearly has a mind of its own, easily stealing
the show on this song.
“Reach Down” – Temple of the Dog (Temple
of the Dog)
Can we say “supergroup”? We have Chris Cornell and
Matt Cameron of Soundgarden, Jeff Ament and Stone
Gossard (formerly of Mother Love Bone at the time),
and Eddie Vedder all in the studio collaborating.
Only good things could happen, and they did. Although
only around for one album (their 1991 self-titled
release), they nevertheless made a huge impact. “Reach
Down” is the epic of the album, lasting 11+ minutes
and featuring dynamo guitar playing and some downright
killer vocals from Cornell. If you’re looking for
the plodding, yet meticulous, side of grunge, it
doesn’t get any better than this.
“Lifeless Dead” – Mad Season (Above)
Another all-star collaboration, Mad Season
was made up of Alice in Chains frontman Layne Staley,
Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready, Screaming Trees
drummer Barrett Martin, and bassist John Baker Saunders.
Like Temple of the Dog, they only had one album,
but it was a humdinger. “Lifeless Dead” is one of
the more memorable tracks, mainly due to McCready’s
trippy guitar playing.
“Swallow My Pride” – Green River (Come
On Down)
If you haven’t noticed by now, grunge had
a way of reusing its seminal talent. Green River (right), which
boasted future Pearl Jam guitarists Stone Gossard
and Jeff Ament, came and went quietly in the mid
‘80s, and it wasn’t until their EP, Come On
Down (recorded in 1985), was released in 1992
that people realized what an influence the band had
exerted on grunge. They are now regarded as pioneers.
“Swallow My Pride” is a true grunge classic, thanks
in large part to the Mark Arm’s vocals and the straddling
guitar work of those aforementioned virtuosos.
“Paint” – Gruntruck (Inside Yours)
Lost amid the mainstream success of grunge are the
genre’s funk influences, and no band brought those
to light better than Gruntruck. “Paint” is droning
grunge with funk outbursts, and it’s a lot of fun
to hear. This psychedelic edge separated them from
the pack, and it’s no surprise whatsoever that they
were Alice in Chains’ most supported act at the time.