The post The Essential Albums of Grunge appeared first on Hot Pop Today.
]]>Unfortunately, it’s been a while since grunge music ruled the charts or event got significant attention, but that doesn’t mean people have forgotten about it. The likes of Pearl Jam and Alice in Chains are still keeping this genre relevant with critically acclaimed albums, while new generations are beginning to appreciate classical grunge records.
This is why we decided to present our picks for the top five essential grunge albums and remind you of their greatness, or introduce it to you if some of them did not previously catch your attention. The ranking was made by taking in consideration the albums commercial success, critical receptions, the way they stood the test of time and of course, our subjective opinion about them. So let’s get it started.
People often forget that Soundgarden was already seven years old and had two albums under their belt before the grunge craze started. With Badmotorfinger, however, the Chris Cornell-fronted group made their first breakthrough. Thanks to the band’s focus on songwriting, heavy sound, and the emergence of grunge, Badmotorfinger quickly became a huge hit and managed to sell a million copies in a year. It was also praised by the critics and even got Grammy considerations.
Standout songs: Outshined, Rusty Cage, Jesus Christ Pose
Temple Of The Dog is one of the unique projects in the whole of grunge. It was conceived as a tribute to Mother Love Bone’s late frontman Andrew Wood and consisted out of members of Mother Love Bone, Soundgarden and Pearl Jam. The band released only one album in 1991, but that was enough to make them one of the grunge legends. The record wasn’t as commercially successful but ended up receiving praise from the critics and achieved cult status over the years.
Standout songs: Hunger Strike, Call me a Dog, Pushin Forward Back
Pearl Jam is one of the most recognizable rock bands in the world, which isn’t so surprising considering they had a monster debut record. Ten wasn’t an immediate success, as it saw slow sales following the release while critics were not crazy about it. Following the success of other grunge bands, however, the album gained traction, and it managed to crack the Top 10 on Billboard 200 a year after its initial release. The music fans and critics found a new appreciation for the record afterward and it is now considered one of the greatest albums ever.
Standout songs: Even Flow, Black, Jeremy
Alice in Chains already found some success with their debut Facelift, but Dirt was the album that really established them as one of the grunge greats. The record featured a heavier sound than most of the other grunge album at the time but still dealt with dark and gritty themes like depression, pain, and anger. Dirt is now considered as a classic that influenced numerous acts afterward.
Standout songs: Would?, Angry Chair, Rooster
When talking about the best albums in grunge, people often intentionally fail to make Nevermind their top choice. This is mostly because it’s not cool enough to make the commercially most successful album also the best one. But we won’t make that mistake.
Nevermind is undoubtedly the greatest thing that grunge has given us. It was an album that summed up the voice of an entire generation and introduced a different way to make music. It has made grunge mainstream, which in return gave a chance to awesome bands that would never get a record deal otherwise.
Even if we disregard the impact that Nevermind had on not only grunge but music in general, we are still left with an album that is engaging and exciting to listen from start to the end. It was like that back in 1991, and things haven’t changed a bit today.
Standout songs: All of them
The post The Essential Albums of Grunge appeared first on Hot Pop Today.
]]>The post Top 10 Best Rock Songs of 2018 appeared first on Hot Pop Today.
]]>That’s why we figured it would be great to take a look at the year behind us and recap the best tracks rock had to offer in the year behind us.
So, let’s dive into the top 10 best rocks songs of 2018 right away.
The post Top 10 Best Rock Songs of 2018 appeared first on Hot Pop Today.
]]>The post Concert Review: Alice in Chains, Portugal. The Man, and Interpol at INmusic appeared first on Hot Pop Today.
]]>After losing such a unique and recognizable vocal in Layne Staley, the band decided to continue making music, and it turned out to be the right decision. This is why their show at INmusic didn’t seem like some knockoff or gig by “once-was-band,” but really fantastic experience.
Alice in Chains took the stage as the festival’s first headliner on the Main Stage, and just blew away everyone in presence. William DuVall owned the stage with his moves and well-rehearsed few lines in Croatian while Jerry Cantrell was impeccable with every riff he played. The band stormed through their greatest hits, giving the older fans exactly what they wanted while also gaining new fans from among the younger members of the audience.
After Alice in Chains finished their set, it was time to listen to newest indie sensation Portugal. The Man. They put on a nice show, but everyone was there to hear one of the biggest hits of 2017, “Feel It Still.” The band saved the track for the very end of their set and delivered when it was time. But there wasn’t much time left to waste since Interpol was already taking the Main Stage.
It was a classy show by a classy band. We didn’t expect from Interpol to amaze us with energetic performances or give fans much room to go crazy. But they did provide a quality show that was filled with hits and some less known tracks from their old albums, which was, if you ask us, a great combination.
Besides the occasional “thank you,” the band didn’t engage with the audience that much, but had let their songs talk for them. All in all, it was a fitting end to a great festival, and surely encouraged the festival-goers to consider coming back next year as well.
The post Concert Review: Alice in Chains, Portugal. The Man, and Interpol at INmusic appeared first on Hot Pop Today.
]]>The post Best New Songs of the Week appeared first on Hot Pop Today.
