Post-grunge
In the late 1990s, post-grunge became a more clearly defined style that combined the sound and aesthetic of grunge with more commercially accessible songwriting, rising to prominence that lasted into the 2000s.
Bands such as Foo Fighters, Nickelback, Creed, Staind, Puddle of Mudd, Breaking Benjamin, Three Days Grace, Shinedown, Seether, and Matchbox Twenty achieved mainstream success in this second wave.
During the 1990s, a post-grunge sound emerged that emulated the attitudes and music of grunge, particularly its thick, distorted guitars, but with a less intense and less abrasive tone.
[2] Tim Grierson of About.com wrote that musically, post-grunge bands "split the difference between plaintive ballads and aggressive rockers, resulting in songs that combine the two extremes into a sad-eyed, propulsive middle ground".
"[4] Geffen also wrote that most post-grunge songs that achieved mainstream success "call after a prospective or past companion in the first person".
Grierson wrote: Creed and Nickelback espoused a more conventional, almost conservative worldview built around the comforts of community and romantic relationships.
Ironically, this attitude was diametrically opposed to the antisocial angst of the original grunge bands, who railed against conformity and instead explored troubling issues such as suicide, societal hypocrisy and drug addiction.
[1] Grierson also wrote, "Post-grunge was a profitable musical style, but bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam were beloved partly because of their perceived integrity in avoiding the mainstream.
"[1] In the late 2000s and 2010s, the derogatory term "butt rock" gained traction when applied in relation to many post-grunge artists who were popular during the genre's prime, such as Nickelback, Creed, Puddle of Mudd, and Hinder.
[9] Even at the height of their popularity, after the release of Nevermind (1991) brought grunge to international attention, Nirvana experienced increasing problems, partly caused by Kurt Cobain's drug addiction and growing dissatisfaction with commercial success.
[10] In late 1992, Cobain was photographed in a T-shirt with 'Grunge is Dead' printed on its front[11] at which point the genre's decline started to be widely discussed.
[30] Carl Williott of Stereogum called Bush's album Sixteen Stone "a harbinger of post-grunge's pop dominance".
[34] Consequence of Sound's Paolo Ragusa credits Throwing Copper with starting post-grunge and shifting rock music to a new direction after the death of Kurt Cobain by combining some harder rock influences with clearer vocals, softer guitar melodies, and the production of Jerry Harrison to make a distinct sound.
[41] With the first wave of post-grunge bands losing popularity, post-grunge morphed in the late 1990s and 2000s, gaining further popularity with newer acts such as Creed, Nickelback, Three Days Grace, 3 Doors Down, Puddle of Mudd, Staind,[42] Hinder, Audioslave,[43] Hoobastank,[44] Fuel, Breaking Benjamin, Shinedown, Seether,[1] and Daughtry,[45] abandoning some of the angst and anger of the earlier artists for more conventional anthems, narratives, and romantic songs.
[48] Creed's album Human Clay, released in 1999, was certified diamond by the RIAA[49] and sold at least 11,690,000 copies in the United States.
[51] Matchbox Twenty's 1996 debut album, Yourself or Someone Like You, was a success in 1997 and 1998 on the strength of radio singles "Push"[52] and "3AM";[53] it was certified 12× platinum by the RIAA.
[55] The Nickelback album that featured the song, Silver Side Up, was certified 6× platinum by the RIAA[56] and sold at least 5,528,000 copies in the United States.
[60] 3 Doors Down's debut studio album The Better Life was certified 6× platinum by the RIAA[63] and sold at least 5,653,000 copies in the United States.
