Would the founding members of grunge music rail against being considered a popularized aesthetic core? Undoubtedly, and for that we apologize, but no one can deny that when grunge music emerged in the 80s and then exploded in the 90s, those shock waves were felt far and wide across the social and cultural spectrum. Out of the distant and soggy PNW came a revolution in sound and flannel…and here’s how we three who lived through it remember those gritty, grungy days.
Chelsea: The rise of foundational group Mother Love Bone sadly ceased with the death of its charismatic lead singer Andrew Wood, but the musical legacy of the band lived on in the tribute band Temple of the Dog, conceived of by Wood’s friend and late Soundgarden front man Chris Cornell. On Earth as It Is is a complete listen of everything Mother Love Bone achieved as a bridge between the worlds of 80s glam rock and grunge, while Temple of the Dog was a collaboration of established and soon-to-be-legendary members of the Seattle grunge scene.
For a grunge read try In Case We Die, an emotional and gritty novel of two young people caught in the 90’s Seattle grunge scene, by musician Danny Bland, who lived it. Or try Alice in Chains: The Untold Story to learn about the rise, fall, and rise again of this legendary Seattle band.
The 1996 documentary Hype! shows us the evolution of grunge from musical aberration to revolution as it was happening, filled with interviews and live performances. And while Clerks may not seem to fit the bill, this low budget indie comedy captures grunge essence with its low-middle class outsider protagonists and anti-establishment and counterculture themes.
Meranda: Grunge to me is primarily music, so let me start my suggestions with Soundgarden. The drummer, Matt Cameron, has an even earlier claim to grunge in the form of the band Bam Bam, where he got to play with the Godmother of Grunge, Tina Bell. Next, because I like variety, take a listen to No Seattle, a good selection to hear some lesser-known bands.
As for movies, be prepared for the grunge aesthetic and tons of gore with Natural Born Killers, a crime thriller that paints husband and wife serial killers as media celebrities ala Bonnie and Clyde. My Own Private Idaho is a very loose retelling of Henry IV and V; a coming-of-age story that will bring you heartbreak.
Finally, a couple of novels with that grunge vibe. Dopefiend by Donald Goines is a gritty, despair filled story following a cast of characters in a drug filled world. For a more uplifting story, try The People We Keep by Allie Larkin, another coming-of-age story following April Sawicki, who runs away from her difficult family to find a meaningful existence. Wonderful writing that makes you appreciate the journey.
V.: It’s impossible for me to think about grungecore, another aesthetic trend – kids are calling it “vintage” – without hearing Kurt Cobain’s nasally voice over crunchy guitars and think about what being a teenager in the 90s was like. Nirvana is often cited as the grunge band, along with Pearl Jam, Mudhoney, and Hole. But in my head, Cobain’s whine easily turns into Gwen Stefani’s heartfelt lament “Don’t Speak” from the iconic album Tragic Kingdom, shifting the classic image of grunge from dudes in ripped jeans and flannel shirts to fierce women pouring out all the heartbreak and rage of what it meant to be femme in the 90s. Riot Grrrl, Bikini Kill, and Sleater-Kinney provided much needed heroes in the male-dominated rock scene, with Riot Grrrl’s zines offering yet another way to be seen, be heard. (You can also see the original self-published Riot Grrrl zines in the ZAPP collection at the Central Library!)
Amongst all the angst showcased in the music of the 90s, Chuck Palahniuk’s Fight Club spoke to the crisis felt by a generation trying to figure out what and who they were supposed to be as the century ended and the age of technology began in earnest. But there is no film, book, or album that captures the 90s more perfectly for me than Empire Records (our copy has a bonus in that it’s bundled with Singles, a classic 90s movie set in Seattle!).
Whether experiencing it for the first time or revisiting old favorites, time to don the flannel, turn up the volume, and enjoy exploring a cornerstone of Seattle’s identity!
~posted by Chelsea, Meranda, & V.
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