March 29, 2016
We’re back with our latest requested review, this week we’re checking out the second and final album by School of Fish, 1993′s Human Cannonball. The band scored a minor hit on their first album, but none of the singles reached the same level of success from this release, and we try to figure out why. While the main songwriting tandem of Josh Clayton-Felt and Micheal Ward stayed in tact, the rhythm section changed, and that might have had some impact, while other parts that should have made an impact didn’t. We struggled with this record, are we justified in our criticisms? Tune in hear what we’ve got to say, and let us know if you agree or disagree.
Songs in this Episode:
Intro - Take Me Anywhere
2:25 - 3 Strange Days
16:47 - Everyword
20:13 - Stand in the Doorway
23:15 - Fuzzed and Fading
Outro - Complicator
March 22, 2016
Last year we had a lot of fun (and learned a lot) during our Australian music of the 90s episode. In fact, we had so much fun, we decided to turn it into new series we’re calling “Digging Your Scene,” where we explore a city or region that made an impact on alternative and indie music in the 1990s.
To kick off the series, we’re heading to a city once described (like a few others) as “the next Seattle,” Chicago, Illinois. To help us getting dig deep into the Chicago music scene, we’ve invited back Andy Derer of the Chicago-based Andy Derer Show podcast, Chicagoist Senior Editor Jim Kopeny and Annie Zaleski, writer for AV Club, Salon and more, to talk the history, the bands, the venues, the record stores, the legacy and more of Chicago.
Songs in this Episode:
Intro - Chicago Medley (The Smashing Pumpkins, Veruca Salt, Urge Overkill, Liz Phair, Ministry)
12:17 - Suffocation by The Pulars
25:15 - Valerie Loves Me by Material Issue
33:11 - Lotion by Wesley Willis
51:58 - Sugar, We’re Going Down by Fall Out Boy
55:51 - Get Over It by OK Go
Outro - Via Chicago by Wilco
March 15, 2016
Another week, another requested review! This week we’re checking out the 1993 debut album Icky Mettle by Archers of Loaf. Check out any music website, blog or magazine, and when the best alternative albums of the 90s are ranked, you’ll usually find this album somewhere on it. Propulsive drums, melodic bass, dissonant guitars and urgent vocals are combined in short bursts without adhering to the verse/chorus/verse format. The results are definitely superior to most of their 90s counterparts, but does that make it a perfect record? We have thoughts, tune in to find out what they are.
Note: we apologize for the audio quality on this one, we had some technical difficulties with Jason’s microphone.
Songs in this Episode:
Intro - Web in Front
17:35 - Last Word
23:00 - Web in Front
24:31 - Hate Paste
27:53 - Might
31:20 - Learo, You’re A Hole
Outro - Wrong
March 8, 2016
Our latest requested review brings us The Welcome Mat’s debut release Gram from 1993. This four-piece from Sydney, Australia packs some power-pop worthy hooks thanks to crisp vocal harmonies, well-crafted tunes and expert guitar riffage. It’s only when either of the vocalists steps out on their own that the songs start to suffer, but how much? It’s (mild) disagreement time!
Songs in this Episode:
Intro - Everyone’s Gone
3:13 - History of the Band
6:52 - Deathbag
8:36 - Junkmail
12:48 - All or Nothing
18:07 - Blew
Outro - Gram
March 1, 2016
Thanks to a requested review, we’re joined by Bluebottle Kiss lead singer/guitarist Jamie Hutchings to revisit the 1996 album Fear of Girls. We chat about his earlier years playing drums and how that influenced his guitar playing and singing. We discuss seeing late 80s/early 90s American indie-rock bands touring Australia before forming Bluebottle Kiss, then getting signed and working with producer Jack Endino on Fear of Girls. We talk touring, songwriting, going solo, his new band Infinity Broke and more.
Songs in this Episode:
Intro - Helping You Hate Me from Fear of Girls
18:38 - Claim from Fear of Girls
33.52 - Stained Mouth from Fear of Girls
38:51 - Return to the City of Folded Arms from Patient
Outro - Outside Are The Dogs