Dig Me Out - The 90's Rock Podcast

The Tragically Hip have been mentioned a few times on the show, but we’ve never gotten around to reviewing an album on an actual episode. Until now. Hailing from Kingston, Ontario, Canada, the band has been a stadium act for over two decades up north while making smaller inroads in the lower forty eight. With the spring announcement of lead singer Gord Downie’s terminal brain cancer, and their just completed tour for their thirteenth album Man Machine Poem, we decided to ask our friend/college radio alum/fellow Columbus musician Billy Peake (of Miranda Sound and Bicentennial Bear) to help up dig into their moody and sparse 1996 album Trouble at the Henhouse, which sits sandwiched between the successful albums Day for Night and Phantom Power. We talk about the album, the legacy of the band, the perceptions and misconceptions about them, the (possibly) final show on August 23rd (the day before this was recorded), and much more. Songs in this Episode: Intro - Ahead by a Century from Trouble at the Henhouse 23:

This week were exploring the bands that sold millions of albums in the 1990s, but by the time the ‘00s rolled around, had disappeared from the sales charts and radio stations they used to dominate. The Cranberries, Live, Creed, Blues Traveler, Hootie & The Blowfish and more we try to figure out what happened - where they overexposed and people got bored? Did follow-up albums flop? Did the collapse on under the weight of their egos and success? To help us do so, Eric Peterson (Love That Album podcast, YouTube) of and our show announcer Katie Minneci join us to discuss. If you want to hear about 10 minutes of bonus content from this episode, make sure to become a patron at Patreon. Songs in this Episode: Intro - The Cranberries/Hootie & The Blowfish/Live 2:47 - I Alone by Live 17:08 - Dream by The Cranberries 53:55 - Only Wanna Be With You by Hootie & The Blowfish Outro - Rain King by Counting Crows Follow on Twitter / Facebook Request a 2016 Review / Subscribe at Patreon

Thanks to a requested review, we’re heading back down under to Melbourne, Australia check out the 1998 self-titled debut album by The Living End. Best known in the U.S. for their 2000 single “Roll On,” from their sophomore release, we get an earlier glimpse at this three piece and their combination of punk, rockabilly and ska. They’ve got melodies and energy, but aren’t afraid to slow down the tempo. Does it work overall? Tune in to find out. Songs in this Episode: Intro - Prisoner of Society 8:03 - History of the Band 12:03 - Bloody Mary 29:52 - Trapped Outro - Monday Follow on Twitter / Facebook Request a 2016 Review / Subscribe at Patreon

Joining us this week is Jacob Slichter, drummer for Semisonic and author of the 2004 book So You Wanna Be a Rock & Roll Star. Jacob talks about how the book came together and led to a career as a collegiate writing professor. We discuss the financial realities of a major label artist and the impact of streaming, mp3s and YouTube. Songs in this Episode: Intro - Closing Time Outro - This Will Be Our Year Follow on Twitter / Facebook Request a 2016 Review / Subscribe at Patreon

Recently we asked our Pateron patrons to vote on our first album review for August from five albums released twenty years ago in August of 1996, and the winner was The Curtain Hits The Cast, the third overall by Low. Slowing the tempos to a glacial crawl is the sound Low is known for, leaving space and silence where most bands would try to fill space. Can they pull it off over the course of a full album? Tune in to find out. Songs in this Episode: Intro - Over the Ocean 9:13 - History of the Band 16:12 - Do You Know How To Waltz 20:24 - Coattails Outro - Anon Follow on Twitter / Facebook Request a 2016 Review / Subscribe at Patreon

This week our requested review takes us down South to Atlanta, GA to check out the fifth album Smoke by Drivin’ N Cryin’. After previously scoring a moderate hit “Fly Me Courageous” off the album of the same name, the band returned with this hard rock ode to the classic rock riffage of AC/DC, Aerosmith and Jimi Hendrix, with a little Paul Simon thrown in for good measure. Songs in this Episode Intro - Smoke 13:33 - She Doesn’t Want To Go 15:34 - 1988 22:36 - Eastern European Carny Man 26:02 - Back Against The Wall Outro - 1000 Swings Follow on Twitter / Facebook Request a 2016 Review / Subscribe at Patreon

This we’re talking about second acts, sequels, part deux - whatever you call it, it’s when band and artists get a second go around. Morrissey and Marr after The Smiths. Bob Mould after Husker Du. Dave Grohl after Nirvana. Which artists faired better the second time around, and which couldn’t escape their previous band’s shadow. To help, roundtable veterans Eric Grubbs and Joe Royland join us to who made their second acts the one to remember, and which one’s do we wish never happened. Head to Patreon for bonus material as we discuss artists who haven’t made a solo album, but we’d like to hear one. Songs in this Episode: Intro - Dyslexic Heart by Paul Westerberg 7:41 - See A Little Light by Bob Mould 18:55 - Vivid by Electronic 37:51 - Los Angeles by Frank Black 56:55 - Honestly by Zwan Outro - If I Had A Gun by Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds Follow on Twitter / Facebook Request a 2016 Review / Subscribe at Patreon

