Alternative Pop/Rock is essentially a catch-all term for post-punk bands from the mid-'80s to the mid-'90s. Though there is a variety of musical styles within Alternative Rock, they are all tied together since they existed outside of the mainstream. In some ways, there are two waves of alternative bands, with Nirvana's success in 1991 acting as a dividing point. In the '80s, most alternative bands were on independent labels; if they were on majors, they didn't receive as much support as most of the label's mainstream acts. During the '80s, alternative included everything from jangle pop, post-hardcore punk, funk metal, punk pop, and experimental rock. After Nirvana's popularity in the '90s, alternative included all of these subgenres, but many of the edges were sanded off because the music was now being marketed as part of the mainstream. Hard rock and punk-derived music were more commercially successful than the left-of-center pop that dominated late-'80s alternative pop/rock, so alternative lost some of its quirkier tendencies in the '90s. Most experimental bands were relegated to indie rock.

R.E.M.(1980-present)

• R.E.M. marks the point when post-punk turned into alternative rock.

• Their first single, "Radio Free Europe," was released in 1981, it sparked a back-to-the-garage movement in the American underground. While there were a number of hardcore and punk bands in the U.S. during the early '80s, R.E.M. brought guitar pop back into the underground lexicon.

• Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007

“Radio Free Europe” (1981)Beside yourself if radio's gonna stay.Reason: it could polish up the grey.Put that put that put that up your wallThat this isn't country at all

Raving station beside yourself

Keep me out of country in the wordDeal the porch is leading us absurd.Push that push that push that to the hullThat this isn't nothing at all.

Straight off the boat where to go?Calling on in transit calling on in transitRadio Free Europe, radio...

Beside defying media too fastInstead of pushing palaces to fallPut that, put that, put that before allThat this isn't fortunate at all

Raving station, beside yourselfCalling on in transit, calling on in transitRadio Free Europe, radio...

Decide yourself, calling all of the medias too fast

Keep me out of country in the wordDisappoint is into us absurd

Straight off the boat, where to go?Calling on in transit, calling on in transitRadio Free Europe

“Losing My Religion” (1991)

Life is biggerIt's bigger than youAnd you are not meThe lengths that I will go toThe distance in your eyesOh no I've said too muchI set it up

That's me in the cornerThat's me in the spotlightLosing my religionTrying to keep up with youAnd I don't know if I can do itOh no I've said too muchI haven't said enoughI thought that I heard you laughingI thought that I heard you singI think I thought I saw you try

Every whisperOf every waking hour I'mChoosing my confessionsTrying to keep an eye on youLike a hurt lost and blinded foolOh no I've said too muchI set it up

Consider thisThe hint of the centuryConsider thisThe slip that brought meTo my knees failedWhat if all these fantasiesCome flailing aroundNow I've said too muchI thought that I heard you laughingI thought that I heard you singI think I thought I saw you try

But that was just a dreamThat was just a dream

“Everybody Hurts” (1992)When the day is long and the night, the night is yours alone,When you're sure you've had enough of this life, well hang on.Don't let yourself go, everybody cries and everybody hurts sometimes.

Sometimes everything is wrong. Now it's time to sing along.When your day is night alone, (hold on, hold on)If you feel like letting go, (hold on)When you think you've had too much of this life, well hang on.

Everybody hurts. Take comfort in your friends.Everybody hurts. Don't throw your hand. Oh, no. Don't throw your hand.If you feel like you're alone, no, no, no, you are not alone

If you're on your own in this life, the days and nights are long,When you think you've had too much of this life to hang on.

Well, everybody hurts sometimes,Everybody cries. And everybody hurts sometimes.And everybody hurts sometimes. So, hold on, hold on.Hold on, hold on. Hold on, hold on. Hold on, hold on. (repeat & fade)(Everybody hurts. You are not alone.)

Nirvana(1987-1994)

• Nirvana popularized punk, post-punk, and indie rock, unintentionally bringing it into the American mainstream

• While Nirvana's ideology was indie rock and their melodies were pop, the sonic rush of their records and live shows merged the post-industrial white noise with heavy metal grind.

