Various, Cold Water Flat, Dinosaur Jr., Belly, The Lemonheads, The Walkabouts, Buffalo Tom, Throwing Muses, Sebadoh, Radiohead, Juliana Hatfield, Billy Bragg, Treat Her Right, Come

Boston Alternative

College radio, cheap rehearsal rooms and loud guitars: the US underground's most literate, least glamorous engine room.

Seattle Grunge

Heavy riffs played by people raised on punk, recorded cheap in the Pacific Northwest and then sold worldwide.

Japan Rock

Million-selling guitar music built for Japanese TV, stadiums and karaoke — CD-era records only now reaching vinyl.