With so many incredible works in alternative rock that came out in the 1990s and early 2000s, it only makes sense that a few great artists would struggle to make it big, despite their talent. These one-hit wonders in alt-rock had one solid hit, and we’re pretty disappointed that they didn’t have another. Let’s take a look!
1. “Popular” by Nada Surf
If you love bands that balance alt-rock with power pop, you probably already love Nada Surf. This New York outfit had one solid hit with “Popular” in 1996.
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It peaked at no. 51 on the Hot 100 chart, but the band never charted on that particular ranking again. Their label at the time didn’t love their follow-up album, resulting in the band getting dropped. Luckily, they kept making incredible music afterward.
2. “Silent Lucidity” by Queensryche
These one-hit wonders are a little bit alt-rock and a whole lot of progressive metal. “Silent Lucidity”, released in 1990, was a huge hit for Queensryche.
The song hit no. 9 on the Hot 100, and it seemed like the band would gain at least a few follow-up hits. Sadly, that never happened. The band never charted on the Hot 100 again, though they continued to rank pretty high on the US Mainstream Rock chart for years after.
3. “In The Meantime” by Spacehog
Even if you’re not the biggest fan of glam rock, you probably can at least recognize the iconic yodel from Spacehog’s “In The Meantime”. This hit made it to no. 32 on the Hot 100 chart and did quite well internationally. Unfortunately, Spacehog couldn’t manage another internationally successful hit. Though, “Mungo City” managed to chart pretty well on a couple of US charts.
Fun fact: “In The Meantime” samples “Telephone And Rubber Band” by The Penguin Cafe Orchestra.
4. “Flood” by Jars Of Clay
“Flood” by Jars Of Clay is one of the best one-hit wonders in alt-rock. It’s a classic 1990s favorite, and it peaked at no. 37 on the Hot 100 chart in 1995. Even if you’re not into Christian rock (or didn’t know Jars Of Clay is a Christian rock band), “Flood” is still a killer song years later.
Unfortunately, the band never charted on the Hot 100 again. However, they’ve enjoyed plenty of hits through the years on the Christian charts.
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