I also like Godsmack.

Maybe it is just Nirvana that I don't care for. The music is way too melancholy for me, as an aside one of their songs I do like is "Polly wants a cracker".

I was lucky enough to have a brother who is now 36 so I got to enjoy all of his bands growing up and they remain my favorites...despite all my friends making fun of my taste in music. I've seen more of these bands live now than he ever had the chance to. I wish some of this sound would make its way back into todays music, especially the harmonica.

Hootie & The Blowfish, Blues Traveler, Sister Hazel, Goo Goo Dolls, Barenaked Ladies, Fuel, Counting Crows, Everclear, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Big Head Todd, Fastball, RHCP

So many great jams

don't forget MXPX and later Full Devil Jacket, bro!

A big difference between the 80s and 90s music - The first 5 seconds of the song. If you play in a cover band, you get to feel like a rock star when you hit the first riff to "Jessie's Girl" or "Blister in the Sun" or "Sweet Child of Mine". You get to see drunk girls rush the dance floor with "I Love Rock and Roll".

With 90s music, that party spirit died. The energetic intro riff pretty much disappeared. Bummer.

I've been in cover band for 10 years... when I begin a goo goo dolls song, or matchbox 20, hootie, blink 182, or Man in a box, my own worst enemy, or the songs brought up by the OP.. I've seen some girls get out dance real quick. The girls that do are girls that didn't grow up on 80s songs, they grew up on 90s. I feel you most relate to music you discovered between about 10 and 20 years of age, whether it's the current music, or the music of an older sibling.

Anyway, there is plenty of 90s rock with the upbeat, party spirit.

This thread inspired me to go back and listen to Pearl Jam's best album. Damn it sure is good.