Autumn lends itself to the moody, poetic introspection of grunge music. Both the season and the genre are beautiful and magical – but with an undeniably bone-chilling dark side. ‘Tis the season for the musical stylings of timeless alternative rock bands such as Nirvana, The Cranberries, and Pearl Jam. This list features five unforgettable songs that embody the feeling of fall – both the good and the bad – and ease listeners into the growing darkness during this ephemeral time of the year.
5
“Interstate Love Song” By Stone Temple Pilots
Picture this: windows down, empty highway, golden hour. The leaves are a vibrant technicolor and the air smells like someone’s having a bonfire. Your buddy is in the passenger seat and the two of you are jamming along to “Interstate Love Song” by Stone Temple Pilots. Life is good.
A country-leaning grunge track with a classic rock structure, this track is the perfect autumn traveling tune. The bluesy walking bass line mimics the momentum of a joy ride, and “interstate” is right there in the title. The lyrics are raw and honest, written by STP frontman Scott Weiland amidst a battle with addiction and resulting difficulties in his relationship. The song explores themes of betrayal, shame, and instability through the cathartic power of grunge rock. “Interstate Love Song” spent fifteen weeks at number one on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks upon its release in 1994, breaking the standing record at the time. This timeless track has sustained its popularity through the decades.
4
“Seether” by Veruca Salt”
“Seether” is the lead single from Veruca Salt’s 1994 debut album, American Thighs. The track is more pop-leaning and radio-friendly than much of the other work produced by the Chicago-based alternative rock group. That’s not to say it doesn’t rock out – featuring fuzzy, crunchy riffs and angsty feminine rage, this song is anything but gentle. The distorted guitar and prominent drums are set off by the effortlessly cool and crisp vocals of Louise Post and Nina Gordon, creating the perfect balance between dark emotional turmoil and playfulness. The track was described by Pitchfork as “bubblegrunge,” which sums up the unique temperament of the song.
The lyrics personify rage, distancing the emotion from the person who is experiencing it. They describes anger as a sort of monster, an entity that needs to be controlled and repressed. You can almost picture the “Seether” – a warped and disturbed version of oneself, a writhing amalgamation of all the perceived negative aspects of a person. The monstrous descriptions and bright vocals make this song a perfect choice for spooky fall afternoons and evenings.
3
“Something in the Way” by Nirvana
Every list of grunge music should include at least one song from the inimitable Nirvana. No one before, during, or since their tragically short-lived time as a band has done it quite like them. While much of their discography is perfect for the fall, “Something In The Way” takes the cake for the most autumnal. The song was written by Kurt Cobain for their 1991 album Nevermind, where it is listed as the final track. Cobain originally recorded the song solo – just his voice and his twelve-string acoustic guitar. Later on, other recordings were layered on top: Cobain singing harmony with himself, Krist Novoselic on bass, Dave Grohl quietly playing drums, and the last-minute addition of Kirk Canning’s cello. Allegedly, the band met Canning at a party the night before the final recording session for the album and hired him on the spot.
“Something In The Way” is slow and stripped-down, creating a hauntingly somber atmosphere. Cobain’s murmuring vocals feel intentionally desperate and detached. Like many of Nirvana’s songs, the lyrics reflect upon the isolation and depression that Kurt Cobain faced throughout his life. The song is steeped in darkness. Canning’s beautiful cello playing adds a ghostly, foreboding element to the track – the proverbial cherry on top. This melancholy song will give you chills – in more ways than one.
2
“Dreams” by The Cranberries
Time for a bit of levity with The Cranberries’ iridescent debut single, “Dreams.” It is one of the band’s most popular and recognizable songs, and with good reason. The lyrics were written by their unbelievably talented frontwoman Dolores O’Riordan. They describe the feeling of falling in love for the first time, the innocence and naïveté of youth. This sense of unadulterated wonder is expressed beautifully throughout the song, buoyed by O’Riordan’s supernaturally beautiful, crystal-clear vocals.
The romantic and relatable lyrics are balanced with twangy guitar and crashing symbols, punctuated by a gorgeous wailing segment in the middle of the track. “Dreams” is essentially perfect – delicate, ethereal, and dazzling. It is truly a breath of fresh air. It sounds like sun-dappled leaves and new beginnings, like a sparkling autumn day in a time before the world caved in around us.
1
“Black” by Pearl Jam
“Black” is one of the most beautiful songs ever written. Period. The heart-wrenching track was released on Pearl Jam’s debut album, Ten, in 1991. Epic Records wanted them to release it as a single, but the band pushed back, insisting it was too personal for early release. “Black” began life as an instrumental demo written by guitarist Stone Gossard, part of a collection of unfinished songs that was circulated in order to find a lead singer for the band. Eddie Vedder came across the demos while working at a gas station in San Diego, and sent back his own batch of recordings. The rest is history.
This song is truly the beating heart of Ten – the emotional nucleus of an altogether remarkable record. The lyrics are poetic and heartbreaking, brought to life by Vedder’s gravelly, agonizing vocals. This track perfectly encapsulates heartbreak. Unrequited love, pining after someone who no longer wants to be with you. Trying to let go when it feels impossible. With autumn, comes longer nights – and listening to “Black” necessitates the cover of darkness. Fittingly, we’ll end with the best closing lines of any grunge song in the history of the world: “I know someday you’ll have a beautiful life, I know you’ll be a star / In somebody else’s sky, but why, why, why / Can’t it be, can’t it be mine.”
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