Scotch Sampler

scotchandcigar said:
Quick detour - I was reminded I left out the seminal punk rock band, the Stooges. If I can get on my soapbox for a minute, the idea that the Ramones are a pioneering punk rock band is both stupid and comical. The Ramones are a faux neo-punk band. I'm not saying they're bad - they're in my favorites list - but they are doing a tongue-in-cheek retro punk act. The real original punk band is the Stooges, with Iggy Pop.

Pat Carney (drummer for the Black Keys) has a show on SXM, where he pointed this out. And he played this very same live version of the 1970 Stooges song Loose. Even though it's not an original-era performance, Iggy is as nutty as ever.

The Stooges – Loose (live)



Their 1973 release was more popular (and their last), and generated this cleverly used track

Iggy and the Stooges – Search and Destroy (Apocalypse Now soundtrack)
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Good stuff. Iggy is on a planet of his own and legit. Thumbup2:

The guitar player is playing a Reverend guitar. One of the USA made models.
 
scotchandcigar said:
OK, back to our regularly scheduled program (for IRBS, that's programme). It's not hard to find a rock star who's destroyed themselves with drugs, but even with that low bar, few have gone lower than Shawn Ryder. Yet he was in a couple of great bands in the '90s. In 1990, his band the Happy Mondays released a platinum selling album, featuring the songs Kinky Afro, and this uber-funky tune

Happy Mondays - Step On



Then, in '95, he formed Black Grape, and won me over with the unlikely combo of rock, rap, and reggae. This was an epically strong album,
View attachment 7452

and generated all these unique hits

Black Grape - Reverend Black Grape



Black Grape - In the Name of the Father



Black Grape - Kelly’s Heroes
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I didn't realize that Black Grape was the Happy Mondays.
I like the Grape I've heard.
 
I have to say, I'm enjoying this 2nd pass through the favorites list. I feel like I have more freedom to feature artists that don't necessarily fit my strict requirements for all-time favorites. I can just pick a group of musicians, for whatever reasons I want. Here are 2 examples of that.

The British band Ride had a short-lived first run, and in the US, they only charted in '91 and '92. But they left their mark, with an epic song that represents the pinnacle of the shoegazing style.

From the iconic 1992 album Going Blank Again
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Ride – Leave Them All Behind (live)
 
The 2nd of today's bands was an "honorable mention" the first time through the list. That was mainly due to the fact that I've tired of their hits; they were played to death, and now seem dated. But like I said, on this 2nd pass through my favorites, I can bend the rules however I want - because it's MY thread.

The band is Garbage (not literally; that's their name, as bad as it is). I loved their 1995 self-titled debut album, which took hold of the Alt Rock charts with Queer, Only Happy When It Rains, and Stupid Girl. But I don't really want to hear those hits anymore. Truth is, when Stupid Girl comes on the radio, the opening Train in Vain sample gives me hope it's the Clash song. But alas, it's not.

But since this is my thread, and I can be loose with the rules this time around, I'm only going to feature the non-hit tracks from the album, which are excellent. In fact, I had a hard time keeping it down to 5 tracks to fit in one post. But let me tell you; I am so glad I decided to take a 2nd look at the band, as I was reminded of a few things:

1) Back in the day, Shirley Manson was incredibly hot and alluring. She was an awesome frontwoman.
2) Her live singing voice is better than the album, and the band is full of talent.
3) This was one amazingly strong debut album.

So, without further adieu (does anyone ever proceed with further adieu?), here are - in album order - the best tracks from the debut album

It begins with a strong opening track

Garbage – Supervixen (live)



This is one of several songs of theirs that have been co-opted by the Gran Turismo game franchise

Garbage – As Heaven is Wide



A song that got some radio airplay

Garbage – Not My Idea (live)



As Shirley explains, this was their first single

Garbage – Vow (live)



And this is the dreamy track that ends the album

Garbage – Milk (live)
 
I love Garbage (the band). "Stupid Girl" was on my 424 and will be on my 441. I never notices the "Train in Vain" opening until just now. But I like it. "Only Happy When It Rains" is on my **** list. "Queer" is also digitized and is a *** selection in my library.

I should find the album and digitize the remaining non-hit tracks.

I am not sick of their hits (yet) myself.
 
And I'd be remiss if I left out their follow-up work. In '97, they had a hit with the song #1 Crush from the Romeo & Juliet soundtrack. Then in '98, they released the album Version 2.0. Hits included Push It, and these two, which I can still handle listening to

Garbage – I Think I’m Paranoid (live on Jools)



Garbage – Special (live on Letterman)
 
scotchandcigar said:
I have to say, I'm enjoying this 2nd pass through the favorites list. I feel like I have more freedom to feature artists that don't necessarily fit my strict requirements for all-time favorites. I can just pick a group of musicians, for whatever reasons I want. Here are 2 examples of that.

The British band Ride had a short-lived first run, and in the US, they only charted in '91 and '92. But they left their mark, with an epic song that represents the pinnacle of the shoegazing style.

From the iconic 1992 album Going Blank Again
View attachment 7455

Ride – Leave Them All Behind (live)
Click to expand...

I remember those guys. I don't think that was the song they played on the radio though.
It's a great jam.
 
