Dig Me Out - The 90's Rock Podcast

This week we chatted with Jody Porter, who just released his third solo album this past March, Pacifier. Jody started out in the early with The Belltower, a dreamy/shoegaze band featuring Britta Phillips (later of Luna) that garnered positive press in the UK but ultimately dissolved. However, a late addition to the band named Adam Schlesinger would later form Fountains of Wayne, who Jody would join after their debut was recorded. Spending the rest of the run with the band until they ended in 2013, Jody released his first solo album Close to the Sun in 2008, followed by Month of Mondays in 2013 via Kickstarter. We talk about all that, his vast guitar collection, his earliest musical recollection learning instruments and playing bands all the way up to recording demos on Garageband for the latest release. Download Pacifier at CDBaby / Stream it at Spotify Songs in this Episode: Intro - Valerie Sometimes by Jody Porter (from Pacifier) 7:22 - Lost In Hollow by The Belltower (from In Hollow EP) 38:31 - In The

This week a requested review gives us a chance to revisit the 1995 debut album Whirligig by The Caulfields. A confection of jangly guitars, story-telling lyrics and power pop melodies might remind some of 70s and 80s masters like Elvis Costello or Cheap Trick, but The Caulfields forge their own path, for better or worse. When done well, they have few peers among 90s bands. Unfortunately, the highest highs are betrayed by some pretty low lows. We try to sort it all out. Songs in this Episode: Intro - Devil’s Diary 10:17 - Alex Again 14:00 - Hannah, I Locked You Out 20:59 - The Day That Came and Went 28:06 - Alex Again Outro - Breathe Under Water Request a 2017 Review / Subscribe at Patreon   Facebook / Twitter / Instagram   Zazzle Merch Store   http://www.digmeoutpodcast.com

We gave our Patreon patrons the opportunity to vote one four different releases from May of 1997, and the consensus winner was eclectic soundtrack from the Batman & Robin movie starring George Clooney, Chris O’Donnell, Alicia Silverstone and more. A mixed bag for sure, there are some clear gems and some awful groaners. We sift through track-by-track and try to find more of the former than the latter. What is worth a revisit? Tune in to find out. Songs in this Episode: Intro - The End Is The Beginning Is The End by The Smashing Pumpkins 10:53 - Look Into My Eyes by Bone Thugs-n-Harmony 13:46 - Gotham City by R. Kelly 21:12 - Lazy Eye by Goo Goo Dolls 27:08 - The Bug by Soul Coughing 34:15 - True to Myself by Eric Benét Outro - The Beginning Is The End Is The Beginning by The Smashing Pumpkins Request a 2017 Review / Subscribe at Patreon   Facebook / Twitter / Instagram   Zazzle Merch Store   http://www.digmeoutpodcast.com

The winner of our first quarter Patreon contest stops by with his free requested review pick - 1995′s Cockamamie by Jennifer Trynin. Though part of a fertile 90s Boston music scene, Jen Trynin is a bit of an anomaly, self-releasing her debut album prior to a major label bidding war. Her guitar playing shifts between familiar alternative pop and more angular riffing with a rock solid rhythm section. But ultimate, it’s the songs that matters. She managed to score a minor hit with “Better Than Nothing,” but how does the rest of the album fair? Tune in to find out. Songs in this Episode: Intro - Better Than Nothing 5:17 - Happier 8:59 - Knock Me Down 17:54 - Do It Alone Outro - One Year Down Request a 2017 Review / Subscribe at Patreon   Facebook / Twitter / Instagram   Zazzle Merch Store   http://www.digmeoutpodcast.com

We’re back with another “In The 90s” roundtable, our chance to revisit a popular artist from the 1980s and see how they navigated the shifting musical landscape of the 1990s. With fourteen Top 40 hits and two number one singles in the U.S., Duran Duran were one of the most successful artists of the 80s. However, they entered the new decade on the decline, their fifth album Big Thing failing to resonate with fans or critics the way their previous four releases had. How did their 90s output fare in comparison? To help us navigate through their catalog, we’re joined by Annie Zaleski (Salon, AV Club), Chip Midnight (Kids Interview Bands) and Keith Sawyer (WMBR). Songs in this Episode: Intro - Duran Duran Medley (Come Undone, Ordinary World, Electric Barbarella) 9:21 - All She Wants Is (from Liberty) 18:23 - Too Much Information (from Duran Duran/The Wedding Album) 28:36 - 911 is a Joke (from Thank You) 36:31 - Out of My Mind (from Medazzaland) Outro - White Lines (from Thank You) Request a 2017 Review / S

