These are, in my opinion, a great selection of classic rock, grunge, and progressive bands from the 70s – 00s. In no particular order, I will overview the band and give my take on the first song you should hear from them if you’ve never listened to their music before.
Alice In Chains- Formed in 1987, Alice In Chains captured and revolutionized the entire grunge scene of rock music. Notable aspects of the band include lead singer Layne Staley’s out-of-this-world vocals and guitarist Jerry Cantrell’s monstrous guitar riffs. A song that captures many of the band’s best qualities is “Would?” from their 1992 studio album “Dirt”.
Van Halen- Van Halen, one of the biggest bands of the 70s, had an electric stage presence and never-before-seen guitar techniques. Eddie Van Halen is widely considered the greatest guitarists of all time, and his crunchy riffs prove to anyone who listens why he is granted the title. A song that encompasses Van Halen’s tone and sound best is “Ain’t Talkin’ Bout’ Love” off of their debut self-titled album, “Van Halen”.
Led Zeppelin- Led Zeppelin, formed in 1968, provides an extremely deep song catalog bag with over 90 songs in their discography. Lead singer Robert Plant has a very high vocal range that allows him to hold out chilling notes. Paired with guitarist Jimmy Paige, who is also considered one of the greatest of all time, the two mesh perfectly to create music. Paige crafts simple yet powerful riffs in alternate tunings, which is not something many bands experimented with. A song that shows just how impressive Led Zeppelin’s music can be is “Kashmir”, released in 1975.
Jimi Hendrix Experience- Jimi Hendrix is yet another guitarist who is considered one of the best of all time. Hendrix utilized raw amp sound and cranked the volume to achieve a tone that is nearly impossible to replicate. He also did not even use a guitar pick, as he thought that it limited his versatility. His music is very blues rock-influenced, and a song that captures his skill most is “Purple Haze”, which was released in 1967.
Pearl Jam- Formed in 1990, Pearl Jam is known for creating incredible alternative grunge music in their prime. Lead singer Eddie Vedder’s vocals are nearly unrecognizable because of the sheer emotion that he performs with. Pearl Jam has very catchy melodies and lyrics that are the epitome of rock music. A song that displays their style best is “Even Flow,” off of their debut 1991 album, “Ten.”
