Mike Lawrie, Getty Images The Postal Service announced a series of upcoming…
Never Mind 'Nevermind': 10 Underrated '90s Alternative Albums
- Posted by Ian Gormely
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Still, the major labels did sign plenty of great bands -- its hard to imagine Warner Bros. signing a band like the Flaming Lips today -- and released some pretty stellar albums. Some of which wound up in the discount bin despite sounding as fresh in 2012 as they did when they were released.
So here's a list of the major label albums we hope are revisited, rediscovered and reassessed in ongoing '90s revival. This list reflects this writer's narrow music tastes as a pre-millennial teenager (mostly misanthropic alt-rock) so feel free to suggest, argue and complain in the comments.
- Beck -- Midnite Vultures (DGC, 1999)
- Blind Melon -- Soup (Capitol, 1995)
- Bran Van 3000 -- Glee (Capitol, 1998)
- Catherine Wheel -- Adam & Eve (Mercury, 1997)
- Eels -- Electro-Shock Blues (Dreamworks, 1998)
- Local H -- Pack Up the Cats (Island, 1998)
- Moby -- Play (V2/BMG, 1999)
- R.E.M. -- Monster (Warner Bros., 1994)
- The Rentals -- Seven More Minutes (Reprise/Maverick, 1999)
- Superdrag -- Regretfully Yours (Elektra, 1996)
- Alt-Rock Then and Now
- Green Day + Wavves
- Depeche Mode + Austra
- Bjork + Lykke Li
- Helmet + Mastodon
- PJ Harvey + EMA
- Massive Attack + The Weeknd
- Snoop Dogg + Wiz Khalifa
- Butthole Surfers + F---ed Up
- New Order + Neon Indian
- Aphex Twin + Flying Lotus
- Red Hot Chili Peppers + Maroon 5
- Pearl Jam + Arcade Fire
- The Verve + Horrors
- Liz Phair + Best Coast
- Moby + Deadmau5
- The Breeders + Wild Flag
- GG Allin and the Murder Junkies + Monotonix
- The Jesus and Mary Chain + Crocodiles
- Wu-Tang Clan + Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All
- House of Pain + LMFAO
- Where Are They Now?
- Jane's Addiction
- PJ Harvey
- Smashing Pumpkins
- The Pixies
- Hole
- Red Hot Chili Peppers
- Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy
- My Bloody Valentine
- Nine Inch Nails
- Pearl Jam
- Sonic Youth
- Soundgarden
- The Sugarcubes
- The Jesus and Mary Chain
- Alice in Chains
- R.E.M.
- L7
- The KLF
- Blur
- Massive Attack
- Things as Old as Anthony Kiedis
- WalMart
- Navy SEALs
- Jamaica
- Andy Warhol's Campbell's Soup Cans
- Cuban Missile Crisis
- James Bond Movies
- Spider-Man and The Hulk
- The Rolling Stones
- Beatles' First Recording
- Wilt Chamberlain's 100 Point Game Record
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Add a Comment
al.leon
1 reply to al.leon's comment
@DigMeOut: 96 podcasts?!?! On underrated 90's albums?? I am as big of a fan of 90's rock as much as the next person, but there is no way all of your selections could be quality. Especially when you're 'digging deeper' then any semblance of successful artists/albums.
November 14 2012 at 8:28 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyWe've reviewed 96 albums, doesn't mean they're all perfect or deserved to be called "underrated." But some never saw the light of day in the first place because of bad release timing, or were mismanaged by a corporate shake-up and got no promotion.
November 15 2012 at 1:36 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
al.leon
Thanks for the reply! I'll check it out
November 16 2012 at 5:48 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down10! We are 96 episodes into our podcast about this very subject. We dig deeper than REM, Beck, and Moby.
http://www.digmeoutpodcast.com/
al.leon
1 reply to al.leon's comment
Although both 'Monster' and 'Play' were both overexposed, the list does an excellent job of combining multiple facets of the 90's rock scene. My personal favorites are The Rentals''Seven More Minutes' and Local H's 'Pack Up The Cats.'
Side question: After 'PUTC' Scott Lucas and Joe Daniels unceremoniously split without ever reuniting, and without issuing a public explanation. Does anybody know what happened to Daniels' career, or why Local H split up?
Don't know why the two split up, but the band soldiers on - they just released their 7th record this year.
November 14 2012 at 11:06 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
al.leon
Living in the Chicagoland area, I have had a chance to follow the plight of their career, from headlining the Metro in 97 to playing in front of 50 people at the Hobart, IN block party. Their studio albums have always been fantastic, but after Daniels has left the band, the energy from their live shows has never been the same.
November 16 2012 at 5:54 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate downBrilliant list.
I especially applaud your selections of both Midnight Vultures and Play. Vultures is an overlooked gem and I dare anyone to sit down while Sex Laws is playing.
Play was overexposed but that doesn't take away from the brilliance of the album as a whole.
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