Dig Me Out - The 90's Rock Podcast

This week we’re revisiting the 1999 album 001 by Dovetail Joint. With radio-friendly singles and sharp songwriting, Dovetail Joint were a Chicago band that could have had Smashing Pumpkins or Veruca Salt level success a few years earlier in the decade, but the shifting radio and label landscape worked against them as guitar-centric rock bands took a back seat to third-generation grunge knock-offs, mall-punk and manufactured pop. We dissect the album track-by-track to figure out what makes (spolier alert) 001 a worthy album. Songs in this Episode: Intro - Beautiful3:14 - History of the Band10:19 - Beautiful15:15 - Level on the Inside21:14 - Boy23:37 - Except When You’re Late33:00 - AfraidOutro - Oh My God Follow on Twitter / Facebook Request A Review / Buy A T-Shirt

Our requested review this week is the third album by Acetone, 1997′s self-titled release. Like one-time label mates Low, Acetone delivers a slow and deliberate performance with sparse arrangements and mostly hushed vocals. Rarely do Tim and Jason find themselves in almost total agreement on a record, but in this case they do. Tune in to find out if that is a good or bad thing. We apologize for the brief interruption discussing the new season of True Detective, which we have dubbed Sad Detective. Songs in this Episode: Intro - Every Kiss3:19 - History of the Band10:33 - Shobud16:20 - Chew19:44 - All You KnowOutro - Dee Follow on Twitter / Facebook Request A Review / Buy A T-Shirt

Thanks to a recent request, this week we are checking out the 1998 album Deserter’s Songs by Mercury Rev. Hailed at the time by critics in the US and UK, the orchestral arrangements combined with Flaming Lips style psychedelia helped make Deserter’s Songs a landmark album the helped usher in a decade of bands expanding on both. But age can make the adventurous seem tame, does Deserter’s Song stand the test of time, and is it still worthy of album of the year status? Tune in to find out. Songs in this Episode: Intro: The Funny Bird3:18 - History of the Band17:39 - Endlessly25:59 - Delta Sun Bottleneck Stomp29:06 - Hudson LineOutro - Opus 40 Follow on Twitter / Facebook Request A Review / Buy A T-Shirt

This week is a first - we’re revisiting an album by a band we’re already checked out. Back in season one, episode three, we reviewed the debut album by Paw. Over five years later, we’re checking out their sophomore album, Death to Traitors. To help us do so, we’re joined by singer Mark Hennessy, who takes us back to the beginning of the band in Lawrence, Kansas. We learn about the formation of the band to recording the demos that got them in a major label bidding. We talk about the differences in writing and recording their Debut Dragline and their sophomore album Death To Traitors, and the internal and external stresses that wore the band down. We talk about the reunions, mark new band Godzillilionaire, and the possibility of new material from Paw in the future. Songs in this Episode: Intro - Hope I Die Tonight8:16- Sweet Sally Brown17:31 - Built Low32:39 - Swollen48:20 - Texas1:00:22 - Glue Mouth KidOutro - Death to Traitors Follow on Twitter / Facebook Request A Review / Buy A T-Shirt

This week we’re talking about concerts of the 1990s for our June round table discussion. We’re joined by frequent suggester/commenter David “Dirty Gert” Gorgos, Rocketfuel Podcast host and Punktastic writer Jeff Takacs, and the voice of Dig Me Out, Katie Minneci. We talk about our favorite shows and venues of the decade along with our least favorites as well. When did an opening band blow away the headliner? What bands make us want to jump in a time machine to check out? Why did the traveling festivals end? Were the Woodstocks nostalgic cash-grabs like we remember? Is there any worse place to go to the bathroom than a music venue? All of this, and more! (Live) Songs in this Episode: Intro - Sabotage by Beastie Boys12:33 - Blame, Etc. by Afghan Whigs47:28 - New Orleans Is Sinking by The Tragically Hip101:50 - I Am One by The Smashing Pumpkins1:18:13 - Thumb by Dinosaur Jr.Outro - You Love Us by Manic Street Preachers Follow on Twitter / Facebook Request A Review / Buy A T-Shirt

This week Naoko Yamano of the legendary Japanese punk rock band Shonen Knife joins us.  Naoko talks about her thirty-plus years fronting Shonen Knife. We talk about how the band started in Osaka in 1981 and discuss the music scene of Osaka vs. Toyko. We dig into songwriting, guitars, touring and much more! We hope you enjoy, and be sure to check out Shonen Knife on their U.S. tour this June. Songs in this Episode: Intro - Bad Luck Song16:14 - Pop Tune23:45 - Blitzkrieg Bop (Ramones cover)30:36 - Osaka Rock CityOutro - Super Group Follow on Twitter / Facebook Request A Review / Buy A T-Shirt