]]>We discovered some intriguing tunes like the new singles from OneRepublic and Alice in Chains while enjoying A$AP Ferg’s duo of songs he dropped this week out of nowhere. Besides them, we liked the new tracks from the likes of Years & Years, Meek Mill, and The Knocks.
Since you are probably eager to hear them all out, let’s skip right to our list of best new songs of the week.
The post Best New Songs of the Week appeared first on Hot Pop Today.
]]>The post Song Review: “The One You Know” a Triumphant Return for Alice in Chains appeared first on Hot Pop Today.
]]>Now, fans of Alice in Chains are probably wondering if the new album is worth waiting five years for. Well, if we are to judge by “The One You Know,” it might be.
As soon as the song starts, you’ll recognize that this is something done in the workshop of guitarist and vocalist Jerry Cantrell. The heavy, grungy and dirty guitar intro mashes perfectly with the pulsating drum beat into a dizzy sound that hooks you immediately.
Cantrell starts of the first verse with a growly: I’m a little alike, before William DuVall steps in to give it a kick and prepare you for a satisfying chorus where harmonized vocals sing: Tell me, does it matter/ If I’m still here, or I’m gone?/ Shifting to the after/ An impostor, I’m not the one you know. One could argue that the chorus is what makes the song so good.
One thing that might surprise you on “The One You Know” is the psychedelic whammy solo, but it blends into the song perfectly that you won’t even realize it’s so out of character for Alice in Chains.
After a few listens, you get the feeling that this is better than anything from The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here. “The One You Know” sounds like going back to the roots, mixing grunge and heavy metal elements into a sound that made Alice in Chains so special.
“The One You Know” won’t blow your mind and isn’t on par with some of the band’s best works. There will be moments where you’ll get confused about the “mood” of the song and unconvincing transitions. The lyrics also don’t feel that they compose a whole and look like they are just scattered through the song once you start analyzing them.
With all that being said, “The One You Know” is still a triumphant return of Alice in Chains and a great tune that shows the band is on the right track to deliver us an awesome album.
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
The post Song Review: “The One You Know” a Triumphant Return for Alice in Chains appeared first on Hot Pop Today.
]]>The post Best New Songs of the Week appeared first on Hot Pop Today.
]]>Our list of best new songs of the week also includes Florence + The Machine, LSD (Labrinth, Sia, and Diplo), Jimmy Eat World, and more amazing artists just waiting to impress you with their new tracks. So, let’s get this party started.
The post Best New Songs of the Week appeared first on Hot Pop Today.
]]>The post The Essential Albums of Grunge appeared first on Hot Pop Today.
]]>Unfortunately, it’s been a while since grunge music ruled the charts or event got significant attention, but that doesn’t mean people have forgotten about it. The likes of Pearl Jam and Alice in Chains are still keeping this genre relevant with critically acclaimed albums, while new generations are beginning to appreciate classical grunge records.
This is why we decided to present our picks for the top five essential grunge albums and remind you of their greatness, or introduce it to you if some of them did not previously catch your attention. The ranking was made by taking in consideration the albums commercial success, critical receptions, the way they stood the test of time and of course, our subjective opinion about them. So let’s get it started.
People often forget that Soundgarden was already seven years old and had two albums under their belt before the grunge craze started. With Badmotorfinger, however, the Chris Cornell-fronted group made their first breakthrough. Thanks to the band’s focus on songwriting, heavy sound, and the emergence of grunge, Badmotorfinger quickly became a huge hit and managed to sell a million copies in a year. It was also praised by the critics and even got Grammy considerations.
Standout songs: Outshined, Rusty Cage, Jesus Christ Pose
Temple Of The Dog is one of the unique projects in the whole of grunge. It was conceived as a tribute to Mother Love Bone’s late frontman Andrew Wood and consisted out of members of Mother Love Bone, Soundgarden and Pearl Jam. The band released only one album in 1991, but that was enough to make them one of the grunge legends. The record wasn’t as commercially successful but ended up receiving praise from the critics and achieved cult status over the years.
Standout songs: Hunger Strike, Call me a Dog, Pushin Forward Back
Pearl Jam is one of the most recognizable rock bands in the world, which isn’t so surprising considering they had a monster debut record. Ten wasn’t an immediate success, as it saw slow sales following the release while critics were not crazy about it. Following the success of other grunge bands, however, the album gained traction, and it managed to crack the Top 10 on Billboard 200 a year after its initial release. The music fans and critics found a new appreciation for the record afterward and it is now considered one of the greatest albums ever.
Standout songs: Even Flow, Black, Jeremy
Alice in Chains already found some success with their debut Facelift, but Dirt was the album that really established them as one of the grunge greats. The record featured a heavier sound than most of the other grunge album at the time but still dealt with dark and gritty themes like depression, pain, and anger. Dirt is now considered as a classic that influenced numerous acts afterward.
Standout songs: Would?, Angry Chair, Rooster
When talking about the best albums in grunge, people often intentionally fail to make Nevermind their top choice. This is mostly because it’s not cool enough to make the commercially most successful album also the best one. But we won’t make that mistake.
