Mudhoney may have written some of the most recognized pre-Nirvana breakthrough tracks associated with the Seattle sound of the 80s like "Touch Me, I'm Sick," "Suck You Dry," and "In 'n Out Of Grace," but the band has had as much in common musically with the sound of Detroit punk and garage bands like MC5, Iggy & The Stooges, The Gories, Sonic's Rendezvous Band, etc. On their second full-length album, Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge, released in 1991 just months before Nirvana's Nevermind changed the musical landscape, the band took their established template and added vintage organs, blazing harmonicas, and acoustic guitars to expand their sound. While it helps break up what can become a repetitive listen thanks to the eight-track lower-fidelity production, the band can't deliver on a killer melody or hook the way they had on their previous standout songs.

Songs In This Episode:

Intro - Let It Slide

14:05 - Generation Genocide

18:55 - Something So Clear

23:36 - Pokin' Around

28:03 - Fuzzgunn '91

Outro - Into The Drink

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As we've discussed previously with episodes on Mötley Crüe and Skid Row, the 1990s were a weird evolutionary period for '80s hard rock and metal bands tagged with monikers "glam" or "hair" to describe their look even if it didn't describe their sound. So much so, there's always a caveat to their '90s releases as to whether the band tried to update their sound to fit in with the new alternative and grunge landscape, or if they kept chugging along with only minor tweaks. In the case of Boston funk-metal band Extreme, their fourth (and until 2008, final) album Waiting For The Punchline ditched the big rock production for a more immediate style that gives the rhythm section more punch but still allows virtuoso guitarist Nuno Bettencourt room to dazzle.

Songs In This Episode:

Intro - Hip Today

18:52 - Waiting For The Punchline

26:42 - There Is No God

30:30 - No Respect

Outro - Evilangelist

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While the calendar confirms that 2020 was a standard 365 days, March seemed to last seven months, and in total the year seemed like one endless anxiety attack. Luckily, music still provided a momentary reprise via albums in a variety of forms. Some were unexpected, like from Hum, Shiner, Sparta, and Criteria. Some were long in the making, like albums from Fiona Apple, Pearl Jam, Alanis Morissette, and the Psychedelic Furs. Others were from active favorites, like The Lees of Memory, Guided By Voices, Local H, and Jeff Tweedy. There was something for everyone, and we talked about many.

Songs In This Episode:

Intro - Far Beyond by The Lees of Memory (from Moon Shot)

6:36 - Shameka by Fiona Apple (from Fetch The Bolt Cutters)

27:16 - Ghosts by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band (from Letter To You)

34:32 - Step Into You by Hum (from Inlet)

48:33 - Lighthouse Spaceship by The Lickerish Quartet (from Threesome, Vol. 1 EP)

59:42 - Run Towards The Roar by Baby Chaos (from Apes Confronts Cosmos)

Outro - The Solution is Laughable by Godzillionaire (from Negative Balance)

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Fictional bands and artists have been a staple of movies and television shows for decades, from the heavy metal send-up of This Is Spinal Tap to Dan Akroyd and John Belushi getting the band back together in The Blues Brothers. The 1990s were no different, as movies and television were filled with bands we wished had put out full albums and toured, to some that were best left to thirty-seconds of screen airtime. Whether it's capturing the sound of the decade in shows like My So-Called Life and Daria or films such as Singles and Empire Records, or revisiting past decades like the 70s glam rock of Velvet Goldmine and 60s garage rock of That Thing You Do!, there is plenty to rediscover or check out if you missed it the first time around.

Songs In This Episode:

Intro - Shrimp Shack by The Wonders (from That Thing You Do!)

5:05 - All Over The World by Strange Fruit (Still Crazy)

20:14 - Freakin' Friends by Mystik Spiral (Daria)

36:40 - More Bad Times by Ed's Redeeming Qualities (Ed's Next Move)

42:43 - The Bedrock Twitch by The BC-52's (The Flintstones)

53:36 - By My Side by The Suburbans (The Suburbans)

Outro - How Do You Talk To An Angel by The Heights (The Heights)

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The third album by that dog. album didn't happen. 1997's Retreat From The Sun was intended to be lead singer Anna Waronker's debut solo album, but after pressure from her record label, it turned into a full-band effort. The result might be the highlight of the that dog. catalog, and one of the best guitar pop albums of the decade. Three minute mid and uptempo radio-friendly tunes with enough grit and subtly layered instrumentation allow Retreat From The Sun to work on two levels - a catchy pop record for casual fans, and a headphone experience for those desiring a deeper listen. With the talented Hayden sisters on vocals and multiple instruments, the record finds the balance between crafted and fresh.

