5 Forgotten Rock Bands From the 1990s Worth Rediscovering

These days, it seems as though all anyone wants to listen to is pop music and electronica. Don’t get me wrong, I love those broad genres. But it’s a bit of a bummer that rock music has taken a backseat to other genres in recent years, considering how much it dominated decades like the 1990s. Let’s celebrate a few unsung greats, shall we? Here are a few forgotten rock bands from the 1990s that you need to listen to today.

1. The Posies

Remember The Posies? If not, I won’t fault you for that. This band’s heyday was back in the 1990s era of Seattle grunge. They weren’t part of the trend, instead opting for power pop with a tinge of alternative rock. It’s a shame that they didn’t get bigger back in the day. Frosting On The Beater is absolutely amazing, as is the underrated gem Amazing Disgrace.

2. Tonic

Tonic’s heyday was a little bit later in the 1990s, but they deserve a spot on this list nonetheless. “Open Up Your Eyes” was a pretty big hit for the post-grunge outfit, as was “If You Could Only See”. While their debut album Lemon Parade didn’t have the best commercial response, I personally think it’s a hugely underrated album worth listening to nowadays.

3. Collective Soul

Collective Soul is one of those rock bands from the 1990s that had their moment in the spotlight, but instead of fading away or putting out lackluster follow-up tunes, they’ve continued to produce great music through the 21st century. “Gel” and “December” are essential listening.

4. Teenage Fanclub

If you like Big Star, you’ll definitely like Teenage Fanclub. This Scottish band was clearly inspired by classic rock of decades prior, and they managed to mix those classic rock elements with noise and a uniquely 1990s alt-rock sound. Bandwagonesque is their most pop-leaning release, and it’s an excellent piece of work. Kurt Cobain was a notable fan; he even pushed to get Teenage Fanclub to perform on Saturday Night Live.

5. Toad The Wet Sprocket

This entry on our list of forgotten bands from the 1990s put out quite a few great hits in the early 90s. “All I Want” and “Good Intentions” are just a few jams from this alternative rock outfit worth consuming, and their early jangle pop work is nothing to sneeze at, either.

Photo of The Posies by Ron Wevers via The Posies’ official X account

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