Joining us this week is singer, guitarist and songwriter Stephen Brodsky of Cave In, Mutoid Man and many other projects. Stephen takes us back to the beginning: bootlegging Metallica onto cassettes to practice guitar licks, early grade school jams and trying to figure out how to get distortion. We explore his his high school years, discovering hardcore (and hating it at first) and what eventually led to the formation of Cave In. We discuss the evolution of the band, from the “metalcore” beginnings to the transition to Jupiter and the fan backlash that ensued from that album onto Antenna. We get into his newest project, Mutoid Man, and contemplate the current state of “metal” music. We cover reissues, guitar rigs and much, much more. Enjoy! Songs in this Episode: Intro - Big Riff30:48 - Terminal Deity by Cave In43:11 - Jupiter by Cave In1:00:31 - Reptilian Soul by Mutoid Man1:07: 26 - Magnified by Cave In (Failure cover)Outro - Requiem Follow on Twitter / Facebook Request A Review / Buy A T-Shirt

This week’s Requested Review features Richard Butler’s post-Psychedelic Furs project Love Spit Love. We’re checking out the second (and final) album from the band, 1997′s Trysome Eatone. Butler is able to inject his unique melodic and vocal style with some new blood thanks to new players and a wide range of sounds. Sometimes the band evokes his previous band, other times the louder more aggressive rock of the 90s. Does it all work? Tune in to find out. Songs in this Episode: Intro - Believe2:51 - History of the Band8:05 - More Than Money13:50 - Fall On Tears18:00 - Friends24:30 - 7 YearsOutro - 227 Follow on Twitter / Facebook Request A Review / Buy A T-Shirt

This week we’re chatting about one-hit wonders of the 90s. Joining us is returning champ Andy Derer and newbie Joy Royland. We try to figure out what exactly is a one-hit wonder. We talk about our favorite and least favorite one-hit wonders from the 90s. We cover the one-hit wonders of the 90s that we still enjoy and still annoy us. Songs in this Episode: Intro - Epic by Faith No More10:14 - Whoomp! (There It Is) by Tag Team17:22 - Flagpole Sitta by Harvey Danger27:23 - Popular by Nada Surf35:35 - Good by Better Than Ezra43:22 - Bitch by Meredith Brooks56:13 - Counting Blue Cars by DishwallaOutro - Baby, I Love Your Way by Big Mountain Follow on Twitter / Facebook Request A Review / Buy A T-Shirt

Our latest requested review might be our most challenging listen ever, 1995′s Sing to God by Cardiacs - our first double album (no, Use Your Illusion doesn’t count). With almost two decades under their belts, Cardiacs unleashed this behemoth not just in length, but density. The songs are packed with instrumentation, and many flying by at a breakneck pace, churning twisted pop with equal parts psychedelia, Britpop, bombast and manic energy. We haven’t heard much like this, and we’re guessing you haven’t either. Songs in this Episode: Intro - Eat It Up Worms Hero3:10 - History of the Band12:00 - Eat It Up Worms Hero13:41 - Eden On The Air19:11 - A Horses Tail23:40 - Dog-Like Sparky27:11 - Dirty Boy31:56 - ManhooOutro - Bell Clinks Follow on Twitter / Facebook Request A Review / Buy A T-Shirt

Joining us this week is Matthew Sweet for a lengthy and wide-ranging discussion. Matthew shares his insights on his latest album project, and what the fulfillment aspect of crowd-funded albums is really like. We talk about his earliest influences, from new wave and punk to 70s power pop like Big Star and The Raspberries, and discuss why power pop bands are almost always critically acclaimed but tend to gain appreciation in retrospect. Matthew explains how his various guitars impact his songwriting (which may involve recording on his iPhone), and his earliest years learning bass to Yes records and Carol Kaye instructional videos (who would later play on his album In Reverse), which got him into a college band while he was still eight grade. We dive into the discography, discuss the leaps between the first two Columbia albums and Girlfriend, to the harsher and dark sound of Altered Beast. There’s so much more, we can’t list it all! Sick of Myself! Drew Carey! 70 Challengers! Brendan O’Brien! Mad Men! Making In

Our second requested review of Australia month is the self-titled 1995 album by Kim Salmon & The Surrealists. By ‘95, Kim Salmon was already a legend in Australia, having fronted the influential 70s & 80s punk band The Scientists, then The Beasts of Bourbon along with The Surrealists amongst other projects. This album finds Kim and his rhythm section exploring some familiar sounds as well as new territory. We split our opinion on this record, but not how you might think. Songs in this Episode: Intro - What’s Inside Your Box?2:29 - History of the Band7:40 - I Wish Upon You10:51 - What’s Inside Your Box?17:14 - Holocaust24:39 - Frantic RomanticOutro - Draggin’ Out The Truth Follow on Twitter / Facebook Request A Review / Buy A T-Shirt

Before this month, we had reviewed thirteen albums from Australian bands in the 90s in the first four years of the podcast, but we still did’t have a good understanding of the overall history Australian music during that time. What were their influences? What were the scenes in the different cities like? What is Big Day Out? The Saints? The Scientists? To help us unlock the mysteries, we’re joined by frequent requester and friend of the show Gavid Reid, along with Dan Buhagiar, producer and writer at Double J radio. And check out Dan’s article on the 10 Australian Bands From the ‘90s Worth Revisiting. Songs in this Episode: Intro - Drugs by Ammonia6:07 - (I’m) Stranded by The Saints13:20 - Tomorrow by Silverchair35:07 - Streets of Your Town by The Go-Betweens41:34 - Shazam! by Spiderbait52:18 - Don’t It Get You Down by DeadstarOutro - Railhead by Crow Follow on Twitter / Facebook Request A Review / Buy A T-Shirt