Songs In This Episode:

Intro - Retreat From The Sun

18:27 - Never Say Never

21:39 - Annie

25:05 - Gagged and Tied

Outro - Long Island

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On this episode, we invited Drew Zakmin of the Songs Gone Wrong podcast on to discuss his pick of the 1998 Jerry Cantrell solo debut, Boggy Depot. While his guitar prowess and backing vocals in Alice Chains were well regarded in the 1990s, it wasn't clear what a large part Cantrell played in the overall sound of the band until this album, which features plenty of riffs and melodies on part with tracks on Facelift or Dirt. The heavier and darker sounds associated with the band are significantly reduced, as Cantrell indulges his songwriter side on longer tracks like "Settling Down" and "Cold Piece," while adding horns, piano, and other non-AIC instrumentation to the mix. But producing his own record may have led to some choices that a seasoned producer might have questioned, such as the overlong run-time and (at times) oddly mixing choices that occasionally bury the guitar leads. Once you're done with this episode, make sure to head over to Songs Gone Wrong for the other half of our podcast swap to hear us discuss the 1997 single Tubthumping by Chumbawamba.

Songs In The Episode:

Intro - Cut You In

12:01 - Dickeye

17:21 - Settling Down

22:27 - Devil By His Side

26:01 - Hurt A Long Time

Outro - My Song

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Way back in season number one of Dig Me Out we were joined by an old friend (Chip Midnight, who would become a frequent guest on the show) to discuss one of his favorite bands and albums, the 1996 album Broadcaster by Triplefastaction. During that episode we talked about eventually revisiting the second and final album by the band, 1997's Cattlemen Don't. While we predicted it would be five thousand episodes later, it only ending up being five hundred episodes later, as we are joined by Brian and Kevin from the band, along with producer John Agnello popping in for a bit, to revisit the record and discuss the just-announced double LP vinyl reissue on Chicago's Forge Again Records. From the label, Justin Wexler joins us to share the in's and out's of how a vinyl reissue happens, and of course, our old friend Chip is back to share stories and more with the group.

Songs In This Episode:

Intro - Pure

11:31 - Heroes

35:09 - Eurogirl

1:11:33 - If

Outro - Duck And Run

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Instead of tackling an individual label for this roundtable, we decided to invite our Patreon patrons on the show to discuss some of their favorite record labels of the 1990s. While many started out with a narrow musical focus, some developed and expanded their roster of bands, while others stay true to their original mission. We talked about the pop-punk of Berkeley, CA's Lookout Records, the New York hardcore of Revelation, the garage punk of Bellingham, WA's Estrus Records, the post-punk of Chicago's Touch and Go Records, and many more.

Songs In This Episode:

Intro - B.L.U.R.E.M.I. by Blur

6:43 - Mouth Breather by The Jesus Lizard (Touch & Go)

19:24 - The Young Influentials by Juno (Desoto)

31:31 - Graveyard Girlfriend by The Groovie Ghoulies (Lookout)

48:28 - Killing A Camera - Braid (Polyvinyl)

Outro - Mutate Me by Into Another (Revelation)

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For every obvious major label signing in the mid-90s trying to capitalize on the success of a variety of Seattle-sounding guitar bands, there was an equal number of head-scratchers that seem to make little sense in retrospect. Take Southern Culture on the Skids, a North Carolina rockabilly outfit that had kicked around since the mid-80s, but found a home on Geffen Records alongside Weezer, Sonic Youth, Veruca Salt, and White Zombie for their 1995 release Dirt Track Date. What the three-piece had going for them is a tight unit of skilled players steeped in American music history, smoothly transitioning from steel-pedal Hawaiian influenced ballads to B-52s-esque kitschy minimalist pop. Dirt Track Date may have only made the slightest dent thanks to its quirky single "Camel Walk," but like the swing revival, the attempt at recapturing the sounds of the past comes across as earnest rather than nostalgic.

Song In This Episode

Intro - Camel Walk

17:50 - Firefly

22:50 - Nitty Gritty

26:08 - Make Mayan A Hawaiian

Outro - 8 Piece Box

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For our latest Dig Me Out '80s episode, available only to our Patreon community, we revisit the 1981 album Fair Warning by Van Halen. While tensions mounted within the Van Halen camp between Eddie, Dave, and producer Ted Templemen, the band explored dark sounds and themes, integrating dirty disco grooves, screaming slide guitar, and synthesizer mayhem that marked a turning point in the Van Halen story.

Check out the first thirty-five minutes of this two-hour and fifteen-minute episode for free, join the Dig Me Out Union to access the previous dozen '80s episodes, vote in our monthly album pick polls, and more.