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J and Tim dig into the grunge, alt-rock, and indie albums that changed everything—the forgotten classics, the underappreciated masterpieces, and the legends worth hearing again. One album at a time. Let’s dig it out.
Episodes
Tuesday Jul 19, 2022
Tuesday Jul 19, 2022
Bruce Kulick, a member of KISS from 1984 to 1996, and John Corabi, a member of Motley Crue from 1992 to 1997, joined forces to form Union with capable players Jamie Hunting on bass and Brent Fitz on drums. The songwriting style Corabi brought to Crue is evident from the first track "Old Man Wise," which combines classic hard rock riffs with melodies and vocals that fit well into 90s alternative and grunge, such as Alice In Chains. What helps make this something more than just another album is the small touches - the harmony vocals from all members paired with clean and unfussy production that serve the songs well.
Songs In This Episode:
Intro - Old Man Wise
13:56 - Around Again
20:20 - October Morning Wind
28:40 - Let It Flow
39:26 - Pain Behind Your Eyes
Outro - Get Off My Cloud
Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon.
Thursday Jul 14, 2022
Thursday Jul 14, 2022
While G. Love is currently doing the press circuit to discuss his latest album, Philadelphia Mississippi, the affable blues artist is more than happy to talk about his experiences in the ‘90s. Born in Philadelphia and raised on the finest music that city had to offer in the ‘70s and ‘80s, namely soul and blues, G. Love moved to Boston to continue his busking career with hopes of landing a record deal. As glam became grunge, and grunge became pop-punk, G. Love’s alternative hip-hop with blues-style guitar playing was a bit of an anomaly though, in retrospect, artists like Beck and Fun Lovin’ Criminals could now be considered peers. A deal with Sony imprint Okeh was solidified in ‘94 with the release of the first G. Love and the Special Sauce album and G. Love got into the write, record, tour cycle for the rest of the decade releasing three more albums before the turn of the new century. Looking at G. Love’s discography, he never slowed down though he left Okeh to release solo - and band - albums on Brushfire Records, all the while maintaining a consistent touring lifestyle. 2022’s Philadelphia Mississippi was born out of pandemic SoulBques where G and his makeshift group of musician friends would hang out, grill up some meats, and sit around playing blues music. You can catch G. Love on stage opening the Dispatch/O.A.R. tour as well as headlining some of his own dates this summer.
Songs In This Episode:
Intro - Rhyme for the Summertime
8:06 - Baby's Got Sauce
Outro - Blues Music
Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon.
Tuesday Jul 12, 2022
Tuesday Jul 12, 2022
In the 1990s Dinosaur Jr. was primarily the J Mascis show, with both Lou Barlow and Murph out of the band. Their 2000s reformation has resulted in a steady release of some of the band's best material, but the origins trace back to the early 80s and the high school hardcore band Deep Wound where J and Lou began. Then known only as Dinosaur, the band toned down the hardcore elements for more jangle, and with J growing into a guitar shredder somewhere between Sonic Youth and Neil Young. On each of their three releases, the band grows as songwriters and players, and production considerably improves as the studios and budgets slowly increase. We dive into the early years to hear the earliest inklings of what the band would later become on albums like Green Mind and Without A Sound.
Songs In This Episode:
Intro - The Leper from Dinosaur
17:49 - Repulsion from Dinosaur
28:21 - In a Jar from You're Living All Over Me
34:03 - The Lung from You're Living All Over Me
41:06 - No Bones from Bug
Outro - Freak Scene from Bug
Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon.
Tuesday Jul 05, 2022
Tuesday Jul 05, 2022
Though known for a variety of harder post-hardcore bands like Helmet, Quicksand, Biohazard, and many more in the early 90s, the New York City indie music also include a number of outliers who had their major label moments. Like Soul Coughing or Firewater, Skeleton Key sought to do something slightly different. Sure, there are guitar-driven alternative rock tunes like "Wide Open" or "The Worlds Most Famous Undertaker," but the majority of the album isn't so straightforward. With a "junk" percussionist, there is a pallet of sounds not regularly heard on most alternative rock records of the decade.
Songs In This Episode:
Intro - Watch The Fat Man Swing
23:05 - Wide Open
28:22 - All The Things I've Lost
35:24 - Vomit Ascot
Outro - The Worlds Most Famous Undertaker
Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon.
Tuesday Jun 28, 2022
Tuesday Jun 28, 2022
One-hit wonders are not unique to the 1990s, and revisiting sophomore albums is always a hit-or-miss experience. Double down on what made the band or artist successful, evolve the sound into something unexpected, or somewhere in between? After scoring a hit with "Counting Blue Cars" on their 1995 debut Pet Your Friends, Dishwalla returned in 1998 with And You Think You Know What Life's About. From the opening track, the band play with sounds and melodies that stretch from the industrial rock of Stabbing Westward to the big choruses of Oasis to the experimental quirk of Radiohead. The album is unafraid to go BIG, with soaring guitar lines and vocals, but does it add it up more than just a collection of disparate influences?
Songs In This Episode:
Intro - Healing Star
11:56 - Stay Awake
18:03 - Until I Wake Up
23:06 - Pop Guru
Outro - Bottom Of The Floor
Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon.
