More 90s throwback: Nirvana vs. Pearl Jam vs. Soundgarden vs. Smashing Pumpkins

[K.C.]

Arguably the four biggest acts of the grunge era (even though two of those bands shouldn't really be considered grunge).


Nirvana:

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Pearl Jam


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Soundgarden


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Smashing Pumpkins

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[lleeder]

i think chris cornell is the most underrated voice of the 90's but ill still take nirvana

[razorboy]

i think chris cornell is the most underrated voice of the 90's

I don't disagree, but I could make an argument for Mike Patton or Angelo Moore.

[MacVittie]

Stone Temple Pilots ftw.

[TheMojoPin]

ALL of those bands shouldn't be considered grunge.

Pearl Jam and Soundgarden were classic rock (though the latter had some metal thrown in, too).

Nirvana were power pop meets punk.

Smashing Pumpkins were psychedelia meets shoegaze.

I know what you're saying, I just find "grunge" as a term to be such a pet peeve.

And I'd probably have to pick the Pumpkins. Corgan is a douche and they lost the plot well before they broke up but I listen to their first two albums more than any albums by any of the others, though Nirvana is a close second.

[TheMojoPin]

I don't disagree, but I could make an argument for Mike Patton or Angelo Moore.

Gerge Dulli and Mark Lanegan, too.

[K.C.]

You could really give an attribute to all four:

Most Influential - Nirvana
Most Popular - Pearl Jam
Best Live Performances - Soundgarden
Deepest Overall Catalog - Smashing Pumpkins

It's a really tough call.

[K.C.]

I know what you're saying, I just find "grunge" as a term to be such a pet peeve.


I actually agree with that, but I've fought that fight for years, and just given up and accepted if you were a popular band at that time, you can't escape being classified as that by people.

[Dougie Brootal]

Mark Lanegan

i just came here to sa this.

[west milly Tom]

For me pearl jam was the biggest. It was the only band from that era of which I bought all of their albums and they all hold up. Dissident is one of the greatest electric guitar riffs since Hendrix. My favorite pop culture moment of all time was when Pearl Jam were the musical guests on SNL the week Cobain offed himself and Eddie held his hand over his heart throughout the whole performance only to uncover the "K" patch at the end of the song. I cried and I was fourteen (and yes I had my ear pierced, long hair, and performed at poetry slams).

[TheMojoPin]

I actually agree with that, but I've fought that fight for years, and just given up and accepted if you were a popular band at that time, you can't escape being classified as that by people.

This is true.

See also "Britpop," "electronica," "trip-hop" and so on.

[dino_electropolis]

Uhm....Alice in Chains?


But, absent them, this goes to Pearl Jam, despite what anyone thinks.


They were the right time/place band, and milked it for everything it was worth.....i've seen them plenty of times over the last 10 years, and each show is progressively better and MORE intense (despite their advance in age).


Pearl jam.


(Oh, and smashing pumpkins was gay theater kid music)

[dino_electropolis]

i think chris cornell is the most underrated voice of the 90's but ill still take nirvana

I loved Cornells voice from the first time i heard Say Hello to Heaven on WSOU.


Amazing voice....not sure that he is underrated.

[lleeder]

I loved Cornells voice from the first time i heard Say Hello to Heaven on WSOU.


Amazing voice....not sure that he is underrated.

last summer i saw him open for linkin park and was like fuck every song he's done is a hit and sounds amazing live. i just feel like when people talk about great artists he gets left out. maybe im wrong

[TheMojoPin]

last summer i saw him open for linkin park and was like fuck every song he's done is a hit and sounds amazing live. i just feel like when people talk about great artists he gets left out. maybe im wrong

Did you ever hear him live back in the day? Compared to how great he used to be through the 90's he sounds fucking awful now, both live and on album.

[dino_electropolis]

last summer i saw him open for linkin park and was like fuck every song he's done is a hit and sounds amazing live. i just feel like when people talk about great artists he gets left out. maybe im wrong

You may be right....i guess it depends on who is having that conversation. He never achieved the hieght of popularity/appreciation as he probably deserves.

As for his songs, i think (soundgarden included) that they were hits ONLY bc of his voice...while Kim Thayel is an amazing guitarist, the music itself never grabbed me like Cornell's voice would.

[K.C.]

Uhm....Alice in Chains?


I liked Alice a lot, but I really kind of put them in another whole category with Mother Love Bone, Blind Melon, and couple of other bands that just never quite reached their full potential (mostly because of early deaths).

