The difference, by ear
Post-grunge kept the guitar tone and the vocal rasp and discarded the discomfort - which was the content. It is the same sound with the subject removed.
Both are sung cleanly and move at much the same pace, around 90 to 140 bpm. To hear the difference, play Nirvana next to Foo Fighters. Post-grunge grew out of grunge, six years later.
In figures
Grunge
Where it sits
Rock › Alternative rock › Grunge
In short
Punk plus Black Sabbath plus flannel: quiet verse, exploding chorus and lyrics about self-disgust.
How it sounds
- Quiet verse, chorus at full distortion - the dynamic taken from the Pixies.
- Guitars sometimes tuned a whole step down, through simple fuzz pedals.
- Hoarse vocals with lyrics about self-disgust, apathy and unfocused anger.
Key acts
- Nirvana
- Soundgarden
- Alice in Chains
- Pearl Jam
Start here
The pickAlice in Chains - Dirt. The heaviest and bleakest record the scene produced.
Full page →Post-grunge
Where it sits
Rock › Alternative rock › Grunge › Post-grunge
In short
The grunge formula cleaned up for radio: same dynamics, less dirt, vastly more airplay.
How it sounds
- The same dynamics, but with radio production: heavy compression, symmetrical guitars.
- Melodic choruses with doubled and harmonised vocals.
- Simplified riffing, mid tempos, fixed structures.
Key acts
- Foo Fighters
- Bush
- Creed
- Nickelback
Start here
The pickFoo Fighters - The Colour and the Shape. Dave Grohl played nearly all of it himself.
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