Pls I need recommendations
What are really good grunge bands that aren’t that famous
RecommendationTad shoulda been famous
At least a Tad more famous than they were. Woulda been nice.
It seems like everyone knows about them but just not for their music
Seconding this— OP, If you want a recommendation go for his 8 Way Santa.
Tad was definitely the first that came to mind. Inhaler is up there in my top albums!
Bro this was what I was gonna type when I opened this post 😂 love TAD 🤘🤘
Came here just to say TAD
Green River
Skin yard
Any relation to linyard skinyard?
Distant cousin from Alabama
Mudhoney
Anyone who was into grunge knows them and they were famous. The weren't Pearl Jam, Nirvana or Soundgarden famous, but all those bands sung their praises and Cameron Crowe put them on the multi-platinum "Singles" soundtrack.
i’ll scream this forever and ever
Played a few gigs with Mark. What a nice guy.
They were, as far as I'm concerned.
Screaming Trees
I upvoted but they’re pretty famous in my opinion. Mad season turned me on to them. However, they do need more recognition.
If you were just watching MTV back in the day, they had maybe one video that aired infrequently, compared to the almost nonstop coverage that Pearl Jam and Nirvana got during that same timeframe. But yeah, Lannegan had the growl, the music was just as grungy, and the songs were every bit as good as the big four's.
I discovered them because of the Singles motion picture soundtrack
And Mark Lanegan's solo catalog, as well - although decidedly not "grunge". Mark was extremely eclectic in jumping genres and pulling in bits from multiple ones, as well. Often find myself gravitating towards different albums depending on my mood. No doubt, he was taken from this world way too soon.
Saw the Screaming Trees and also saw Mark solo. Both were absolute treats, sounding outstanding live.
His audiobook was amazing and I tend to not be able to stand them.
Yep yep yep
I prefer Lanegan after he went solo, Bubblegum is a complete album, but yes, Screaming Trees gets my vote.
I saw them in 96 loudest group I ever saw great singer and band!
My favorite of all time. Under rated asf.
Marks voice is like heaven it's up there with Layne's and Eddie's for me. He should have been hella famous I never understood how the trees didn't make it big.
Definitely didn't get the recognition they deserved by any stretch but Sweet Oblivion sold 300k and Nearly Lost You charted and was on regular rotation on most rock stations. Under value / rated, without a doubt but still more famous than 99% of grunge bands active at that time.
LOVE BATTERY🤘
7 Year Bitch, The Gits, Melvins, Gruntruck
The Melvin’s were definitely famous
Well, most of us on this sub have heard of them, sure. But they didn't get much radio play, so the average person will not have heard of them, but they would know the big 4 in grunge. Maybe instead of famous, we can think of these bands like we would deep cuts on an album. The OP wants to know the deep cuts, something beyond the fab 4. So in that context I think the Melvins was appropriate to spread appreciation for those exploring the grunge genre.
I used to have a co-worker who loved grunge, even named his son after Eddie Vedder.
I mentioned the Melvins to him and he had never heard of them. I told him in the Northwest we spoke on them almost as much as Nirvana.
On one hand, most people have no idea who they are. On the other, Gene Simmons loves them!
The Gits are so awesome. It's a fucking tragedy what happened.
Yes, R.I.P. Mia Zapata. You may be gone but your legend and music lives on.
Good choices. My friend used to listen to 7 Year Bitch, Veruca Salt, and Bikini Kill.
Grunttruck
*Gruntruck
But yeah I totally agree with you.
Yup, 💯. Came here to say Gruntruck. Saw them play in the early 90s. Place was nearly empty but they rocked it full on regardless. My buddy and I were fully banging our heads the whole show. One of the guitarists came up to us and said "We played for you guys."
Hammerbox
No doubt. That lady can sing.
Simple Passing!
Road Rash vibes
I'm obviously a little biased
Hum. Their most recent album kicks ass too
Hum is absolutely phenomenal, one of my favorite bands of all time
Goated
You ever heard the Stars cover by Evergreen Terrace? It's heavier but definitely a good tribute
The guitar sounds on that album are excellent.
Paw
came here to say that…Dragline is easily one of the best grunge albums of the 90’s..
It slaps so hard
Oh but Jessie…it’s cold outside..
😭
Saw them do an acoustic set at the local Tower Records. They signed their autograph ’we rock, you suck’ it’s true. What a great memory
Ted Ed Fred
Fecal Matter
Bliss
Pen cap chew
Skid row
Local H
They were born to be down
You just don't get it...
You keep the copacetic...
Yes! They are always playing shows and I recommend seeing them! Only two guys
Absolutely love Local H!
Came here to say this. Amazing band with a great sound
Came here to recommend Local H as well.
Blood Circus, Swallow, U-Men, Cat Butt, Chemistry Set
Toadies
Screaming Trees
The Gits
I saw their Unsolved Mysteries episode
Failure
You burrowed like a summer tick…
Paramore has an EP called The Summer Tick EP and I never knew that Stuck on You was a cover! Happy I saw your comment so I can check out the original
I hate that they got the grunge label since they are so much more. Yeah, Comfort and Magnified were harder, but FP went way beyond anything anyone was doing at the time
Another Space Song is one of the best guitar songs of all time.
One of the best songs
Heliotropic…I can’t remember why
Kerbdog
Helmet
Famous
I must have a different definition of famous than some of y'all.
Citizen Dick . . .
😂
Mother Love Bone
Melvin’s are the OG.
Green River, Mudhoney, Melvins
Screaming Trees
Morphine
I love morphine…I like the drug too…I used to catch them all the time when they passed through Chicago.
