25 overlooked ‘90s alternative bands that deserved to be bigger

Failure was a criminally underrated alternative rock band from the 90s. Though critics seemed to love them, they unfortunately didn’t achieve mainstream success. Still, many believe they were a highly influential band for the rock scene.

The Afghan Whigs are an alt-rock band from Cincinnati, Ohio, that deserved far more credit than they received. The soul-infused group brought a unique sound during the grunge era. In fact, they’re still going strong to this day. 

Hum has that quintessential atmospheric sound that sets them apart from other bands in the 90s. However, they never seemed to gain enough traction or popularity. Many consider them to be a wildly underrated space rock/shoegaze band.

If you’re looking for a quirky, charming group on this list, Belly is the pick for you. The female-fronted alternative rock group formed in Rhode Island in the early 90s and recently released a new, iconic album. While they were popular in their own right, the grunge scene was so saturated that the band was overshadowed by other giants.

Founded in Chicago in 1992, Veruca Salt is an iconic American alternative rock band. You might recognize them from their widely popular single “Seether.” However, the group never quite reached mainstream success and is considered highly overlooked.

Morphine might have had a cult following, but they were otherwise underrated during their time. This dark, low-rock group incorporated jazz elements with the more traditional alternative rock sound. 

Another 90s alternative band that deserved better was Dinosaur Jr. This hidden gem of an indie‑grunge group reached peak fame in the mid-90s, but they were overshadowed by others in the genre. Still, many critics consider them a highly influential band.

While the band emerged in the 80s, Guided by Voices rose to fame in the 90s. The alt-rock group was iconic in the lo-fi indie space, but they unfortunately fell short of mainstream success.

Blind Melon is known for their massive hit "No Rain," but many overlook the rest of their incredible catalog. This LA-based alt-rock band deserved to be far more than a one-hit wonder.

Sponge emerged as an alt-rock band during the peak grunge era in the 90s. However, they never seemed to make it as far as others in the scene. Still, that never seemed to stop them, as they’re still active to this day.

Eve 6 is a criminally underrated alternative rock band. Formed in 1995, the group is best known for their hit single “Inside Out,” though “Here's to the Night” was a popular second. The band is still active today, beloved for its pop-punk sound—though it never quite reached mainstream success.

Local H is one of the most underrated bands from the 90s. Known for their high-energy sound, the two-piece post-grunge group received a decent amount of attention from their hit song “Bound For The Floor.” However, the rest of their discography does not get the credit it deserves. 

Though the alternative rock band formed in the early 80s, they were still considered a quintessential, highly influential 90s group. Still, even being critically acclaimed, they were underappreciated by the general public. 

Bikini Kill was a short-lived punk rock group, but they fall under the alternative umbrella. While the female-led band was known for pioneering the ‘90s Riot Grrrl movement, they’re still criminally underrated. From their feminist lyrics to their high-energy performances, the band deserved far better. However, given that they actively went against conventional ideologies, the band likely views it as a positive sign that they strayed from the mainstream radar.

The Toadies are a classic alternative rock band with a cult following. Known and loved for their dark, melodic sound, blending indie, punk, and metal elements, the group was generally underrated. However, their platinum hit "Possum Kingdom” did achieve some mainstream success.

The Jesus Lizard is known for its incredible live performances, and the band still tours (and makes new music) to this day. Despite their unique sound and high energy, they fell short of achieving consistent mainstream success.

Strangelove did not get the credit it deserved in the 90s. The Bristol-based alternative rock/Brit-pop band was known for its dark, melancholic sound, but the group never made it very far. Still, many considered them to be severely underrated, especially their album Love And Other Demons.

You likely know Wheatus for their hit song “Teenage Dirtbag.” Unfortunately, the band is widely considered a one-hit wonder. The rest of their music is worth a listen, but it never impressed the masses quite as much as their 90s classic. 

The genre-blending Chainsaw Kittens were active during the prime 90s alternative rock scene, but they were never considered mainstream popular. In fact, many even label them “undiscovered.” With under 1,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, the band is criminally overlooked.

Urge Overkill is an alternative rock band that formed in the mid-80s and remained active throughout the 90s. They received decent recognition during that time, especially for the release of their album Saturation and the 1994 Pulp Fiction soundtrack cover of "Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon.” However, they don’t often get the credit they deserve today, with few recalling them as the iconic 90s band they once were.

Okay, so perhaps they weren’t considered a 90s alt-rock band, but Jellyfish was present during that era. This power-pop/classic rock band was known for its 60s-infused sound, appealing to fans of The Beatles and Queen. However, they were severely underrated and relatively short-lived, active between 1989 and 1994.

Sunny Day Real Estate emerged in the early 1990s and had the quintessential post-hardcore sound many loved at the time. However, the Seattle-bred alternative rock band did not receive nearly as much recognition as they deserved. The early emo band goes down as one of the most overlooked in the genre, and they’re still active today.

Many fans consider Screaming Trees to be one of the most underappreciated bands of the ‘90s grunge era. Despite achieving critical acclaim, the group never reached broad fame, likely due to the oversaturated scene. Still, this alternative/psychedelic band was extremely unique and talented. 

The Gits were an incredible underground punk rock/alternative band from the 90s. Though critically acclaimed, the female-fronted group unfortunately never made it super far in popularity. Still, they were well-known in the 1990s Seattle music scene, and many had faith that they’d make it far. They definitely deserved better.

The all-female rock band Sleater-Kinney is highly underrated. Rooted in the riot grrrl movement (like Bikini Kill), the band formed in 1994, at the peak of the 90s alt. Though they were popular in the Pacific Northwest indie-rock scene, they never gained major mainstream success.