• 1991’s Nevermind is considered by many to be the best album of the 1990s

• The band dissolved following Cobain’s suicide in 1994 via self-inflicted gunshot wound

“Smells Like Teen Spirit” (1991)Load up on guns and bring your friends It's fun to lose and to pretend She's over bored and self assured Oh no, I know a dirty word

BRIDGE:Hello, hello, hello, how low?Hello, hello, hello, how low?Hello, hello, hello, how low?Hello, hello, hello!

CHORUS:With the lights out, it's less dangerous Here we are now, entertain usI feel stupid and contagious Here we are now, entertain usA mulatto An albino A mosquito My libido Yay! Hey! Hey!

I'm worse at what I do best And for this gift I feel blessed Our little group has always been And always will until the end

BRIDGE

CHORUS

And I forget just why I taste Oh yeah, I guess it makes me smile I found it hard, it's hard to findOh well, whatever, nevermind

BRIDGE

CHORUS

A denial !! x10

“Come As You Are” (1991)Come as you are, as you were,As I want you to beAs a friend, as a friend, as an old enemyTake your time, hurry upThe choice is yours, don't be late.Take a rest, as a friend, as an old memoryMemoriaMemoriaMemoria

Come doused in mud, soaked in bleachAs I want you to beAs a trend, as a friend, as an old memoryMemoriaMemoriaMemoria

When I swear that I don't have a gunNo I don't have a gunNo I don't have a gun

MemoriaMemoriaMemoria

Memoria - no I don't have a gun

When I swear that I don't have a gunNo I don't have a gunNo I don't have a gunNo I don't have a gunNo I don't have a gun

MemoriaMemoria

“Lithium” (1991)I'm so happy 'cause today I've found my friends They're in my head I'm so ugly, but that's okay, 'cause so are you We broke our mirrors Sunday morning is everyday for all I care And I'm not scared Light my candles, in a daze 'Cause I've found god yeah, yeah yeah x6

I'm so lonely, but that's okay, I shaved my head And I'm not sad And just maybe I'm to blame for all I've heard But I'm not sure I'm so excited, I can't wait to meet you there But I don't care I'm so horny, but that's okay My will is good yeah yeah yeah (x6)

I like it - I'm not gonna crack I miss you - I'm not gonna crack I love you - I'm not gonna crack I killed you - I'm not gonna crack

I like it - I'm not gonna crack I miss you - I'm not gonna crack I love you - I'm not gonna crack I killed you - I'm not gonna crack

I'm so happy 'cause today I've found my friends They're in my head I'm so ugly, but that's okay, 'cause so are you We broke our mirrors Sunday morning is everyday for all I care And I'm not scared Light my candles in a daze 'Cause I've found god yeah, yeah yeah x6

I like it - I'm not gonna crack I miss you - I'm not gonna crack I love you - I'm not gonna crack I killed you - I'm not gonna crack

I like it - I'm not gonna crack I miss you - I'm not gonna crack I love you - I'm not gonna crack I killed you - I'm not gonna crack

“Heart-Shaped Box” (1993)She eyes me like a pisces when I am weakI've been locked inside your Heart-Shaped box for

weeksI've been drawn into your magnet tar-pit trapI wish I could eat your cancer when you turn

black

Hey! Wait!I've got a new complaintForever in debt to your priceless adviceHey! Wait!I've got a new complaintForever in debt to your priceless adviceHey! Wait!I've got a new complaintForever in debt to your priceless adviceYour advice

Meat-eating orchids forgive no one just yetCut myself on angel's hair and baby's breathBroken hymen of your highness I'm left blackThrow down your umbilical noose so I can climb

right back

Hey! Wait!I've got a new complaintForever in debt to your priceless adviceHey! Wait!I've got a new complaintForever in debt to your priceless adviceHey! Wait!I've got a new complaintForever in debt to your priceless adviceYour advice

