#498: B-Sides Of The 90s

The 1990s may have been the most bountiful of decades when it came to the concept of the B-side. Originally singles provided just one extra song on the second side of a 45 RPM single. That expanded to 12" singles for dance 1970s remixes and 1980s longer cassette singles. For music obsessives, the 90s provide the rare opportunity to hear three, four or more tracks from a band not included on an album. Non-album studio tracks were accompanied by demo, live, remix, acoustic, radio edit and more of album and non-album tracks, as well as covers, instrumental and acapella versions. Some bands, like Pearl Jam, Suede, and Oasis, even managed to score radio singles with their b-sides. We dive into the various interesting B-sides from a variety of bands and discuss some of the B-sides compilations released during the decade.

Songs In This Episode:

Intro - Yellow Ledbetter by Pearl Jam

13:28 - Landslide (Fleetwood Mac cover) by The Smashing Pumpkins

19:02 - Wish You Were Here (Pink Floyd cover) by Catherine Wheel

28:09 - Heroin Girl (Acoustic) by Everclear

41:08 - Maquiladora by Radiohead

50:05 - Winnebago by Foo Fighters

Outro - Puppets by Hum

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#497: Mack Avenue Skullgame by Big Chief

Funk music might be most commonly associated with 1970s bands like Funkadelic, Parliament, Sly & The Family Stone, the Ohio Players, and other more, but the 1990s saw their fair share of funk enthusiasts slip into the alternative mainstream. The Red Hot Chili Peppers had become an MTV staple, Primus and Faith No More explored the outer edges, while bands like the Beastie Boys, Living Colour, Infectious Grooves and more put their own spin on the sound. In Ann Arbor, Michigan, the remnants of 80s hardcore bands the Necros, Laughing Hyenas, and others formed Big Chief, whose 1991 skewed towards the alternative metal sound. That would not be the case on their 1993 follow-up, Mack Avenue Skullgame. Dubbed an "Original Soundtrack" for a movie that does not exist, the album is a faithful throwback to the 70s blaxploitation sounds of soundtracks like Shaft, Superfly, Cleopatra Jones and others. The band lays down authentic if updated funk sounds and adds the necessary vocals of Thornetta Davis to add melodic punch. But like all soundtracks, can the concept work without the imagery to go with it?

Songs In This Episode:

Intro - My Name Is Pimp (Mack's Theme)

19:08 - One Born Every Minute (Doc's Theme)

24:18 - If I Had A Nickle For Every Dime

27:32 - No Free Love On The Street

32:55 - Cop Kisser (Mack F*cks Up The Scene At The Freezer)

Outro - Cut To The Chase

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#496: To Bring You My Love by PJ Harvey

In 1995 PJ Harvey was relatively unknown in the US, aside from college radio and others tuned into the underground. Thanks to the breakout single "Down By The Water," for a brief moment she was in the same spotlight as Tori Amos, Bjork, Sarah McLachlan, Liz Phair, and other female artists who transcended the dominance of Seattle grunge and guitar rock. On To Bring You My Love, Harvey bounces between the minimalist blues of the title track and the krautrock drive of Working For The Man, and the blistering distortion of Meet Ze Monsta and pounding drive of Long Snake Moan. But in the age of Spotify skipping, can minimalism and restraint with bursts of nasty distortion still catch an ear?

Songs In This Episode:

Intro - Down By The Water

22:22 - C'mon Billy

26:09 - Long Snake Moan

34:10 - The Dancer

38:03 - Working For The Man

Outro - Meet Ze Monsta

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#495: Desert Rain by Indian Ocean

Thanks to our Patreon community, every so often we get to step outside the our 90s comfort zone of American, UK and Australian alternative and indie rock. Having previously gotten hip to the rock en español of Café Tacvba and the Indian/Britpop fusion of Cornershop, this time we're getting the fusion from a different starting point. On the 1997 live recording Desert Rain by Indian Ocean, the fusion starts with the North Indian style of Indian classical music known as Hindustani, and from there incorporates elements of jazz, rock and folk. Able to stand on its mightily on its own with regard to craft and technical ability, making sonic connects to artists such as Tool drummer Danny Carey and his use of the tabla or the mathematical improvisation of Steely Dan helped our understanding and deepened our appreciation for our latest discovery.

Songs In This Episode:

Intro - Village Damsel

20:17 - Euphoria

23:42 - From The Ruins

33:35 - Going to ITO

Outro - Melancholic Ecstasy

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