Sounds like soggy speakers…

Where that “Seattle” sound came from & the 90s pop/punk trend

What’s a “grunge?”

• A marketing term used by record companies to describe a style of music heavily influenced by:– 80s hardcore (not very popular, this was an

attempt to re-brand)– 80s glam metal & hard rock

• Probably a descriptive term used in reference to the general appearance of poor, soggy (the Pacific NW is very rainy) musicians

Revival of Punk Rock?

• Initially absent of any semblance of political/social awareness, the 90s saw a resurgence of punk sounds & fashions

• We also saw the creation of “punk retail” in places like Hot Topic

• This influenced the popularity of other styles o music:– Ska– Big Band Swing

Green River

Come on DownGreen River

• Formed 1984 in Seattle, WA, by future members of Pearl Jam & Mudhoney

• Named after local serial killer Gary Ridgway• Had little commercial success outside of

Seattle• Their 1985 album, Come on Down, is

considered the 1st “grunge” album• Disbanded 1988, sporadic reunions in 2008/09

Come on Downcontinued

• Released 1985 on Homestead Records – Come on Down (EP/album)

• Influences range from heavy metal, punk, hardcore, & classic rock (like Creedence Clearwater Revival…)

• While on tour to promote this release, the band befriended NYC noise/art punks, Sonic Youth, who lent support to many Seattle bands

• Video (live, from 2008)

Mother Love Bone

Chloe Dancer/Crown of ThornsMother Love Bone

• Formed in Seattle, WA, 1988• Gossard (gtr) & Ament (bass) would later form

Pearl Jam• Several members had previously been in

Seattle proto-grunge bands Green River, Malfunkshun, & Ten Minute Warning

• Vocalist Andrew Wood died days before their debut album was to be released (heroin)

Chloe Dancer/Crown of Thornscontinued

• Released 1989 on Stardog/Mercury Records – Shine (EP/album)

• This is actually 2 songs sequenced back-to-back originally released on their EP. Crown of Thorns was re-released on their 1990 album Apple

• There is a strong 70s classic rock influence heard in the music & vocal styles– Think Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, etcVideo

Mudhoney

Touch Me I’m SickMudhoney

• Formed 1988 in Seattle, WA by former members of Green River

• Their highly distorted/fuzzed sound became a blueprint for early grunge bands

• Lyrically, they had a penchant for juxtaposing serious & ironic, sarcastic, or self-deprecating themes in their songs

• One of Sub Pop’s most successful early signings

Touch Me I’m Sickcontinued

• Released 1988 on Sub Pop Records – Superfuzz Bigmuff Plus Early Singles (album)

• The guitar sound was achieved by using fuzz pedals in conjunction with high volume

• Heavily influenced by Iggy & The Stooges• Listen for vocalist Mark Arm’s unique vocal

stylings• Video

The Melvins

HoochThe Melvins

• Formed in Montesano, WA in 1983• Named after a hated former boss• Their slowed down, sludgy sound was influenced by hardcore &

influenced countless future Seattle/grunge bands, as well as many contemporary metal bands

• Known for their odd song structures• Members include:

– King Buzzo– Dale Crover– Jared Warren– Coady Willis– Mike Dillard

Hoochcontinued

• Released 1993 on Atlantic Records – Houdini (album)• Heavily influenced by punk/hardcore band Black Flag• King Buzzo introduced Kurt Cobain to Dave Grohl

– So, Nirvana benefitted from The Melvins in more ways that one!