HecticArt said:
I remember those guys. I don't think that was the song they played on the radio though.
It's a great jam.
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They have 2 or 3 other songs that made the Alt rock charts. Vapour Trail is one. There's also a radio edit of Leave..., it's about 4 1/2 minutes.

I have to admit, there are many bands I missed when they were active, like Pavement, Bell & Sebastian, My Bloody Valentine, and Ride, just to name a few. I discovered them later, as vintage songs on the alt/indie channels.
 
There was a great indy station when I lived in Cincinnati in the early 90s that I’m pretty sure played it. It was a great station while it lasted.
 
I'm also happy to post today's installment; because once again, it allowed me to rediscover forgotten greatness. In 1992, the band Arrested Development made crossover music history, with their 4x platinum album "3 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days in the Life Of...", and the following single, which featured a guest vocalist that will be the subject of this entry

Arrested Development (ft. Dionne Farris) - Tennessee



That launched the career of Dionne Farris, who went out on her own, and in 1994 released Wild Seed - Wild Flower, containing this hit that went all the way to #4 in '95, spent 10 weeks at #1 on the Mainstream chart, won a video music award, and got her nominated for a Grammy

Dionne Farris – I Know (live on John Stewart)



Despite the fact that all of my favorite bands were peaking in '95 - from Green Day, Pearl Jam, and Smashing Pumpkins, to Alanis Morissette, PJ Harvey, and Aimee Mann - I spent at least a month with Wild Seed on repeat. It just had such a fresh blend of pop, funk, and R & B, with one great song after another. And Farris has such a strong voice. Here are just a few of the other tracks

This is just a super-cool, super funky song, with a message

Dionne Farris – Stop to Think



And here's her take on a Beatles classic

Dionne Farris – Blackbird



And finally, an awesome a-cappella tune

Dionne Farris – Human
 
Tennessee is a monster track! Love it.
I never realized that I Know is the same singer. Duh! It's obvious now.

I hadn't heard the other songs before, but she's got a great voice.
 
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That first Arrested Development album has a slew of great songs. "Tennessee" "People Everyday" and "Mr Wendal" were top 10 hits. But "Give A Man A Fish", "U", "Natural" and "Fishing 4 Religion" are great too. Second album did nothing for me (and others evidently) and then the group fell apart.

They re-formed in 2000 and have had some more good songs here and there since:

Arrested Development - A Lotta Things To Do.mp3
Arrested Development - Becoming.mp3
Arrested Development - Esmerelda.mp3
Arrested Development - I'm Ignoring You.mp3
Arrested Development - Inner City.mp3
Arrested Development - Living.mp3
Arrested Development - Out To The World.mp3
Arrested Development - Sao Paulo.mp3
Arrested Development - The World Is Changing.mp3
Arrested Development - Up.mp3
Arrested Development - Wag Your Tail.mp3

One of my CMJ CDs back in the 90s featured "I Know" by Farris and I liked it. I didn't find out until years later she was that girl from Arrested D. I never did dig into her other music to see if I'd like it. I'm gonna hafta check out those other songs of hers you posted!
 
Once again, it's time for everybody's favorite segment - One Offs! Today, it's a mid-90s mosh-pit mash-up:

While this group had a few other songs on the radio, this was their big one from 1995

Toadies – Possum Kingdom (live)



The MPs have been around since the 80s, and had a hit in '94 with Backwater. But I got hooked on this one from '95

Meat Puppets – Scum (live on Conan)



I know several people who worship these guys, and they've had some recent hits; but this put them on the map in '96

Eels – Novocaine for the Soul (live, starts at 0:45)



Perhaps this is dated now, but it was a cool song at the time in '96, when they were still edgy

Nada Surf – Popular (live)



And finally, I always thought this was a great song, but I never heard much else from them after this 1996 hit

K’s Choice – Not an Addict (live)
 
Bonus round! I'm going to do tomorrow's installment today. But actually, it should've been posted about 2 weeks ago, according to my timeline, but I kind of blew by it.

The band World Party is essentially Karl Wallinger, who had been a member of The Waterboys. His 1987 debut album produced this now-classic hit

World Party – Ship of Fools (live)



The next album, released in 1990, gave us the song Put the Message in the Box, and this groovy tune

This live version starts with the keyboard at roller-rink levels, but eventually gets fixed

World Party – Way Down Now (live on Letterman)



And finally, the 1993 follow-up album contained this pleasant tune

1993 World Party – Is It Like Today? (studio audio)
 
scotchandcigar said:
Once again, it's time for everybody's favorite segment - One Offs! Today, it's a mid-90s mosh-pit mash-up:

While this group had a few other songs on the radio, this was their big one from 1995

Toadies – Possum Kingdom (live)



The MPs have been around since the 80s, and had a hit in '94 with Backwater. But I got hooked on this one from '95

Meat Puppets – Scum (live on Conan)



I know several people who worship these guys, and they've had some recent hits; but this put them on the map in '96

Eels – Novocaine for the Soul (live, starts at 0:45)



Perhaps this is dated now, but it was a cool song at the time in '96, when they were still edgy

Nada Surf – Popular (live)



And finally, I always thought this was a great song, but I never heard much else from them after this 1996 hit

K’s Choice – Not an Addict (live)
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Good songs.
We still play Possum Kingdom, but I don't remember Scum.
 
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