"Sell-out" was a phrase tossed around in the 1990s whenever an indie or small-label band jumped to a major record label. Among the most surprising were Bad Religion because their guitarist Brett Gurewitz owned the label they had released their first seven albums on Epitaph Records. While sell-outs were accused of trading integrity for money, Bad Religion's eighth album "Stranger Than Fiction" makes the case that not only was the jump a good move, but helped kick-start the pop-punk takeover of 1994 along with Green Day and The Offspring, who released million-selling albums the same year in "Dookie" and "Smash," respectively. Thanks to a re-recording of "21st Century (Digital Boy)," a song the band was unhappy with the previous studio version, they had a proper radio and MTV single to expose the suburban masses around the United States to a headier lyrical approach backed by sugar-sweet harmonies.
 
Songs In This Episode
Intro - Incomplete
25:23 - 21st Century (Digital Boy)
30:46 - Stranger Than Fiction
38:39 - Infected
Outro - The Handshake
 
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Bad Religion - Stranger Than Fiction | 90s Album Review

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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With their tenth album, Jump Rope, just released, a fortunate stroke of serendipity landed Buffalo Tom's third album Let Me Come Over at the top of our most recent Patreon album poll. Having recorded their first two albums with J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr., the band took a different approach for their 1992 release, heading to Fort Apache Studios to work with Sean Slade and Paul Q. Kolderie. With guitars and tempos dialed down a bit, introspective lyrics and melancholy melodies become clearer in the mix, while tasteful layers of acoustic guitars, keys, and other additions help fill-out the three-piece sound.
 
Songs In This Episode
Intro - Staples
15:27 - Mineral
17:24 - Stymied
26:25 - Taillights Fade
29:54 - I'm Not There
Outro - Porchlight
 
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Buffalo Tom - Let Me Come Over | 90s Album Review

Following the end of Galaxie 500, Damon Krukowski and Naomi Yang were ready to give up on music. Thanks to Mark Kramer of Shimmy Disc, who coaxed them back into the studio, the pair formed Damon and Naomi, and released their debut More Sad Hits in 1992. While continuing the dream pop/slowcore sound of Galaxie 500, the band stretch their sound in various ways, with subtle basslines playing off the vocal melodies, hits of French pop and jazz, and the varied vocal approach with each taking lead, as well as harmonizing on several tracks. Neither high or lo-fi, it's melancholy but not depressing, a fine needle to thread.
 
Songs In This Episode
Intro - Boston's Daily Temperature
13:25 - E.T.A.
17:28 - Information Age
24:19 - Once More
28:43 - Astrafiammante
Outro - This Changing World
 
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Damon and Naomi - More Sad Hits | 90s Album Review

Starting as the inexplicable Rainbow Butt Monkeys in the early 90s, the band wisely changed their name after the 1995 debut release and reconfigured their sound on 1998's Tip as Finger Eleven. With the capable Arnold Lanni behind the board, the band combined contemporary elements of Our Lady Peace, Helmet, Quicksand, and more in their post-grunge approach. A pair of big, thick guitar sounds with a rock steady rhythm section give singer Scott Anderson a strong base to work with, like on the riff-heavy "Condenser" and "Glimpse." But the band has multiple gears, like the subdued "Awake and Dreaming" and Tool-lite closer, "Swallowtail." If there is anything working against the band, it's the restraint they adhere to, keeping second guitar leads to a minimum and occasionally drifting vocally into Raine Maida territory.
 
Songs In This Episode
Intro - Condenser
26:46 - Alone
35:33 - Quicksand
40:25 - Swallowtail
Outro - Glimpse
 
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Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.

Finger Eleven - Tip | 90s Album Review

In terms of unexpected successes in the music industry, Hootie & the Blowfish might be the biggest one of all. Having spent years playing southern bars as the 80s gave way to the 90s, the band couldn't get a record deal despite success with an independent EP. The A&R rep that signed them did so because they didn't sound like what was popular, and Atlantic Records gave them a fraction of their standard advance and no money to make a video for their 1994 debut Cracked Rear View. Years of honing their chops on the SEC circuit meant the pop-rock tunes with a tinge of southern flavor were tight and catchy - the perfect antidote to the domination of minor chord and drop-tuned Seattle sound that dominated after the release of Nevermind. Naturally, as their record sales exploded, backlash wasn't far behind, which quickly made the band fodder for comedians and music journalist poison pens. So is the hate directed at four compentent musicians with a goofy band name and over twenty-million albums sold valid?
Thank you to Tara for her years of support, please check out Prism United.
 
Songs In This Episode
Intro - Hold My Hand
26:47 - Hannah Jane
29:35 - Drowning
48:40 - Only Wanna Be With You
52:29 - Running From An Angel
Outro - Goodbye
 
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Hootie & the Blowfish - Cracked Rear View | 90s Album Review

Led by vocalist Angie Hart and guitarist Simon Austin, Frente! emerged from Melbourne, Australia, with a sound that blended acoustic folk with a touch of alternative rock. On their 1992 debut Marvin the Album, Hart's angelic vocals combined with Austin's intricate guitar work create an intimate listening experience. It was completely out of step with the heavy Seattle sounds dominating radio playlists at the time, but the band made commercial inroads thanks to their non-album cover of New Order's classic synth-pop dance hit "Bizarre Love Triangle." For such a focused, stripped down record, some of the production choices left us scratching our heads, like an obnoxiously loud snare caked in heavy reverb, or a free jazz excursion completely out of step with the rest of the record.
 
Songs In This Episode
Intro - Accidently Kelly Street
23:17 - No Time
27:00 - Cuscatlan
32:38 - 1.9.0
35:23 - Ordinary Angels
39:58 - Most Beautiful
Outro - Labour of Love
 
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Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.

Bad Religion - Stranger Than Fiction | 90s Album Review

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