By 1994, Sinéad O'Connor had established herself as a musical powerhouse willing to take risks behind the microphone and under the hot spotlight of the media. Following up her third album, the 1992 release Am I Not Your Girl?, consisting mostly of jazz standards, O'Connor returned with an album of diverse musical styles, blending elements of folk, rock, and traditional Irish sounds. The mix of acoustic and electric instrumentation, from the trip-hop flavored singles "Fire On Babylon" and "Thank You For Hearing Me," bookend a much more subdued and intimate affair, including a cappella tracks and a hushed cover of "All Apologies" by Nirvana. While some of the 90s electronic production ends up sounding dating, overall the album reflects a generational talent pushing the limits of mainstream music.
 
Songs In This Episode
Intro - My Darling Child
20:36 - John I Love You
23:41 - Fire on Babylon
34:44 - All Babies
40:59 - Famine
1:00:26 - Thank You For Hearing Me
Outro - Red Football
 
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Sinéad O'Connor - Universal Mother | 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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It's hard to look back on the 1990s and remember a time when Alanis Morissette was not one of its most recognizable artists. At the start of the decade, unless you were familiar with Canadian pop music or the Nickelodeon show "You Can't Do That On Television," you'd be forgiven for not knowing her name. In 1995, that all changed. Thanks to a meeting with songwriter/producer Glen Ballard, the creatively frustrated 19-year old teen pop star was able to reinvent herself by stripping away the restraints of her previous career and starting anew. Songwriting sessions with Ballard allowed Morissette to unleash her voice, sonically and lyrically, one demo at a time into what would become one of the most successful albums in history. As impressive as the sales numbers are, unlike other massive multi-platinum world sellers, Jagged Little Pill does it without being glossy and over-produced, relying on simple drum loops, tasteful guitars, and the occasional bouncy bassline to provide the foundation for Morissette's singular voice.
 
Songs In This Episode
Intro - You Outta Know
29:52 - Right Through You
32:35 - Dope Nostalgia Promo
37:03 - All I Really Want
46:55 - Not The Doctor
50:56 - Mary Jane
Outro - Head Over Feet
 
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Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.

Alanis Morissette - Jagged Little Pill | 90s Album Review

Nine Inch Nails' second studio album, The Downward Spiral, is Trent Reznor's chronicle of self-destruction through themes of addiction, depression, and existential despair. Free from the interference of TVT Records, it marked a significant recording and songwriting evolution for Reznor, building upon the . While the industrial rock genre had already combined heavy guitar riffs with electronic elements, Reznor's innovative production techniques combined with his ear for melody helped launch the album and band from the underground world to dance charts, daily MTV play, and global recognition.
 
Songs In This Episode
Intro - Mr. Self Destruct
33:07 - Piggy
36:42 - I Do Not Want This
40:58 - The Becoming
46:02 - Heresy
58:39 - Closer To God (single)
Outro - Hurt
 
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Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.

Nine Inch Nails - The Downward Spiral | 90s Album Review

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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Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.

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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Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.

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
 
Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon.
Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.

Sinéad O'Connor - Universal Mother | 90s Album Review

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