Dig Me Out - The 90's Rock Podcast

With a major label budget backing them, Doug Martsch and his rotating cast of Built To Spill members made something special with 1997's Perfect From Now On. While his previous indie releases, along with Martsch's original band Treepeople, pointed to a capable songwriter and inventive guitar player, Perfect From Now On raised the bar for nearly every guitarist who studied J Mascis' frenetic shredding, Neil Young's extended jams, or Kevin Shields layered shoegaze. Thanks to the time on their side, layers of guitar intertwine throughout, switching between clean picking and fuzzed leads, backed by an array of studio indulgences that include a cello, mellotron, organ, and more. The result is lush and dreamy without losing its bite, and a timeless record that influenced a generation of artists that none have equaled.   Songs In This Episode: Intro - Untrustable, pt 2 19:36 - Randy Describes Eternity 22:03 - Stop The Show 29:00 - Out Of Sight Outro - I Would Hurt A Fly   Support the podcast, join the DMO UN

By 1998 the grunge bubble had burst even for the second wave, as sunnier, more eclectic alternative rock fought for radio airwave space against the upstart nu-metal bands and a resurgence of manufactured pop. One of the biggest hits was thanks to the Austin, Texas trio Fastball, whose sophomore album All The Pain Money Can Buy produced the cinematic single "The Way," which along with bands like Harvey Danger, The New Radicals, Imperial Teen, and others provided a momentary bubble of pop uncertainty. Fastball wasn't exactly a one-hit-wonder, charting two additional singles in the top 20. The album oscillates between the voices and styles of Tony Scalzo and Miles Zuniga, who craft concise tunes with enough diversity to touch on 60s pop psychedelics, 70s power-pop and 80s new wave without jarring inconsistencies.   Songs In This Episode: Intro - The Way 27:20 - Out Of My Head 33:38 - Sooner Or Later 48:20 - Warm Fuzzy Feeling 51:11 - Charlie, The Methadone Man Outro - Fire Escape   Support the podcast,

Noise rock is a moniker tossed around about a number of 1990s bands. Australia's Ricaine are no different, except that they are different, and their 1996 debut album Regret Is An Inevitable Consequence of Life is proof of it. While there are plenty of bursts of howling guitar feedback, grinding bass, and crushing drums, the band excels at balancing the noise with moments of tension-filled restraint, playing with the quiet/loud dynamic in a myriad of interesting ways. Did we say dynamics? This album is chock full of them, turning on a dime in ways that left us impressed, bolstered by a perfectly natural production style that compliments the sonic shifts throughout the record.   Songs In This Episode: Intro - The Failed Actor 18:13 - Three From Three 22:03 - Judith's Fence 28:14 - Meek 34:40 - Contradictory Black Muzzle Outro - Even In Death   Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon. Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.

After the industrial noise rock of Cop Shoot Cop, lead singer/bassist Tod Ashley moved on to the eclectic sounds of Firewater, drawing on the sounds of American indie rock equally with European traditional music such as cabaret and Klezmer. With the help of future Gogol Bordello guitarist Oren Kaplan and a variety of skilled players, the band jumps from the Screaming Trees-esque alternative rock of "I Still Love You, Judas" to the Peter Gunn aping intro track "Ponzi's Theme." At their best, Firewater are a challenging and diverse listen thanks to the gravel-voice Tod A., but that's counterbalanced by some kitschy organ and piano sounds that sound more Smash Mouth than Tom Waits.   Songs In This Episode: Intro - Green Light 10:23 - So Long, Superman 13:40 - Knock 'em Down 21:15 - Whistling In The Dark Outro - Caroline   Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon. Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.

Something must have been in the Missouri River that helped produced so many Kansas City post-hardcore heavy-hitters. We've already talked about Shiner and Giants Chair on this podcast, and this time we're checking out the 1994 sophomore album In A Perfect World by Season To Risk, who shared members with Shiner and Molly McGuire, also of K.C. Leaning more into the more chaotic noise rock of early Soundgarden, Killdozer, or The Jesus Lizard, with a manic rhythm section, and Lemmy-meets-Buzz Osborne, the fact that this was released on a major label at the height of Seattle radio and MTV dominance is a testament to the talent of the band and the free flow of major label money in the decade. There is a radio single on the sledgehammer of an album, but any attempt to reign in the mayhem would have resulted in a watered-down and inferior release.   Songs In This Episode: Intro - Jack Frost 21:25 - Nausea 26:29 - Future Tense 34:50 - Timebomb Outro - Remembered   Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Pa

