10 Greatest Guitar Riffs Of The 90s

Although Smells Like Teen Spirit may have been the first shot of alternative that most of us got to hear, it was far from the last shot at glory. In the wake of Nirvana's explosion, the sounds of Seattle ended up infiltrating every radio station known to man, making alternative and grunge music a household name. Which is strange when you consider that one of the most celebrated riffs is probably the furthest thing away from grunge.

I'm serious. Listen to the opening notes of Alive, and most people probably wouldn't call it an alternative track right off the bat. Since Stone Gossard has said on numerous occasions that Pearl Jam's music is a tribute to the '70s, this feels like a forgotten Jimmy Page riff brought back to life a few decades later. Even when Eddie Vedder's brooding baritone comes in, Stone is still riding that fantastic melody line, even playing with the groove here and there to give the track some more movement.

And while the solos on here don't really count, you do have to give due respect to Mike McCready on this track as well, with one of the most celebrated solos in the alt rock canon being recorded in just two takes. Considering how lively the track is from one minute to the next, never has a rock song been more aptly titled.