Adults Only

I came rather late to the adult alternative rock party (is it finally over?) since I spent most of the ‘90s immersed in indie, punk, and ‘60s and ’70s music and then spent the better part of the next decade trying to catch up with all those songs I had missed on the radio during adult alternative's worldwide reign. To me, the very best of adult alternative sheds much needed light on all those battered heroes and heroines doing their best to navigate a newer, rougher world where the old formulas don’t work but they will go down swinging, taking pleasure in the small victories, and praying their eternal souls eventually come to rest in that perfect place. Here are some of my favorite adult alternative songs. Hopefully, I’ll keep discovering more. Enjoy!

The Cranberries

01. Sheryl Crow – “If It Makes You Happy” (1996)

02. The Wallflowers – “One Headlight” (1996)

03. The Cranberries – “Linger” (1993)

04. Semisonic – “Singing in My Sleep” (1998)

05. Crash Test Dummies – “Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm” (1994)

06. Matt Nathanson – “Curve of the Earth” (Live) (2005)

07. Shawn Smith – “Wrapped in Your Memory” (2003)

08. Semisonic – “Closing Time” (1998)

09. When in Rome – “The Promise” (1988)

10. Matt Nathanson – “Curve of the Earth” (2003)

11. Sting – “I’m So Happy I Can’t Stop Crying” (1996)

12. The Cranberries – “Ode to my Family” (1994)

13. U2 – “Window in the Skies” (2006)

14. Goo Goo Dolls – “Iris” (1998)

15. Butch Walker – “Stay Gold” (2016)

16. Howie Day – “Collide” (2003)

17. Daniel Powter – “Bad Day” (2005)

18. Sting – “Fields of Gold” (1993)

Semisonic

Listen to songs from the playlist on Spotify...  

Recommended Links:

U2 - Window in the Skies