The Best Grunge Songs Of All Time Ranked

The word “grunge” is American slang for “someone or something that is repugnant” and also for “dirt”. The word was first recorded as being applied to Seattle musicians in July 1987 when Bruce Pavitt described Green River’s Dry as a Bone EP in a Sub Pop record company catalogue as “gritty vocals, roaring Marshall amps, ultra-loose GRUNGE that destroyed the morals of a generation”. Although the word “grunge” has been used to describe bands since the 1960s, this was the first association of grunge with the grinding, sludgy sound of Seattle. It is expensive and time-consuming to get a recording to sound clean, so for those northwestern bands just starting out it was cheaper for them to leave the sound dirty and just turn up their volume. This dirty sound, due to low budgets, unfamiliarity with recording, and a lack of professionalism may be the origin of the term “grunge”. Here are all of the best Grunge songs of all time.

Don’t miss out on the TIMELESS Grunge songs below! Click to experience the music at its finest!

15. Chloe Dancer/Crown of Thorns – Mother Love Bone

“Mother Love Bone was one of the most influential bands on the Seattle grunge scene of the late 1980s. Headed by singer Andrew Wood, the band released the song Chloe Dancer/Crown of Thorns in 1989. It has been widely praised as the group’s best song, showcasing astonishing talent and skill both musically and lyrically. Wood’s vocals were considered exquisite throughout the eight-minute, twenty-second song; he would pass away mere months after its release.”

14. Alive – Pearl Jam

“Pearl Jam is impressive not just because of the meteoric success they achieved but because of the odds they beat. While the band had its own problems handling success, it was probably the only megaband to emerge unscathed from the rubble of grunge while their peers had succumbed to varying degrees of dissension and destruction. Pearl Jam’s story is one of survival when everything around them was crumbling, so there’s no more fitting lyric for the band than Eddie Vedder’s singular wail of “I’m still Alive” setting off Mike McCready’s searing solo.”

13. Plush – Stone Temple Pilots

“Plush was featured on Stone Temple Pilots’ debut album, released in 1993. The song was responsible for propelling the band to widespread fame, becoming one of their signature tracks and receiving extensive airtime. The track flew to the top of the mainstream rock charts, making an impression during a time when grunge and mainstream didn’t frequently intersect.”

12. Even Flow – Pearl Jam

“Depends on the mix, honestly. The rearview mirror Greatest Hits remix of Even Flow is superior to the original Ten version, in my opinion, since it sounds less produced. Eddie Vedder’s voice is less tame and the reverb isn’t as apparent. Even still, this is probably my favorite song from the early ’90s, not just in the grunge subgenre. Better than any track Nirvana ever made, in my opinion.”

11. Hunger Strike – Temple of the Dog

“What’s there not to love. Tribute to Andy Wood who started it all with 2 of the big four grunge bands lead singers together. Cornell continuously Proves that he is the best vocalist ever throughout the song, and the lyrics are great too and it’s Pearl Jam and soundgarden in the same band it’s just breaks the limit to awesomeness!”

10. Come as You Are – Nirvana

“Come As You Are was featured on Nirvana’s second album, the first one to follow them reaching mainstream popularity with the song Smells Like Teen Spirit. Come As You Are was similarly popular, reaching the top of the rock charts around the world. It has been called one of the best rock songs of all time, in addition to being one of Nirvana’s best songs.”

9. Lithium – Nirvana

“Though Nirvana’s inclusion on a list such as this may seem “overrated,” this is an instance where an appropriate level of attention was well deserved. What Nirvana gave to grunge was a perceptive voice, dressed and fit for the scene. They transcended expectation and typecasting, adding a melodious undertone to even the grungiest riffs, adding beauty to the dirt. “Lithium” was a prime example of that intentional dissonance.”

8. Heart-Shaped Box – Nirvana

“Nirvana was undoubtedly the king of the grunge scene in the early 1990s. The band’s celebrity status was already cemented when they released Heart-Shaped Box in 1993. The song was at the top of the rock charts around the world, reaching No. 1 in the United States. Its accompanying music video was also wildly popular, receiving two MTV Video Music Awards in 1994.”

7. Jeremy – Pearl Jam

“The popularity of grunge is inextricably tied the rise of MTV and its impact on pop culture in the early ’90s. One song that reaped the rewards of clockwork exposure to the masses was Pearl Jam’s “Jeremy,” which tackled the topic of a teenager’s suicide that Eddie Vedder read about in the paper—subject matter that was immensely controversial at the time. The song’s signature intro bass line overflows into an onslaught of dueling guitars and Vedder’s signature moaning. It put Pearl Jam on the map because it demanded listeners’ attention.”

6. Rooster – Alice in Chains

“Rooster was released in 1993 as part of Alice in Chains’ second album. The song’s title came from lead singer Jerry Cantrell’s father, who was nicknamed “Rooster.” Rooster served in the US Army in Vietnam, an experience that left him psychologically scarred and ultimately tore their family apart. Cantrell’s powerful tribute was his way of bridging the gap of trauma between himself and his father, which they had never been able to speak about.”

5. Black Hole Sun – Soundgarden

“Chris Cornell, Layne Stayley, Kurt Kobain and Eddie Vedder were gods of music and the voices of grunge. Vedder’s amazing wails and Cornells soothing voice Are simply amazing, Kobains musical genius was one of the best in music history and layne stayleys voice was that of a gods. This song defined grunge in the best way possible besides man in the box and smells like teen spirit.”

4. Black – Pearl Jam

“Eddie puts so much emotion into the live performance you can almost feel his pain. Perhaps the greatest ballad ever written – Eddie Vedder brings you into his heart and allows the listener to understand just how much love can tear a man apart. Unreal songwriting.”

3. Would? – Alice in Chains

“This is literally the most perfect tune ever in the entire grunge era. This song is just pure perfection. Layne and Jerry’s harmonized vocals, that killer bassline and the perfect drum beat. This song is a must listen for anyone who wants to know what grunge actually means. Smells like teen spirit, black hole sun etc are absolutely great too but just can’t compete with this tune… It’s absolutely perfect.”

2. Man in the Box – Alice in Chains

“This song best displays Layne’s vocal abilities. Going from high to low and high to low. His ability to do this makes the song epic. His vocal melody is great. Lyrics are great. Guitar work is great. One of my favorite grunge songs.”

1. Smells Like Teen Spirit – Nirvana

“This song stands out beyond other grunge songs because, it is pure Grunge and nothing else. Kurt Cobain had really set the tone for what grunge sounded like with this song. And Kurt’s vocals in this song fit so well no one else could sing it as good as Kurt sang it. Kurt Cobain was destined to make this song, this music defines grunge and is the flagship representation of what epitomizes this genre. A three piece band with godly vocals forged this masterpiece, it’s timeless, it’s brilliant and it’s a damn good song.”