The KMAG Network

This concludes the best of 1993…25 years later. I did find out I skipped at least two albums because they were disappointing through and through which is a shame. It was a fabulous years musically.

Twenty-five years later, I managed to find over two dozen songs I overlooked because I either discovered them as time went by or I didn't own them while 1993 happened.

The original conclusion to the hits of 1993. It ends on a rather depressing note with Sarah McLachlan's contribution to an AIDS benefit record because that reflected my hope of moving to Austin in 1994.

This being the longest retrospective I ever compiled during my heyday of mixtapes, I'm easily running out of crap to say. All I can hope is that your keep enjoying this look back at when "Alternative" was finally getting mainstream airplay and acceptance. Viva la Gen X!

Now at the midway point for 1993's hits. I tried to keep the variety going with artists you'd be surprised I'd use, others you'd expect and the rest being just a surprise to hear because they made good records.

The hits kept on coming with the influences of WXRT, 101Q, CMT, NPR and 120 Minutes.

More hits from 1993. A couple were played to death in their heyday so I'm hoping time has been kinder to them than the last tune on this "tape." Since 4 Non Blondes only hit is still like listening to nails on a chalkboard, I revised the podcast to go with a more tolerable dance remix.

One silver lining to the shitshow known as 1993 was getting to listen to a deluge of albums/music. Whether it was being unemployed, the long drives to my various crap jobs or trying to pass the time at said crap jobs. So when it was time to compile what was my longest compilation of hits (three tapes!), I had little trouble making this while packing up for Austin.

My last mixtape of standard fare to be created on the East side of the Mississippi! Soon I would be leaving for Austin, TX; my new home for the next couple decades. Since I had quit my job earlier, I had a couple weeks to stick around to say either "goodbye" or "kiss off" to all the people of Central IL. I also needed the extra time to be an annoyed witness in a copyright lawsuit, after that, it was celebrating before for my first true vacation in years.

Now it's 1994, the beginning of a new, bleak year. Overqualified, underpaid and incredibly bored, these mixtapes were becoming a more enjoyable hobby than most other things. Being cooped up at my grandmother's house with my stereo really got me through what would be my last and near-worst Winter. Remember when all the ATMs were knocked out?