In the early 1990s, alternative rock became a dominant force in music. But by 1996, its bubble had burst. Many bands responsible for alternative rock\u2019s rise were selling fewer albums and seemed to struggle creatively. The genre was essentially rendered meaningless as record labels marketed post-grunge and pop bands under the same umbrella, trying to squeeze the remaining juice from a once fruitful scene.<\/p>\n
Still, there was much to be excited about in 1996. Radiohead was approaching its first masterpiece, OK Computer. The Verve was in the studio recording Urban Hymns, and Foo Fighters were en route to selling out stadiums. Meanwhile, Rage Against The Machine released Evil Empire, and Wilco\u2019s Being There reimagined alt-country, proving all hope was not lost.<\/p>\n
So the bubble may have burst, but the tracks below still sound as great today as they did in 1996.<\/p>\n
\u201cSetting Sun\u201d by The Chemical Brothers and Noel Gallagher<\/p>\n
In 1996, The Chemical Brothers collaborated with Noel Gallagher on \u201cSetting Sun\u201d, the first single from the electronic duo\u2019s second album, Dig Your Own Hole. It also foreshadowed where Gallagher would take Oasis after Be Here Now and the end of Britpop. When Gallagher first received the instrumental, he said<\/a> the track was six minutes of noise. Nevertheless, he managed to write a song around it, and eventually \u201cSetting Sun\u201d topped the U.K. charts\u2014a late-stage Britpop anthem over a block-rockin\u2019 beat.<\/p>\n \u201cDevils Haircut\u201d by Beck<\/p>\n Beck mastered his patchwork experimentalism on \u201cDevils Haircut\u201d. Wobbly hip-hop, slacker rock, and pop that expanded on the genre-blending blueprint of Beastie Boys and Rick Rubin. His superpower lay in his ability to jump between musical styles, or merge several into a single song while still sounding distinctly like Beck. Odelay remains his biggest-selling album, and it stood out in a year when major labels flooded the market with milk-toast alternative rock acts.<\/p>\n \u201c1979\u201d by The Smashing Pumpkins<\/p>\n