Happy anniversary, grunge!!!! It’s been 35 years since Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” hit the mainstream and pushed out the last of the 1980s. (Goodbye, shoulder pads. Hello, slouchy old cardigan!)
As is the case with EarthShare’s other playlists, our “In Bloom: Grunge Rock Environmental Songs” collection brings together tracks that tackle the environment head-on alongside those that use nature and the natural world as a broader metaphor. As expected, the themes run a little dark in the grunge years as musicians blend deeply personal subjects with subtle and not-so-subtle social commentary. Overall, we have noisy choruses and psychedelic detours, mumbled lyrics and poetic grandstanding, and a healthy strain of questioning the world around us. It’s all very rock and roll… and kind of metal… and pretty punk.
Here are five highlights from the list. Be sure to check out our other playlists: Darling Planet Earth: New Wave Environental Songs and Earth’s Greatest Hits.
What makes a song “environmental”?
Not every environmental song is explicitly about climate change or conservation. Some of the most powerful eco-themed tracks explore:
- The power of nature, particularly on the human psyche
- The emotional impact of urbanization and loss of natural spaces
- A longing for connection to both nature and humanity
- The tension between contemporary society and the natural world
Our song selections lean into these and similar themes, offering a more interpretive take on environmental storytelling through music.
“In Bloom” by Nirvana (1991)
The namesake of our grunge playlist, Nirvana’s “In Bloom” uses a plant metaphor to comment on an underground music scene that was changing (and maybe dying?) right before their eyes—a topic even more biting as their latest album topped charts around the world. “He’s the one who likes all our pretty songs… But he don’t know what it means.” At the heart of the lyrics, is a sense of trying your best to make a positive impact and finding the end result rather disappointing.
Also recommended: While not really about nature or the environment, Nirvana’s “All Apologies” (1995) wonderfully captures the fragility of human existence and the power of human connectivity, for better or worse.
“Do the Evolution” by Pearl Jam (1998)
Early poster children of the “Seattle Sound,” Pearl Jam would emerge as the most socially-conscious band of the grunge era—taking a strong anti-corporate stance (famously against Ticketmaster), raising funds for groups like the Surfrider Foundation, and penning a number of songs explicitly about climate change. “Do the Evolution” from 1998’s Yield offers a particularly bleak take on humanity, covering everything from war crimes to pollution to whaling. The animated music video truly brings it all to life.
Also recommended: “Force of Nature” (2009) and “Retrograde” (2020) for some less-grungy Pearl Jam environmentalism; and search out “MOM: Music for Our Mother Ocean,” a series of CDs released to benefit Surfrider—features all sorts of ‘90s giants, including Pearl Jam and the Beastie Boys.
“Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft” by Babes in Toyland (1994)
Babes in Toyland offer up an excellently distorted version of the Carpenters’ minor hit from 1977, “Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft”—a song about people getting together to send peaceful telepathic messages to beings from outer space. Like many extra-terrestrial songs (see Neil Young’s “After the Gold Rush”), “Calling Occupants” suggests that our planet has seen better days: “Our Earth may never survive.” But there’s also a hopefulness of people (and potentially alien lifeforms) working together for a better future.
Also recommended: Goes without saying, the Carpenters’ epic 7-minute version of “Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft” is well worth the listen. Also check out the original 1976 version from the Canadian progressive rock outfit, Klaatu.
“Cry Me an Atmospheric River” by Mudhoney (2023)
Considered one of the earliest grunge acts, Mudhoney offers a funkier, bluesier style with Hendrix-like riffs and a sludgy nod to 1960s garage rock. Never reaching the levels of fame reached by their contemporaries, Mudhoney always maintained a degree of respect among musicians (they were a Kurt Cobain fave on Seattle’s beloved SubPop label) and steadily cranked out records decades after grunge faded from the limelight. They also have a ton of songs about the environment in recent years… Check out “Cry Me an Atmospheric River” from 2023’s Plastic Eternity. It’s written from the perspective of the weather itself!
Also recommended: “Plasticity” from the same album takes a punkier stance on single-use plastics; noisy and to-the-point.
“Mother Earth (Natural Anthem)” by Neil Young & Crazy Horse (1990)
Veteran rocker Neil Young found himself dubbed the “Godfather of Grunge” in the early 1990s, especially after two noisy albums and the release of his iconic protest track “Keep on Rockin’ in the Free World.” Closing out the end of 1990’s Ragged Glory, Young offers up “Mother Earth (Nature Anthem)”—a modified folk song about the planet set to distorted guitar and the harmonies of Young’s venerable backup band, Crazy Horse.
Also recommended: Young leaned hard into the “Godfather of Grunge” moniker and recorded an album of his songs with Pearl Jam as his backup band for 1995’s Mirrorball. Lots of great nature-themed songs, including “I’m the Ocean” and “Big Green Country.”
