Dig Me Out: 90s Rock

Mogwai’s 1999 album Come On Die Young trades some of the explosive catharsis of their debut for a slower, more deliberate exploration of mood and texture. Opening with Iggy Pop’s laconic musings on punk ethos, the record unfolds in hushed tones, with fragile guitar lines and patient rhythms evoking a late-night, half-lit world. Songs like “Cody” favor aching melancholy over the band’s trademark crescendos, making the few bursts of volume feel seismic. The production by Dave Fridmann is spacious and shadowy - it broods like an atmospheric statement that rewards deep, uninterrupted listening.   Songs In This Episode Intro - Helps Both Ways 12:31 - Chocky 20:26 - Cody 25:20 - Christmas Steps 39:22 - Oh! How the Dogs Stack Up Outro - Kappa   Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon. Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.

In a Priest Driven Ambulance marks a pivotal moment for The Flaming Lips with the addition of Jonathan Donahue as a member of the band (and later Mercury Rev), along with Dave Fridmann behind the board for the first time. The blend of lo-fi psychedelic rock retains the melodic chaos while exploring new experimental territory. Wayne Coyne finds his voice, and tracks like “Shine on Sweet Jesus” showcase his spiritual fixation, filtered through fuzz pedals and existential yearning. It’s an ambitious, unpolished gem that foreshadows the band’s later sonic evolutions.   Songs In This Episode Intro - Sweet Jesus (Jesus Song No. 1) 23:20 - Raining Babies 32:42 - Take Meta Mars 37:30 - Five Stop Mother Superior Rain Outro - Unconsciously Screaming   Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon. Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.

The 1993 debut album No Biting by Los Angeles-based band Greta blends post-grunge aggression with quirky, off-kilter alternative rock. Led by Paul Plagens’ distinctive vocals and lyrics, the album features tracks like “Revolver” and “School On Fire” showcase a mix of heaviness and melody. The willingness to veer into funk, noise, and pseudo-progressive territory adds a level of chaotic charm to the record that fans of Faith No More or Jane's Addiction might enjoy.   Songs In This Episode Intro - School on Fire 14:28 - Is It What You Wanted 20:33 - Revolver 23:08 - Love Is Dead 30:44 - Insomnia Outro - Sleepyhead   Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon. Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.

Legendary guitarist and songwriter Richard Thompson's 1999 album Mock Tudor explores the dark corners of suburban England with sharp wit and rich storytelling. Produced by Tom Rothrock and Rob Schnapf, the album steers away from Thompson's signature folk-rock sound towards a leaner, more contemporary approach. While still rooted in traditional genres with touches of rockabilly and reggae, the album feels urgent and modern, capturing a sense of unease beneath its melodic surface.   Songs In This Episode Intro - Sibella 9:42 - Hard On Me 11:44 - Bathsheba Smiles 22:24 - Dry My Tears and Move On 33:39 - Cooksferry Queen Outro - Sights And Sounds of London Town   Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon. Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.

For our latest Diamond Episode, we're checking out Jewel’s 1995 debut Pieces of You. A blend of minimalist folk ballads with polished pop, Pieces of You is a showcase for Jewel's rich and varied soprano voice. Hits like “Who Will Save Your Soul” and “You Were Meant for Me" are the rarity featuring multi-tracked instrumentation. Much of the record was recorded live at a San Diego coffeehouse, which gives an intimate feel to its confessional lyrics, but also lacks the dynamic and filled-out sound of the singles.   Songs In This Episode Intro - Who Will Save Your Soul 32:20 - Foolish Games 38:32 - Near You Always 42:37 - I'm Sensitive Outro - You Were Meant For Me   Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon. Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.

Released in 1995, the waning years of grunge and riding the big wave of the alternative rock explosion, That’s What Love Songs Often Do by Fig Dish was a punchy major label debut from Chicago quartet Fig Dish. Lyrically, Fig Dish steers away from overwrought introspection in favor of sly, observational jabs at love and life, delivered with rasp and grit. Raw yet clear production allows the interplay between all the instruments shine, with just enough hooks and attitude to keep you interested.   Songs In This Episode Intro - Weak and Mean 25:17 - Bury Me 29:29 - Seeds 35:29 - Going Gone Outro - Chew Toy   Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon. Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.

For Him and the Girls, the debut album by Canadian singer-songwriter Hawksley Workman, is an eclectic blend of glam rock, cabaret, and indie pop. Recorded largely in his home studio, the album revels in his uniquely quirky and theatrical style. Songs like “Tarantulove” and “Safe and Sound” feature lush arrangements, dramatic tempo shifts, and playful yet poignant lyrics that shift between earnest and odd. Lo-fi production adds raw intimacy, complementing the unconventional approach.   Songs In This Episode Intro - Bullets 17:05 - Maniacs 20:37 - Don't Be Crushed 23:07 - No Sissies 27:33 - Tarantulove 39:34 - Baby This Night Outro - Bullets   Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon. Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.

One Simple Word, the fourth studio album by The Connells, showcases the band’s melodic southern jangle pop sound with a more polished and introspective tone. While not a commercial blockbuster, the album scored with critics and college radio listeners thanks to catchy but not overly sugary melodies that sound like attempts at a mainstream radio hit. Lush guitar interplay and heartfelt lyrics highlight their knack for emotionally resonant songwriting without leaning into melancholy.   Songs In This Episode Intro - Stone Cold Yesterday 20:27 - Speak To Me 25:04 - Get A Gun 31:32 - Too Gone 36.21 - What Do You Want? Outro - Take A Bow   Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon. Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.

