Social Distortion - Social Distortion | 90s Album Review
The 1990 self-titled album by Social Distortion marked a significant turning point for the band, showcasing a more refined and mature sound compared to their hardcore roots. Frontman Mike Ness emerged from a turbulent period in the 1980s, including a stint in rehab that deeply influenced the album’s themes of struggle, redemption, and personal reflection. The album saw the band evolve from hardcore beginnings into a more melodic blend of punk rock infused with rockabilly, country, and roots rock. Tracks like “Ball and Chain” and their cover of Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire” highlighted this shift, combining punk’s edge with a distinctly American roots sensibility. The album's lyrical content often reflected Ness’s battles with addiction and the search for meaning, giving it a gritty authenticity that helped the band reach a larger audience and keep them on the charts throughout the 90s.
Songs In This Episode
Intro - Sick Boys
19:35 - Ring of Fire
29:10 - Ball and Chain
35:00 - Story Of My Life
40:49 - Drug Train
Outro - She's a Knockout
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53:13
Front Line Assembly - Hard Wired | 90s Album Review
Canadian electro-industrial band Front Line Assembly, led by Bill Leeb with longtime collaborator Rhys Fulber, released their eighth album Hard Wired in 1995. The album blends harsh electronic beats, cinematic synth textures, distorted vocals, and heavy guitar riffs, all characteristics of the industrial and cyberpunk aesthetics of the mid-'90s (think Hackers, Strange Days, Johnny Mnemonic). Lyrically and thematically, Hard Wired explores dystopian, technological, and transhumanist topics, reflecting fears and fascinations with the digital age, surveillance, and the loss of humanity in a mechanized world. Polished yet gritty production, mixing cold mechanical rhythms with a dark, atmospheric intensity, the album bridges the gap between their earlier EBM (Electronic Body Music) roots and a heavier, more industrial rock-influenced style.
Songs In This Episode
Intro - Neologic Spasm
33:47 - Condemned
40:12 - Modus Operandi
50:29 - Infra Rec Combat
1:01:52 - Circuitry
Outro - Barcode
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1:13:32
Kill Holiday - Somewhere Between the Wrong Is Right | 90s Album Review
Kill Holiday, formed by members of San Diego hardcore band Unbroken, made a surprising shift from aggressive post-hardcore to dreamy shoegaze with their 1999 album Somewhere Between the Wrong and the Right. Released on Revelation Records, the album channels British influences like Ride and The Stone Roses, with shimmering guitars and laid-back, melancholic melodies. Despite its shoegaze and Britpop sound, the album resonates with the emotional core of the emo genre, more in feeling rather than form, standing out as a reflective, genre-crossing record from a label known for hardcore.
Songs In This Episode
Intro - Somewhere Between the Wrong Is Right
11:49 - Someday You Will Lose and I Will Win
18:21 - Know You Your Friends Are
Outro - In Closing (Memorial Day)
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37:55
Pavement - Slanted and Enchanted | 90s Album Review
Pavement's 1992 debut album Slanted and Enchanted is a landmark in 1990s alternative music. Featuring cryptic lyrics, jagged guitar riffs, and a laid-back, DIY aesthetic that defined the band's early sound and the emergent lo-fi movement. The low budget recording contributes to its raw and unpolished sound, blending noise rock, pop hooks, and experimental structures with an ear for unusual melodies and hooks. While not everyone's cup of tea thanks to out-of-tune guitars and the unpolished recording quality, even those not familiar or fans of lo-fi might still find something to check out.
Songs In This Episode
Intro - Conduit for Sale!
15:35 - Perfume-V
18:35 - Here (alternate mix)
24:05 - Two States
30:51 - No Life Singed Her
34:57 - Loretta's Scars
Outro - Trigger Cut/Wounded-Kite at:17
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55:23
Squarepusher - Hard Normal Daddy | 90s Album Review
A groundbreaking fusion of drum and bass, jazz, and experimental electronic music, the 1997 album Hard Normal Daddy by Squarepusher showcases Tom Jenkinson’s virtuosic bass playing and intricate programming. Blending frenetic breakbeats with lush, jazz-inspired melodies, tracks like “Coopers World” and “Beep Street” highlight his unique ability to balance chaos and groove, creating an experience that’s both cerebral and rhythmically infectious. Dense and detailed production reward repeated listens revealing new textures and layers bold, resulting in a genre-defying record that pushed the boundaries of IDM at the time.
Songs In This Episode
Intro - E8 Boogie
22:00 - Beep Street
26:03 - Papalon
32:05 - Coopers World
39:22 - Fat Controller
46:06 - Chin Hippy
Outro - Rebus
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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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