3 Rock Bands Who Are Experts in Tension and Release

In rock music, some bands find the proper balance between loud and calm. Some bands favor one over the other, while other bands take you on a ride through both. This is mostly true for bands of the 1990s and 2000s, who blended different styles into various genres. Rock music had become a broad term, mostly about execution rather than the specifics of sounds. Hard rock and soft rock blended during this time. These three bands contain tracks that will take you on the ride, as they are experts in tension and release songs.

Built To Spill

Built To Spill formed in 1992 and has been centered around vocalist/guitarist Doug Martsch since. For the band’s fourth album in 1999, Built To Spill found a way to stick to their indie rock sound while creating big sounds in the studio. Keep It Like A Secret is a leading example of perfectly executed tension and release. Tracks such as “The Plan,” “Time Trap,” and “Temporarily Blind” take you on a ride through melody and ambitious song structures. This band can get seriously quiet, while also taking you down shoegaze-filled rabbit holes. It’s the band’s most acclaimed work and influenced the next generation of indie rock bands. They became the template of tension and release for decades to come.

The Smashing Pumpkins

Out of all the 90s alternative bands, The Smashing Pumpkins were known for their wide variety of sound. Starting with their debut album, Gish, in 1991, this band taught us everything we need to know about tension and release. The battle between loud and quiet on this album is a masterclass. They open the album with thunder with “I Am One,” before “Siva” takes you on a rollercoaster of highs and lows. The album’s third track, “Rhinoceros,” remains calm until halfway through, when Billy Corgan rips into an impressive early guitar solo for the band. This album showcased the band’s shift from their soft, gothic origins into hard rock mixed with elements of metal guitar. Throughout their career and to this day, The Smashing Pumpkins setlist will take you to extreme highs and deep lows.

Wilco

Wilco’s debut record, A.M., stuck true to Jeff Tweedy’s alternative country roots. But their next set of releases would find the band venturing into experimental. Wilco dabbled more and more into art rock, starting with Being There in 1998. Songs such as “Misunderstood” and “Sunken Treasure” show hints of what was to come for Wilco. Sentimental tracks laced with shoegaze guitar tones, creating tension and release. Songs like these would become Wilco’s signature. On Summerteeth in 1999, Wilco further experimented with these sounds. Most notably, “Via Chicago” takes you on a ride similar to The Beatles’ “A Day In The Life.” A live version, released on Live In Chicago in 2005, showcases Glenn Kotche’s explosive drums while also returning to the soft sound of the song.

Again, in 2002, Wilco would create tension and release on their album Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. Specifically on the album’s opening track, “I Am Trying To Break Your Heart,” the band balances between feedback and soft melodies. Tension and release would become a staple of the band’s live sound to this day.

Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images