Blending progressive house, techno, and ambient, the 1996 album Second Toughest in the Infants is Underworld’s ambitious follow-up to their breakout album Dubnobasswithmyheadman. Crafted with expansive, hypnotic soundscapes, tracks like “Pearl’s Girl” and the multipart suite “Juanita/Kiteless/To Dream of Love” highlight their exploration of rhythm and texture, while Karl Hyde’s cryptic, stream-of-consciousness lyrics add a surreal and poetic layer to the music.   Songs In This Episode Intro - Confusion the Waitress 16:28 - Stagger 19:26 - Juanita : Kiteless : To Dream of Love 23:34 -Banstyle/Sappy's Curry 27:06 - Rowla Outro - Pearls Girl   Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon. Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.

In our third installment of Surviving the 90s, we’re revisiting one of the arena rock powerhouses of the late '70s and early '80s — Foreigner. Known for a string of massive hits like "Cold as Ice," "Hot Blooded," "Urgent," "Juke Box Hero," and the chart-topping ballad "I Want to Know What Love Is," Foreigner dominated radio and MTV in their prime. Albums like Double Vision, Head Games, and 4 went multi-Platinum, cementing their legacy. But as the musical landscape shifted in the 90s, the band faced lineup changes and a changing industry. Though new material was scarce, they continued touring and remained a fixture on classic rock airwaves. We revisit their biggest hits, their activity in the 90s, and try to determine: did Foreigner thrive, adapt, or fade during the decade?   Songs In This Episode Intro - Feels Like The First Time 30:29 - Headknocker 34:03 - Blue Morning, Blue Day 47:29 - Double Vision 50:52 - Moment of Truth 56:34 - Lowdown and Dirty 1:10:54 - Big Dog 1:19:35 - White Lie Outro - Juke Box Hero   Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon. Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.

An Eye For A Brow, A Tooth For A Pick, the 2006 debut album by Australian band Ground Components, blends elements of garage, punk, and soul that fits in nicely with the garage rock revival of the early '00s. Featuring a mix of aggressive punk-ish guitar riffs, driving and boogie rhythms, and horn arrangements give the album a unique sound compared to contemporaries. All that is a playground lead for lead singer Joe McGuigan, who yelps and screams with soulful veracity throughout the record.   Songs In This Episode Intro - Hands In The Air 15:27 - Stale Thoughts 20:43 - On Your Living Room Floor 28:01 - Head In The Sand 38:23 - Fistful of Dallas Outro - Coming In from All Angles   Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon. Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.

While their debut album tagged them as Dinosaur Jr Jr thanks to loud guitars and J. Mascis behind the board, Buffalo Tom's second album, Birdbrain, builds on the raw, guitar-driven sound of their debut but with more mature songwriting and production. Produced again by J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr. with Sean Slade, the album emphasizes emotional intensity over polish, with songs like "Birdbrain" and "Enemy" showcase the band’s knack for combining distorted guitars with introspective lyrics. Though not a commercial hit, the album helped solidify Buffalo Tom’s place in the early '90s indie rock scene and shows a significant step in the band’s evolution toward the more refined sound of their later work.   Songs In This Episode Intro - Fortune Teller 17:23 - Birdbrain 23:07 - Crawl 26:26 - Heaven 29:40 - Skeleton Key Outro - Guy Who Is Me   Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon. Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.

Uisce (pronounced "ish-ka," the Irish word for "water") is the sole full-length album by Australian band Non-Intentional Lifeform (N.I.L.), released in 1997 by Roadrunner Records. Formed in Perth in 1995, N.I.L. was known for their eclectic fusion of hard rock, thrash metal, post-punk, rap, and funk. Energetic and unpredictable, the album is an inventive blend of genres anchored by stellar musical performances that sound like a bridge between rap-rock pioneers Rage Against The Machine and Faith No More, and late 90s alternative and nu-metal of System of a Down and Incubus.   Songs In This Episode Intro - Living or Existing 21:36 - Farm Animals 23:37 - Sister Julienne 33.22 - Spilling All Over The Floor Outro - Living or Existing   Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon. Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.

A fusion of punk, garage, and noise rock, the 1996 album Blastronaut by The Lee Harvey Oswald Band is a bombastic, high energy record drawing upon 70s David Bowie, classic rock, and the Stooges. Confrontational and darkly humorous, the band leans into a satirical, sometimes absurdist tone, reflecting a punk ethos while incorporating elements of Southern culture and psychedelic weirdness. The alias-driven mystique and off-kilter presentation of the band begets an aggressive, theatrical style that may have been out of touch with the mid-1990s, but is worth revisiting.   Songs In This Episode Intro - Rocket 69 12:27 -The Greatest Man Who Ever Walked the Face of the Earth 16:50 -Green Like the Color of Blood 18:59 - Panic in Hanoi 32:37 - Brontosaurus 35:14 - The Scorpio Letter Outro - Morphodite   Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon. Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.

The 1990 self-titled album by Social Distortion marked a significant turning point for the band, showcasing a more refined and mature sound compared to their hardcore roots. Frontman Mike Ness emerged from a turbulent period in the 1980s, including a stint in rehab that deeply influenced the album’s themes of struggle, redemption, and personal reflection. The album saw the band evolve from hardcore beginnings into a more melodic blend of punk rock infused with rockabilly, country, and roots rock. Tracks like “Ball and Chain” and their cover of Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire” highlighted this shift, combining punk’s edge with a distinctly American roots sensibility. The album's lyrical content often reflected Ness’s battles with addiction and the search for meaning, giving it a gritty authenticity that helped the band reach a larger audience and keep them on the charts throughout the 90s.   Songs In This Episode Intro - Sick Boys 19:35 - Ring of Fire 29:10 - Ball and Chain 35:00 - Story Of My Life 40:49 - Drug Train Outro - She's a Knockout   Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon. Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.