Portishead may remain the most interesting enigma of the 1990s. First is Beth Gibbons, who channels Liz Fraser of the Cocteau Twins, Billie Holiday, and Jane Birkin into an unmatched vocal for the decade. Second is Geoff Barrow, creating 60s and 70s sounding spy movie and spaghetti western sound scapes via downtempo, gothic, and hip-hop samples and influences, with the tone-perfect playing of Adrian Utley on guitar. Though cast with trip-hop peers Massive Attack, DJ Shadow, and Bjork, Portishead forge an entirely unique path.   Songs In This Episode: Intro - Sour Times 21:07 - Glory Box 31:19 - Wandering Star 36:25 - Roads Outro - Mysterions   Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon. Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.

The Athens, Georgia music scene might have been put on the map by R.E.M., but in truth they were one piece of a vibrant, diverse puzzle that included Pylon, The B-52s, Love Tractor, and others. A college town with nowhere to play in the late 70s and early 80s, bands and artists made their own spaces happen. Thanks to day-long drive to New York City and an influential college arts program, the sleepy Georgia town transformed in the 80s into one of the most important centers of musical, political, and social expression in the country. The 90s continued that exploratory spirit, finding a home for The Elephant 6 Collective and its respective bands, and well into the 2000s. To help us track the decades worth of stories and details, we're joined by college professor Grace Elizabeth Hale, author of "Cool Town: How Athens, Georgia, Launched Alternative Music and Changed American Culture" and guitarist Mark Cline of Love Tractor.   Songs In This Episode: Intro - Athens, GA Medley (Radio Free Europe by R.E.M., Rock

Very few bands can claim the influence and legendary status as Athens, Georgia's Neutral Milk Hotel. While the band released just a pair of records, an EP, and single in their ten years, 1998's In The Aeroplane Over The Sea has grown from critically appreciated to cult status over the past two decades. With enough distance from the release, it's easy to see why, as 2000s bands such as The Decemberists, Arcade Fire, Beruit, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, and more picked-up on the lo-fi, psychedlic sounds that countered the late 90s/early 00s mainstream push of processed and packaged third-generation grunge, comically aggressive nu-metal, and sanitized pop-punk. Maybe the mystique was assisted by the long step out of the spotlight by singer/songwriter Jeff Mangum, who has never attempted a follow-up. Did he make his magnum opus, or was there nowhere else to go?   Song In This Episode: Intro - Two-Headed Boy 24:23 - King Of Carrot Flowers Pts. 2 & 3 39:03 - In The Aeroplane Over The Sea 46:22 - [Untitled]

Were the 90s just Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and various other grunge bands and their followers? Of course not, but revisiting Morphine's 1993 album Cure For Pain makes a strong case that the true alternative of the decade never bubbled up to MTV TRL, Clear Channel playlists, or Rolling Stone covers. A horn driven, blues and jazz influenced rock band that channeled Tom Waits and The Velvet Underground was never going to sell ten million albums. But along with fellow outsiders like those in Soul Coughing, The Jon Spencer Blue Explosion, and others, there was room on college radio and 120 Minutes for more askew views of what rock and pop meant.   Songs In This Episode: Intro - Buena 24:28 - Thursday 29:53 - A Head With Wings 32:42 - I'm Free Now 35:56 - Let's Take A Trip Together Outro - Cure For Pain   Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon. Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.

It's episode 500 of Dig Me Out! At our Patreon page, we asked our patrons to pick a record for this special occasion, but not just any record. We gave them the top ten best-selling rock albums of the 1990s, and let them choose from Alanis Morissette, Kid Rock, Santana, Hootie & The Blowfish, No Doubt, Matchbox 20, Metallica, Green Day, Creed and Nirvana. Thanks to their votes, we got the chance to revisit possibly the most iconic and legendary album of the decade - 1991's Nevermind. But we weren't alone, as we invited our patrons and past guests to join us via a group Zoom chat to dive into this record, the shifting musical landscape of the early 90s, the evolution of discovering new music over the past few decades, and much, much more during our two-hour extravaganza.   Songs In This Episode: Intro - Smells Like Teen Spirit Outro - Territorial Pissings   Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon. Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.

Aimee Mann. Jackson Browne. Jon Brion. Nicky Hopkins. Benmont Tench. Steve Nieve. Jim Keltner. What do all those names have in common? They played on Murray Attaway's 1993 album In Thrall. But wait, there's more! Pat Mastelotto of King Crimson and Mr. Mister. Robbie Blunt from Robert Plant's solo band. Alex Acuña of the Weather Report. Sid Page of Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks. Steven Soles and David Mansfield from Bob Dylan's band. How did all these people end up playing on the lone solo release by the former singer/guitarist of Athen's, Georgia jangle-pop band Guadalcanal Diary? We have no idea, but it makes for an interesting listen, as Attaway's indie-pop songwriting sensibilities are filtered through a variety of talented players on both sides of the recording booth window. Did we mention there is a Lord-Alge brother involved?   Songs In This Episode: Intro - Under Jets 18:58 - No Tears Tonight 22:16 - The Evensong 29:24 - Angels In The Trees 35:50 - Fall So Far 43:40 - Living In Another Time Outr

The 1990s may have been the most bountiful of decades when it came to the concept of the B-side. Originally singles provided just one extra song on the second side of a 45 RPM single. That expanded to 12" singles for dance 1970s remixes and 1980s longer cassette singles. For music obsessives, the 90s provide the rare opportunity to hear three, four or more tracks from a band not included on an album. Non-album studio tracks were accompanied by demo, live, remix, acoustic, radio edit and more of album and non-album tracks, as well as covers, instrumental and acapella versions. Some bands, like Pearl Jam, Suede, and Oasis, even managed to score radio singles with their b-sides. We dive into the various interesting B-sides from a variety of bands and discuss some of the B-sides compilations released during the decade.   Songs In This Episode: Intro - Yellow Ledbetter by Pearl Jam 13:28 - Landslide (Fleetwood Mac cover) by The Smashing Pumpkins 19:02 - Wish You Were Here (Pink Floyd cover) by Catherine Wheel

Funk music might be most commonly associated with 1970s bands like Funkadelic, Parliament, Sly & The Family Stone, the Ohio Players, and other more, but the 1990s saw their fair share of funk enthusiasts slip into the alternative mainstream. The Red Hot Chili Peppers had become an MTV staple, Primus and Faith No More explored the outer edges, while bands like the Beastie Boys, Living Colour, Infectious Grooves and more put their own spin on the sound. In Ann Arbor, Michigan, the remnants of 80s hardcore bands the Necros, Laughing Hyenas, and others formed Big Chief, whose 1991 skewed towards the alternative metal sound. That would not be the case on their 1993 follow-up, Mack Avenue Skullgame. Dubbed an "Original Soundtrack" for a movie that does not exist, the album is a faithful throwback to the 70s blaxploitation sounds of soundtracks like Shaft, Superfly, Cleopatra Jones and others. The band lays down authentic if updated funk sounds and adds the necessary vocals of Thornetta Davis to add melodic punc

In 1995 PJ Harvey was relatively unknown in the US, aside from college radio and others tuned into the underground. Thanks to the breakout single "Down By The Water," for a brief moment she was in the same spotlight as Tori Amos, Bjork, Sarah McLachlan, Liz Phair, and other female artists who transcended the dominance of Seattle grunge and guitar rock. On To Bring You My Love, Harvey bounces between the minimalist blues of the title track and the krautrock drive of Working For The Man, and the blistering distortion of Meet Ze Monsta and pounding drive of Long Snake Moan. But in the age of Spotify skipping, can minimalism and restraint with bursts of nasty distortion still catch an ear?   Songs In This Episode:   Intro - Down By The Water 22:22 - C'mon Billy 26:09 - Long Snake Moan 34:10 - The Dancer 38:03 - Working For The Man Outro - Meet Ze Monsta   Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon. Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.  

Thanks to our Patreon community, every so often we get to step outside the our 90s comfort zone of American, UK and Australian alternative and indie rock. Having previously gotten hip to the rock en español of Café Tacvba and the Indian/Britpop fusion of Cornershop, this time we're getting the fusion from a different starting point. On the 1997 live recording Desert Rain by Indian Ocean, the fusion starts with the North Indian style of Indian classical music known as Hindustani, and from there incorporates elements of jazz, rock and folk. Able to stand on its mightily on its own with regard to craft and technical ability, making sonic connects to artists such as Tool drummer Danny Carey and his use of the tabla or the mathematical improvisation of Steely Dan helped our understanding and deepened our appreciation for our latest discovery.   Songs In This Episode:   Intro - Village Damsel 20:17 - Euphoria 23:42 - From The Ruins 33:35 - Going to ITO Outro - Melancholic Ecstasy   Support the podcast, jo