She eyes me like a pisces when I am weakI've been locked inside your Heart-Shaped box

for weeksI've been drawn into your magnet tar-pit trapI wish I could eat your cancer when you turn

black

Hey! Wait!I've got a new complaintForever in debt to your priceless adviceHey! Wait!I've got a new complaintForever in debt to your priceless adviceHey! Wait!I've got a new complaintForever in debt to your priceless adviceYour advice x3

“Rape Me” (1993)Rape me Rape me my friendRape me Rape me again

I'm not the only oneI'm not the only one I'm not the only one I'm not the only one

Hate meDo it and do it againWaste meRape me my friend

Am I the only one ?Am I the only one ?Am I the only one ?Am I the only one ?

My favorite inside sourceI'll kiss your open soresAppreciate your concernYou'll always stink and burn

Rape me Rape me my friendRape me Rape me again

I'm not the only one I'm not the only one I'm not the only one I'm not the only one

Rape me!Rape me! Rape me! Rape me! Rape me! Rape me! Rape me! Rape me! Rape me!

“About a Girl” (1993)I need an easy friend (I do) With an ear to lend (I do) Think you fit this shoe (I do) Won't you have a clue

I'll take advantage while You hang me out to dry But I can't see you every night For Free

I'm standing in your line (I do) Hope you have the time (I do) Pick a number too (I do) Keep a date with you

I'll take advantage while You hang me out to dry But I can't see you every night For Free

I need an easy friend (I do) With an ear to lend (I do) Think you fit this shoe (I do) Won't you have a clue

I'll take advantage while You hang me out to dry But I can't see you every night No, I can't see you every night For Free

I do ... I do ... I do ... I do ...

“Pennyroyal Tea” (1993)I'm on my time with everyone I have very bad posture

Sit and drink Pennyroyal Tea Distill the life that's inside of me Sit and drink Pennyroyal Tea I'm anemic royalty

Give me a Leonard Cohen afterworld So I can sigh eternally

I'm so tired I can't sleep I'm a liar and a thief Sit and drink Pennyroyal Tea I'm anemic royalty

I'm on warm milk and laxatives Cherry-flavored antacids

Sit and drink Pennyroyal Tea Distill the life that's inside of meI'm anemic royalty I'm anemic royalty

“Lake of Fire” (1993)Where do bad folks go when they die? They don't go to heaven where the angels fly They go to a lake of fire and fry See 'em again 'till the fourth of July

I knew a lady who came from Duluth She got bit by a dog with a rabid tooth She went to her grave just a little too soon And flew away howling on the yellow moon

Where do bad folks go when they die? They don't go to heaven where the angels fly They go to a lake of fire and fry See 'em again 'till the fourth of July

The people cry and the people moan They look for a dry place to call their home Try to find some place to rest their bones While the angels and the devils try to make 'em

their own

Where do bad folks go when they die? They don't go to heaven where the angels fly They go to a lake of fire and fry See 'em again 'till the fourth of July

“All Apologies” (1993)What else should I beAll apologiesWhat else should I sayEveryone is gayWhat else should I writeI don't have the rightWhat else should I beAll apologies

In the sunIn the sun I feel as oneIn the sunIn the sunI'm marriedBuried

I wish I was like youEasily amusedFind my nest of saltEverything is my faultI'll take all the blameAqua seafoam shameSunburn with freezerburnChoking on the ashes of her enemy

In the sunIn the sun I feel as oneIn the sunIn the sunMarried, Buried, Married!Buried!Yeah yeah yeah yeah

All in all is all we are (x13)

Pearl Jam(1990-Present)

• Best selling American band of the ’90s

• Pearl Jam fused the riff-heavy stadium rock of the '70s with the grit and anger of '80s post-punk, without ever neglecting hooks and choruses

• Pearl Jam canceled their 1994 summer tour, claiming they could not keep ticket prices below 20 dollars because Ticketmaster was pressuring promoters to charge a higher price. The band took Ticketmaster to the Justice Department for unfair business practices unsuccessfully.

