>> Green Day

No band is as synonymous with pop punk in the ‘90s as Green Day. Demonstrating a strong grasp for crafting catchy pop hooks as well as harnessing the punch of punk rock, Green Day’s sound seamlessly fuses the two genres. Mid-tempo guitar work and bass lines featuring melodies equally complex as the ones carried on the six-string make up the bulk of Green Day’s sound, though the band occasionally mixes acoustic numbers and tounge-in-cheek country songs into its act.

While the band’s mainstream success has earned it the scorn of many of its early fans, Green Day nonetheless continues to enjoy a huge following. By 2000, as it faced an influx of clone bands, Green Day backed off its aggrivated side and pursued more pure pop styles; however, much of the edge in its earlier work was maintained.