The 1990s was the era of alternative rock, experimental pop, and a vibe that just can’t be matched in the 21st century. Quite a few female rock artists from the 1990s defined that era of music as well, and we should still be celebrating them today. Let’s look at just a few icons, shall we?
1. Fiona Apple
Fiona Apple has to be one of the best songwriters of the 1990s. Early in her career, she definitely leaned more toward art pop and jazz pop, but her work also has plenty of elements of alternative rock and art rock as well. Her debut album Tidal was just a preview of what she was capable of, at least in terms of using words to describe complex, angsty emotions. During an era when rock bands were just screaming, Apple was reciting pure poetry.
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2. Kathleen Hanna
Kathleen Hanna has to be one of the most underrated female rock artists of the 1990s. She fronted Bikini Kill, the premier riot grrrl band of the era. There were plenty of women at the forefront of the movement, but Bikini Kill was about as close to mainstream as you could get from a small, budding, enormously powerful subgenre of music. Her screechy vocals are very much memorable today, especially on still-legendary feminist tracks like “Rebel Girl” and “Carnival”.
3. Bjork
When one thinks of industrial rock from the 1990s, one often thinks of bands like Nine Inch Nails and Skinny Puppy. There weren’t a lot of women taking on the genre at the time. Bjork, though, made it look easy. She’s never been one to stick to just one genre or style, and “Army Of Me” was her attempt at industrial rock music. Today, it’s still one of her most loved songs from the 90s, and no musician has managed to duplicate her extremely unique vocal style. Though, plenty have tried.
4. Shirley Manson
Shirley Manson is one of the most sorely underrated female rock artists of the 1990s. Everybody knows figures like Courtney Love and PJ Harvey, but Manson doesn’t get nearly as much love as she deserves for her work with the alt-rock outfit Garbage. “Only Happy When It Rains” is one of the most definitive tracks from the 1990s alt-rock movement. And Manson’s emotional vocals always seem to make the band’s songs even better, no matter how hard and grunge they might be.
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