38 Great Alt-Rock Songs You Haven’t Thought About In 20 Years
New Post has been published on http://www.cellularelectronicsoutlet.com/38-great-alt-rock-songs-you-havent-thought-about-in-20-years/
38 Great Alt-Rock Songs You Haven’t Thought About In 20 Years
This is for anyone who ever got excited about something that came out of the bargain bin. Presented in the form of a “conversation” so it doesn’t feel impossibly random. What did we leave out?!
Jack: What I want is songs, specifically, that maybe came out of the buzzbin or were actually good or at least fun to listen to, but then we all collectively forgot about them. Talking about that song by Dig, “Believe,” is what really started it. The world has completely erased it from its collective memory.Julie: Dig NEVER 4get. Matthew: I remember this being a thing, but when I try to get it in my head, the Lenny Kravitz song “Believe” is there instead.
Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=oWeehnYPP18. youtube.com
Alex: OK, here’s a REAL rando. Buzz bin-y, totally lost to history. Dunno where in my brain I got this from.Alex: This song is halfway Smashing Pumpkins, halfway Lit.Julie: This video is so good already. Skateboarding IN THE HOUSE.Matthew: Wow, that chord progression sounds like they’re trying to play “Summer Babe” but getting it wrong.
Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=qI_XIzanlOo. youtube.com
5. 3. The Darling Buds, “Spin”
Julie: How about the Darling Buds? I feel like they were totally forgotten.Peggy: I was listening to the DB this morning!Julie: I just rebought one of their records.
Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=x0_Qa3uYhzg. youtube.com
7. 4. Whale, “Hobo Humpin’ Slobo Babe”
Peggy: What about Whale – “Hobo Humpin’ Slobo Babe”? Not buzzbin but BEAVIS AND BUTTHEAD.Matthew: Oh man I know people who will take any opportunity to bring up “Hobo Humpin’ Slobo Babe.” Did “Slobo” actually mean a thing?
Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=2up7su7CeMU. youtube.com
9. 5. Catherine Wheel, “Waydown”
Jack: Does Catherine Wheel count for our purposes here?Julie: No. Catherine Wheel transcends.Jack: That is not a phrase that is often heard.Matthew: I think so – that one hit they had anyway, what was the one that was always on 120 Minutes in like 1994?
Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=9dDJ21ZRElc. youtube.com
11. 6. Green Apple Quick Step, “Los Vargos”
Matthew: OK, so when we started talking about this, this is the first thing that came to mind, though I never ever think of them. I really went in for a lot of faux-glam stuff in the ’90s. Like, I didn’t buy the Spacehog album with the hit on it, but I DID buy the followup.
Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=jvNzzzdNAhM. youtube.com
13. 7. K’s Choice, “Not an Addict”
Jack: What is you guys’ favorite K’s Choice song?Peggy: Ooohhh.Matthew: Not an Addict. Julie: Not an Addict. Summer: Not an Addict. I was a big fan of some other song of theirs though… “Butterflies Instead.” LOL.
Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=JT2SsWOCoEw. youtube.com
15. 8. Juliana Hatfield, “Universal Heart-Beat”
Matthew: Here is the MOST 1995 song of all. Julie: Ehhh, she was already over by then. Matthew: Yes, which is actually part of the point. This is the Major Label song.(I do think it’s her best song though.)
Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=Lrxoi0UwfdU. youtube.com
17. 9. POE, “Angry Johnny”
Summer: What about POE? Jack: Yes. Peggy: Wowowowow POE. Legit have not thought of her in 20 years.Summer: “Angry Johnny.”
Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=lrygAv93Ick. youtube.com
19. 10. St. Johnny, “Scuba Diving”
Matthew: Here’s DGC’s attempt to clone Pavement. Peggy: Ooh St. Johnny is a very good bargain bin example!!!Summer: Wow, I’m listening to the K’s Choice song I remembered loving and it is baaaaad. It includes the line: “Stuffed animals are always right.”
Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=7xDIjOQnuxQ. youtube.com
21. 11. Joydrop, “Beautiful”
Summer: OK, here’s one I haven’t thought about in a v. v. v. v. long timebut was OBSESSED with. And, as I’m watching this, turns out I still remember all the lyrics.
Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=8ad-2rEj5RM. youtube.com
23. 12. Frente, “Labor of Love”
Jack: The opening to that Joydrop song reminds me of Frente.Peggy: FRENTE. I had that on cassette!Jack: Best Frente song is “Labor of Love.”Matthew: I remember a friend who put Frente’s cover of “Bizarre Love Triangle” on EVERY tape.
Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=f2sPV7Nm148. youtube.com
Matthew: We talked about Hum a little bit before, but we would be seriously messing up if we don’t address this song.
Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=Rfbn3ieVUYU. youtube.com
27. 14. Buffalo Tom, “Sodajerk”
Peggy:What about Buffalo Tom?Matthew: Oh totally. I mostly remember their No Alternative song. Peggy: “Sodajerk”? IDK.
Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=_8zkTOQfW7M. youtube.com
29. 15. Grant Lee Buffalo, “Truly, Truly”
Jack: Buffalo Tom is great, but I always confuse them with Grant Lee Buffalo, tbh. The one GLB hit was “Truly, Truly.”
Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=T-Xpq7CtZPk. youtube.com
31. 16. The Murmurs, “You Suck”
Jack: And then there was … The Murmurs!Peggy: OMG The Murmurs. This video is… IDK, I’m just dying.Jack: I think this was their only song.
Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=I82AfD7QJ3U. youtube.com
33. 17. Scarce, “All Sideways”
Matthew: OK, here is one of my all-time favorite “played once on 120 Minutes and that’s it” songs.
Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=SLgG6Ck99oY. youtube.com
35. 18. The Posies, “Dream All Day”
Jack: The Posies I feel like were a band who were supposed to be this really big thing and then somehow weren’t.Alex: Was Ken Stringfellow in The Posies?Matthew: Yes, and also REM.
Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=lM1U78RLChY. youtube.com
37. 19. Girls Against Boys, “Super Fire”
Matthew: GIRLS AGAINST BOYS. “Super-Fire.” Jack: Yes GVSB!Matthew: I found a copy of this GVSB album on vinyl a year or so ago randomly, bought it for like $4. I was thrilled.
Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=KMdDDTjz-Ec. youtube.com
39. 20. Bran Van 3000, “Drinking in L.A.”
Jack: Long shot, but were any of you guys into Bran Van 3000?Summer: OMG JACK. I was. My Canadian friend put them on my first ever mix ~cd~and I had a crush on him so I became obsessed with them.Jack: That one album is so good. And they have a cover of “Come on Feel the Noise” as well that is pretty fantastic.
Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=OQsQZvsR_QI. youtube.com
41. 21. Belly, “Now They’ll Sleep”
Matthew: Now people generally remember “Feed the Tree,” but this is the true great Belly single.Jack: I remember EVERYTHING about Belly. I even have Tanya Donnelly solo albums.Summer: Yeah, I still listen to Belly almost daily.Matthew: Belly’s King is another album I somehow got dirt cheap on vinyl.Jack: King is crazily underrated. “And Now They’ll Sleep” and “Superconnected.”Summer: “Superconnected”!Matthew: “Puberty” is my actual favorite.
Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=SlFzWn_-EdQ. youtube.com
43. 22. bis, “Starbright Boy”
Summer: My same Canadian boy introduced me to bis. Matthew: Yes, BIS! “Tell It To The Kids.”
Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=_1n1Mjhwx2M. youtube.com
45. 23. Luscious Jackson, “Naked Eye”
Matthew: Guys, what about Luscious Jackson? “Naked Eye” is the jam of all their jams. Jack: I saw Luscious Jackson play once. They had a very devoted fan base.Peggy: Remember when Gabi was on Pete and Pete? Also she was working at Kate’s Joint when I came to NYC for CMJ in 2000, and I was like freakin’.
Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=0NhqN0KcWAE. youtube.com
47. 24. The Sundays, “Here’s Where the Story Ends”
Summer: ANYWAY. What about this?Matthew: YESSSSS. I love that song.Peggy: I love everything Sundays. Both of the first two albums I listened to to death.Matthew: I remember being at some fast food place maybe three years ago, really depressing day, and that song came on and I hadn’t heard it in forever and it was this really powerful thing. It was such a weird song to come out of nowhere.Summer: I always envied Harriet Wheeler’s hair.Peggy: So wispy.Matthew: I wish the Sundays had the success the Cranberries had. Though I like “Dreams” and “Linger” just fine.Summer: Harriet Wheeler is 51 years old, btw. *feels old*
Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=FHsip5xOenQ. youtube.com
49. 25. Sloan, “Underwhelmed”
Julie: What about Sloan?Matthew: I feel like Sloan’s glory days are later on. I’m a big big Sloan fan.
Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=MkN_qkN5JLQ. youtube.com
51. 26. Civ, “Can’t Wait One Minute More”
Julie: This video is so good.Alex: YES JULIE. No one remembers this song when I reference it.
Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=ngZXgBH7v9c. youtube.com
53. 27. Stereo MC’s, “Connected”
Jack: Which is the best Stereo MC’s song?Matt: “Connected”?Jack: It could also be “Step It Up.”Julie: “Connected.” I love the Stereo MC’s fashion. I bet Peggy does too.Peggy: Is it like Gabbercore/Baggy? Then yes.
Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=Qm8ClRnVxtE. youtube.com
55. 28. The Farm, “Groovy Train”
Peggy: Here’s one. Julie: I love this song. I associate this band with late era Soup Dragons. Peggy: It was kinda Madchestery. Jack: LOL Soup Dragons.
Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=In75rgGsp4A. youtube.com
57. 29. Lightning Seeds, “Pure”
Peggy: I recently rediscovered this song and it made me really happy. Jack: “Pure” is one of the best songs ever. That is real talk.
Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=6myNbk15sMs. youtube.com
59. 30. Our Lady Peace, “4am”
Summer: Speaking of beautiful songs…
Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=NYEMskcDRKY. youtube.com
61. 31. Veruca Salt, “Number One Blind”
Matthew: People generally remember “Seether” but what about this, the ULTIMATE SPECIMEN OF A 90s ALT ROCK SONG?Jack: Is this the one where they reference “Seether.”?Matthew: I am….really excited to see them in a few weeks.Jack: They had two songs. One was “Seether” … and the other is the one where they reference “Seether.”Matthew: No, that’s “Volcano Girls.” This is one of the hits from the first one. Also, “All Hail Me.”Jack: “Hits.”
Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=PHG5P9xFyhI. youtube.com
63. 32. Letters to Cleo, “Here and Now”
Julie: What about this one?Summer: Ugh, I love Letters to Cleo.
Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=5w2YLdjxS_M. youtube.com
65. 33. The Rentals, “Friends of P”
Julie: What about that “boy named P” song?Jack: Rentals? “Friends of P.” That whole album, Return of the Rentals is still really good. Peggy: The Rentals made me want to get a Moog but then I found out they were like a thousand dollars.
Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=wi-H6ohY37k. youtube.com
67. 34. Neds Atomic Dustbin, “All I Ask of Myself Is That I Hold Together”
Matthew: Here’s an obscure one. Julie: Ned’s isn’t obscure, but they are SO GOOD.Peggy: Yes, I still listen to Ned’s!Jack: No British band is obscure. They never forget about any of their bands over there. Like, everyone in England still listens to Ned’s. That’s how it works in the UK.
Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=ikt8ZdXG294. youtube.com
69. 35. Ben Lee, “I Wish I Was Him”
Summer: Is this just me?Matthew: Oh my God Summer. Julie: Don’t even with Ben Lee. Summer: This is actually technically Noise Addict.Summer: He is singing a love song to Evan Dando, as a child. Julie: A sarcastic love song. As a child. Julie: Remember when he dated Claire Danes for a million years?Summer: He wrote a song for her 16th birthday party. Matthew: That is something very unique to that time. Ben Lee is just this weird Australian guy who is completely defined by his relationships with more famous people.Julie: Whatever, Matthew.
Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=On928LHGkC8. youtube.com
71. 36. The Geraldine Fibbers, “California Tuffy”
Matthew: Do you guys remember The Geraldine Fibbers?Peggy: Yes! I saw them at Lollapalooza. They had violins and shit.Matthew: Their cover of Can’s “Yoo Doo Right” is PERFECT.
Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=aqf_iQqI_Xk. youtube.com
73. 37. Meat Puppets, “Backwater”
Matthew: What was that song the Meat Puppets pushed as a single after people knew who they were post-Nirvana Unplugged?Jack: I don’t remember, but I do remember that The Meat Puppets started a band with Krist Novoselic, and they had one single. Eyes Adrift, was the name of the band. Matthew: Well that’s definitely Krist playing bass. Julie: Sounds like dad rock to me. Matthew: Anyway, “Backwater” is a jam. Jack: Oh yeah! That song was huge. I had literally erased it from my memory banks. It is way better than this Eyes Adrift song.
Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZGbva-0zmb8. youtube.com
75. 38. Suddenly Tammy, “Hard Lesson”
Julie: There was this band called Suddenly Tammy. Peggy: OMG yes, I was going to mention them earlier!Julie: They had a song called “Lamp.”Matthew: But this is the truly amazing Suddenly Tammy song. Julie: I remember this video! Because I always wanted to make a music video on a school bus.
Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=PdDXVVEQf3E. youtube.com
Read more: http://buzzfeed.com/expresident/forgotten-90s-songs