Bam Bam
Paw
L7
Seaweed.
“Actions and Indications” is one of the best “grunge” albums of the 90s. https://seaweed.bandcamp.com/album/actions-and-indications-2
Yup
Dinosaur Jr., sponge, local h, melvins
Dinosaur jr is going on tour with weezer? Don’t think it’s underrated
Bring your ear plugs. Dinosaur Jr plays LOUD.
Wore earplugs at a Dinosaur Jr show 5 years ago and my ears are still ringing.
What?
I don’t consider Dino Jr. to be grunge. Never have. Just feels different.
Mad Season
Mad season was pretty popular.
it's all relative. I would say people hear River of Deceit and think it's an AIC song
At the time? Sure. But these days when I tell people about Mad Season they think I’m making it up that Layne Staley and Mike McCready were ever in a band together.
It was a collaboration not a real group. It was like a side project for a bunch of dudes in rehab. I think half or more than half are dead. Dead from drug overdoses or suicide. I never thought of them as a touring group but they did make awesome music. It was one album or maybe two. In 1995.
Underrated band
Meat Puppets
Dead Moon out of Portland Oregon
Although I wrote them a letter in the mid 90s and the return address on the envelope they sent me said Clackamas Oregon
because they operated a guitar & gear shop near Watkins Park Apartments.
No kidding. They're one of those bands that every better- known grunge band has name dropped.
On a side note, Toody still handles all their merch orders which is pretty cool. She emailed me after I placed an order to say that her mum grew up in the town I currently live in (in Canada!?)
I wouldn’t call Dead Moon grunge, but they were awesome and should be a lot better recognized. They were real no-bullshit rock ‘n’ roll, and they lived it 24/7.
Nudeswirl
Skin Yard.
My Sisters Machine
Green River is a lotttt better than you think
Wipers…some say they’re the godfathers of PNW punk…others say a rock band. But, I know they influenced (and inspired) the sounds of many grunge bands. They’re absolutely worth checking out, all their albums. Also a grunge inspiration: Blue Cheer, one of the loudest bands (so I heard).
I was hoping someone was going to mention them. I definitely say they’re more punk than grunge but you explained that well.
Agreed, and I feel the same way about The Gits. Some have mentioned The Gits on this thread but I always felt they were punk.
My Sister’s Machine
Nirvana
Hazel. Torreador of Love is great.
You nailed it right here. Hazel was pure fire back in the day. This album in particular. I'll also add Crackerbash, Oily bloodmen, and Sprinkler to the list.
Hi Portland. Pond. Heatmiser. Elliott Smith. Big Daddy Meatstraw. Drunk At Abi's. Calamity Jane. M99. Sean Croghan (of Crackerbash) still performing at The Mistons. Dead Moon. Wipers.
Crackerbash!
Melvins
Afghan Whigs
Silverchair
Silverchair was very popular in Australia
They got a lot of play in the states too. Everyone knew who they were even if they weren’t a fan like me.
No debate. I just thought they qualified as an underrated grunge band in the USA.
In europe they were also REALLY famous
Silver Chair got a fair amount of radio time
Treepeople
Polaris
Some of these not that famous groups feel really famous to me.
The Scientists where it all started.
Tumbleweed
Hell yeah!
Jimmy’s Chicken Shack
What would I do
Mudhoney
Mudhoney
7 Year Bitch
KYUSS
Citizen Dick
Touch Me, I'm Dick really speaks for itself y'know
You know, because it's like, "I'm Dick," you know, and "you can touch me."
Days of the New
The Melvins
Screaming Trees
Tad
Skin Yard
Buffalo Tom
Send no flowers.
The Fluid
Smile - check out their album Maquee
Dwarves.
Fecal matter
Days of the New.....not technically grunge per se, but still...
Truly
Dave Grohl mentioned Flowerhead on the first Foo Fighters album. …Ka-Bloom! is worth a listen.
Paw
Dinosaur Jr
I don't know if you'd class them as post-grunge, but they're pretty grungey. FAILURE. They didn't get their chance in thr sun because their label shelved their album for several years. Even their new stuff is amazing.
When I get nostalgic for a 90s grunge sound they are always one of my go to bands.
Killdozer - grunge before grunge.
Does Sleater-Kinney count?
The label is a little vague, but these are at least grunge adjacent- Shiner, Failure, Jawbox, Barkmarket, Season to Risk (old), Seven Storey Mountain, Swervedriver
SAP
Nirvana
Nirvana
SECOND COMING Check it out: https://youtu.be/5MlWPW10jCM?si=6bxuLay_Me9jg_oj
Seaweed
Led Zeppelin
Pen cap chew
Blue October
Local H! I know they were known as “Nirvana wannabes” at the time but all of as good as dead is super good, they deserve way more recognition for their work
Definitely Nirvana shoulda got a lot more attention then they did
Early, and I mean EARLY nickelback before they became the 11th best-selling rock group of all time... albums like hesher and curb
Days of the new
Seaweed
Tad
Milli Vanilli
Seaweed
Guitarist Mark Dancey designed Soundgarden's Badmotorfinger cover. Great poster artist.
Silverchair
My Sister's Machine, hands down. Check out "Diva", their first. Perfect record. https://youtu.be/arhvSe9gY5A?si=PiXKVFfZef6ep0kU
Kyuss, Silverchair
Does Candlebox count?
L7
PAW!!! Love them. From what I’ve seen, they are a huge “what-if” band. Lots of potential, but never really panned out.
Tad