Once upon a time, back when words like Bizkit and Korn were still spelled correctly, the Phoenix’s flagship radio station, WFNX-FM (101.7), could be counted on to deliver the best of punk, post-punk, new-wave, and alternative music. Then the nu-metal dudes muscled in. And before long, the station’s fare had shifted to what FNX program director Cruz described to the Boston Globe as a " suburban-angry-white-boy vibe. "

Now, as the station kicks off its 20th-anniversary year, it’s reconnecting with its past. Once again, old-guard heroes like Echo and the Bunnymen, Depeche Mode, Boston’s own Pixies, and recent Hall of Fame inductees Clash will be showcased, along with newer phenoms like the White Stripes, Coldplay, and the Soundtrack of Our Lives and, of course, alt-rock behemoths like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

While FNX’s Providence sister station, WWRX-FM (103.7), will maintain its present format, its northern affiliates — WFEX-FM (92.1) in Manchester, New Hampshire, and WPHX-FM (92.1) in Portsmouth, New Hampshire — will also be proud purveyors of intelligent, challenging bands like these. Last weekend, the FNX family celebrated the changeover by counting down the " The Top 500 Ever, " a rundown of the best alternative rock of the past two decades. Log on to www.wfnx.net to see who made the cut.