Best Alternative Rock Songs

Back in 1990 a new marketing category introduced alternative rock to the general public, and now almost 20 years later the best alternative rock songs still jockey for position on the charts. Lists on sites like Blender.com which labels itself the "ultimate guide to music and more," Modern Rock.com, and Rhapsody which provides a play list of more than eight hours of music, prove that, unlike grunge, alternative rock is still alive.

1.

 Released in 2007, Seether's "Fake It" has been on the RadioandRecords.com Alternative National Airplay list for 23 weeks where it climbed to number one. Originally the band wasn't sure if this song would make it to their album Finding Beauty In Negative Spaces because it originated as a tongue-in-cheek song about the shallowness of the music industry. Once they recorded a few tracks, though, this song stood out from the rest and was chosen as the lead single.

2.

 Number one at OnTheRadio.net, "Paralyzer" is from Them vs. You vs. Me, Finger Eleven's 2007 album. Their guitarist, James Black, admitted that "Paralyzer" came about by chance while they were jamming so a photographer could get a few shots.

3.

 "Primitive" can be found on Ambulance Ltd's debut album. Some fans attribute stylistic influences to greats like the Beatles and Stones and others classify it as spiritualized. The band prides itself on not being pegged in any specific niche. In fact, according to their lead singer, Marcus Congleton, they refuse to be categorized in any sub-genre of rock.

4.

 Released in 1997, this song sits at the number one spot on the Rock Czar's Top 100 90s Alternative Rock Songs. Lyrics remind listeners that fate catches up with you.

5.

 The number one song on Blender's "The 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born" is "Billy Jean" from Michael Jackson's Thriller album. Released in 1983, it hit the top of the Billboard's Hot 100 for seven weeks and sold more than a million singles. The album went on to sell almost 47 million copies worldwide.

6.

 A Sound Celebration lists "Ironic" as number one on its list of best alternative rock songs. This song came out in 1995 on the Jagged Little Pill album. The song is loaded with examples of life gone wrong, like rain on your wedding day and getting caught in a traffic jam when you're already running late. The song's point is that bad stuff helps us get where we are going.

7.

 On Amazon.com's list of "The Best Alternative Rock Music Ever" Gutterflower takes the coveted number one spot. This album features one of the Goo Goo Dolls' hottest songs ever—"Here Is Gone." The lead singer John Rzeznik has said that this song is about having a casual relationship with someone but wanting something more.

8.

 This was the first alternative song to really become a big hit. At its inception, alternative implied a lack of popularity and people called it "modern rock." Today it is number one on the UnderGroundOnline's list of the top 11 influential alternative rock songs. It was released in 1991 on the Nevermind album.

9.

 This is a new song listed at the number one spot on GarageBand.com. Rantings of Eva has just finished recording 10 new tracks that are being mixed and should be ready for release by the end of March, 2008.

10.

 For our list of best alternative rock songs we'll go from something new to something old. "Epic" is listed as number one at 123 Jamboree's list of "Top 10 Older Alternative Rock Songs that Deserve More Radio Airplay than 'Tainted Love.'" Released in 1989, this mix of funk, white-boy rap, and ersatz-classical keyboard is filled with nonsensical lyrics that listeners have grown to love.

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