Musician, label owner, DJ, writer, teacher - you name it, Marko DeSantis has probably done it. You probably know him as the guitarist in pop punk band Sugarcult, and he shares the history of their formation, as well as his involvement in bands such as The Ataris, Nerf Herder, the Swingin Utters, Bad Astronaut. Marko shares his experiences growing up in Santa Barbara, CA, and contributing to the upcoming Sweet Relief “Strange 80s” benefit show. Make sure to visit our Patreon page for bonus content. Songs in this Episode: Intro - Pretty Girl (The Way) by Sugarcult Outro - Lately by The Ataris Request a 2017 Review / Subscribe at Patreon   Facebook / Twitter / Instagram   Zazzle Merch Store   http://www.digmeoutpodcast.com

Our Patreon subscribers helped us pick an album from April of 1997 to review, and thanks to a tie-breaking coin flip, we’re checking out the self-titled Cheap Trick album. It’s actually the second self-titled album from Cheap Trick, the first being their debut from twenty years earlier. To help us dissect this record and provide historical context on this era of the band, we’ve enlisted Colin Gawel of Watershed, League Bowlers and formerly Why Isn’t Cheap Trick In The Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame? to lend a hand. Songs in this Episode: Intro - Say Goodbye 9:12 - Anytime 15:05 - Carnival Game 17:51 - It All Comes Back To You Outro - You Let A Lotta People Down Request a 2017 Review / Subscribe at Patreon   Facebook / Twitter / Instagram   Zazzle Merch Store   http://www.digmeoutpodcast.com

We’ve reviewed plenty of bands from Australia over the years, but rarely have we revisited an album that boasts a number one single. This week we’re checking out the band Ratcat, and their 1991 album Blind Love, which scored a number one hit on the ARIA charts with “Don’t Go Now.” Contorting the sunny pop of The Beach Boys in a similar fashion to The Jesus and Mary Chain, Ratcat layer on disparate sounds like 60s surf and 80s new wave. It is an interesting combination, but does it work? Tune in to find out. Songs in this Episode: Intro - That Ain’t Bad 3:34 - History of the Band 9:35 - Yes I Wanna Go 17:37 - That Ain’t Bad 19:19 - Don’t Go Now Outro - Baby Baby Request a 2017 Review / Subscribe at Patreon   Facebook / Twitter / Instagram   Zazzle Merch Store   http://www.digmeoutpodcast.com

It’s time to revisit another sophomore album from the 1990s and compare it to it’s successful freshman effort. In this case, we’re checking out the 1997 album Eight Arms To Hold You by Veruca Salt, who scored a platinum album and three charting singles with their 1994 debut American Thighs. Though initial sales were strong, after Volcano Girls the singles fell off, and the reviews were not as positive as the first time around. Some pointed the finger at producer Bob Rock, known for his work with big rock and metal acts like Metallica and Motley Crue. But was it really necessary to point any fingers? To determine what went right, what went wrong and how it sounds twenty years later, we’ve assembled a veteran group to for this roundtable: Chip Midnight (Kids Interview Bands), Jeff Takacs (Rocketfuel Podcast) and Jim Kopeny (Chicagoist). Songs in this Episode: Intro - Volcano Girls 13:58 - Straight 18:49 - The Morning Sad 25:08 - Don’t Make Me Prove It 40:00 - Venus Man Trap Outro - Shutterbug Request a

This week’s requested review takes us back down under to check out Melbourne, Australia’s Violetine and their 1998 one and only album Small Speaker Joyland. Dual vocals, fuzzy guitars and an urgent rhythm section give Violetine a little something extra, and some quality chorus melodies don’t hurt either. Though the band didn’t make a dent stateside, we think there might be something to this Aussie three piece worth checking out. Songs in this Episode: Intro - Birmingham 14:38 - Surrounded 17:06 - Red 19:20 - Fuzzanova 28:45 - Finer Place Outro - Any Day Request a 2017 Review / Subscribe at Patreon   Facebook / Twitter / Instagram   Zazzle Merch Store   http://www.digmeoutpodcast.com