Tuesday Jun 21, 2022
Tuesday Jun 21, 2022
The late mid-to-late 90s were overwhelming based on the number of new album releases each week. Unfortunately, that meant bands like Little John either had a breakout single and video or were quickly relegated to the cut-out bin. In the case of their 1996 album Derailer, full of pop-rock that veers between Dinosaur Jr. guitar riffs and the quirky lyrics and melodies of They Might Be Giants, the band crafted some earworms alongside some less engaging album tracks. From the opening title track to the Presidents Of The United States of America-esque "Evel Knievel," the band craft tight, fun songs that more people should know.
Songs In This Episode:
Intro - Fell From The Sun
15:24 - Shoelace
22:05 - Scared
31:40 - Evel Knievel
40:49 - Derailer
Outro - Down On Me
Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon.
Thursday Jun 16, 2022
Thursday Jun 16, 2022
There isn’t a Dig Me Out listener who isn’t familiar with Everclear, a staple of ‘90s alternative rock radio and MTV. With a string of hits like “Santa Monica,” “I Will Buy You a New Life,” and “Father of Mine,” Everclear spent the better part of the decade relentlessly touring, playing to sold-out crowds around the globe. But, had it not been for the relative success of the band’s 1993 debut, World of Noise, Everclear might have been just another footnote in a long line of forgotten bands. Singer Art Alexakis had tried his luck in San Francisco with the band Colorfinger in the late ‘80s/early ‘90s but after that band’s demise, moved with his pregnant girlfriend to Portland, Oregon where he decided to give the music thing one last try. Though World of Noise was cheap to make, the songs that Alexakis recorded with bassist Craig Montoya and drummer Scott Cuthbert - rough and raw as they were - caught the ears of major label A&R reps looking for the “next Nirvana.” After an initial release on indie label Tim/Kerr Records, Capitol Records picked up the band and reissued the debut, and set Alexakis on the way to a career that has lasted 30+ years. For the first time ever, World of Noise is now available on all major streaming services, and a vinyl reissue is planned for later 2022. While Montoya and Scott Cuthbert (and Cuthbert’s replacement, Greg Eklund) are long gone, Alexakis continues to make a living by releasing new Everclear music and touring. While the venues may be smaller, the passion is still there and Everclear will be celebrating World of Noise, and the rest of its catalog, on a summer tour with openers Fastball and The Nixons.
Songs In This Episode:
Intro - Fire Maple Song
4:38 - Nervous and Weird
Outro - Sick and Tired
Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon.
Tuesday Jun 14, 2022
Tuesday Jun 14, 2022
Face To Face had established themselves over their first three albums as a skate punk band with elements of Bad Religion and Hüsker Dü. But for 1999's Ignorance Is Bliss, they purposely showed the tempos and expanded the pallet to a much more alternative rock sound. That left some fans confused, others angry, but also welcomed new listeners into the fold. Depending on whether you're a punk purist or prefer creative detours, there is plenty to enjoy on the album, which sounds confident and catchy in a way that only veteran players with songwriting chops could pull off.
Songs In This Episode:
Intro - Heart of Hearts
15:37 - The Devil You Know (God Is A Man)
22:33 - Prodigal
27:26 - (A)Pathetic
40:25 - I Know What You Are
Outro - Overcome
Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon.
Tuesday Jun 07, 2022
Tuesday Jun 07, 2022
Describing rock bands can be tricky, as there is usually a need for comparison to set expectations. In the cast of Headstones, it's not that simple. The band is heavy, but not metal. They rock in a way that fits into the 90s, but they're not grunge or alternative. Smart lyrics, big guitar riffs, and short catchy songs that have hints of Australian bands like AC/DC or The Angels, with a touch of Guns 'n Roses and even a ballad or two. On their 1993 debut Picture of Health, all the ingredients for a smash hit debut are there, and while the band is beloved in Canada, they didn't make a ripple outside their home country.
Songs In This Episode:
Intro - When Something Stands for Nothing
17:10 - Heart of Darkness
22:39 - Oh My God
35:19 - It's All Over
Outro - Judy
Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon.
Tuesday May 31, 2022
Tuesday May 31, 2022
Composed of Jean-Luc De Meyer of Front 242, Mark Heal of Cubanate, and Ged Denton of Crisis n.T.i., along with special appearances by members of Front Line Assembly and Haujobb, C-Tec is something of a 1990s industrial supergroup. What that allows is the members to experiment on their debut Darker with a broader range of sounds away from their regular bands, like including breakbeats on "Being Nothing," going 80s on "The Lost," or punishing noise on "Shift IV." Of course, there are some four-one-the-floor thumpers made for the 12" remix, like the Rammstein-esque "Foetal" and driving "Stateless." A few of the tracks take a little more time than necessary to get going, and De Meyer's vocal approach won't be for everyone, but Darker is a worthwhile album to add to your industrial collection.
Songs In This Episode:
Intro - Flowing
10:25 - Being Nothing
15:37 - Foetal
25:38 - Flowing
28:19 - Shift IV
Outro - The Lost
Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon.