Dig Me Out: 90s Rock

Fiona Apple - Tidal | 90s Album Review

Fiona Apple's 1996 debut album Tidal remains a landmark in alternative music, blending jazz-infused piano melodies with deeply introspective lyrics. The album's breakout single, "Criminal," propelled Apple into the mainstream, earning her a Grammy and solidifying her as a unique voice in the industry. With raw emotion and poetic lyricism, songs like "Shadowboxer" and "Sleep to Dream" showcased her maturity beyond her years. Tidal was both critically acclaimed and commercially successful, influencing a generation of singer-songwriters with its confessional style. Nearly three decades later, the album's haunting beauty and vulnerability continue to resonate with listeners.

 

Songs In This Episode

Intro - Sleep To Dream

25:03 - Shadowboxer

34:26 - Pale September

46:16 - Criminal

50:12 - The First Taste

Outro - Slow Like Honey

 

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Swimmer - Surreal | 90s Album Review

We'll forgive you if you missed Swimmer's one and only album, 1999's Surreal, because we did as well. Though released on Madonna's Maverick label, the band came and went rather quickly, leaving without making a blip on Billboard, radio, MTV, and the internet in general. What they did leave behind was a forty-three minute long compact disc full of drama-laden alternative rock that sweeps through the eleven tracks with equal parts quiet emoting and bombastic explosion. Nothing about the record is ground-breaking, but as is usually the case, the sum is equal to more than the parts.

 

Songs In This Episode

Intro - Playing Jesus

19:12 - Dumb

21:12 - Because Today

30:11 - Kick In The Head

34:59 - Spaced Out Hat

42:50 - Dirty Word

Outro - Surreal

 

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...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead - Source Tags & Codes | 00s Album Review

Back in the day (i.e. the 90s), the idea of an indie band jumping to a major label was usually followed by the words "sell out." But without the restrictions of a smaller budget and less time, many artists put their increased resources to good use. Source Tags and Codes, released in 2002 by ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead, might be one of the first landmark albums in the post-hardcore world of the 2000s. The album blends intense, chaotic energy with lush, orchestral arrangements, creating a sound that is both visceral and melodic. It received near-universal critical acclaim upon release, with many praising its ambitious scope and emotional depth, but has it retained a lasting influence Source Tags and Codes remains a defining moment in the band's career and is considered a classic by fans of the band, but does it stand up over twenty years later?

 

Songs In This Episode

Intro - It Was There That I Saw You

18:09 - Another Morning Stoner

22:09 - How Near How Far

25:23 - Baudelaire

30:34 - Relative Ways

Outro - Monsoon

 

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Singles of 1995 | Roundtable

Here at Dig Me Out we spent the last ten years starting each new season by looking back at the albums from each year that stood the test of time, disappeared without a trace, and everything in between. We kicked off with a roundtable in 2015 and revisited the albums of 1995, so it made sense to start a new series of roundtables in 1995 as well. This time we're checking out the singles of each year, looking at the year-end Modern Rock/Alternative and Hot 100 charts in the US, as well as charts from Canada, the UK and Australia for comparison. Like with all roundtables, we enlisted the help of some special guests to revisit this interesting transitional year that saw the rise of the second generation of grunge bands like Bush and Silverchair, the continued success of 1994's pop-punk breakthroughs by Green Day and The Offspring, and the juggernaut that was Jagged Little Pill by Alanis Morissette. But that doesn't tell the entire tale, so former A&R executive and audio tech writer James Barber and music writer Kevin Alexander join us to talk about all the hits, the near misses, and the weirdness that was 1995.

Lastly, our third guest, S.W. Lauden aka Steve Coulter was unable to attend due to the tragic loss of his and his family's home in the Eaton, CA. fires. If you are able, please consider donating to the Go Fund Me set-up by Steve's friends.

 

Songs In This Episode

Intro - You Oughta Know by Alanis Morissette (Jagged Little Pill)

12:15 - Possum Kingdom by Toadies (Marvel's Thunderbolts 2025 trailer)

24:48 - A Girl Like You by Edwyn Collins (Empire Records soundtrack)

33:18 - Bright Yellow Gun by Throwing Muses (University)

53:24 - No More I Love You's by Annie Lennox (Medusa)

1:00:23 - Common People by Pulp  (Different Class)

Outro - Alright by Supergrass (I Should Coco)

 

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Papa Vegas - Hello Vertigo | 90s Album Review

Papa Vegas' 1999 album Hello Vertigo offers a radio friendly mix of alternative rock with polished production. It showcases the band's bi hit potential, but the songwriting occasionally feels formulaic, relying on the familiar soft/loud trope from the mid to late '90s rock scene. Tracks like "Bombshell" stand out with catchy hooks and a radio-friendly vibe, but others struggle to maintain the same level of energy or memorability. While the album has moments of creativity, such as its layered guitar work and atmospheric touches, it tends to play it safe, rarely straying from the verse/prechorus/chorus format. The album is more than competent at delivering a chorus, but the safe rhythm section and lack of dynamics give the overall record a consistency that could use a shake-up from time to time.