• The Melvins benefitted greatly from Nirvana’s massive popularity– Signed to Atlantic Records in 1992– Cobain helped produce some of their songs

• Video

The Pixies

Where Is My MindThe Pixies

• Formed 1986 in Boston, MA• The Pixies were a massive influence on bands like Nirvana,

Weezer, & others• Maintained minimal success in the U.S., but were much more

successful in the U.K. & Europe• Their musical style relies on the interplay between loud/soft,

dark/light, (including lyrics)• Members include:

– Black Francis– Joey Santiago– David Lovering– Kim Deal (left 2013

Where Is My Mindcontinued

• Released 1988 on Rough Trade Records – Surfer Rose (album)

• Produced by Steve Albini (Nirvana, The Breeders, Bush, Cheap Trick)

• This is considered their signature song, as is their most commercially successful

• Kurt Cobain specifically mentioned this album as an influence on his songwriting

• Video

Screaming Trees

Nearly Lost YouScreaming Trees

• Formed 1985 in Ellensburg, WA• Considered one of the original grunge bands• Their sound is influenced by punk, hard rock & psychedelic rock• The band continuously struggled to maintain momentum due to

inactivity & band in-fighting• Disbanded 2000• Members include:

– Mark Lanegan– Gary Lee Conner– Van Conner– Mark Pickerel– Barrett Martin

Nearly Lost Youcontinued

• Released 1992 on Epic Records – Sweet Oblivion (album)

• Also released on Cameron Crowe’s Singles soundtrack

• This was their breakout song• Heavily influenced by 70s glam, rock & punk• Video

Stone Temple Pilots

Sex Type ThingStone Temple Pilots

• Formed in 1986 in San Diego, CA, by brothers Dean & Robert DeLeo, Eric Kretz, & Scott Weiland

• Their early material was classified as grunge• Their later material shows a much wider range of

influences• The band was plagued by singer Weiland’s drug problems• Disbanded 2003, reunited 2008

– Army of Anyone (DeLeo’s w/Kretz)– Velvet Revolver (Weiland, & half of Guns n’ Roses)– STP w/Chester Bennington (of Linkin Park)

Sex Type Thingcontinued

• Released 1993 on Atlantic Records – Core (album)• The lyrics (at the time) were misconstrued as

advocating rape• Weiland would (at times) appear on stage in a

dress & makeup while performing this song• The song, according to Weiland is a song about

control, violence, and abuse• Video

Green Day

Basket CaseGreen Day

• Formed in 1987 in East Bay, CA• Part of a collection of musicians that played the

924 Gilman Street club (Operation Ivy, AFI)• Green Day is credited with re-popularizing punk

sounds/styles in the 90s• One of the world’s biggest selling acts in history (75 million

albums sold)• Members:

– Billie Joe Armstrong– Mike Dirnt– Tré Cool

Basket Casecontinued

• Released 1994 on Reprise Records – Dookie (album)

• About Armstrong’s struggle with anxiety• Many of their early songs reflect immature or

juvenile subject matter• Over time, the bands song subjects have changed

to reflect their growing concerns with American politics & culture

• Video

Blink 182

What’s My Age Again?Blink 182

• Formed 1992 in Poway, CA by Mark Hoppus, Tom DeLonge, & Travis Barker

• One of the progenitors of pop/punk in the 1990s• Many of the lyrics (early on) reflect immaturity

& obsession w/sexual innuendo (Take Off Your Pants & Jacket…really?!)

• Their later work reflects their changing, evolving interests in electronic musics

What’s My Age Again?continued

• Released 1999 on MCA Records – Enema of the State (album)

• One of their breakout hits & one of their signature songs

• Written by Hoppus, touches on his struggle to be youthful, but not immature

• Travis Barker was seriously injured in a 2008 plane crash

• Video

Rancid

Ruby SohoRancid

• Formed 1991 in Berkeley, CA by members of Operation Ivy• Credited with reviving punk rock in the 1990s• Heavily influenced by the Clash, ska, & reggae• The band had its biggest success in the mid 1990s with the

release of their 2nd album, …and Out Come the Wolves• Members:

– Tim Armstrong– Matt Freeman– Lars Frederiksen– Brett Reed

Ruby Sohocontinued

• Released 1995 on Epitaph Records - …And Out Come the Wolves (album)

• Despite being courted by major labels, Rancid remained with their indy record label

• Listen to the dynamic contrast between the verse & chorus

• Armstrong’s vocal style is directly influenced by older reggae & ska singers (hard to understand…)

• Video