Really?! Oh god, I feel like the early to mid 90's was almost like a last grasp for great music in the mainstream(the best music of today is either on the fringe or underground). I mean, look at some of the bands from that era
Top Tier(to me):
REM
Nirvana(overrated, sure, but some of their music was undeniable)
The Pixies(technically late 80's but their influence carried over)
Pavement
Weezer
Pearl Jam
Smashing Pumpkins
Blur
Oasis(hey, Definite Maybe was BRILLIANT!)
Alice in Chains
...Those are just some of my favorites. Compare those bands I just mentioned to:
Hinder(????)
Three Days Grace
Stone Sour
Buck Cherry
And a million other faceless bands clogging the radio today.
I can name the singer, not to mention individual band members, from the bands of the early to mid 90's, because they had personality. The term "rock star" is such a farce nowadays. When you read headlines like "Kelly Clarkson: born-again rocker" and "Christina Aguilara records a rock song..." god, it makes me want to puke! I miss the days of Eddie Vedder climbing on a stack of amps, ready to jump into an overeager audience. The sight of Michael Stipe, dancing like a crazed gypsy. Also, I miss the feeling of turning on MTV and catching something good. Anyway, it's cool if ya don't like the early 90's...as you can tell, I do!;-)