5 Criminally Underrated Rock Bands From the 1990s That Deserve a Revival in the 2020s

The 1990s were a heck of a time for rock bands, but there are still quite a few underrated acts from that era that don’t get as much love as they deserve. Let’s look at just a few underrated 1990s rock bands that we’d love to see get some attention in the 2020s, whether they’re still together or not!

Videos by American Songwriter

1. Hum

This killer alt-rock act launched in 1989 and broke up in 2000, though they have since gotten back together even in the wake of drummer Bryan St. Pere’s death in 2021. During the band’s first run, they released quite a bit of excellent material, including Electra 2000 and Downward Is Heavenward.

2. Jets To Brazil

It just doesn’t make sense why Jets To Brazil is still considered so underground. They were an amazing band that produced some of the best indie rock work in the 1990s. The band’s debut Orange Rhyming Dictionary is essential listening.

3. Ned’s Atomic Dustbin

There are plenty of amazing and underrated 1990s rock bands out there, but few have stood the test of time like Ned’s Atomic Dustbin. This English alt-rock grebo outfit started in the late 1980s, but some of their best work came out in the 1990s. 

God Fodder is this writer’s favorite album from that particular era of Ned’s Atomic Dustbin. They are still quite underrated, but their fanbase is still going strong today.

4. Sugar

Launched by former Hüsker Dü leader Bob Mould, Sugar is an exceptional project in alt-rock with jangle pop elements. 

In a way, Sugar was a supergroup of sorts, at least in the grunge realm. Along with Mould, ex-Mercyland bassist David Barbe and ex-Human Sexual Response drummer Malcolm Travis made up the band. Copper Blue is a solid debut, and the EP Beaster is also a great piece of work.

5. Swervedriver

Swervedriver has to be one of the most underrated 1990s shoegaze rock bands out there. The band’s 1991 debut Raise is a powerful piece of work, and they even went in a slightly more Britpop direction with Ejector Seat Reservation in 1995. 

Few bands from that era mastered rhythm quite like they did. Swervedriver is (thankfully) still together today.

Photo by Bob Berg/Getty Images

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.