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Alternative Pop/Rock is essentially a catch-all term for post-punk bands from the mid-'80s to the mid-'90s. These are a few of my favorites.

	Better Than Ezra began their life as a Dinosaur Jr.-influenced combo in the late '80s, yet they were sidetracked by the accidental death of their lead guitarist. Deciding to continue life as a trio, the band eventually released their first album in 1994 on their own label. It was picked up the following year by Elektra. After MTV and alternative radio picked up the single "Good," Deluxe became a national hit. I caught their show at The Newport in '96 and was impressed with their energy and willingness to please an audience. Grim's Pick: Deluxe. Visit BetterThanEzra.com
	Collective Soul With their catchy, melodic pop/rock and mildly distorted but warm guitar tone, Collective Soul leapt out of Stockbridge, Georgia to the top of the 1990s AOR world. I caught their sold-out show at The Newport, here in Columbus, and was amazed at the range and talent of these guys. I especially enjoyed their covers of Ozzy's "Crazy Train" and The Beatles "Revelution". Grim's Pick: Collective Soul. Visit the Collective Soul WWW Page
	Stone Temple Pilots were able to make alternative rock into stadium rock; naturally, they became the most critically despised band of their era. STP are more concerned with tight song structure and riffs than punk rage. It's popular hard rock that sounds good on the radio and in concert. No matter what the critics might say, Stone Temple Pilots have undeniably catchy riffs and production. Grim's Pick: Purple. Visit The Official Stone Temple Pilots Web Site
	Seven Mary Three Within the alternative world, Seven Mary Three have often been compared to the mainstream-sounding, garage/arena-rock of post-Ten Pearl Jam, but the group insists that their refusal to alienate themselves from the rest of the world makes them different; instead, Seven Mary Three offers songs concerning self-discovery and true outsiders isolated from society. I've caught 7M3 live three times, so far...twice in one year. Grim's Pick: American Standard. Visit Spock Jenkins High - The Official 7 Mary 3 website
	Pearl Jam rose from the ashes of Mother Love Bone to become the most popular American rock & roll band of the '90s. Pearl Jam fused the riff-heavy stadium rock of the '70s with the grit and anger of '80s post-punk, without ever neglecting hooks and choruses; "Jeremy," "Evenflow," and "Alive" fit perfectly into album rock radio stations that were looking for new blood. I haven't been overly impressed with their latest releases but still would sell my ex-wife for concert tickets. Grim's Pick: Ten. Visit Synergy - The Official Pearl Jam Site
	R.E.M. mark the point when post-punk turned into alternative rock. R.E.M. brought guitar-pop back into the underground lexicon. Combining ringing guitar hooks with mumbled, cryptic lyrics and an D.I.Y. aesthetic borrowed from post-punk, the band simultaneously sounded traditional and modern. Though there were no overt innovations in their music. R.E.M. had an identity and sense of purpose that transformed the American underground. I thoroughly enjoyed their "Monster" Tour w/ Luscious Jackson. Grim's Pick: Automatic for the People. View the Official R.E.M. Site
	Tori Amos was one of several female singer/songwriters who combined the stark lyrical attack of alternative rock with a distinctly '70s musical approach. Her music falls between the orchestrated meditations of Kate Bush and the stripped-down poetics of Joni Mitchell. In addition to reviving the singer/songwriter traditions of the '70s, Amos revived the piano as a rock & roll instrument. Grim's Pick: From the Choirgirl Hotel. Visit The Official Tori Amos Site
	Matchbox 20 was one of the legions of American post-grunge bands that appeared in the mid-'90s -- the only difference was, they were able to work their way toward hit status. Borrowing heavily from Pearl Jam and Live, two bands that distilled classic '70s rock through R.E.M., Matchbox 20 came across as the post-alternative version of arena rock -- powerful, blustering music that allegedly dealt with taboo issues and used abrupt dynamics, but hardly sounded alternative. Grim's Pick: Yourself or Someone Like You. Visit the Matchbox 20 Official Web Site
	Live rose to chart success on the strength of its anthemic music and idealistic, overtly spiritual songwriting, two hallmarks which earned the group frequent comparisons to U2. I have my son, Sean, to thank for turning me on to this band. He drug me to one of their concerts and I was instantly hooked. Grim's Pick: Throwing Copper. Visit Live from York, PA
	Soul Asylum is the quintessential little band that could; it only took ten years to turn them from a teenage garage band into multiplatinum-selling rock stars. I, like so many others, knew nothing of the band until their big break-through hit "Runaway Train" was released in the early 90's. I've been buying up their earlier material as fast as I can find it. Grim's Pick: Grave Dancer's Union. Visit the Soul Asylum Home Page

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