Maybe more so than any other decade, the 90s pumped out tribute albums at a furious rate. Whether it was loving takes on beloved artists, exposing underground heroes to new audiences, or updates with kitschy and nostalgic themes, nearly every month a new tribute compilation CD was probably at your local record store. Our roundtable shares what makes a successful tribute album and what can derail an effort, whether it's simply cloning the original song, or completely ignoring it. We also investigate the phenomenon of random, lesser-known bands popping up in tracking listings alongside a group of heavy-hitters, and the one-off collaborations that showed up on occasion.   Songs In This Episode:   Intro - Tribute by Tenacious D 5:39 - Hard Luck Woman by Garth Brooks (Kiss My Ass - Classic Kiss Regrooved) 9:24 - Summer Of Drugs by Soul Asylum (Sweet Relief - A Benefit For Victoria Williams) 14:31 - Making Plans For Nigel by The Rembrandts - XTC: A Testimonial Dinner 21:02 - We Only Just Begun by Grant Lee

The cross-pollination of punk and rock between the United States and Australia has been going on for decades, but one of lesser-known but most interesting (to us, at least!) is the 1980s and early 90s grunge scene, and how Australian bands like The Scientists, The Birthday Party, and Cosmic Psychos had an influence on their American Pacific Northwest counterparts. In the case of the Cosmic Psychos, it was finding commonality with bands like Mudhoney and the Melvins, and releasing their 1989 album on the then upstart Sub Pop label. In 1991 the band recorded with Butch Vig following the Nirvana's Nevermind sessions and produced Blokes You Can Trust, released on the influential Amphetamine Reptile label. For a three-piece, the sound is massive thanks to the fuzzed-out bass that will remind some of the desert and stoner rock scenes, while the old-school AC/DC riffs combined with punk and hardcore attitude of Black Flag and Motorhead lands on the spiritual kin of Seattle's grunge scene.   Songs In This Episode:

If you remember the Smoking Popes, it's probably thanks to their Buzzbin / Clueless soundtrack single "Need You Around." Lead singer Josh Caterer got tagged as punk-rock Morrissey, and while the band continued on, many were left with the impression that the Smoking Popes were something of a novelty. As we dug into this album for the first time, the realization quickly set in that the early Morrissey comparisons were way off base, as both Caterer, along with his brothers Eli and Matt, and drummer Mike Felumlee, are significantly less punk than expected. Sure, you can hear the energetic down strums of Ramones across the record, but instead of 90s pop/punk, the band channels the likes of Wings, The Smithereens, Buddy Holly, Frank Sinatra and more in their quest to write exquisitely arranged pop-rock gems.   Songs In This Episode:   Intro - Need You Around 18:49 - Rubella 21:56 - Mrs. Me And You 25:46 - My Lucky Day 28:30 - Gotta Know Right Now Outro - Midnight Moon   Support the podcast, join the DMO

Pollyanna's 1996 EP Junior and 1996 debut album Long Player scored them multiple hit singles in Australia and put them on the national radar, which means the sophomore follow-up Hello Halo in 1997 had expectations attached. As we discovered, the band expanded their pallet. While the record is full of radio-friendly alternative rock ("Peachy Keen" and "Brittle Then Broken)", where the group really excels is their willingness to take some detours, like on the horn-backed tracks "Pulling Teen" and "Butterman," or the Helmet-esque post-hardcore of "Tank." Thanks to the deft production of Paul McKercher (Violetine, Ratcat, Falling Joys, Spiderbait, You Am I), the diversity of approaches manages to stay consistent even if all the material isn't up to par.   Songs In This Episode:   Intro - Peachy Keen 12:01 - Pulling Teeth 15:20 - Butterman 20:03 - Tank 28:03 - Brittle Then Broken Outro - Effervescence   Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon. Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast

Thanks to a reliance on off-kilter retro sounds and lo-fi instrumentation, Eels were often compared to Beck (and not always favorably). On their second album, 1998's Electro-Shock Blues, they utilized one of the producers who helped Beck transition from one-hit-wonder status with Loser to the layered mastery of 1996's Odelay. But instead of matching the mayhem, singer/multi-instrumentalist Mark Oliver Everett constructs a sixteen-track somber affair with a few noisy interludes delving into personal loss at a bone-chillingly intimate level. What struck us was the deliberate shift from their debut that produced the hit single "Novocaine For The Soul," and wondering if like many, the lyrical content was too heady to digest, needing the growth and loss of maturity to fully appreciate the depths that E is willing to explore.   Songs In This Episode:   Intro - Last Stop: This Town 16:39 - 3 Speed 20:58 - Hospital Food 24:21 - Elizabeth On The Bathroom Floor 38:52 - Cancer For The Cure Outro - Climbing To T