For our next installment of the Digging Your Scene roundtable series, we are exploring sights and sounds of Los Angeles in the 1990s. To help us do so, the following guests joined us: Brian Klein of Scout B Entertainment - his first time on the show, Brian moved to Los Angeles in the early 90s, starting as an intern at Rick Rubin’s American Recordings label as well as employee of Aron’s Records, he has worked in management and promotion of dozens of bands and currently manages Fitz and The Tantrums among others. Kellii Scott of Failure - making his third visit (#211 & #239), Kellii moved to LA in the 80s and played in a number of bands before joining Failure, later drumming for Blinker The Star, Campfire Girls, Veruca Salt and more. Failure are currently wrapping up the Pledgemusic campaign for the 20th anniversary live recording of their 1997 album Fantastic Planet. Shawn Michael Foster, director - also making his third visit (#64 & #236), Shawn moved to LA in the latter half of the 90s and starte

This week we get to chat with Eli Janney, who you may know as the keyboardist, bassist and backing vocals in Girls Against Boys. You may also know him as the producer for such bands as Brainiac, Ryan Adams, Skeleton Key, Jesse Maiin and many more. You may also know him as the man who remixed tracks by artists such as the Sneaker Pimps, Ruby, Hooverphonic, Enon and more. You may also know him as the current keyboardist and associate music director in the 8G Band on Late Night with Seth Meyers. What we’re saying is, Eli is a busy guy, because that doesn’t even include his music engineering and mixing credits, as well as his other work in television and film. We talk to about how he ended up in the world of late night television all the way back to his time working at the legendary Inner Ear recording studio with Don Zientara that documented so much of the ‘80s DC punk and hardcore scene. We learn how GVSB formed, the trials of a touring with a keyboard in 1992, and what it means to be in a band with a distinct

Our latest Patreon pick revisits the one and only album from Super TransAtlatnic, the 2000 release Shuttlecock. You may be familiar with the band thanks to their contribution to the 1999 American Pie soundtrack, or the fact that 3/4′s of the band were previously called Saigon Kick (the 1/4 from Extreme, to round out the equation, so to speak). Either way, the sound of STA won’t come as a shock - guitar riffs paired with melodic vocals and harmonies that recall the layered assault of The Smashing Pumpkins one minute and power-pop-punk of Marvelous 3 the next. It’s big, loud and hooky, but is it any good? Tune in to find out. Songs in this Episode: Intro - Super Down 12:44 - Shuttlecock 19:02 - Superstar 22:09 - Dumb 27:18 - Satellite Outro - Can’t Stand Losing You Request a 2017 Review / Subscribe at Patreon   Facebook / Twitter / Instagram   Zazzle Merch Store   http://www.digmeoutpodcast.com

There were dozens, perhaps hundreds, of tribute albums in the 90s to feature a wide array of talented artists with varying results. Thanks to a Patreon subscriber suggestion, we’re checking out the 1996 release Twisted Willie - A Tribute To Willie Nelson. As with all tribute albums, some artists and bands stay close to the original version while other radically reinterpret, and that’s the case with Twisted Willie. We definitely found interpretations we liked and others that left us scratching our heads - tune in to find out which ones. Songs in this Episode: Intro - Shotgun Willie by Tenderloin 14:48 - She’s Not For You by Mark Lanegan 17:15 - Home Motel by X 19:34 - I’ve Seen All This World I Care To See by Jerry Cantrell 29:44 - Time of the Preacher by Johnny Cash Outro - Bloody Mary Morning by Supersuckers Request a 2017 Review / Subscribe at Patreon   Facebook / Twitter / Instagram   Zazzle Merch Store   http://www.digmeoutpodcast.com

Tim Kasher of The Good Life and Cursive has a new solo album out this March (No Resolution) on a new label (15 Passenger). We talk to him about the why he decided now was the time to start the new label away from Saddle Creek and the plans for reissuing late 90s Cursive material later this year. We discuss the transition in the mid-00s from writing as a band to writing alone at home and how that changed not only his writing style, but the way he sings. We chat about his current move out to Los Angeles, as well as his previous relocation out west a decade ago to work on films and his experience writing screenplays, and the independent film he recently completed. All this and much more, including how Tim identifies with Steve Harris of Iron Maiden and which trip-hop band is a major influence. Also, make sure to visit 15 Passenger and pre-order the new album before the release date of 3/3/17 and be entered into contest to win all the releases from the label forever. Songs in this Episode: Intro - An Answer fo

