Dig Me Out - The 90's Rock Podcast

We gave our Patreon subscribers four album options that were released in October 1996, and they decided we should revisit the self-titled debut by Fountains of Wayne. All the hallmarks of power pop are present - tight songwriting, big vocal hooks with guitar riffs to match, and the occasional harmony to sweeten the sound - from the band that would go on to write the massive single “Stacy’s Mom.”  Songs in this Episode: Intro - Radiation Vibe 4:04 - History of the Band 12:36 - Leave The Biker 18:11 - She’s Got A Problem 27:51 - Radiation Vibe Outro - Sink To The Bottom Follow on Twitter / Facebook Request a 2016 Review / Subscribe at Patreon

This week we’re joined by former Babes in Toyland bassist Michelle Leon, author of the recently released book I Live Inside: Memoirs of a Babe in Toyland. We discuss her upbringing in suburban Minnesota prior to joining the band at the age of 17, her struggle with the idea of “authenticity” and defying expectations writing a “rock biography.” We get into the nuts and bolts of writing the book, how she approached reconstructing memories from over twenty-five years ago, muscle cars, oversized bass cabinets, her time as a realtor in New Orleans, Prince, and much, much more. Songs in this Episode: Intro/1:58 - He’s My Thing Outro - Dust Cake Boy Follow on Twitter / Facebook Request a 2016 Review / Subscribe at Patreon

Our roundtable for September is actually a two-parter on the swing revival of the 1990s. We start with an interview with Scotty Morris of Big Bad Voodoo Daddy joining us to talk about his early musical upbringing, how BBVD came together in the early 90s, being a part of Swingers, the 1999 Super Bowl and the arc of swing music in the 90s. In part two, we’re joined by Eric Grubbs and Eric Peterson to take a big picture view of the swing revival in the 90s. Songs in this Episode: Intro/1:21 - Kind of Swing by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy 50:30 - You & Me & The Bottle Makes 3 Tonight (Baby) by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy Outro - Go Daddy-O by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy Be sure to visit our Patreon page for bonus material from this episode. Follow on Twitter / Facebook Request a 2016 Review / Subscribe at Patreon

This week we are checking out the 1992 album Salutations from the Ghetto Nation by Warrior Soul. Brash and loud with one foot in the sound of 80s hair metal and the other in 90s alternative, the band is hard to pin down musically. Lyrically, not so much, as they cover anti-government and anti-corporate territory that would make friendly bedfellows with Rage Against The Machine. Songs in this Episode: Intro - Love Destruction 10:20 - The Party 17:34 - Punk And Belligerent 19:23 - Dimension Outro - Ghetto Nation Follow on Twitter / Facebook Request a 2016 Review / Subscribe at Patreon

Thanks to our voters at Patreon, this week we’re checking out the 1997 album Animal Rights by Moby. Plenty of ground is covered on this 72+ minute long, sixteen track album. Slow burning ambient tunes? Check. Pulsing instrumentals? Check. Industrial metal? Check. Down-tuned dirges? Check. Post punk cover? Check. There is a little bit for everyone, but who is this really for? We try to figure that out and more. Songs in this Episode: Intro - That’s When I Reach For My Revolver 22:17 - That’s When I Reach For My Revolver 24:44 - Come On Baby 28:02 - Say It’s All Mine Outro - Love Song For My Mom Follow on Twitter / Facebook Request a 2016 Review / Subscribe at Patreon

The Tragically Hip have been mentioned a few times on the show, but we’ve never gotten around to reviewing an album on an actual episode. Until now. Hailing from Kingston, Ontario, Canada, the band has been a stadium act for over two decades up north while making smaller inroads in the lower forty eight. With the spring announcement of lead singer Gord Downie’s terminal brain cancer, and their just completed tour for their thirteenth album Man Machine Poem, we decided to ask our friend/college radio alum/fellow Columbus musician Billy Peake (of Miranda Sound and Bicentennial Bear) to help up dig into their moody and sparse 1996 album Trouble at the Henhouse, which sits sandwiched between the successful albums Day for Night and Phantom Power. We talk about the album, the legacy of the band, the perceptions and misconceptions about them, the (possibly) final show on August 23rd (the day before this was recorded), and much more. Songs in this Episode: Intro - Ahead by a Century from Trouble at the Henhouse 23:

This week were exploring the bands that sold millions of albums in the 1990s, but by the time the ‘00s rolled around, had disappeared from the sales charts and radio stations they used to dominate. The Cranberries, Live, Creed, Blues Traveler, Hootie & The Blowfish and more we try to figure out what happened - where they overexposed and people got bored? Did follow-up albums flop? Did the collapse on under the weight of their egos and success? To help us do so, Eric Peterson (Love That Album podcast, YouTube) of and our show announcer Katie Minneci join us to discuss. If you want to hear about 10 minutes of bonus content from this episode, make sure to become a patron at Patreon. Songs in this Episode: Intro - The Cranberries/Hootie & The Blowfish/Live 2:47 - I Alone by Live 17:08 - Dream by The Cranberries 53:55 - Only Wanna Be With You by Hootie & The Blowfish Outro - Rain King by Counting Crows Follow on Twitter / Facebook Request a 2016 Review / Subscribe at Patreon

