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Modern Rock Tracks #1s

Modern Rock No. 1s: Green Day and "J.A.R."
Green Day finds its way to the top for the last time in the '90s with "J.A.R.," a song that grapples with unexpected death and tenaciously encourages…
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Matt Madurski
2
Modern Rock No. 1s: Alanis Morissette and "You Oughta Know"
Alanis Morissette shakes up the post-grunge wave of alternative rock with "You Oughta Know," a song that changed the landscape of popular music and gave…
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Matt Madurski
13
Modern Rock No. 1s: U2 and "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me"
Batman and Bono come together in "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me," U2's fifth Modern Rock #1 and one of the biggest collaborations between two of…
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Matt Madurski
15
Modern Rock No. 1s: Soul Asylum and "Misery"
I double and triple checked, and there's no doubt about it: "Misery" by Soul Asylum is, in my opinion, the worst #1 hit on the Modern Rock Tracks chart…
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Matt Madurski
14
Modern Rock No. 1s: Better Than Ezra and "Good"
Better Than Ezra's "Good" not only topped the Modern Rock Tracks chart in 1995, but also my "Best Songs of the '90s" mix tape from 1997, which begs…
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Matt Madurski
8
Modern Rock No. 1s: Live and "Lightning Crashes"
Live chronicles the circle of life with "Lightning Crashes," a nine-week Modern Rock chart topper that solidified the band's legacy as a top '90s…
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Matt Madurski
3
Modern Rock No. 1s: Green Day and "When I Come Around"
Post-grunge hitmakers Green Day slow down their frenetic pace with "When I Come Around," a '90s upgrade to the '80s power ballad
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Matt Madurski
5
Modern Rock No. 1s: R.E.M. and "Bang and Blame"
R.E.M. tops the alternative chart for the last time with "Bang and Blame," a sonic blast of guitars and angst, showcasing the emotional dynamics of…
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Matt Madurski
8
Modern Rock No. 1s: Nirvana and "About a Girl"
"About a Girl" gets a significant acoustic upgrade from its Sub Pop roots and soars to #1 on the Modern Rock charts in the aftermath of lead singer Kurt…
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Matt Madurski
7
Modern Rock No. 1s: The Cranberries and "Zombie"
The Cranberries tackle the emotional consequences of prolonged conflict with "Zombie," a song borne out of tragedy with a sound that injected it…
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Matt Madurski
Modern Rock No. 1s: R.E.M. and "What's The Frequency, Kenneth?"
R.E.M. becomes the first artist to debut at #1 on the Modern Rock chart with "What's The Frequency, Kenneth?," a song that reshaped the band's sound…
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Matt Madurski
9
Modern Rock No. 1s: Green Day and "Basket Case"
Green Day explodes into the mainstream with their signature hit, "Basket Case," a song about frustration and confusion borne from anxiety, set to an…
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Matt Madurski
4
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