[razorboy]

Gerge Dulli.

Or Greg Dulli. How about J Mascis?

[lleeder]

Did you ever hear him live back in the day? Compared to how great he used to be through the 90's he sounds fucking awful now, both live and on album.

yes. i disagree. i wouldn't know.

[dino_electropolis]

I liked Alice a lot, but I really kind of put them in another whole category with Mother Love Bone, Blind Melon, and couple of other bands that just never quite reached their full potential (mostly because of early deaths).

A man after my own heart.....one of my favorite bands of all time...definitely not grunge, more like southern rock, if i had to label it.


They actually put a new album out as Blind Melon (as opposed to the Revolution Theory) which has some moments of brilliant familiarity.

[hammersavage]

Pearl Jam is one of the greatest American bands ever. Still relevant and as good as ever today. You can't say that, for one reason or another, for the rest of those bands

[razorboy]

Pearl Jam is one of the greatest American bands ever. Still relevant and as good as ever today. You can't say that, for one reason or another, for the rest of those bands

I'd pay more for a Soundgarden renuion than another PJ show.

[Kublakhan61]

Of these four - my vote goes to The Smashing Pumpkins. I didn't listen to Nirvana until about 3 years ago. Pearl Jam is embarrassing (remember when he scrawled Pro-Choice on his arm ... LIVE, man!!). And Soundgarden is great but didn't do enough.

The best 90's band, in my opinion is easily:

PAVEMENT

[K.C.]

I'd pay more for a Soundgarden renuion than another PJ show.

I've said this at least three times on this board, but I'd pay top dollar for a Temple of the Dog reunion.

If Eddie, Stone, and Chris Cornell got together and popped out a second album (the first only came out because it was a memorial album to Andy Wood, but it's close to the 20th anniversary of his death), and made it a real throwback to the era, it would be a gigantic hit and really pay a lot of homage to the era and give a whole new life to not just the bands from back then, but bands that really never got their due, like a Mother Love Bone.

[jab]

Of these four - my vote goes to The Smashing Pumpkins. I didn't listen to Nirvana until about 3 years ago. Pearl Jam is embarrassing (remember when he scrawled abortion on his arm ... LIVE, man!!). And Soundgarden is great but didn't do enough.

The best 90's band, in my opinion is easily:

PAVEMENT

TTTTHHHHHIIIIIIIIISSSSSSSSSSS

[razorboy]

I've said this at least three times on this board, but I'd pay top dollar for a Temple of the Dog reunion.

If Eddie, Stone, and Chris Cornell got together and popped out a second album (the first only came out because it was a memorial album to Andy Wood, but it's close to the 20th anniversary of his death), and made it a real throwback to the era, it would be a gigantic hit and really pay a lot of homage to the era and give a whole new life to not just the bands from back then, but bands that really never got their due, like a Mother Love Bone.

Agreed.

[K.C.]

A man after my own heart.....one of my favorite bands of all time...definitely not grunge, more like southern rock, if i had to label it.


They actually put a new album out as Blind Melon (as opposed to the Revolution Theory) which has some moments of brilliant familiarity.

Blind Melon was criminally underrated because 90% of the people who heard of the band identify it with the bee girl in No Rain.

I'd classify it as a southern rock meets classic folk cross.

[Kublakhan61]

TTTTHHHHHIIIIIIIIISSSSSSSSSSS

Yea, Jab! You should put a vote in for Sebadoh. We can really show these dudes what the 90's were about.

[razorboy]

Blind Melon was criminally underrated because 90% of the people who heard of the band identify it with the bee girl in No Rain.

I'd classify it as a southern rock meets classic folk cross.

I might be alone in saying that I actually think Soup and Nico were better than the self-titled album.

[furie]

this is an easy one, Pearl Jam!

[Nothing Sound]

I think my user name pretty much says who I voted for.

[underdog]

I hate this poll.

I don't get Smashing Pumpkins being in it but AIC not.

[furie]

I hate this poll.

I don't get Smashing Pumpkins being in it but AIC not.

very good point

[west milly Tom]

Mouth full of cavities > honey

[razorboy]

I hate this poll.

I don't get Smashing Pumpkins being in it but AIC not.

I could do without either one.

[Moe Lester]

fuck all 4, especially pearl jam.

[K.C.]

I hate this poll.

I don't get Smashing Pumpkins being in it but AIC not.

