12 Best Hard Rock Deep Cuts

The rock songs that permeate the airwaves to this day are called "hits" for a reason. In just a few minutes, these songs are able to knock you back in an indefinable manner as they take you on a sonic ride through twisted tales of hard rock. So, what about the other tracks that get left by the wayside?

Even though hits comprise an artist's best work, there are always some that fall through the cracks for one reason or another. Whether it be on a B-side or relegated to an album filler track, these songs never get brought up for the true masterworks that they are. The best of these instances are when bands go out of their comfort zone to try some new creative avenue. By taking great artistic strides, these artists have pushed themselves in new directions and created some of the best tunes of their career.

So next time you're listening to your favorite album, take a look at some of the lesser-known tracks you skip past on every listen. Chances are that you'll find your new favorite song lurking just underneath the surface.

Pearl Jam's Ten is a true classic of the 90's, with a sound that embodied the grunge aesthetic while also calling back to the classic rock of old. Tracks like "Jeremy" and "Alive" are prime examples of why the echoes of the band can still be felt to this day. Outside of those fantastic tracks, "Why Go" stands as one of the most raucous moments from their impressive debut.

Starting with an off-kilter bass groove, the song bounces along with Stone Gossard's funk-inspired riffs which sound like something that could come off a Red Hot Chili Peppers record. The lyrics of the tune are incredibly gripping as Eddie Vedder talks about a girl who rebels against her parents only to be misdiagnosed as insane and put in a mental facility. The rasp in Eddie's voice combined with the incredible groove makes for the closest thing to a punk song that Ten has to offer.

Towards the end, the song is put over-the-top by Mike McCready's insanely fast blues licks which would leave any other alt-rock guitarist in disbelief. With the album set to turn 30 years old next year, fans should go back and rediscover the power of "Why Go."