17 Neo Dad Rock Bands

Dad Rock evolves with the times, just like Classic Rock - here are 17 bands that define Dad Rock in 2015

Urban Dictionary defines Dad Rock as:

"The standard set of albums from the 60s and 70s that every boomer likes. Boomers try to get younguns to listen to dad rock by loading up "best albums ever" lists with them. Dad rockers have no desire to listen to recent music and are stuck in the past."

I disagree.

Boomers are defined as a group born between 1946 to 1964, many of whom have had kids who have gone on to have kids themselves; the Dad Rock baton should be passed. The 'New Dad' was born after the 1964, and here are the bands that make the 40-something dad very, very nostalgic:

Radiohead OK Computer

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One of two non-American acts on this list (U2 being the other), Radiohead has been recognized as one of the most impressive studio albums of the 1990s. With a sound that was a mesh of heavy-layered guitar and ethereal rock elements, "Karma Police" was one of the biggest singles from the album, which has sold eight million copies worldwide to date.

Lauded as one of the best albums ever released, OK Computer set the generation's mood and began to draw the curtain on the 1990s sound.

Beck Mellow Gold

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Beck's debut album Mellow Gold is 'slacker gold'. This blond, disheveled nymph burst onto the 90s scene with the single Loser, and "losers" everywhere seemed to hail a collective "hell yeah". In 1994, Beck's sound was different than the grunge sound or the commercial sound. A little too filthy for Wal-Mart and KMart, Mellow Yellow went unintentionally platinum due to the controversy. Its brilliant and irreverent lyrics and musical arrangements didn't hurt.

The album peaked at number thirteen on Billboard chart and sold 1.2 million copies in the United States.

Nirvana Nevermind

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Controversial frontman Kurt Cobain eschewed the “Seattle grunge scene” and sought to set Nirvana apart from its confines. Partially due to the popularity of the “Smells Like Teen Spirit” music video, which depicted mosh pits and an alternative anti-culture, the album went Diamond and sold over 30 million copies worldwide.

Ironically, Cobain’s renouncement of popular music and culture only compelled mainstream audiences to flock to Nirvana’s sound.

Foo Fighters Foo Fighters

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Nirvana alum Dave Grohl’s sort of solo venture Foo Fighters still fit into the alternative genre which was becoming more and more general as the 90s wore on. Grohl wrote and recorded the album by himself (with minimal help on guitar) to deal with the death of his Nirvana bandmate Kurt Cobain.

The album has become enormously popular and is their 2nd best-selling album in the U.S. to date.

Beastie Boys III Communication

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With the hit single “Sabotage” from III Communication, the Beastie Boys were back (though for many they never left). Always an MTV and fan favorite, the irreverent trio’s single got some major airtime which made it an easy pick for Billboard’s number 1 in 1994. The band saw a couple of their singles hit it big in the dance scene with “Get It Together” and “Some Old Bullshit”.

Until the death of bandmate, Adam Yauch (MCA), these three boys from New York City were one of the most popular and longest standing hip hop bands to date.

Stone Temple Pilots Core

Core peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Albums Chart and was the biggest hit for STP until the release of their following album Purple. With singles “Plush” and “Creep”, the band set the stage for an acoustic set on MTV Unplugged that helped catapult the band into superstardom.

The band won a Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance for Plush and in the spring of the same year, Purple was released and sold millions of copies within four months of its release.

Sonic Youth Goo

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Kim Gordon is the stuff of legend, but Sonic Youth was one of those cult favorite bands that the mainstream audience were not privy to. With the launch of Goo, the mainstream came. Though never a huge commercial success, Goo received critical acclaim and was featured in a 1991 documentary by Dave Markey called The Year Punk Broke.

Black Crowes Shake Your Moneymaker

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Initially considered the ‘poor man’s’ Aerosmith (who themselves at one time were considered the ‘poor man’s’ Rolling Stones), the Black Crowes hit in 1990 to critical and commercial success. Garnering 3 out of 5 stars by Rolling Stone magazine, the band burst onto the scene with Shake Your Moneymaker, which was full of swagger and catchy songs.