Hmmm...let's see, they had one of the most influential Indie Rock albums of the decade, two of the the best selling/most critically acclaimed albums of the decade, and were one of the biggest live draws of the decade.

[underdog]

Hmmm...let's see, they had one of the most influential Indie Rock albums of the decade, two of the the best selling/most critically acclaimed albums of the decade, and were one of the biggest live draws of the decade.

But its three of the big four of the Seattle sound and some faggy wannabe, try too hard band. I'm kind of glad Layne died so early so they couldn't embarrass themselves with albums like Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness and Machina.

[K.C.]

But its three of the big four of the Seattle sound and some faggy wannabe, try too hard band. I'm kind of glad Layne died so early so they couldn't embarrass themselves with albums like Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness and Machina.

Yet that 'faggy, wannabe, try too hard band' moved as many copies of MCIS as Nirvana did Nevermind and Pearl Jam did Ten.

So while you don't like them, to say that they're not in the conversation with the rest of the big artists of that decade is kind of ridiculous.


And as far as the Seattle sound goes, most people would say Pearl Jam isn't even really in the 'Seattle Sound' even though they came up through there.

They're distinctly more pop-rocky

[instrument]

Rage against the machine.

Fuck they lead the way for the shitty music that ended the 90s

[underdog]

Yet that 'faggy, wannabe, try too hard band' moved as many copies of MCIS as Nirvana did Nevermind and Pearl Jam did Ten.

So while you don't like them, to say that they're not in the conversation with the rest of the big artists of that decade is kind of ridiculous.


And as far as the Seattle sound goes, most people would say Pearl Jam isn't even really in the 'Seattle Sound' even though they came up through there.

They're distinctly more pop-rocky

I like Smashing Pumpkins, I just don't think they are anywhere near the conversation including the other guys. Its almost like including the Backstreet Boys with the other three.

[SatCam]

Josh, turn these lights out!

my vote goes to evedder and pearl jam

[Freakshow]

Yet that 'faggy, wannabe, try too hard band' moved as many copies of MCIS as Nirvana did Nevermind and Pearl Jam did Ten.

So while you don't like them, to say that they're not in the conversation with the rest of the big artists of that decade is kind of ridiculous.

But if you're talking albums moved--Smashing Pumpkins sold about 18 mil US while AIC sold 14. So they really belong in this conversation. And AIC may actually have a leg up considering their best album may have been an EP, which would have sold probably twice as well if it was an LP...

I still say Screaming Trees FTW..

[JohnGacysCrawlSpace]

Soundgarden. Period.

Pee in Eddie Vedder's mumbling, incoherent, butt.

[Fez4PrezN2008]

These are all really solid and brings back a lot of great memories. I may have to download more from itunes, I can't find some of my CDs. Gotta go with Pearl Jam. I know some people think its cool to hate Eddie, but he's got a unique sound that I have always dug. Bite it haters.

[dino_electropolis]

I might be alone in saying that I actually think Soup and Nico were better than the self-titled album.

Not at all.....i agree 100%, in fact i think Nico was the best album, as it displayed the growth of the band on some tunes, and then the raw, stripped down soul of it in others.

Fav song off the debut is Desserted, sooooo much guitar work goin on towards the end, which kinda underscores the desperation of the lyrics.....massive tune

On Nico, gimme St. Andrews Hall and i'm on top of the world.

[Kublakhan61]

I like Smashing Pumpkins, I just don't think they are anywhere near the conversation including the other guys. Its almost like including the Backstreet Boys with the other three.

You haven't spent enough time with The Smashing Pumpkins then. They were hitting all the same points as their peers only doing it with more introspection, Heavy Metal influence, and layered sound production. When those 46 guitars of Cherub Rock kick at the opening you know you're getting the real deal. Or try this and tell me the band wasn't a contender against these other bands:

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[underdog]

You haven't spent enough time with The Smashing Pumpkins then. They were hitting all the same points as their peers only doing it with more introspection, Heavy Metal influence, and layered sound production. When those 46 guitars of Cherub Rock kick at the opening you know you're getting the real deal. Or try this and tell me the band wasn't a contender against these other bands:

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I love Siamese Dream and Pisces Iscariot. I was also a pretty good fan of Gish, I just never thought of them in the same light as the Seattle sound for some reason.

Reading quotes from Billy Corgan, he mentions how they were called the "next Nirvana". That's not the same class.

[Furtherman]

Soundgarden.