This week we are joined (from across the Atlantic) by Andrew Low of The Jazz June. He shares the origins of the band in Kutztown, PA playing house shows and VFWs before graduating to club shows in Philadelphia and New Jersey. He talks about his earliest influences and variety of pre-Jazz June bands. We get into recording their 2000 album The Medicine with J. Robbins, how a multi-year hiatus changed his singing style on the 2014 album After the Earthquake, and much much more. Be sure to check out the Noisey oral history of The Jazz June referenced during the show. Songs in this Episode: Intro - Rich Kid Shakedown from They Love Those Who Make The Music 21:20 - The Phone Works Both Ways from The Medicine 36:21 - Over Underground from After The Earthquake 44:00 - Two Floors Down from After The Earthquake Outro - When In Rome from They Love Those Who Make The Music Follow on Twitter / Facebook Request a 2016 Review / Subscribe at Patreon

Another week, another requested review from one of our listeners. This week we’re checking out The Origin, and their second and final release Bend from 1992. Steeped in the pleasant pop that would guide Toad the Wet Sprocket to success, The Origin expand on that sound with touches of soul, psychedelia and country. This album didn’t make much of dent beyond college radio and we try to figure out why. Songs in this Episode: Intro - Jumping To Fall 3:18 - Mad World by Gary Jules (Tears for Fears cover) 4:54 - History of the Band 9:54 - Racing With the Moon 14:22 - Bonfires Burning 19:23 - Candymine Outro - Trapped in a Dream Machine Follow on Twitter / Facebook Request a 2016 Review / Subscribe at Patreon

This week we travel to Denmark via a requested review and check out the 1994 debut album Travelogue by Kashmir. Indebted to the early 90s American influences such as Pearl Jam, Primus and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Kashmir concocts a sometimes compelling, sometimes frustrating combination of sounds and approaches that left us with more questions than answers. Songs in this Episode: Intro - Jamie Fame Flame 11:32 - Don’t Look Back It’s Probably Hydrochondriac 15:28 - Yellow 19:53 - Art of Me Outro - Leather Crane Follow on Twitter / Facebook Request a 2016 Review / Subscribe at Patreon

Joining us this week are Phil Leavitt and Joie Calio currently of the band 7Horse, who just released their third album this spring, Living in a Bitch of a World. You may know 7Horse thanks to The Wolf of Wall Street soundtrack, thanks to Martin Scorcese using their song “Meth Lab Zoso Sticker” in the movie. You might also know them as two-thirds of the band Dada, who released five albums between 1992 and 2004, scoring a successful single earlier in their career with the song “Dizz Knee Land.” We chat about 7Horse, Dada, touring, cds vs vinyl, record labels, crowd funding and much more. Songs in this Episode: Intro - Meth Lab Zoso Sticker by 7Horse 1:17 - Dizz Knee Land by Dada 4:22 - Low Fuel Drug Run by 7Horse 12:50 - Here Today Gone Tomorrow by Dada 49:21 - Meth Lab Zoso Sticker by 7Horse Outro - Stayin’ Alive (Bee Gees cover) by 7Horse Follow on Twitter / Facebook Request a 2016 Review / Subscribe at Patreon

Expanding our our Metallica in the 90s roundtable from last month, this week we’re exploring the evolution of metal music in the 1990s. It’s a big job, so to help us take a chronological walk through the decade, joining us are our metal masters Chip Midnight, Eric Grubbs and DX Ferris. Songs in this Episode: Intro - Metal Medley (Pantera, Megadeth, Prong, Korn, Sepultura) 17:27 - Sea of Sorrow by Alice In Chains 27:00 - Cowboys from Hell by Pantera 40:43 - Bring Tha Noize by Public Enemy (featuring Anthrax) 55:58 - Mama, I’m Coming Home by Ozzy Osbourne 1:12:55 - Stone the Crow - Down 1:32:33 - Green Machine by Kyuss 1:49:06 - Prison Sex by Tool Outro - Birth Ritual by Soundgarden Follow on Twitter / Facebook Request a 2016 Review / Subscribe at Patreon

We’ve got a new requested review, and there’s a good chance this will be a new discovery for everyone who listens to the show. This week we’re checking out the band Sect. 8 from New Jersey, and their album 88 CM. Kanone. As far as we can tell, it’s their only album, though the two members did spend some time in Bone Machine, led by Ted Poley after 80s hair metal band Danger Danger broke up. With elements of King’s X style progressive hard rock, Stone Temple Pilots grunge swagger, shoegaze and more, Sect. 8 provides a mixed bag of styles. But is the quality mixed as well? Tune in to find out. Songs in this Episode: Intro - Get Over It 8:06 - Choke 11:31- ? 13:52 - Declaration 17:44 - Waco 21:30 - Vampira Divine Outro - Take Him Out Follow on Twitter / Facebook Request a 2016 Review / Subscribe at Patreon