Smashing Pumpkins Siamese Dream

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The gentler, kinder alternative band, Smashing Pumpkins’ second album was a fusion of pop, metal, alternative, grunge and dreamy fluffy cloud pop - which made for a hugely successful combination. The album debuted at number ten on the Billboard charts and sold over 10 million copies in the U.S. and worldwide.

“Today” and “Disarm” were two of the hit singles from the album that was later ranked in the 300s of Rolling Stone magazines 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

REM Out of Time

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REM was huge in the Atlanta, Georgia college radio scene before getting signed and steadily becoming one of the biggest acts of all time. On their seventh studio album, the single “Losing My Religion” became anthem and won three Grammy Awards in 1992. The album has gone on to sell over 18 million copies worldwide.

Jane's Addiction Ritual de lo Habitual

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Lollapalooza: the infamous music concert created by lead singer Perry Farrell et al as the farewell tour for Jane’s Addiction; the band played alongside huge headliners like Nine Inch Nails and Beastie Boys. From stage fights between guitarist Dave Navarro and Perry Farrell (during the first Lollapalooza show) to stage walkoffs, the band made good music, including hit singles “Been Caught Stealing” and “Stop!”

Navarro went on to be the bigger celebrity and can be found on the Spike channel’s Ink Master.

Farrell has a Facebook page.

Pearl Jam Ten

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Ten contained tracks dealing with macabre themes including depression, suicide and loneliness. One of the bands considered part of the “Seattle grunge” movement, Ten was an homage to classic rock. The album reached number two on the Billboard charts and has been certified platinum - making it one of the best-selling albums ever.

Guns & Roses Use Your Illusion I & II

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Whether it was Axl’s love for supermodel Stephanie Seymour or a representation of the changing times, these two albums redefined the screaming hard sound of their previous ventures in the 80s. Lauded by critics as their entree into maturity, Use Your Illusion 1 & 2 contained soulful, often maudlin piano and vocal arrangements which can be heard on hits “November Rain” and “Don’t Cry”.

The second installment enjoyed more commercial success, but both albums are registered platinum seven times over.

Red Hot Chili Peppers Blood Sugar Sex Magik

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The prolific Red Hot Chili Peppers' fifth studio album ended up hitting the sweet spot, going on to be the best selling album of their careers. After leaving EMI, the Peppers signed with Warner Brothers for Blood Sugar Sex Magik. As with other albums in this list, this album's shift to a mainstream sound made for huge commercial success. With metal-inspired guitar and harsh vocals to a more melodic feel, as evident on Under the Bridge, the music dug deep into themes of sex, drugs and general emotional malaise. Three other wildly popular singles besides Under the Bridge were "Give It Away" and "Suck My Kiss".

The album gave the band supernova exposure, which slowly declined heading into the aughts.

Billy Idol Charmed Life

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The sneer, the bleach blonde hair, the accent. This rebel yelled from the 1980s into the 1990s. The 90s album Charmed Life produced hit single “Cradle of Love”, which became Billy’s biggest U.S. single. The album reached number 2 of Billboard’s Top 100 and was nominated for a Grammy Award.

For someone who almost died in a motorcycle the same year, Billy Idol really has had a charmed life.

U2 Achtung Baby

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Achtung Baby perfectly represented the dichotomy of what was early 90s music: one part alternative mosh pits and rage to one part commercially produced stadium-filled shows. The 90s were-a-changin’ and this seventh studio album by U2 represented the latter. Considered one of their more “alternative” albums, Achtung’s most popular single was “One”, and the album sold 18 million copies worldwide, also garnering a 1993 Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.

Obviously, there are more than 17 iconic hits from the 'Neo-Dad Rock' era, there are countless more. For now, Spotify, Amazon Music or Pandora these albums to transport into the recent past.