To kick of our month-long visit to Australia, our first requested review for April is the 1993 album Together Alone by Crowded House. You probably know the band from their two big singles - Don’t Dream It’s Over and Something So Strong. But the band, and by the band we mean Neil Finn, have a number or strong full length albums in their history. Is it possible that Together Alone is tops them all? Tune in to find out. Songs in this Episode: Intro - Distant Sun3:47 - History of the Band10:01 - Walking on the Spot15:10 - Black and White Boy20:31 - Nails in My Feet24:48 - Private UniverseOutro - In My Command Follow on Twitter / Facebook Request A Review / Buy A T-Shirt

With March providing a bonus fifth Tuesday, we decided to take advantage and post a bonus episode. We were invited to speak at Capital University for the Music Tech Workshop this past weekend, and are sharing the presentation. Ever wanted to know about the nuts and bolts of putting together a podcast? The equipment, the software, getting it on iTunes, promoting and everything else - we talk about it all. Follow on Twitter / Facebook Request A Review / Buy A T-Shirt

This week by request we're checking out the 1996 album Excerpts from a Love Circus by Lisa Germano. Working in a space filled with stark and occasionally dissonant sounds, the relaxed vocals combine darkness and humor in a way that caught us both off guard. While you won’t want to put this on your workout mix, we had a lot of fun (? I guess) discovering the world Lisa Germano inhabits on Excerpts. Songs in this Episode: Intro - Lovesick3:36 - History of the Band12:41 - A Beautiful Schizophrenic /“Where's Miamo-Tutti” by Dorothy18:38 - Victoria's Secret/”Just a Bad Dream” by Miamo-Tutti21:59 - LovesickOutro - Bruises Follow on Twitter / Facebook Request A Review / Buy A T-Shirt

Our requested review this week is unique - an album released exclusively with a comic book - we check out Absolute Zero by Null, packaged in December 1994 with the comic book Blank: The Encephalon Void #1. Since there is a good chance you haven’t heard this, we decided to go track-by-track through this album, which varied in styles and sounds from Ministry and Nine Inch Nails to Helmet and Queensryche, and lead us into a discussion about the current state and future of comic books in the digital format. Songs in this Episode: Intro - Severance3:27 - History of the Band8:29 - Terminal15:28 - Numb20:50 - Skarred24:51 - Driven31:27 - Critical MassOutro - Rain Follow on Twitter / Facebook Request A Review / Buy A T-Shirt

For our March Round Table Discussion, we're joined by Chip Midnight of Kids Interview Bands, Tom Mullen of the Washed Up Emo, and Louise Post of Veruca Salt to talk about bands reuniting. Louis fills us on how how the band got back together, how the new songs for their Record Store Day seven inch came to be, and plans for a full length album in 2015. We also discuss the break-up of the band and how families and maturity change band dynamics. in addition, we go round the table and discuss whether or not it's necessary for new bands to even put out new material, or if shows are enough, and is it important to have original members back in the band. We also dig into bands if some bands appear to be more interested in the festival paycheck than reuniting for more artistic reasons, what bands reunited that none of us expected, which reunions exceeded expectations and which were let downs, and what bands do we really, really wish would reunite, but probably won't. It's a big show you don't want to miss. Songs in thi

This week's Requested Review is the fourth and final album by Cop Shoot Cop, 1994's Release. Neither of us knew what to expect, and our preconceived notions based on the album cover were quickly dashed as this hard-to-categorize two-bass, drum, minimalist guitar, vocal and occasional piano, horns and harmonica band took us on a interesting ride through post-punk, industrial and straight-up rock conventions. Songs in the Episode: Intro - Interference2:21 - History of the Band8:20 - It Only Hurts When I Breathe12:03 - Any Day Now14:34 - Suckerpunch21:43 - LullabyOutro - Turning Inside Out Follow on Twitter / Facebook Request A Review / Buy A T-Shirt

Joining us this week is John Davis of Superdrag and The Lees of Memory. We discuss how The Lees of Memory formed, writing and recording the debut Sisyphus Says released last year, and plans for touring and the second album due out later in 2015. John tells us about his musical up bringing, getting his first guitar, playing in a variety of real and imagined bands, before hooking up with the guys who would form Superdrag. From there, we discuss the pros and cons of working with a major label in the 1990s, how age can alter the perception of lyrics written over a decade ago,  the importance of publishing in keeping a band together, and we get an impromptu drum solo from a young member of the Davis clan. John also explains his decision to (temporarily) put the Superdrag name to rest and record as a solo artist, then front Epic Ditch before taking Superdrag for one last spin. Songs in this Episode: Intro - We Are Siamese by The Lees of Memory4:36 - Deliquesce by The Lees of Memory28:26 - Pine Away by Superdrag43:5