Despite coming from the Pacific Northwest music scene, there was something about Mother Love Bone<\/a>‘s sound that was lighter and more positive than many of their contemporaries. “This Is Shangrila,” the opening track on their sole album\u00a0Apple\u00a0<\/em>(1990), kicks the record off on a high note with an infectious groove and an upbeat rhythm.<\/p>\n With a little bit of glam and a lot of spirit, it’s easy to picture Andrew Wood frolicking around onstage and commanding the audience while listening to this track.<\/p>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n Much of Nirvana<\/a>‘s\u00a0Nevermind\u00a0<\/em>is upbeat and full of energy, but “On a Plain” particularly stands out\u00a0one of the “happier” songs because of its playful feel and self-aware\u00a0lyrics. It’s essentially a pop song dressed in\u00a0distorted guitars.<\/p>\n Sure, the repetition of the lines “I love myself \/ Better than you”\u00a0<\/em>is drenched in sarcasm, but that has to make it\u00a0somewhat\u00a0<\/em>positive… right?<\/p>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n Featured on their highly-successful 1994 EP\u00a0Jar of Flies,\u00a0<\/em>“No Excuses” isn’t necessarily about sunshines and rainbows \u2014 but it’s certainly one of Alice in Chains<\/a>‘ warmest moments. Some of the lyrics are a bit optimistic (“And if we change \/ Well I love you anyway”<\/em>) for a band that typically delivers darkness and doom.<\/p>\n Sean Kinney kicks things off with a loose, rolling drum groove that immediately gives the song a lighter tone and creates a cheerful rhythm you’ll sure as hell want to bop along\u00a0to.<\/p>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n You’ll notice that the next few songs all came from bands a bit later in their careers when they were experimenting with different textures and flavors a bit more. That was certainly the case with Stone Temple Pilots<\/a>, whose most colorful song is “Big Bang Baby” from their 1996 album\u00a0Tiny Music… Songs From the Vatican Gift Shop.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n The track is driven by a lively swagger as it fluctuates between\u00a0fuzzy, stomp-along riffs and catchy chorus that feels much more glam than grunge. It sounds like STP stripped the sludge and had a blast in the studio, making it the closest they’ve ever come to downright giddy.<\/p>\n The music video is a trip, too.<\/p>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n While Soundgarden<\/a> had their share of upbeat tracks, “Dusty” is the band\u00a0at their most jangly \u2014 which isn’t a\u00a0total\u00a0<\/em>surprise given the vast sound of\u00a0Down on the Upside\u00a0<\/em>as a whole. It’s more mellow compared to their other “happy-ish” sounding songs (“My Wave,” “Kickstand”) but it has a brighter melody and a subtly uplifting message that makes it stand out.\u00a0There’s a light at the end of the tunnel in this track and for Soundgarden, that’s certainly a highlight.<\/p>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n Screaming Trees<\/a>‘ sound has always leaned more psychedelic than doom and gloom, so choosing their most joyous song was actually a bit more of a challenge than the rest were. “All I Know” from 1996’s\u00a0Dust\u00a0<\/em>is the winner, though, as it rides on bright guitars, Mark Lanegan’s soothing vocals and a big sound overall. It’s more breezy than hard-hitting, giving it a relaxed feel that’s warm and welcoming.<\/p>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n Pearl Jam<\/a> haven’t always been melancholy either and “Given to Fly” off 1998’s\u00a0Yield\u00a0<\/em>is a prime example of their ability to sound joyful. Eddie Vedder has spoken about the positivity in the track himself, referring to it in an interview<\/a>\u00a0as a “fable” that he imagined in a children’s book. The soaring guitars and vocals actually do make the song feel like a flight \u2014 floating\u00a0through the clouds with a profound sense of freedom and high spirits.<\/p>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nNirvana, ‘On a Plain’<\/h2>\n
Alice In Chains, ‘No Excuses’<\/h2>\n
Stone Temple Pilots, ‘Big Bang Baby’<\/h2>\n
Soundgarden, ‘Dusty’<\/h2>\n
Screaming Trees, ‘All I Know’<\/h2>\n
Pearl Jam, ‘Given to Fly’<\/h2>\n