“Evenflow” (1991)Freezin', rests his head on a pillow made of concrete, againOh, Feelin' maybe he'll see a little better, set a days, ooh yeahOh, hand out, faces that he sees time again ain't that familiar, oh yeahOh, dark grin, he can't help, when he's happy looks insane, oh yeah

Even flow, thoughts arrive like butterfliesOh, he don't know, so he chases them awaySomeday yet, he'll begin his life againLife again, life again...

Kneelin', looking through the paper though he doesn't know to read, ooh yeahOh, prayin', now to something that has never showed him anythingOh, feelin', understands the weather of the winters on its wayOh, ceilings, few and far between all the legal halls of shame, yeah

Even flow, thoughts arrive like butterfliesOh, he don't know, so he chases them awaySomeday yet, he'll begin his life againWhispering hands, gently lead him awayHim away, him away...Yeah!

Even flow, thoughts arrive like butterfliesOh, he don't know, so he chases them awaySomeday yet, he'll begin his life again, yeahOh, whispering hands, gently lead him awayHim away, him away...Yeah!Woo...uh huh...yeah, yeah, mommy, mommy..

“Alive” (1991)Son, she said, have I got a little story for youWhat you thought was your daddy was nothin' but a...While you were sittin' home alone at age thirteenYour real daddy was dyin', sorry you didn't see him, but I'm glad we talked... (Chorus)Oh I, oh, I'm still aliveHey, I, I, oh, I'm still aliveHey I, oh, I'm still aliveHey...oh...

Oh, she walks slowly, across a young man's roomShe said I'm ready...for youI can't remember anything to this very day'Cept the look, the look...Oh, you know where, now I can't see, I just stare...

(Chorus)Is something wrong, she saidWell of course there isYou're still alive, she saidOh, and do I deserve to beIs that the questionAnd if so...if so...who answers...who answers...

(Chorus)

“Jeremy” (1991)At home, drawing pictures of mountain tops, with him on topLemon yellow sun, arms raised in a VThe dead lay in pools of maroon below Daddy didn't give attentionTo the fact that mommy didn't careKing Jeremy the wicked, oh, ruled his world

Jeremy spoke in class today (2x)

Clearly I remember pickin' on the boySeemed a harmless little fuckBut we unleashed a lionGnashed his teeth and bit the recess lady's breastHow could I forget?

And he hit me with a surprise leftMy jaw left hurtin', ooh, dropped wide openJust like the day, oh, like the day I heard Daddy didn't give affectionAnd the boy was something mommy wouldn't wearKing Jeremy the wicked, ruled his world

Jeremy spoke in class today (3x)

Woo (14x)

Try to forget this...try to forget this...Try to erase this...try to erase this...From the blackboard...

Jeremy spoke in class today (2x)Jeremy spoke in, spoke in (2x)Jeremy spoke in class todayWoo (29x)Woooooohhh...spoke in, spoke inWoooooohhh...uh huh, uh huh....

“Black” (1991)Hey...oooh...Sheets of empty canvas, untouched sheets of clayWere laid spread out before me as her body once didAll five horizons revolved around her soulAs the earth to the sunNow the air I tasted and breathed has taken a turnOoh, and all I taught her was everythingOoh, I know she gave me all that she woreAnd now my bitter hands chafe beneath the cloudsOf what was everything?Oh, the pictures have all been washed in black, tattooed everything...

I take a walk outsideI'm surrounded by some kids at playI can feel their laughter, so why do I searOh, and twisted thoughts that spin round my headI'm spinning, oh, I'm spinningHow quick the sun can, drop awayAnd now my bitter hands cradle broken glassOf what was everything?All the pictures have all been washed in black, tattooed everything...

All the love gone bad turned my world to blackTattooed all I see, all that I am, all I'll ever be...yeah... Uh huh...uh huh...ooh...I know someday you'll have a beautiful life, I know you'll be a starIn somebody else's sky, but whyWhy, why can't it be, why can't it be mine

“Daughter” (1993)Alone Listless Breakfast Table In An Otherwise Empty Room Young Girl Violence Center Of Her Own Attention No No Mother Reads Aloud Child Tries To Understand It Tries To Make Her Proud Yeah The Shades Go Down Into Her Head Painted Room Can't Deny There's Something Wrong

Don't Call Me Daughter Not Fit To The Picture Kept Will Remind Me Don't Call Me Daughter Not Fit To The Picture Kept Will Remind Me Don't Call Me

She Holds The Hand That Holds Her Down She Will Rise Above Ooh Woh

Don't Call Me Daughter Not Fit To The Picture Kept Will Remind Me Don't Call Me Daughter Not Fit To Be The Picture Kept Will Remind Me Don't Call Me Daughter Not Fit To The Picture Kept Will Remind Me Don't Call Me Daughter Not Fit To The Picture Kept Will Remind Me Don't Call Me The Shades Go Down X4 Woh

“Corduroy” (1994)The Waiting Drove Me Mad You're Finally Here And I'm A Mess I Take Your Entrance Back Can't Let You Roam Inside My Head

I Don't Want To Take What You Can Give I Would Rather Starve Than Eat Your Bread I Would Rather Run But I Can't Walk Guess I'll Lie Alone Just Like Before

I'll Take The Varmints Path Oh And I Must Refuse Your Test Push Me And I Will Resist This Behavior's Not Unique

I Don't Want To Hear From Those Who Know They Can Buy But Can't Put On My Clothes I Don't Want To Limp For Them To Walk Never Would Have Known Of Me Before I Don't Want To Be Held In Their Debt I'll Pay It Off In Blood Let I Be Wed I'm Already Cut Up And Half Dead We'll End Up Alone Like We Began

Everything Has Chains Absolutely Nothing's Changed Take My Hand Not My Picture Spilled My Teacher

I Don't Want To Take What You Can Give I Would Rather Starve Than Eat Your Breast All The Things That Others Want For Me Can't Buy What I Want Because It's Free X2 Can't Be What They Want Because I It's Supposed To Be Just Fun Yea But To Be Tried Or Be A JudgeI Figure I'll Be Damned All Alone Like I Began

“Betterman” (1994)Waiting Watching The Clock It's Four O'clock It's Got To Stop Tell Him Take No More She Practices Her Speech As He Opens The Door She Rolls Over Pretends To Sleep As He Looks Her Over

She Lies And Says She's In Love With Him Can't Find A Better Man She dreams In Color She Dreams In Red Can't Find A Better Man Can't Find A Better Man X2

Talking To Herself There's No One Else Who Needs To Know She Tells Herself Oh Memories Back When She Was Sure And Strong And Waiting For The World To Come Along Swears She Knew Him Now She Swears He's Gone

She Lies And Says She's In Love With Him Can't Find A Better Man She Dreams In Color She Dreams In Red Can't Find A Better Man She Lies And Says She Still Loves Him Can't Find A Better Man She Dreams In Color She Dreams In Red Can't Find A Better Man Can't Find A Better Man X2

She Loved Him Yeah She Don't Want To Leave This Way She Feeds Him Yeah That's Why She'll Be Back Again Can't Find A Better Man Can't Find A Better Man X3 Can't Find A Better Man

“Last Kiss” (1999)Chorus :Oh where oh where can my baby beThe Lord took her away from meShe's gone to heaven so I got to be goodSo I can see my baby when I leave this world

We were out on a date in my daddy's carWe hadn't driven very farThere in the road straight up aheadA car was stalled the engine was deadI couldn't stop so I swerved to the rightI'll never forget the sound that nightThe screaming tires the busting glassThe painful scream that I heard last

[Chorus]

When I woke up the rain was pouring downThere were people standing all aroundSomething warm flowing through my eyesBut somehow I found my baby that night

I lifted her head she looked at me and saidHold me darling just a little whileI held her close I kissed her our last kissI found the love that I knew i have missedWell now she's gone even though I hold her tightI lost my love my life that night

[Chorus]