Thanks to a requested review, we’re heading back down under to Melbourne, Australia check out the 1998 self-titled debut album by The Living End. Best known in the U.S. for their 2000 single “Roll On,” from their sophomore release, we get an earlier glimpse at this three piece and their combination of punk, rockabilly and ska. They’ve got melodies and energy, but aren’t afraid to slow down the tempo. Does it work overall? Tune in to find out. Songs in this Episode: Intro - Prisoner of Society 8:03 - History of the Band 12:03 - Bloody Mary 29:52 - Trapped Outro - Monday Follow on Twitter / Facebook Request a 2016 Review / Subscribe at Patreon

Joining us this week is Jacob Slichter, drummer for Semisonic and author of the 2004 book So You Wanna Be a Rock & Roll Star. Jacob talks about how the book came together and led to a career as a collegiate writing professor. We discuss the financial realities of a major label artist and the impact of streaming, mp3s and YouTube. Songs in this Episode: Intro - Closing Time Outro - This Will Be Our Year Follow on Twitter / Facebook Request a 2016 Review / Subscribe at Patreon

Recently we asked our Pateron patrons to vote on our first album review for August from five albums released twenty years ago in August of 1996, and the winner was The Curtain Hits The Cast, the third overall by Low. Slowing the tempos to a glacial crawl is the sound Low is known for, leaving space and silence where most bands would try to fill space. Can they pull it off over the course of a full album? Tune in to find out. Songs in this Episode: Intro - Over the Ocean 9:13 - History of the Band 16:12 - Do You Know How To Waltz 20:24 - Coattails Outro - Anon Follow on Twitter / Facebook Request a 2016 Review / Subscribe at Patreon

This week our requested review takes us down South to Atlanta, GA to check out the fifth album Smoke by Drivin’ N Cryin’. After previously scoring a moderate hit “Fly Me Courageous” off the album of the same name, the band returned with this hard rock ode to the classic rock riffage of AC/DC, Aerosmith and Jimi Hendrix, with a little Paul Simon thrown in for good measure. Songs in this Episode Intro - Smoke 13:33 - She Doesn’t Want To Go 15:34 - 1988 22:36 - Eastern European Carny Man 26:02 - Back Against The Wall Outro - 1000 Swings Follow on Twitter / Facebook Request a 2016 Review / Subscribe at Patreon

This we’re talking about second acts, sequels, part deux - whatever you call it, it’s when band and artists get a second go around. Morrissey and Marr after The Smiths. Bob Mould after Husker Du. Dave Grohl after Nirvana. Which artists faired better the second time around, and which couldn’t escape their previous band’s shadow. To help, roundtable veterans Eric Grubbs and Joe Royland join us to who made their second acts the one to remember, and which one’s do we wish never happened. Head to Patreon for bonus material as we discuss artists who haven’t made a solo album, but we’d like to hear one. Songs in this Episode: Intro - Dyslexic Heart by Paul Westerberg 7:41 - See A Little Light by Bob Mould 18:55 - Vivid by Electronic 37:51 - Los Angeles by Frank Black 56:55 - Honestly by Zwan Outro - If I Had A Gun by Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds Follow on Twitter / Facebook Request a 2016 Review / Subscribe at Patreon

This week we are joined (from across the Atlantic) by Andrew Low of The Jazz June. He shares the origins of the band in Kutztown, PA playing house shows and VFWs before graduating to club shows in Philadelphia and New Jersey. He talks about his earliest influences and variety of pre-Jazz June bands. We get into recording their 2000 album The Medicine with J. Robbins, how a multi-year hiatus changed his singing style on the 2014 album After the Earthquake, and much much more. Be sure to check out the Noisey oral history of The Jazz June referenced during the show. Songs in this Episode: Intro - Rich Kid Shakedown from They Love Those Who Make The Music 21:20 - The Phone Works Both Ways from The Medicine 36:21 - Over Underground from After The Earthquake 44:00 - Two Floors Down from After The Earthquake Outro - When In Rome from They Love Those Who Make The Music Follow on Twitter / Facebook Request a 2016 Review / Subscribe at Patreon

Another week, another requested review from one of our listeners. This week we’re checking out The Origin, and their second and final release Bend from 1992. Steeped in the pleasant pop that would guide Toad the Wet Sprocket to success, The Origin expand on that sound with touches of soul, psychedelia and country. This album didn’t make much of dent beyond college radio and we try to figure out why. Songs in this Episode: Intro - Jumping To Fall 3:18 - Mad World by Gary Jules (Tears for Fears cover) 4:54 - History of the Band 9:54 - Racing With the Moon 14:22 - Bonfires Burning 19:23 - Candymine Outro - Trapped in a Dream Machine Follow on Twitter / Facebook Request a 2016 Review / Subscribe at Patreon