Remember Electronica? Well we do, and we’re not quite sure what it was, so we’re hosting a roundtable discussion this week to talk about the explosion of electronic music that hit MTV, radio, Billboard and more in the late 90s. To help us figure out what it means, we’ve got a pair of guests, returning regular Andy Derer from The Andy Derer Show, and a first time visit from our old college radio music director Matt Shiverdecker, currently of the Austin-American Statesman Austin360. We look back at the origins of Electronica, revisit four pivotal albums from 1997, and how this all evolved into the ‘00s juggernaut that is EDM (or Electronic Dance Music).  Songs in this Episode: Intro - Medley (The Chemical Brothers, The Prodigy, The Crystal Method & Filter, Daft Punk) 12:25 - Setting Sun by The Chemical Brothers 27:09 - Around The World by Daft Punk 37:10 - Firestarter by The Prodigy 43:12 - Busy Child by The Crystal Method Outro - Ray of Light by Madonna Request a 2017 Review / Subscribe at Patreon

Thanks to our friend Gavin in Australia, we’re checking out 28 Days from Melbourne and their sophomore album Upstyledown from 2000. Though it charted at #1 on the Australian ARIAnet album chart, the band failed to make a dent in the United States, which seems like a missed opportunity considering the band combines the sounds of late 90s/early 00s pop punk and rap rock into a familiar sound. Though the band has an ear for hooks and it sounds good, we revisit the “timeless” vs. “dated” production debate and wonder whether some of the musical and lyrical choices were the right ones. If you’re a fan of bands like Zebrahead, Sum 41, Biohazard, Phunk Junkeez, etc., this might be a lost gem waiting to be discovered. Songs in this Episode: Intro - Rip It Up 7:19 - History of the Band 11:53 - Sucker 14:06 - Song for Jasmine 19:02 - Information Overload Outro - 16 Kill The Fake (Seshoo) (Featuring Uzumaki) Request a 2017 Review / Subscribe at Patreon   Facebook / Twitter / Instagram   Zazzle Merch Store   http:

As The Pretenders once sang, we’re going back to Ohio to check out Dayton’s legendary Brainiac thanks to the winner of our 2016 year-end Patreon giveaway. In just five years, the band put out a significant body of work, including three full-length albums, half a dozen 7″s and a pair of EPs. We’re checking out their third and final album Hissing Prigs in Static Couture, released on Touch & Go Records in 1996, recorded with Eli Janney of Girls Against Boys. Besides exploring the record we also spend some time (too much?) discussing the Super Bowl and our guest Chris makes his pick for a future roundtable episode. You wanted the best, you got...well, us. Songs in this Episode: Intro - K155 M3, U JACK3D UP J3RK 19:13 - PU55YF00T1N' 21:08 - 5TRUN9 29:25 - 1 AM A CRACK3D MACH1N3 Outro - H0T 53AT CAN'T S1T D0WN Request a 2017 Review / Subscribe at Patreon   Facebook / Twitter / Instagram   Zazzle Merch Store   http://www.digmeoutpodcast.com

We got a requested review for an album released in 2000, and since we’re not above stretching the rules outside the 90s occasionally, this week we’re revisiting the third and final Marvelous 3 album ReadySexGo. Between Butch Walker’s stint in late 80s/early 90s glam metal band SouthGang and his current occupation as a successful music producer (who releases solo albums when not working on albums with Katy Perry or Taylor Swift) he fronted this rock trio that scored a hit with Freak of the Week, which sounded suspiciously like another song. We had differing opinions on what we liked and didn’t like about this album, about Butch Walker as a songwriter, and the early 2000s pop rock movement he was at the forefront of - give a listen and then let us know what you think. Some links from our requestor Luke: Butch’s comments about ReadySexGo at the time of its release. Butch’s comments six years later. Songs in this Episode: Intro - Get Over (from ReadySexGo) 5:51 - Freak of the Week (from Hey! Album) / So You

On the surface, our latest requested review for the 1996 album Deadsexy by Scarce sounds eerily familiar to a lot of 90s band. Band forms, records demos, puts out singles on small indie labels, gets some buzz, major labels start calling, band signs and puts out their debut, no singles race up the charts, and the band is done. But there is more to the story, so we invited singer/bassist Joyce Raskin and singer/guitarist Chick Graning to give us the bigger picture, take us through the demo’ing, writing and recording process, the major label cat and mouse game, the tours, and the album release, as well as the dramatic life-changing event that nearly ended it all, and how art acted as a cathartic release and the rebirth of the band. Check out Chick Graning’s solo album M.T. on iTunes and at CD Baby. Check out Joyce Raskin’s books Aching To Be, The Fall and Rise of Circus Bloy Blue, My Mom Is a Rock Star and more at Lulu and Amazon. Songs in this Episode: Intro - All Sideways 24:55 - Rains of Kansas 27:41 -