The music you grew up with, those tunes that rattled your bedroom walls during your formative years, is hard to shake. Through all the twists and turns of life and changes that are thrown your way and experienced/endured, that music comes with you. It’s hold on you lasts longer than your favorite hooded sweatshirt, the bottle opener you got when you started college, a beloved car, and more.

Now, I think that when it comes to growing up in a certain era, nothing beats being a teenager in the 1990s. We had it all, and it was all coming at us all at once. Grunge, next-level hip hop, alternative rock, a jamband renaissance, and more. It was a ten-year avalanche of styles and genres, and it was all ours for the taking. Yeah, I know the sixties were incredible and massively influential, and there was a lot of good that came out of the 1970s, but I’m ride or die with the 1990s. The decade was a sweet spot where MTV was still viable, radio stations were unencumbered, the Internet was just getting its legs under it, and festivals like Lollapalooza, HORDE, Warped Tour, and Lilith Fair gave concert goers the chance to see multiple artists they love in one shot, no matter where they were living.

So, in closing…

As I’ve gotten older and my tastes have changed, I’ve noticed that a handful of songs from that wonderful era have come along for the ride. They’d make appearances on mixed tapes, then mixed CDS and then playlists of different streaming services. I couldn’t shake ’em. Not that I wanted to, of course. It’s almost become something of a running inside joke with me, myself, and I that these songs are still in the mix for me all of these years later.

Yeah, I have running jokes between me, myself, and I. I’m getting older and I work from home. Done and done.

Anyway, here are ten songs from the 1990s that I can’t quit and will likely be with me for the rest of my days.

Optional musical accompaniment can be found here.

“In the Meantime” Spacehog

Oh, Spacehog. You delightful British weirdos with the bass player on lead vocals and as far as I can tell, no other recordings beyond this song ever made, but who cares because this song endures like the low-cal IPA that has been sitting in the back of my fridge since 2019. This tune has it all: a wonderful rolling bassline that creates an irresistible groove and a chorus that, no matter the situation, is excellent to sing along with. What’s the song about? Who cares! It sounds great when played loud, and is impossible to get sick of. And hey, did you know the bass player was married or dated Liv Tyler? True story, kid, because the 90s were weird as hell.

“Fall Down” Toad the Wet Sprocket

Toad the Wet Sprocket weren’t necessarily known for creating alt-rock anthems. They’re probably better known for having one of the stranger band names in rock history, which is saying a lot. But whenever I think of some of the best pure rock songs of the 1990s, I think of “Fall Down.” It’s also undefeated as a driving song. And really, this is just another example of not judging a book by its cover because the four goofs of Toad the Wet Sprocket could rock the hell out when they wanted to.

“Jenny Says” Cowboy Mouth

There aren’t many instances of the drummer being a band’s lead singer, although Eggy does it now. But this isn’t about Eggy and their whimsical, laid-back jamband delightfulness. This is about New Orleans’ Cowboy Mouth and one of the best stomping songs ever released. Ever. The thump of “Jenny Says” is legendary and hammers away throughout the entire song. This song makes me want to drink and maybe get into a bar fight, but like a cool bar fight where at least one person is getting thrown over the bar.

“Steal My Sunshine” LEN

There was a night back in college where I was (redacted) and sitting in a buddy’s car, (redacted) our faces off and staring at an empty field, listening to this song over and over again, and I don’t know why I’m telling you this but that’s besides the point. Or maybe it is the point. Part of the reason why the songs on this list have endured is the memories attached to them. Not only do the songs still sound killer all these years later, but they can bring you back to a simpler time when spending the evening (redacted) and staring out at an empty field was all you needed.

“Cumbersome” Seven Mary Three

I’d give a TED talk on how awesome this song is if TED talks were still a thing. Wait, are we still doing TED talks, or have we learned all there is to know about leadership and interpersonal relationships? I’ll have to look into that. And I’m going to do so while blasting this song because I’ve never not listened to “Cumbersome” at near full volume. I think it’s impossible. The song is such a perfect mid-90s rock song, lodged in between the grunge era of the early 90s and whatever the hell was going on towards the end of the decade. There is a simplistic purity to the tune that makes it timeless, and again, if we’re talking memories, it makes me think of playing soccer in high school. Go Bulldogs.

“On A Rope” Rocket From the Crypt

My wife recently asked me what one of my favorite songs of all time is. I said “Mountain Song” by Jane’s Addiction, which is the answer I’ve given before to that question. I stick by it wholeheartedly. Yet I would be inclined to answer “On A Rope” if the mood struck me because I can’t get enough of this song, and I think I listen to it anytime I’m outside mowing the lawn or in doin’ jobs mode. It’s thrashing and soaring, menacing and determined. It’s the sound of getting shit done, and I’m going to be in my seventies, dicking around the house and listening to it. My grandkids will be made to love it. Just wait.

“Save Tonight” Eagle-Eye Cherry

The 1990s could be heavy. The music was heavy and serious, whether it was grunge or gangster rap, and then rap/rock was heavy and a lot of times unfortunate, but the point is that shit was dark at times. Hence the need for a song like “Save Tonight.” This song is blue skies and picnics with hot dogs and the first day of spring when you can wear shorts and driving with the windows open and playing fetch with your dog, all rolled into one.

“Inside Out” Eve 6

You know, I saw Eve 6 back in the day. They opened for Our Lady Peace and Third Eye Blind at a show at the State Theater in sunny Portland, Maine, and I’ll be honest, all three bands rocked. I may have felt that Third Eye Blind was primed to be the next U2, but that’s neither here nor there. The 1990s also had several iterations of “punk” kicking around, with pop/punk presumably the clubhouse leader. But is this song pop/punk or just alternative rock? What even is alternative rock if it’s popular and then not really the alternative anymore? It’s like when Sirius features the same song on both The Spectrum and Alt Nation. It can’t be both. Either something is legitimately an alternative or not. Ah, bullocks. This song rocks, and that’s all that matters.

“Virtual Insanity” Jamiroquai

Every once in a while, I go through a Jamiroquai phase. Why? Because again, I’m old and I work from home. Shit gets stale around here sometimes, and when it does, on certain occasions, the retro soul of Jamiroquai is the only cure. I don’t know how you can’t like this song. Well, unless you’re a soulless vampire. Then I guess I get it. But I think even the undead would get down with this tune.

“Backwater” Meat Puppets

I think, like a lot of people, I got hip to the Meat Puppets via Nirvana’s appearance on MTV Unplugged. But “Backwater” is an entirely different animal than what we were introduced to on the show. “Backwater” is straight fire and the kind of rock song kids would have been wise to emulate. There’s just something about making your music direct and straightforward (and good) that helps it keep on keeping on. “Backwater” isn’t rocket science, but that’s fine because I’m not a rocket scientist, nor was I back in the 90s. I loved good ol’ loud rock then and I still do now, which I why I keep spinning “Backwater.”

Categories: Music

Tags: 1990s, grunge