For many of us, when we hear the phrase “the 90s,” our minds instantly imagine all things grunge. Chuck Klosterman, author of the book The Nineties, even claims that the decade officially began when Nirvana’s Nevermind came out in September of 1991. So if grunge kickstarted the decade, it’s only right that it defines that decade, too, right?
While tons of 90s grunge albums were massive, including Nevermind, none of them captured the vibe of the decade quite like the soundtrack from the 1994 movie The Crow. Sure, The Crow’s soundtrack wasn’t just grunge – in fact, it was more alternative and goth than grunge. But it summed up the movement, and the movements that spawned from grunge, perfectly
This soundtrack complimented the movie, which was also goth as heck, incredibly well. It’s essentially a Spotify playlist for all of the biggest bands of the era – long before Spotify playlists existed.
There’s an argument to be made that The Crow soundtrack is the most 90s thing ever. Spoiler alert: I am ready to make that argument.
‘The Crow’ Soundtrack and The Grunge Movement
The Crow soundtrack is jam-packed with 90s alternative gems – making it the perfect time machine for anyone looking to revisit the era.
You’ll find tracks by iconic bands like Stone Temple Pilots, Rage Against the Machine, and Pantera. And because it wasn’t possible to make those playlists on Spotify yet, having all of those bands on one album was both awesome and convenient.
Notable Singles From the Album
The Crow soundtrack produced several iconic singles that not only helped sell albums but also dominated my car’s stereo system when I was a teenager. The cover of Joy Division’s “Dead Souls” by Nine Inch Nails and Stone Temple Pilots’ “Big Empty” were two stand-out tracks from both the album and the year 1994.
With that in mind, The Cure’s “Burn” might be the most underrated song on the entire project. It’s been 30 years and I still can’t get over how incredible that song is – it’s used beautifully in the film, too.
A Game Changer
The success of The Crow’s soundtrack showed that there was a market for something like this for the alternative crowd.
The album cover itself — featuring the iconic image of The Crow logo on a white background — also became iconic. Many bands have tried to recreate the vibe of the cover and completely failed to do so. Because that was a moment in time and you can’t recapture what is already long gone.
When you think about the 1990s, The Crow soundtrack stands out as a neat time capsule perfectly depicting the grunge, alt-rock, and goth movements. Whether you are a fan of the film or simply a music enthusiast, The Crow soundtrack remains one of the most 90s things ever.
