The 1990s were a strange time for underground music – with the success of Nirvana and Pearl Jam, labels signed every act they could find in search of the next big thing. Punk and indie labels that had been around since the 80s expanded to the point that they were almost as big as the majors. While this feeding frenzy was going on, the indie rock genre was experiencing a renaissance. These are just a few important bands of the era:
Pavement
Pavement’s recording history sits tidily in the 90s, with only a couple of releases outside that decade and appropriately, they are the quintessential 90s indie band. Touring incessantly while releasing cult classics like Slanted and Enchanted and Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain, Pavement melded the attitude and ethics of punk with jangly guitar rock, folk, and garage and in doing so helped define the sound of alternative rock.
Yo La Tengo
Formed in the 80s and still active today, Yo La Tengo really hit their stride in the 90s with a sudden burst of releases throughout the decade and a hectic tour schedule. Their sound, a marriage of ethereal pop, bursts of harsh feedback, and the musical sensibility of Loaded-era Velvet Underground, typifies the underground style that was the backbone of their label, Matador Records.
Neutral Milk Hotel
This ever-changing, nomadic troupe of musicians, led by Jeff Mangum, achieved only moderate success with their second album In the Aeroplane Over the Sea at the time of its release in 1998. However, the album has since been recognized as an indie pop classic and the band has garnered a huge fanbase. Eclectic instrumentation, cryptic lyrics, and a homemade feel give NMH’s weirdly epic compositions their unique sound.
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