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Alternative rock dominated the early part of the ’90s<\/a> and was still going strong in 1996 and here we’re giving you a look back at the 15 best alternative rock songs from 1996.<\/p>\n It was one of the last truly great years for alternative rock, with many alternative stations across the U.S. moving away from melodic music in favor of a heavier sound with nu-metal’s big explosion two years later.<\/p>\n We should note that in choosing the 15 Best Alternative Rock Songs of 1996, we’re excluding grunge, pop-punk and nu-metal which can all stand on their own with the dominance that each shared in the decade. So you won’t be seeing Soundgarden<\/a>, Green Day<\/a> or Rage Against the Machine<\/a>, who were all finding success in those three styles during 1996.<\/p>\n But you will see Smashing Pumpkins<\/a>, who had moved beyond their grunge beginnings with the nostalgic “1979,” a huge smash in the 1996.<\/p>\n READ MORE:<\/strong> 12 1996 Rock Song Lyrics You Still Sing Along To<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n The year also gave us big alt-rock songs from college rock success story R.E.M.<\/a>, ’90s Brit-rockers Oasis<\/a>, arguably the biggest act on the planet in 1996, Alanis Morissette<\/a> and breakout acts such as Garbage<\/a> and No Doubt<\/a>. That’s a pretty broad swath of styles, but it all sounded great under the alternative rock melting pot.<\/p>\n It was also a big year outside the music scene, where Independence Day<\/em><\/a> was ruling the box office, Friends<\/em><\/a> was dominating on TV and the Chicago Bulls were winning yet another NBA title<\/a>.<\/p>\n So let’s hop in that time machine, set the coordinates for 1996 and revisit the best\u00a0that alternative rock had to offer.<\/p>\n It was one of the last great years of more melodic alternative rock before alternative stations radio flipped to heavier programming.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Gallery Credit: Chad Childers, Loudwire<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Below we ask you to dig a little deeper into your musical memory. Do you remember these 1996 rock radio hits that you rarely hear on radio today? <\/em><\/p>\n They were once heavily played, but do you ever hear these songs on your radio airwaves?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Gallery Credit: Chad Childers, Loudwire<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n15 Best Alternative Rock Songs of 1996<\/h2>\n
Do You Remember These Forgotten 1996 Rock Radio Hits?<\/h2>\n