Senior Year

My senior year in high school (1991-1992) turned out to be a pretty interesting year in music. Even though I wasn’t paying that much attention to radio or MTV at the time (I was mostly listening to punk, hardcore, and older stuff) I was still aware of the seismic shifts taking place within popular music. In the fall of 1991 the so-called underground music scene erupted to the surface when Pearl Jam, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Nirvana all released groundbreaking albums around the same time and all three bands became stars on MTV. Suddenly the road less traveled by was cool- and crowded- and “alternative” artists were now hot commodities to all the major labels.

Red Hot Chili Peppers

At the time, this overnight commercialization of non-conformity made me uneasy but looking back now I can see this is the way the game has always been played- with every art form. Everybody wants to be hip and play the rebel while they can; everybody wants to get paid; and everybody wants the good stuff. Sooner or later- no matter how underground it is- the good stuff always finds its way to the surface and the rock train keeps moving. Hard rock and metal bands had to sink or swim in the alternative tsunami of '91- most got swept away- but every revolution has its victors- and victims- and grunge didn't last long either. Here are some of my favorite songs from senior year. Enjoy!

Social Distortion

01. Guns N’ Roses – “Don’t Cry (Original)” (1991)

02. Red Hot Chili Peppers – “Breaking the Girl” (1991)
03. Red Hot Chili Peppers – “Under the Bridge” (1991)
04. Nirvana – “Smells Like Teen Spirit” (1991)
05. Guns N’ Roses – “Civil War” (1991)
06. Pearl Jam – “Alive” (1991)
07. Social Distortion – “King of Fools” (1992)
08. Social Distortion – “Making Believe” (1992)

Listen to the playlist on Spotify... 

Recommended Links:

Guns N’ Roses – “Don’t Cry”

Red Hot Chili Peppers – “Under the Bridge”