Grunge Bakgrounds

Waiting for the Punchline is Extreme's fourth album, which was released in 1995. It is known by fans as a distinctively raw sounding record - especially when compared to the big production of the two previous albums - with a significant influence from grunge and alternative rock, while still showcasing guitarist Nuno Bettencourt's talents. Due to its lyrics focused heavily on social matters (ranging from religion to fame) it is often cited as a concept album.

The Winding Sheet is a studio album by alternative rock artist Mark Lanegan. It was released in 1990 on Sub Pop. The album was Lanegan's first solo work, and is notable in its departure from the characteristic sound of Screaming Trees, the band he fronted from 1985 until 2000. While the work done in that group was much more energetic and fit into the burgeoning grunge genre of the late 80s/early 90s, The Winding Sheet has a much more stripped down sound, defining Lanegan's solo work largely for the rest of the decade. The album was a modest success. The term "winding sheet" is a synonym of shroud. "The Winding Sheet" is also the title of a traditional sea shanty that was the basis of the well known "Streets of Laredo". The album showcases Lanegan's adept skills as a lyricist and his deep, soulful voice. Highlights include "Mockingbirds," "Ugly Sunday" and the haunting "Wild Flowers." On "Down in the Dark" good friend Kurt Cobain sings while on the folk classic "Where Did You Sleep Last Night" Cobain contributes guitar and vocals and Krist Novoselic plays bass. Nirvana would later also cover "Where Did You Sleep Last Night" on their Unplugged album.

Yield is the fifth studio album by the American alternative rock band Pearl Jam, released on February 3, 1998. Following a short promotional tour for its previous album, No Code (1996), Pearl Jam recorded Yield throughout 1997 at Studio Litho and Studio X in Seattle, Washington. The album was proclaimed as a return to the band's early, straightforward rock sound, and marked a more collaborative effort from the band as opposed to relying heavily on frontman Eddie Vedder to compose the songs. The lyrics deal with contemplative themes, albeit seen in a more positive manner compared to the band's earlier work.