00:07Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're looking at 10 modern bands who are bringing back some
00:11of the uniquely wonderful styles and sounds of the 1990s.
00:21Mama.
00:27The obvious comparison to make when talking about California indie rockers Mama is to artists
00:32like Liz Phair and Veruca Salt, there's even a touch of pavement and smashing pumpkins
00:37to be found in there, among other influences.
00:46It's easy to hear, though, that the 1990s alternative rock style is very clearly alive
00:51and well in their sound.
00:52That's not to say that Mama are a throwback act.
01:00Their riffery and natural knack for melody make them more of a torchbearer for the genre's
01:04evolution than anything else.
01:05They combine a modern production style with a type of grit and aesthetic that can't help
01:10but make you feel nostalgic.
01:11Keep in your car, keep in your car.
01:17Snail Mail.
01:19I'm so tired of moving on.
01:25Elements of emo and slowcore are clearly present in the works of Marilyn Singer Snail Mail and
01:30her band.
01:30Although it was 2000s punk that first opened the door for her into music, that love eventually
01:35led her to 90s powerhouses like Elliot Smith, Fiona Apple, and My Bloody Valentine.
01:47The influence they had on Snail Mail is clear, but there is also something quite fresh about
01:51what the band bring to the table.
01:53So why'd you want to grace me?
01:58The raw and confessional songwriting is all there, but each release displayed a move away
02:02from lo-fi sounds, to something far more distinct and original.
02:11Narrowhead.
02:17Everything about the band Narrowhead can give an insight into the type of music they grew
02:20up on.
02:21Sure, they pay tribute to 90s grunge and shoegaze, but the revival stands on its own two feet,
02:26thanks to the band's immense charisma and memorability.
02:35Their strength lies in their thick, uncompromising sound, with vocal delivery that sits quite
02:40low in the mix, mimicking the dense production stylings of late 90s alternative rock.
02:50Even their videos capture a certain point in time perfectly, making them quite popular
02:55among those who are searching for a nostalgic kick.
03:02Wednesday.
03:09The blend of country and shoegaze music is enough to get many people interested, based on the
03:14description alone.
03:15Yet, that is far from the only interesting thing about the North Carolina band Wednesday.
03:25Influenced by everything from alt-rock, to country storytellers, you can hear their alternative
03:30country roots at the core of their material.
03:38It's undeniably a perfectly suitable end product for modern listeners, but the band succeeds in
03:43being something of a melting pot for different sounds.
03:45They cite the likes of Lucinda Williams, and drive-by truckers as important raw materials
03:49for their eventual style.
03:51All in all, it's a pretty eclectic mix.
04:00Bully.
04:07The spirit of grunge, and specifically Kurt Cobain and Nirvana, is truly alive and well, in
04:12the hands of Alicia Bagnano and Bully.
04:19Although it originally started as a band, the name is now mainly used as a moniker for
04:23Bagnano, with touring musicians filling in.
04:31You can hear the spirit of Cobain whenever these songs kick into gear.
04:35Bagnano doesn't just have a great voice for the genre, though.
04:37The songwriting on display is sharp, punchy, and incredibly concise, leaving them with a
04:42series of releases that are getting stronger and stronger.
04:45Definitely a group worth keeping an eye on if you're a fan of 90s alt-rock.
04:48Something's gotta change, I'm not.
04:55Biba Doobie.
04:56I've never known someone like you.
05:02Bea Christie, otherwise known as Biba Doobie, has been picking up some real commercial and
05:07critical steam ever since she and her band debuted in 2018.
05:10Finding the right words to use for this song.
05:15You can hear the bedroom pop influences in their output up to this point, and Christie
05:20has acknowledged the likes of Elliott Smith, The Sundays, and Mazzy Star as real reference
05:25points for her songwriting.
05:26I feel the right that's in my head.
05:30Her strength is melodicism that feels emotionally open, resembling Smith's raw intimacy or Pavement's
05:36loose indie rock phrasing.
05:38It's catchy and undeniably vibey, making Biba Doobie's success anything but an accident.
05:43Chances are, with Biba Doobie, that the very best is yet to come.
05:53Wet Leg.
06:00There's some real attitude and wit on display whenever Wet Leg puts out a new release.
06:04The spirit of British bands like Pulp and Elastica is very much on display, but there
06:09is also a clear through line to the likes of the breeders from the US.
06:12On the shades low, on the shades low, on the shades low, all day low.
06:17Carrying on from the 90s output of PJ Harvey, you can hear how Rhiann Teasdale is keeping
06:22that fire alive.
06:23While it pays homage to older eras, Wet Leg's humor is very much of its time, something
06:28that has contributed directly to their success.
06:38Now two albums into their promising career, based on the momentum they've already picked
06:41up, it seems as though the sky is the limit for this band.
06:48Wonder Horse.
06:56There is a lot to be said for a band that can do the simple stuff well.
06:59That's not to try and downplay the skill on display from Wonder Horse, but there's a garage
07:03rock adjacent directness that they never fail to achieve.
07:11The band pays tribute to the likes of Nirvana, Pre-Kid A Radiohead, and Pearl Jam to some
07:16degree, but is all dressed up with an undeniably modern sound.
07:26Guitars are brought to the fore, resulting in an end product that could have been released
07:30in 1994, but remains perfectly suited for the 2020s.
07:33A real breath of fresh air in the British rock scene.
07:35Don't you cry?
07:37I know you're standing deep inside.
07:42Fontaine's DC.
07:50Irish post-punk band Fontaine's DC are arguably one of the frontrunners in the genre these
07:55days, taking the foundation that was laid by The Fall and Joy Division somewhere new.
08:00Put the boys in the better land.
08:02You're always talking about the boys in the better land.
08:06Frontman Grian Chatton leaves the charge with a vocal style that, while being indebted to
08:10Marky Smith among others, is uniquely his own.
08:13I will hurt you.
08:15I'll desert you.
08:16I am Jackie down the line.
08:19The band prioritize mood, vibe, and repetition in a way that gives their bleak, urban storytelling
08:25some real momentum.
08:26There's a little shoegaze and indie rock thrown in, as well as the occasional nod to Irish
08:30literature, resulting in a band that is regularly cited as one of this generation's finest.
08:40Before we continue, be sure to check out WatchMojo's 24-hour livestream.
08:44All of your favorite videos in one place, 24-7.
08:48Always on, always live.
08:50Are you not entertained?
08:52Wolf Alice
09:00There is a lot to unpack when it comes to the music of Wolf Alice, as they are very
09:04clearly one of the most dynamic bands of their era.
09:13That versatility is very reminiscent of 90's alt legends, like Smashing Pumpkins, Pixies,
09:18and Hull, who treated genre shifts within albums as a feature rather than a risk.
09:23Courtney Love was a clear influence on singer Ellie Roussel, but there are elements of folk
09:27present in her songwriting too.
09:34Like any great artistic project, Wolf Alice's lineage can be traced in a wide range of directions.
09:40Though they got their start in the 2010s, this decade has arguably seen the band truly
09:43hit their stride.
09:53But what is your own personal favorite modern band?
09:56Let us know in the comments down below.
