Step back in time to the heart of the 1990s, the last great decade of rock music. We’re your weekly time machine to the era of grunge, alternative, indie rock, ...
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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Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.
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1:26:52
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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Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.
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55:37
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
Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon.
Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.
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50:01
Thankful in 2024 | Roundtable
It's our fifth year of getting the patrons together and giving thanks for the new music that gave us happiness and good vibes in 2024. There's a wide array of bands and artists, new and old, that helped make 2024 a great year for music. New albums from 1980s, 90s and 00s artists like The Cure, Pearl Jam, Judas Priest, Underworld, The Black Crowes, John Davis (Superdrag), The Sheila Divine, Jack White, Pig, the Pixies, Watershed, Sebastian Bach, Silver Sun, D-A-D, J. Mascis, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Primal Scream, The Smile, and many more all released great late career records, while newer bands like Return to Dust, Ahem, Friko, The Blackburns, Crows, and several others landed on our radar.
Songs In This Episode
Intro - Alone by The Cure (from Songs from a Lost World)
3:38 - Trust In Me by Silver Sun (from Mild Peril)
11:49 - (Hold On) To The Dream by Sebastian Bach (from Child Within The Man)
18:11 - Lapdog by Ahem (from Avoider)
21:34 - Fallout by Pig (from Feast of Agony EP)
31:17 - Free To Fall by John Davis (from JINX)
34:32 - Trial By Fire by Judas Priest (from Invincible Shield)
42:00 - Automaticity by J. Robbins (from Basilisk)
52:01 - Wanting and Waiting by The Black Crowes (from Happiness Bastards)
1:08:41 - The Darkness by The Sheila Divine (from I Am The Darkness. We Are The Light)
Outro - Dark Matter by Pearl Jam (from Dark Matter)
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Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.
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1:18:38
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Let Love In | 90s Album Review
The 1994 album Let Love In by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds is a masterful exploration of beauty and brutality. Blending gothic rock with bluesy undertones, Cave delivers haunting melodies with vivid, poetic lyrics. Tracks like "Do You Love Me?" and "Red Right Hand" showcase Cave's magnetic storytelling and the band's dynamic range, taking the wildness of his previous band The Birthday Party, and the noisy experimentation of fellow Aussies The Dirty Three, and utilizes it in surprisingly restrained ways. Themes of passion, despair, and redemption weave through the music, and while a few of the louder tracks break up the flow, overall the album creates a dark, immersive experience unlike anything from the decade.
Songs In This Episode
Intro - Red Right Hand
15:55 - Do You Love Me?
20:02 - Ain't Gonna Rain Anymore
23:45 - Jangling Jack
27:06 - Do You Love Me? (Part 2)
30:48 - Thirsty Dog
Outro - I Let Love In
Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon.
Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.
Step back in time to the heart of the 1990s, the last great decade of rock music. We’re your weekly time machine to the era of grunge, alternative, indie rock, emo, Brit-pop, shoegaze, power pop, and post-punk.
Our journey includes in-depth album reviews, insider interviews with key figures, and comprehensive cultural discussions. ’Dig Me Out: 90s Rock’ offers a deep dive into the music that defined a generation, providing a diverse range of sounds and stories that continue to influence artists today.
What sets our podcast apart is our community of passionate listeners. You choose the artists, albums, and topics we explore, making ’Dig Me Out: 90s Rock’ a truly collaborative experience. Join us as we celebrate the unparalleled creativity and cultural significance of 90s music.
If you’re a Nirvana, Built to Spill, Elastica, or Radiohead fan or fascinated with how the 90s impacted the sound of your favorite 80s artists, ’Dig Me Out: 90s Rock’ is your go-to podcast. Subscribe now and become part of a community that adores the last great decade of rock music. Let’s relive the 90s together!
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