 

Songs In This Episode

Intro - Super Telepathy

17:57 - Something Wrong

20:42 - No Destination

36.37 - Mesmerized

46:38 - Bombshell

Outro - Sermon Underground

 

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Arcwelder - Pull | 90s Album Review

Despite being a three piece, the Midwestern trio Arcwelder put each instrument to optimum use on their 1993 album Pull. A big, post-hardcore sound without layer upon layer of overdubs thanks to off-kilter chord and melody choices that recall heavier 90s acts like Helmet and the next in the vein of noisier drone of Swervedriver. Arcwelder find a consistent, engaging sound that balances indie rock intensity with an accessibility that reveals itself over the course of several listens, the definition of a slow grower.

 

Songs In This Episode

Intro - Truth

14:04 - Lahabim

20:08 - Cranberry Sauce

23:33 - Remember to Forget

34:59 - What Did You Call It That For

Outro - It's A Wonderful Lie

 

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Season Fourteen Review

So much to to talk about when we look back on 2024. Like with our previous year-in-review episodes, we look back at our favorite new album discoveries, most brought to us by our Patreon community, as well as our most enjoyable round table experiences, and our favorite 80s Metal episodes, before previewing what's in store for next year. Here's to season fifteen in 2025!

 

Songs In This Episode

Intro - Dig Me Out by Sleater-Kinney

5:17 - 0 for 1 by Poster Children

10:40 - Don't Go Out with Your Friends Tonite by Ho-Hum

18:07 - Love Bomb Baby by Tigertailz

Outro - Mirror Mirror by Blind Guardian

 

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Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.

Styx - Surviving The 90s

We're always looking at new ways to approach the 90s, and in the past we've revisited the output from bands and artists that got that start in the 1970s and 80s, like Tom Petty, KISS, Van Halen, and others. At the suggestion of our friend and 80s Metal co-host Chip, we've revamped the format for a fresh start. We kick it off with progressive arena rock veterans Styx, and start by checking out their 70s and 80s greatest hits to re-familiarize ourselves with the songs that became staples on classic rock radio for decades - "Come Sail Away," "Renegade," "Mr. Roboto," "Lady," and many more. Then we check out their 90s releases - the 1990 album Edge of the Century, which did not feature guitarist Tommy Shaw, then guitarist for Damn Yankees, and then their 1999 reunion with Shaw, and last with lead singer/keyboardist Dennis DeYoung, Brave New World. Unlike many of their classic rock peers, Styx managed to score a hit single at the start of the decade with the ballad "Show Me The Way." From their, we catch up with the band and current status to determine if the band thrived in the 90s, merely adapted to the times, or creatively died.

 

Songs In This Episode

Intro - Show Me The Way (from Edge of the Century)

7:40 - Blue Collar Man (Long Nights) (from Pieces of Eight)

28:42 - Suite Madame Blue (from Equinox)

38:56 - Back To Chicago (from Edge of the Century)

41.57 - All In A Day's Work (from Edge of the Century)

58:57 - What Have They Done to You (from Brave New World)

Outro - Everything Is Cool (from Brave New World)

 

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Howlin Maggie - Honeysuckle Strange | 90s Album Review

From the ashes of acclaimed but underheard Royal Crescent Mob, bass player Harold "Happy" Chichester switched to guitar and lead vocal for his new band Howlin Maggie, who released their debut album Honeysuckle Strange in 1996. With an all-star cast of Columbus, Ohio players, the band produced a fierce yet catchy album for Columbia Records at the height of alternative rock, but didn't make a dent with national radio or MTV. Which is a shame, because Honeysuckle Strange is more than just your run-of-the-mill 90s alt-rock album. Carrying over from his funk rock background in RC Mob, the album never rests on simple rhythms, chord progressions, or vocal hooks, always coming up with something a bit more interesting or challenging, even if it means pushing the volume and harshness up a notch.

 

Songs In This Episode

I

Intro - Miss Universe

18:54 - Rubbing The Industry Raw

21:40 - You Are

25:57 - $3.99

31:45 - Promise To Be Happy

34:56 - I'm A Slut

40:13 - How The West Was Won

Outro - Easy To Be Stupid (Beautiful Girls soundtrack)

 

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No Knife - Hit Man Dreams | 90s Album Review

San Diego-based band No Knife released their sophomore album Hit Man Dreams in 1997 during the peak era of underground emo and post-grunge indie rock. The album marked a pivotal moment in their evolution thanks to the intricate guitar work by Mitch Wilson and Ryan Ferguson, who blend angular post-hardcore riffs with melodic indie rock sensibility. Tracks like "Your Albatross" and the title track showcase the band's knack for crafting dynamic compositions that shift seamlessly between tension and release. Producer Mark Trombino dials in their sound to perfection, highlighting the two-guitar attack and melodic vocals that define their style. While the band isn't as well know as many of their former pre-00s emo and post-hardcore contemporaries, Hit Man Dreams and the pair of album that follow suggest a serious reconsideration.

 

Songs In This Episode

I

Intro - Roped In - Lock On

13:30 - Your Albatross

21:34 - Charades

30:25 - Median

Outro - Jackboots

 

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Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.