100 Best Alternative Rock Bands

The Top Alt Rock Artists

The alternative rock scene emerged through the independent underground music movement of the ‘70s. The genre gained popularity in the ‘80s and since has become one of the most popular music forms encompassing DIY ethos.

A number of bands and artists with eclectic music styles have emerged through the ranks of alternative culture. Although alternate music is often identified with non-mainstream, some of the most influential bands in rock history are associated with the genre.

The list below showcases an epic collection of alternative bands from different decades. If you love all things alternative, you will definitely have a lot to say.

10 Best Alternative Rock Bands

1. R.E.M.
2. Nirvana
3. Radiohead
4. Red Hot Chili Peppers
5. Pearl Jam
6. U2
7. Coldplay
8. Sonic Youth
9. Smashing Pumpkins
10. Oasis

What Is Alternative Rock?

A category of rock music, alternative rock is a musical style that incorporates distinctly different styles and cultural norms in terms of sound, regional roots, and social context. Over the years, the term "alternative" has been used as an umbrella term to describe artists and bands from the independent, underground, or non-commercial music scene.

The alternative scene has evolved into a diversified sound through subgenres such as indie rock, grunge, shoegaze, and noise pop. Although alternative rock has achieved far less mainstream success than other rock genres, a number of bands from the alternative movement have a cult following globally.

#11—20

11. Pixies

12. Foo Fighters

13. The Sugarcubes

14. Mudhoney

15. Dinosaur Jr.

16. Husker Du

17. Muse

18. Pavement

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19. Jane’s Addiction

20. Siouxsie and the Banshees

Usage of the Term "Alternative" in Music

The term "alternative rock" started being used commonly in the '90s. However, in the '80s, alternative music forms were identified with different sorts of music that included new wave, jangle pop, post-punk, and college rock. Alternative music became hugely popular with the college radio circuit and depended heavily on college students for music promotion on college radio.

Alternative charts first made their presence in magazines and fanzines in the early '80s. By 1988, Billboard introduced "Alternative Songs," a charting system that featured purely alternative artists. Usage of the term alternative broadened considerably with the dawn of the '90s. Although, at first, the term "alternative" was intentionally used to refer to non-mainstream rock bands, over the years, it's paradoxically become a commercially marketable entity in the mainstream.

#21—30

21. The Replacements

22. Blur

23. 10,000 Maniacs

24. They Might Be Giants

25. Superchunk

26. The Dream Syndicate

27. Skunk Anansie

28. Keane

29. The Smiths

30. My Bloody Valentine

Characteristics of Alternative Genres

The music and lyrics in alternative genres are diverse. Typically, the music comprises chiming riffs, power chords, fuzz tone buzz, drums, sequenced sounds, and the sound of feedback. Lyrically, songs in this genre stem from varied concepts. Some of the commonly addressed topics through lyrical themes include social concerns such as depression, drug use, environmentalism, addiction, and suicide.

The socio-economic strains people deal with in their everyday lives are reflected thoughtfully in the lyrics of certain songs. Different aspects associated with love, hate, breakup, anger, betrayal, and conflict have been brought to life through confessional lyrics by alternative bands.

#31—40

31. Violent Femmes

32. The Cure

33. Soundgarden

34. Thirty Seconds to Mars

35. Jimmy Eat World

36. The Killers

37. Collective Soul

38. No Doubt

39. Linkin Park

40. Fugazi

Alternative Music in the ‘80s

Although alternative rock emerged big in the ‘80s, it remained an underground phenomenon. A number of bands in this decade were featured on independent record labels. While alternative rock bands built a cult following in the underground music movement, many bands failed to land recording contracts with major record labels. While a number of alternative bands in this decade remained unsigned, these bands came up with innovative ways to promote their music.

A number of alternative bands would fund their own albums from the money they would make from touring and playing underground gigs. Many alternative rock bands earned an epic status from word-of-mouth publicity, airplay at college radio stations, and reviews in fanzines.

The majority of bands sold their low-budget albums at small music concerts and underground gigs at clubs. While the ‘80s never generated spectacular album sales for alternative musicians, it paved the way for their success in later years.

#41—50

41. The Stone Roses

42. Suede

43. Green Day

44. The White Stripes

45. Rage Against the Machine

46. Incubus

47. Dashboard Confessional

48. My Chemical Romance

49. The Strokes

50. Camper Van Beethoven

Alternative Music in the ‘90s

The alternative music scene reached its height of popularity in the ‘90s. The commercial viability of the genre grew significantly with the popularity of grunge. A number of alternative rock bands had breakthrough success in this decade. Music television channels, MTV, in particular, showcased alternative bands in a new light.

Furthermore, commercial radio stations started playing singles from alternative rock bands, thereby helping this form of music reach a wider audience. Many alternative bands signed recording contracts with major record labels. The Britpop scene, emo scene, and indie rock scene that flourished through the stylistic origins of alternative rock evolved significantly in the later decades.

#51—60

51. Stone Temple Pilots

52. Primal Scream

53. Imagine Dragons

54. Arctic Monkeys

55. Queens of the Stone Age

56. Blink-182

57. Paramore

58. The Jesus Lizard

59. The Cranberries

60. Nine Inch Nails

Alternative Music Post-2000

Since the year 2000, a number of bands in the alternative rock genre have evolved with diverse post-punk and new-wave influences. Many new alternative rock bands with distinctive pop-rock and indie sensibilities have had mainstream success with their albums. Post-2010, a number of alternative bands are fusing diverse styles of indie, punk, hip-hop, emo, hard rock, and electronic in their music.

A number of emerging alternative acts are promoting their music in a big way on video streaming channels. YouTube, in particular, has paved new beginnings for unsigned alternative bands. While there has been severe criticism of the stylistic origins and formats of alternative rock changing their relevance in favor of mainstream success, the core elements that define the movement remain true to its roots.

#61—70

61. Gorillaz

62. Twenty One Pilots

63. Fall Out Boy

64. Ben Folds Five

65. Matchbox Twenty

66. Travis

67. Pulp

68. Beastie Boys

69. Snow Patrol

70. Franz Ferdinand

#71—85

71. Depeche Mode

72. Bush

73. Audioslave

74. Panic! At the Disco

75. The Jesus and Mary Chain

76. Arcade Fire

77. Counting Crows

78. The Offspring

79. 3 Doors Down

80. Lifehouse

81. Three Days Grace

82. Nickelback

83. Blue October

84. AFI

85. The Fray

#86—100

86. Cake

87. Sublime

88. Barenaked Ladies

89. The Cardigans