ImHotterThanYou

Nirvana is the only grunge band I could ever get into..

Ska Lagos Jew Sun Ra

Of the options, Soundgarden definitely. Albeit, I feel the whole "movement" as a whole was massively massively overrated.

MedalSoul777

Alice in Chains would be the best IMO but you can't forget about Screaming Trees, Mother Love Bone, Love Battery, Mudhoney, etc... they were pretty cool too.

Moriarity

Personally like Soundgarden above the others there.
They had a real groove which was different to other bands, Thayil's guitar work was heavy and psychedelic without being too fret-wanky and Cornell was obviously a great singer. Room 1000 years wide, Hands All Over etc still sound great.
Loved Nirvana at the time but felt they peaked with Nevermind - saw them at Reading and felt it was downhill from there, not listened to them since 93 and wouldnt entertain listening to them now.
Maybe I was swayed by the SST/ Sub Pop thing but Soundgarden and Nirvana felt like an extension of punk or at least having a punk gene more so than AIC and STP, I agree with the comment about them being a bit hair metal, you could just feel it.
Never got Pearl Jam at all, always felt Vedder's sing was a bit hammy (i know Cornell is not exactly subtle) maybe I just didnt like the tunes.
Shudder when I hear the term grunge now, seems so naff and dated

Necromancer

I know Chis Cornell is one of rocks greatest vocalist, but in my opinion Soundgarden, Pearl Jam=(Longevity), Nivana, or STP. are not any one of the best grunge bands of the 90s, But instead, Alice In Chains are the best Rock band from the Seattle Scene, and that certain 90s era of rock music as a whole for that matter. Undisputed: #1. 90s Rock Band.

Unknown Soldier

Personally, I think Soundgarden, Nirvana, Pearl Jam and STP to be better bands than Alice in Chains. Its not to say that I don`t think Alice in Chains a good band and their albums in general are good, but I never got brainwashed by the whole Layne Staley phenomenon. In fact the only Alice in Chains related thing that I really like, is Jerry Cantrell`s solo album "Degradation Trip"

Necromancer

I'm a little surprised you don't like AIC's music that well, since they have a lot of good flip material besides their more popular songs.

What do you mean about brainwashed over the whole Layne Staley phenomenon? You don't like his style of vocals, persona, or what?

richie1

2 very good, little known bands, from early 90's Seatle scene were Best Kissers In The World (their s/t EP is flawless) and Hammerbox (check out "When 3 is 2").

I'd post videos but for some reason my audio is out on my computer and i don't want to post without checking out the quality first.

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Unknown Soldier

Hey I don`t dislike them, I just don`t think of them as good as the other bands mentioned.

The Layne Staley thing is largely centred around the fact that his decline and death is just so drawn out and his songs usually about self disgust etc that the whole things becomes somewhat cliched. I know his demise is sad etc but the man`s demise is something out of a B-movie horror flick. Didn`t his teeth fall out, his skin turn green or blue from his severe heroin habit (I know any heroin habit is severe but his one seemed far worse) and in his final days pissing himself because he had no real control over his bodily functions! Basically you couldn`t make up a better story about a demise of a rock star.

As a singer sure he was good, but I just think Chris Cornell and Eddie Vedder to be much better.

Necromancer

Cornell & Vedder are both good lead vocalist. But their (bands) harmony vocals are not quite in the same caliber as Alice In Chains. AIC have one of the most distinctive (combination) lead & backup vocals in rock.

Last thing I saw before his death was on MTV "unplugged". He looked awful physically. But his voice hadn't failed him at that particular time yet. It was recorded only a few months before his death if I'm correct.