I really think the grunge label is overused. It originally only referred to Seattle bands. I like to refer to the music as "early nineties rock". That's all it was really. Bands like Collective Soul, Space Hog, Smashing Pumpkins, STP, Toadies...they were all of the era and could be heard on the same radio stations as the Seattle bands. Same for the "hair bands". It was really just 1980's hard rock.
I do agree about Tool. They are in a category all by themselves
