Music In Public: Rock out on the bus with 90′s grunge ft. Nirvana and Pearl Jam

Music insights brought to you by MusicMagpie…

Ditch the car keys and Do It In Public on the bus with 90s attitude whilst you check out our play list of the best classic grunge music ever, no flannel shirt required. Prepare your ears for some stunning, scuzzy and wonderful sound therapy…

Download this playlist on Spotify here

1. Nirvana, Smells Like Teen Spirit
Nirvana defined the attitude of a generation when they released this song in 1991. Smells Like Teen Spirit is pure pop-slash-grunge genius, if such a thing could ever exist. It’s loud, it’s soft, then it’s loud again, and who cares if you don’t know what the hell Cobain is saying? If you’re a true grunge fan, you’ll forever have a soft spot in your heart (and your cochlea) for this song that will cause you to turn it up to an UNGODLY volume and scream along with Nirvana’s non-lyrical lyrics every time you hear it. Classic

2. Bush, Machinehead
From the opening lines when Gavin Rossdale coaches you to “breathe in, breathe out” to its excellent finish, this song feels like it was kind of made for kicking back on the bus. Chocked full of curious energy and taken from the band’s debut disc, Sixteen Stone, which arguably changed grunge forever when it was released in 1994. Influential

3. The Verve Pipe, The Freshman
If you grew up in the 90’s, chances are you can remember exactly where you were and who you were with the first time you heard this song. The most popular version is actually the band’s third recording of the track, which was initially recorded as an acoustic record. Its dark lyrical content about suicide is like a snapshot of the times, but its spot-on snare line and harmonic chords evokes a kind of nostalgia for an era when you and everyone you knew were young and confused. Chilled out tune

4. Stone Temple Pilots, Creep
If you’ve had a hard day, STP delivers a tune that can make you feel as if somebody has been there before and wrote a song about it. Creep’s haunting refrain, “I’m half the man I used to be,” is the perfect example of how a good grunge song can ease you into your despair instead of falling into it clumsily with no adequate soundtrack. Kind of makes you miss all those flannel-clad 90’s rockers, doesn’t it? Chilled out tune

5. Bush, Comedown
Also featured on Bush’s debut album, Comedown is a heavy grunge anthem that actually put the band on the map across the pond. Perfect for a slow, contemplative sort of head nod, the song builds to an out-of-this-world guitar riff, the only musical element that can really match Rossdale’s penchant for catchy grunge lyrics. Classic

6. Alice In Chains, Nutshell
This Seattle band named their 1994 album Jar of Flies but they seem to have caught something much better than that with this song. Nutshell is one of Alice In Chain’s most recognised tracks, despite the fact that they never released it to radio. It was also vocalist Layne Staley’s personal story of his addiction to drugs set to music. His almost incomprehensible mutterings lend the song to self-interpretation, though, and are a lasting imprint of the late star’s musical capabilities. Classic

7. Pearl Jam, Jeremy
Thanks to its energetic fusion of the 12-string bass and lead guitar, this song is one of the quintessential tunes of the grunge era. However, Eddie Vedder’s lyrical storytelling also makes it a conscious track with a very serious message against school bullying. He wrote it based on the story of a boy who takes his own life with a gun whilst his classmates and teacher watch. For both its musical quality and lyrical content, Jeremy will forever remain one of the most impactful songs of the era. Influential

8. Soundgarden, Black Hole Sun
Is there anyone who really knows what this song is about? Even lead vocalist Chris Cornell admits to not knowing exactly what he was trying to say when he wrote it. But perhaps the words aren’t important when you have a song so massive that it transcends its own genre. Originally the soundtrack to the summer in 1994, Black Hole Sun refuses to fade away, and even non-grunge fans have an affinity for it. Classic

Download this playlist on Spotify here

Here comes the science bit…
Global Cool wants you to lead a green and happy life. This article can help you to be green by:

1. Using public transport rather than the car.
2. Entertain yourself on public transport with the best tunes along the way!

Are you bored of your music collection? Recycle and sell CDs with MusicMagpie!

Pic: arteyfotografia.com (CC) and PA Images

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