Dig Me Out - The 90's Rock Podcast

With three decades of records to look back on, it's safe to say Polly Jean Harvey doesn't stand still for long. From the minimalist blues of To Bring You My Love to the eerie piano pieces of White Chalk, Harvey has become indie rock's David Bowie, evolving her style steadily and consistently, often at odds with expectations. On her second album as PJ Harvey, Rid Of Me stands the test of time thanks to her raw and intimate approach while unleashing Pixies-ish punk and Bo Diddley blues rhythms. Harvey plays in a big sandbox, and her handpicked producer Steve Albini is game, giving plenty of space for light and dark to crash and thrash.   Songs In This Episode: Intro - 50ft Queenie 16:19 - Rid Of Me 27:03 - Dry 32:52 - Me-Jane 44:03 - Yuri-G Outro - Missed   Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon. Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.

While much is made of genres like punk breaking through and topping the mainstream of 90s rock, the late 80s success of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Living Colour and Faith No More just as successfully pushed underground/alternative funk metal onto MTV. In 1990, Primus unleashed their twist on the sound with the progressive rock-influenced debut Frizzle Fry. Within a few years, thanks to catchier and catchier tunes paired with creative videos, the band would graduate from Headbanger's Ball to 120 Minutes to daytime rotation, solidifying them as a definitive band of the decade. But what to make of their first studio release, which finds Les Claypool's unendingly inventive approach to bass paired with equally stellar musicians in drummer Tim "Herb" Alexander and guitarist Larry LaLonde. If progressive rock, funk metal, or Claypool's distinct vocal and melodic approach aren't to your taste, is there still something worth checking out?   Songs In This Episode: Intro - John the Fisherman 18:18 - Too Many Puppies

Is there a more crucial turning point for 1990s music and 90s rock than 1991? Artists released important albums weekly that would shape the decade (and even entire careers) such as Pearl Jam, U2, Soundgarden, Gun 'n Roses, Smashing Pumpkins, R.E.M., Red Hot Chili Peppers, Primal Scream, Blur, Metallica, and more. Then there were the underground bands that lurked on college radio and outside the Billboard charts like Slint, My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive, Mr. Bungle, Fugazi, Ride, Uncle Tupelo, Mudhoney, and Throwing Muses. It's the debut of Lollapalooza, the year trip-hop and desert / stoner rock would begin their ascension, the year Freddie Mercury released one last album with Queen before his passing, and the year "grunge" became a word everyone knew. It's a super-sized episode with lots of guests and lots to cover.   Songs In This Episode: 1991 Medley (Unbelievable by EMF, Rusty Cage by Soundgarden, There's No Other Way by Blur, Girlfriend by Matthew Sweet)   Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at

Few bands can really be described as influential, most either affecting the latest pose or regurgitating a nostalgic vibe. On the other hand, some bands are so ahead of the curve, it can take time for the rest of the world to catch up. That's the case with Drive Like Jehu's sophomore 1995 album Yank Crime, which in the worlds of 90s rock, sounded like a runaway train of mixed up genres - post-hardcore, math rock, emo, post-punk, and more that weren't invented yet. It's not speculation to call this record and this band influential - members of At The Drive-in, Deftones, Modest Mouse, Jimmy Eat World, and more have weighed in over the years on DLJ's unique place in 90s rock canon.   Songs in this Episode: Intro - Here Come The Rome Plows 22:22 - Luau 32:22 - New Intro Outro - Do You Compute   Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon. Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.

Our look back at Season Ten of the podcast, during which we hit milestone episode five hundred, is a great recap to a not so great year. Our Patreon community continued to support us and lead way, picking interesting and unexpected albums to revisit via individual selections and our monthly polls. It allows us to check out noteworthy 90s bands we had previously missed like Mudhoney, that dog., Neutral Milk Hotel, Dig, Morphine, and PJ Harvey, as well as discover a bevy of lesser-known acts such as Ricaine, Odds, Cosmic Psychos, Giants Chair, and more. From the Hindustani jazz fusion of Indian Ocean to the 70s funk of Big Chief, our sonic pallet was once again expanded thanks to our patrons, who also helped us launch our Discord community, which lead to our new weekly Box newsletter. We looking forward to moving into 2021 and Season Eleven!   Songs In This Episode: Intro/Outro - Dig Me Out by Sleater-Kinney   Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon. Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPod

Mudhoney may have written some of the most recognized pre-Nirvana breakthrough tracks associated with the Seattle sound of the 80s like "Touch Me, I'm Sick," "Suck You Dry," and "In 'n Out Of Grace," but the band has had as much in common musically with the sound of Detroit punk and garage bands like MC5, Iggy & The Stooges, The Gories, Sonic's Rendezvous Band, etc. On their second full-length album, Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge, released in 1991 just months before Nirvana's Nevermind changed the musical landscape, the band took their established template and added vintage organs, blazing harmonicas, and acoustic guitars to expand their sound. While it helps break up what can become a repetitive listen thanks to the eight-track lower-fidelity production, the band can't deliver on a killer melody or hook the way they had on their previous standout songs.   Songs In This Episode: Intro - Let It Slide 14:05 - Generation Genocide 18:55 - Something So Clear 23:36 - Pokin' Around 28:03 - Fuzzgunn '91 O

As we've discussed previously with episodes on Mötley Crüe and Skid Row, the 1990s were a weird evolutionary period for '80s hard rock and metal bands tagged with monikers "glam" or "hair" to describe their look even if it didn't describe their sound. So much so, there's always a caveat to their '90s releases as to whether the band tried to update their sound to fit in with the new alternative and grunge landscape, or if they kept chugging along with only minor tweaks. In the case of Boston funk-metal band Extreme, their fourth (and until 2008, final) album Waiting For The Punchline ditched the big rock production for a more immediate style that gives the rhythm section more punch but still allows virtuoso guitarist Nuno Bettencourt room to dazzle.   Songs In This Episode: Intro - Hip Today 18:52 - Waiting For The Punchline 26:42 - There Is No God 30:30 - No Respect Outro - Evilangelist   Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon. Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.

While the calendar confirms that 2020 was a standard 365 days, March seemed to last seven months, and in total the year seemed like one endless anxiety attack. Luckily, music still provided a momentary reprise via albums in a variety of forms. Some were unexpected, like from Hum, Shiner, Sparta, and Criteria. Some were long in the making, like albums from Fiona Apple, Pearl Jam, Alanis Morissette, and the Psychedelic Furs. Others were from active favorites, like The Lees of Memory, Guided By Voices, Local H, and Jeff Tweedy. There was something for everyone, and we talked about many.   Songs In This Episode: Intro - Far Beyond by The Lees of Memory (from Moon Shot) 6:36 - Shameka by Fiona Apple (from Fetch The Bolt Cutters) 27:16 - Ghosts by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band (from Letter To You) 34:32 - Step Into You by Hum (from Inlet) 48:33 - Lighthouse Spaceship by The Lickerish Quartet (from Threesome, Vol. 1 EP) 59:42 - Run Towards The Roar by Baby Chaos (from Apes Confronts Cosmos) Outro

Fictional bands and artists have been a staple of movies and television shows for decades, from the heavy metal send-up of This Is Spinal Tap to Dan Akroyd and John Belushi getting the band back together in The Blues Brothers. The 1990s were no different, as movies and television were filled with bands we wished had put out full albums and toured, to some that were best left to thirty-seconds of screen airtime. Whether it's capturing the sound of the decade in shows like My So-Called Life and Daria or films such as Singles and Empire Records, or revisiting past decades like the 70s glam rock of Velvet Goldmine and 60s garage rock of That Thing You Do!, there is plenty to rediscover or check out if you missed it the first time around.   Songs In This Episode: Intro - Shrimp Shack by The Wonders (from That Thing You Do!) 5:05 - All Over The World by Strange Fruit (Still Crazy) 20:14 - Freakin' Friends by Mystik Spiral (Daria) 36:40 - More Bad Times by Ed's Redeeming Qualities (Ed's Next Move) 42:43 - The

The third album by that dog. album didn't happen. 1997's Retreat From The Sun was intended to be lead singer Anna Waronker's debut solo album, but after pressure from her record label, it turned into a full-band effort. The result might be the highlight of the that dog. catalog, and one of the best guitar pop albums of the decade. Three minute mid and uptempo radio-friendly tunes with enough grit and subtly layered instrumentation allow Retreat From The Sun to work on two levels - a catchy pop record for casual fans, and a headphone experience for those desiring a deeper listen. With the talented Hayden sisters on vocals and multiple instruments, the record finds the balance between crafted and fresh.   Songs In This Episode: Intro - Retreat From The Sun 18:27 - Never Say Never 21:39 - Annie 25:05 - Gagged and Tied Outro - Long Island   Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon. Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.