This week we travel to Denmark via a requested review and check out the 1994 debut album Travelogue by Kashmir. Indebted to the early 90s American influences such as Pearl Jam, Primus and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Kashmir concocts a sometimes compelling, sometimes frustrating combination of sounds and approaches that left us with more questions than answers. Songs in this Episode: Intro - Jamie Fame Flame 11:32 - Don’t Look Back It’s Probably Hydrochondriac 15:28 - Yellow 19:53 - Art of Me Outro - Leather Crane Follow on Twitter / Facebook Request a 2016 Review / Subscribe at Patreon

Joining us this week are Phil Leavitt and Joie Calio currently of the band 7Horse, who just released their third album this spring, Living in a Bitch of a World. You may know 7Horse thanks to The Wolf of Wall Street soundtrack, thanks to Martin Scorcese using their song “Meth Lab Zoso Sticker” in the movie. You might also know them as two-thirds of the band Dada, who released five albums between 1992 and 2004, scoring a successful single earlier in their career with the song “Dizz Knee Land.” We chat about 7Horse, Dada, touring, cds vs vinyl, record labels, crowd funding and much more. Songs in this Episode: Intro - Meth Lab Zoso Sticker by 7Horse 1:17 - Dizz Knee Land by Dada 4:22 - Low Fuel Drug Run by 7Horse 12:50 - Here Today Gone Tomorrow by Dada 49:21 - Meth Lab Zoso Sticker by 7Horse Outro - Stayin’ Alive (Bee Gees cover) by 7Horse Follow on Twitter / Facebook Request a 2016 Review / Subscribe at Patreon

Expanding our our Metallica in the 90s roundtable from last month, this week we’re exploring the evolution of metal music in the 1990s. It’s a big job, so to help us take a chronological walk through the decade, joining us are our metal masters Chip Midnight, Eric Grubbs and DX Ferris. Songs in this Episode: Intro - Metal Medley (Pantera, Megadeth, Prong, Korn, Sepultura) 17:27 - Sea of Sorrow by Alice In Chains 27:00 - Cowboys from Hell by Pantera 40:43 - Bring Tha Noize by Public Enemy (featuring Anthrax) 55:58 - Mama, I’m Coming Home by Ozzy Osbourne 1:12:55 - Stone the Crow - Down 1:32:33 - Green Machine by Kyuss 1:49:06 - Prison Sex by Tool Outro - Birth Ritual by Soundgarden Follow on Twitter / Facebook Request a 2016 Review / Subscribe at Patreon

We’ve got a new requested review, and there’s a good chance this will be a new discovery for everyone who listens to the show. This week we’re checking out the band Sect. 8 from New Jersey, and their album 88 CM. Kanone. As far as we can tell, it’s their only album, though the two members did spend some time in Bone Machine, led by Ted Poley after 80s hair metal band Danger Danger broke up. With elements of King’s X style progressive hard rock, Stone Temple Pilots grunge swagger, shoegaze and more, Sect. 8 provides a mixed bag of styles. But is the quality mixed as well? Tune in to find out. Songs in this Episode: Intro - Get Over It 8:06 - Choke 11:31- ? 13:52 - Declaration 17:44 - Waco 21:30 - Vampira Divine Outro - Take Him Out Follow on Twitter / Facebook Request a 2016 Review / Subscribe at Patreon

Since May gave us a bonus Tuesday to post an episode, we decided to try something new, as in new album reviews. We gathered up some of our roundtable regulars and Patreon subscribers, and put together a bunch of reviews for new albums released in the winter and spring of 2016. Steve Muczynski reviews You Know Who You Are by Nada Surf  Joe Royland reviews Hidden City by The Cult Annie Zaleski reviews Night Thoughts by (London) Suede Annie Zaleski reviews The Narrows by Grant-Lee Phillips Scott Russell Halgrim reviews Post Society EP by Voivod Jeff Takacs reviews Weezer (The White Album) by Weezer Jeff Takacs reviews Patch The Sky by Bob Mould Jim Kopeny reviews Black Star by David Bowie Jim Kopeny reviews Distroland by The Dandy Warhols Eric Grubbs reviews The Astonishing by Dream Theater Eric Grubbs reviews Protection by Face to Face Andy Derer reviews Change of Fortune by Soul Asylum Andy Derer reviews A Moon Shaped Pool by Radiohead Follow on Twitter / Facebook Request a 2016 Review / Subscribe

This week John Davis (Superdrag, Epic Ditch) returns to chat about the second soon-to-be-released album by The Lees of Memory. We go track-by-track through Unnecessary Evil, talk song origins, recordings, influences, instrumental and mix choices, album artwork and much, much more. To hear 12 minutes of bonus material, become a subscriber at Patreon. Songs in this Episode: Intro - Unnecessary Evil 13:17 - Any Way But Down 29:12 - XLII 1:04:18 - Artifical Air 1:17:22 - Squared Up Outro - Stay Down Follow on Twitter / Facebook Request a 2016 Review / Subscribe at Patreon