Nevermind is undoubtedly the greatest thing that grunge has given us. It was an album that summed up the voice of an entire generation and introduced a different way to make music. It has made grunge mainstream, which in return gave a chance to awesome bands that would never get a record deal otherwise.
Even if we disregard the impact that Nevermind had on not only grunge but music in general, we are still left with an album that is engaging and exciting to listen from start to the end. It was like that back in 1991, and things haven’t changed a bit today.
Standout songs: All of them
The post The Essential Albums of Grunge appeared first on Hot Pop Today.
]]>The post Top 10 Best Rock Songs of 2018 appeared first on Hot Pop Today.
]]>That’s why we figured it would be great to take a look at the year behind us and recap the best tracks rock had to offer in the year behind us.
So, let’s dive into the top 10 best rocks songs of 2018 right away.
The post Top 10 Best Rock Songs of 2018 appeared first on Hot Pop Today.
]]>The post Concert Review: Alice in Chains, Portugal. The Man, and Interpol at INmusic appeared first on Hot Pop Today.
]]>After losing such a unique and recognizable vocal in Layne Staley, the band decided to continue making music, and it turned out to be the right decision. This is why their show at INmusic didn’t seem like some knockoff or gig by “once-was-band,” but really fantastic experience.
Alice in Chains took the stage as the festival’s first headliner on the Main Stage, and just blew away everyone in presence. William DuVall owned the stage with his moves and well-rehearsed few lines in Croatian while Jerry Cantrell was impeccable with every riff he played. The band stormed through their greatest hits, giving the older fans exactly what they wanted while also gaining new fans from among the younger members of the audience.
After Alice in Chains finished their set, it was time to listen to newest indie sensation Portugal. The Man. They put on a nice show, but everyone was there to hear one of the biggest hits of 2017, “Feel It Still.” The band saved the track for the very end of their set and delivered when it was time. But there wasn’t much time left to waste since Interpol was already taking the Main Stage.
It was a classy show by a classy band. We didn’t expect from Interpol to amaze us with energetic performances or give fans much room to go crazy. But they did provide a quality show that was filled with hits and some less known tracks from their old albums, which was, if you ask us, a great combination.
Besides the occasional “thank you,” the band didn’t engage with the audience that much, but had let their songs talk for them. All in all, it was a fitting end to a great festival, and surely encouraged the festival-goers to consider coming back next year as well.
The post Concert Review: Alice in Chains, Portugal. The Man, and Interpol at INmusic appeared first on Hot Pop Today.
]]>The post Best New Songs of the Week appeared first on Hot Pop Today.
]]>We discovered some intriguing tunes like the new singles from OneRepublic and Alice in Chains while enjoying A$AP Ferg’s duo of songs he dropped this week out of nowhere. Besides them, we liked the new tracks from the likes of Years & Years, Meek Mill, and The Knocks.
Since you are probably eager to hear them all out, let’s skip right to our list of best new songs of the week.
The post Best New Songs of the Week appeared first on Hot Pop Today.
]]>The post Song Review: “The One You Know” a Triumphant Return for Alice in Chains appeared first on Hot Pop Today.
]]>Now, fans of Alice in Chains are probably wondering if the new album is worth waiting five years for. Well, if we are to judge by “The One You Know,” it might be.
As soon as the song starts, you’ll recognize that this is something done in the workshop of guitarist and vocalist Jerry Cantrell. The heavy, grungy and dirty guitar intro mashes perfectly with the pulsating drum beat into a dizzy sound that hooks you immediately.
Cantrell starts of the first verse with a growly: I’m a little alike, before William DuVall steps in to give it a kick and prepare you for a satisfying chorus where harmonized vocals sing: Tell me, does it matter/ If I’m still here, or I’m gone?/ Shifting to the after/ An impostor, I’m not the one you know. One could argue that the chorus is what makes the song so good.
One thing that might surprise you on “The One You Know” is the psychedelic whammy solo, but it blends into the song perfectly that you won’t even realize it’s so out of character for Alice in Chains.
After a few listens, you get the feeling that this is better than anything from The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here. “The One You Know” sounds like going back to the roots, mixing grunge and heavy metal elements into a sound that made Alice in Chains so special.
“The One You Know” won’t blow your mind and isn’t on par with some of the band’s best works. There will be moments where you’ll get confused about the “mood” of the song and unconvincing transitions. The lyrics also don’t feel that they compose a whole and look like they are just scattered through the song once you start analyzing them.
With all that being said, “The One You Know” is still a triumphant return of Alice in Chains and a great tune that shows the band is on the right track to deliver us an awesome album.
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
The post Song Review: “The One You Know” a Triumphant Return for Alice in Chains appeared first on Hot Pop Today.
]]>The post Best New Songs of the Week appeared first on Hot Pop Today.
]]>Our list of best new songs of the week also includes Florence + The Machine, LSD (Labrinth, Sia, and Diplo), Jimmy Eat World, and more amazing artists just waiting to impress you with their new tracks. So, let’s get this party started.
The post Best New Songs of the Week appeared first on Hot Pop Today.
]]>