1. Paranoid Android
Forget what you thought rock music could be. Radiohead just dropped a whole new operating system with this track. It’s an epic, multi-part saga that felt like the soundtrack to a new, chaotic internet age – disjointed, beautiful, and utterly overwhelming. Each shift in tempo and tone, every soaring guitar riff, contributed to a profound emotional journey. It pushed boundaries we didn't even know existed.
2. Teardrop
That beat, those strings, Liz Fraser's voice – "Teardrop" was liquid cool, the absolute perfect soundtrack for late-night dial-up browsing or just staring blankly at your Windows 95 desktop. Massive Attack conjured so much atmosphere, so much melancholic beauty, packing it all into one track. It still feels like the definitive trip-hop statement, effortlessly moody and timeless, just floating there.
3. Windowlicker
This track was pure, unfiltered internet chaos before we even knew what that meant. Aphex Twin just melted brains with those warped, glitchy beats and unsettling melodies. It was aggressive, funny, and utterly brilliant, making you question everything you thought you knew about electronic music. That video, too? A fever dream. Still sounds like the future breaking through, completely unhinged.
4. The Satanic Satanist
Portugal. The Man’s album felt like the perfect bridge from crunchy alt-rock to something more expansive. It had this raw, garage energy but layered with psychedelic flourishes that hinted at deeper sonic explorations. Totally nailed that early 2000s indie vibe, still sounding fresh and inventive. It was the kind of band you felt cool knowing before everyone else did, a real discovery.
5. Cut Your Hair
Pavement just nailed that slacker ethos with this one. It’s got that loose, almost falling-apart charm that defined so much '90s indie. You could practically hear the static from the four-track recorder, making it a perfect soundtrack for doing absolutely nothing important, just existing. It's a masterclass in anti-virtuosity, capturing a whole generation's apathy with a knowing wink.
6. Wonderwall Music
Okay, so this isn't exactly a '90s banger, but finding something like George Harrison's trippy soundtrack on a peer-to-peer network felt like unearthing digital gold. It was a perfect oddity to discover while trawling early internet forums for obscure music, pure sonic escapism. It proved that even ancient relics could find new life and appreciation in the burgeoning digital landscape, a true internet deep cut.
7. Come on!
The Verve just went for it here, pure stadium-sized Britpop energy. That sweeping, orchestral ambition felt massive on any dodgy MP3 player, perfectly capturing the late-90s surge of confidence and angst. It was a defiant roar, a track that still hits hard, reminding you of a time when rock bands weren't afraid to be absolutely huge and utterly dramatic. So much swagger.