Their sound punched you in the mind.

[Kublakhan61]

I love Siamese Dream and Pisces Iscariot. I was also a pretty good fan of Gish, I just never thought of them in the same light as the Seattle sound for some reason.

Reading quotes from Billy Corgan, he mentions how they were called the "next Nirvana". That's not the same class.

Ahh yes, if we are strictly talking seattle sound, SP doesn't belong - but I took this as 90's 'alternative' rock music.

[El Mudo]

If I have to pick one, I'll go with Pearl Jam

[realmenhatelife]

I thought Nirvana would have this wrapped up.


Not my favorite band from that area or that place, but its the first band I think of when anyone mentions Seattle in the 90s.

If you were in high school when Kurt Cobain killed himself shit was absolutely bananas.

[sailor]

If you were in high school when Kurt Cobain killed himself shit was absolutely bananas.

he died the year after i graduated college and it was like "that kinda sucks"

heck, i just looked it up now and had no clue he died on my birthday.

[underdog]

Mayonnaise came on Lithium on my way to work today, and I've rethought my position. Just from Siamese Dream alone, Smashing Pumpkins deserves to be in the discussion. I guess I forgot how great and breakthroughish that album was.

[realmenhatelife]

he died the year after i graduated college and it was like "that kinda sucks"

heck, i just looked it up now and had no clue he died on my birthday.

Kids were walking around my school sniffling.

[grlNIN]

Growing up i would go into my brothers' rooms while they were at school and listen to their cds. My oldest was/is a diehard Pumpkins fan and the other basically had a nervous breakdown when Cobain killed himself. (I remember him framing a picture of him and writing his birthday on my calendar).

So, from a young age i've liked both bands and this is tough but i have to go with Nirvana. Corgan, despite being awesome for the first 3 albums or so, was completely unidentifiable as a human being to me.

[TjM]

Soundgarden because all those other one blow

[TheMojoPin]

Mayonnaise came on Lithium on my way to work today, and I've rethought my position. Just from Siamese Dream alone, Smashing Pumpkins deserves to be in the discussion. I guess I forgot how great and breakthroughish that album was.

That's pretty much why I voted for the SP. After all this time, SD is the album I got to much more often than anything else by the listed bands.

[spoon]

I've said this at least three times on this board, but I'd pay top dollar for a Temple of the Dog reunion.

If Eddie, Stone, and Chris Cornell got together and popped out a second album (the first only came out because it was a memorial album to Andy Wood, but it's close to the 20th anniversary of his death), and made it a real throwback to the era, it would be a gigantic hit and really pay a lot of homage to the era and give a whole new life to not just the bands from back then, but bands that really never got their due, like a Mother Love Bone.

I worked Lollapalooza a few years in a row at Montage Mountain in PA and had some truly surreal moments with them. Back in 1992 (I think) the lineup included two of the bands in question, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden, along with many others like Rage and STP. Funny thing was that it's such a long day we'd get long breaks and the bands were just hanging out in the back of what is usually the ski lodge at the base of the slopes and now the concert stage.

While back there on break my buddies and I would throw a football around and just chill out. So in walks Chris Cornell, some of the band and a few roadies and we start a touch game in the back. Next thing you know most of Pearl Jam comes over and joins in and we have this huge game going with probably my two favs at the concert. So being the ass I am I try to turn it into a us vs them game and if we win they HAVE to join up and play some Temple of the Dog shit. They got a kick out of it and acted like the would, but they just weren't prepared to do it so they shot me down. In the end all I can say is Eddie is a quick stoner, but I didn't let him catch a thing! Oh, and Cornell has an arm.

[Caseyelan]

Seen em all. Nirvana. Hands Down. Or up. Whatever.

In utero is a fucking retarded awesome record.

[spoon]

Seen em all. Nirvana. Hands Down. Or up. Whatever.

In utero is a fucking retarded awesome record.

Fuck me. Nirvana is the only one I never saw and a HUGE miss on my part....even if they weren't so crisp live.

As for the poll question, I have to agree with Casey as they ONLY existed in the 90's on top of it all. Tie in a huge suicide death, which in the end came to symbolize the death of the psuedo-genre itself, and you have a powerful 1990's tie.

[Crispy123]

Nirvana. Has a Weird Al parady song. Lock it up.

[IamFogHat]

I love all four but if I had to choose I think I'd say Pumpkins. Though for the record I do think STP and AIC should be a part of this poll.