Grunge was one of the last true goldmines of alternative rock, producing some of the most heartfelt and genuine acts to ever emerge in music. Bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden changed the course of rock and shifted it away from the excessive nature of the 80's, all while delivering critical and commercial musical landmarks along the way. As with with any genre, however, there is always an underground part of the scene that fails to break above ground, and the grunge movement was no exception. It's a shame, because some of these bands deserve more recognition - both when they were active and in the present day. Elements such as the prominence of female alternative acts or the unparalleled consistency that record label Sub-Pop had across their active years, the same can be said of the overlooked records of the period as well, some of which are criminally obscure. They not only showcase the best elements of the genre, but in some cases enhance the already established fundamentals of grunge with a touch of their own ingenuity. Never mind the marquee names, these ten lost treasures show the true depth of grunge's fantastic talent pool.
10. Paw - Dragline
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCKlTJxGAuI With the grunge movement having blown up outside the Seattle area by 1993, more bands outside of the territory took it upon themselves to don the tear stained garbs previously exclusive to the genre's birthplace. One such band was the heavy but melodic, canine-loving Paw. The four-piece released their debut album Dragline to relatively little fanfare, despite being touted as the "next Nirvana", yet the sales don't reflect the overall quality of this fine collection of songs. There's nothing fancy or truly original about Dragline but it still manages to keep up a good level of consistency throughout its fifty minute duration. Album highlights like the youthfully exuberant 'Couldn't Know' or the yearning intimacy of 'Jessie' display the band's ability to change moods on a whim, relying on their pop sensibility to navigate their way through a range of varying themes. Sometimes the band improve their overall sound as well, when applying a harder edge like on the loose cannon transitions of 'Pansy' or the menacing undercurrent of 'Lolita', giving them that extra trump card to play whenever they need to change gears. Dragline's real beauty is in its ability to transition from genuine tenderness into turbulent forcefulness, helping to give the record a finely poised balance between soft and hard dynamics - a true cornerstone of any good grunge band.
Music Journalism graduate and freelance writer from Northern Ireland, who enjoys scouring the music archives for the best sounds from the past and present. Writer for the awesome publications WhatCulture, Metal Injection, Scribol, The Gamer, and Prefix.