On this episode, we invited Drew Zakmin of the Songs Gone Wrong podcast on to discuss his pick of the 1998 Jerry Cantrell solo debut, Boggy Depot. While his guitar prowess and backing vocals in Alice Chains were well regarded in the 1990s, it wasn't clear what a large part Cantrell played in the overall sound of the band until this album, which features plenty of riffs and melodies on part with tracks on Facelift or Dirt. The heavier and darker sounds associated with the band are significantly reduced, as Cantrell indulges his songwriter side on longer tracks like "Settling Down" and "Cold Piece," while adding horns, piano, and other non-AIC instrumentation to the mix. But producing his own record may have led to some choices that a seasoned producer might have questioned, such as the overlong run-time and (at times) oddly mixing choices that occasionally bury the guitar leads. Once you're done with this episode, make sure to head over to Songs Gone Wrong for the other half of our podcast swap to hear us disc

Way back in season number one of Dig Me Out we were joined by an old friend (Chip Midnight, who would become a frequent guest on the show) to discuss one of his favorite bands and albums, the 1996 album Broadcaster by Triplefastaction. During that episode we talked about eventually revisiting the second and final album by the band, 1997's Cattlemen Don't. While we predicted it would be five thousand episodes later, it only ending up being five hundred episodes later, as we are joined by Brian and Kevin from the band, along with producer John Agnello popping in for a bit, to revisit the record and discuss the just-announced double LP vinyl reissue on Chicago's Forge Again Records. From the label, Justin Wexler joins us to share the in's and out's of how a vinyl reissue happens, and of course, our old friend Chip is back to share stories and more with the group.   Songs In This Episode: Intro - Pure 11:31 - Heroes 35:09 - Eurogirl 1:11:33 - If Outro - Duck And Run   Support the podcast, join the DMO UN

Instead of tackling an individual label for this roundtable, we decided to invite our Patreon patrons on the show to discuss some of their favorite record labels of the 1990s. While many started out with a narrow musical focus, some developed and expanded their roster of bands, while others stay true to their original mission. We talked about the pop-punk of Berkeley, CA's Lookout Records, the New York hardcore of Revelation, the garage punk of Bellingham, WA's Estrus Records, the post-punk of Chicago's Touch and Go Records, and many more.   Songs In This Episode: Intro - B.L.U.R.E.M.I. by Blur 6:43 - Mouth Breather by The Jesus Lizard (Touch & Go) 19:24 - The Young Influentials by Juno (Desoto) 31:31 - Graveyard Girlfriend by The Groovie Ghoulies (Lookout) 48:28 - Killing A Camera - Braid (Polyvinyl) Outro - Mutate Me by Into Another (Revelation)   Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon. Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.

For every obvious major label signing in the mid-90s trying to capitalize on the success of a variety of Seattle-sounding guitar bands, there was an equal number of head-scratchers that seem to make little sense in retrospect. Take Southern Culture on the Skids, a North Carolina rockabilly outfit that had kicked around since the mid-80s, but found a home on Geffen Records alongside Weezer, Sonic Youth, Veruca Salt, and White Zombie for their 1995 release Dirt Track Date. What the three-piece had going for them is a tight unit of skilled players steeped in American music history, smoothly transitioning from steel-pedal Hawaiian influenced ballads to B-52s-esque kitschy minimalist pop. Dirt Track Date may have only made the slightest dent thanks to its quirky single "Camel Walk," but like the swing revival, the attempt at recapturing the sounds of the past comes across as earnest rather than nostalgic.   Song In This Episode Intro - Camel Walk 17:50 - Firefly 22:50 - Nitty Gritty 26:08 - Make Mayan A Hawa

For our latest Dig Me Out '80s episode, available only to our Patreon community, we revisit the 1981 album Fair Warning by Van Halen. While tensions mounted within the Van Halen camp between Eddie, Dave, and producer Ted Templemen, the band explored dark sounds and themes, integrating dirty disco grooves, screaming slide guitar, and synthesizer mayhem that marked a turning point in the Van Halen story. Check out the first thirty-five minutes of this two-hour and fifteen-minute episode for free, join the Dig Me Out Union to access the previous dozen '80s episodes, vote in our monthly album pick polls, and more.

The success of the 1993 Screaming Trees album Sweet Oblivion and the single "Nearly Lost You" may have put Mark Lanegan on the mainstream map, but as a solo singer/songwriter, Lanegan was already successfully forging a different path with 1990's The Winding Sheet. By the time 1994's Whiskey For The Holy Ghost was released after a protracted recording period, the split between the streamlined grunge of the Trees and Lanegan's forays into folk and blues were fully on display. With only one track, the escalating "Boracho," featuring prominent electric guitar and distortion, the album finds more similarities with fellow Seattle folksters The Walkabouts (with whom Lanegan appeared as a guest) than most of his Seattle contemporaries. The result is Lanegan's voice, sought after as a collaborator for decades to come, fully out front, which serves him well while exposing some of the cracks in the instrumental performances and production.   Songs In This Episode: Intro - House A Home 13:11 - The River Rise 17:47 -

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.