Since May gave us a bonus Tuesday to post an episode, we decided to try something new, as in new album reviews. We gathered up some of our roundtable regulars and Patreon subscribers, and put together a bunch of reviews for new albums released in the winter and spring of 2016. Steve Muczynski reviews You Know Who You Are by Nada Surf  Joe Royland reviews Hidden City by The Cult Annie Zaleski reviews Night Thoughts by (London) Suede Annie Zaleski reviews The Narrows by Grant-Lee Phillips Scott Russell Halgrim reviews Post Society EP by Voivod Jeff Takacs reviews Weezer (The White Album) by Weezer Jeff Takacs reviews Patch The Sky by Bob Mould Jim Kopeny reviews Black Star by David Bowie Jim Kopeny reviews Distroland by The Dandy Warhols Eric Grubbs reviews The Astonishing by Dream Theater Eric Grubbs reviews Protection by Face to Face Andy Derer reviews Change of Fortune by Soul Asylum Andy Derer reviews A Moon Shaped Pool by Radiohead Follow on Twitter / Facebook Request a 2016 Review / Subscribe

This week John Davis (Superdrag, Epic Ditch) returns to chat about the second soon-to-be-released album by The Lees of Memory. We go track-by-track through Unnecessary Evil, talk song origins, recordings, influences, instrumental and mix choices, album artwork and much, much more. To hear 12 minutes of bonus material, become a subscriber at Patreon. Songs in this Episode: Intro - Unnecessary Evil 13:17 - Any Way But Down 29:12 - XLII 1:04:18 - Artifical Air 1:17:22 - Squared Up Outro - Stay Down Follow on Twitter / Facebook Request a 2016 Review / Subscribe at Patreon

The memory remains how much fun we had during our Van Halen In the 90s round table episode last year. The struggle within was to find another artist to fuel our conversation and load up on great guests, because in the end nothing else matters. Mama said Metallica would be our choice, with special guests Annie “Fixxxer” Zaleski (AV Club, Salon and more), “Unforgiven” Eric Grubbs (Do You Know Who You Are, Dallas Observer and more ) and Matt “Prince Charming” Wardlaw (Ultimate Classic Rock) doing the devil’s dance to determine if it’s sad but true James, Lars, Kirk and Jason trans versed through the never of the 90s as king nothings, or if they were really hero’s of the day. Songs in this Episode: Intro - Enter Sandman from Metallica 44:49 - Until It Sleeps from Load 1:04:32 - Fuel from ReLoad Outro - The Memory Remains from ReLoad Follow on Twitter / Facebook Request a 2016 Review / Subscribe at Patreon

After our chat about the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion last week, we decided to go a little further down the 1990s garage rock rabbit hole and check out a band we had both seen live, Zen Guerrilla, and their 1999 album Trance States in Tongues. Whereas JSBX took a more stripped down and deconstructed take on the blues, ZG amps up the tempo and volume to eleven for a high energy brand of rock. But does that come at a cost to the songwriting? Tune in to find out. Songs in this Episode: Intro - Moonage Daydream (David Bowie cover) 3:01 - History of the Band 8:14 - Preacher’s Promise 12:58 - Ghetto City Version Outro - Heart Attack Follow on Twitter / Facebook Request a 2016 Review / Subscribe at Patreon

This week Jim Hanke of the Vinyl Emergency podcast joins us to revisit the 1996 album Now I Got Worry by the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion. We explore the unique sound and place JSBX has in the overall landscape of 90s music. We also spend the first half of the show reminiscing about our personal recollections of Prince and his impact on our music listening history. Songs in this Episode: Intro - Wail 24:27 - 2Kindsa Love 37:32 - Skunk Outro - Can’t Stop Follow on Twitter / Facebook Request a 2016 Review / Subscribe at Patreon

With there eleventh album about to be released, we decided it was a perfect time to revisit the Goo Goo Dolls first release of the 1990s. For their third album Hold Me Up from 1990, the band began it’s transition from Robby Takac-led pop/punk band to alternative rock hit-makers of the 2nd half of the decade. This album shows the pieces falling into place, with guitarist John Rzeznik taking the lead vocals on five of the fourteen tracks, up from two on the previous two albums. From track to track, you can hear the past and future of the band colliding, but does that make for a worthwhile overall listening experience? Tune in to find out. Songs in this Episode: Intro - Never Take The Place of Your Man 18:48 - There You Are 20:48 - Two Days In February 34:59 - Kevin’s Song Outro - Million Miles Away Follow on Twitter / Facebook Request a 2016 Review / Subscribe at Patreon

We’re kicking off a new roundtable series revisiting the dreaded sophomore slumps of successful bands from the 1990s. The first album we’re checking out is the 1996 album Wax Ecstatic by Sponge with special guests Chip Midnight of KidsInterviewBands.com and Jeff Takacs of Rocketfuel Podcast. With two hit singles and a gold record on their debut Rotting Pinata, their second album took a number of unexpected twists that may have thrown critics and listeners for a loop, but the lack of an killer chorus or hook like on the first record may have doomed them as well. We try to figure out whether or not this sophomore slump is worth redeeming. Songs in this Episode: Intro - Wax Ecstatic (to sell Angelina) from Wax Ecstatic 14:42 - Molly (16 Candles) from Rotting Pinata 23:28 - I Am Anastacia from Wax Ecstatic Outro - My Baby Said from Wax Ecstatic