What are some obscure alternative hits from the early 90's?

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

I'm thinking about getting together some local punk bands to do covers of songs like "Believe" by Dig and "Two Princes" by the Spin Doctors. I don't know where I have to go to look through all the Billboard charts from 91-95, so who can help me think of forgotten/semi-hit/one-hit wonders from this wonderful period in adult contemporary rock?

― Famous Athlete, Tuesday, 2 September 2003 02:29 (twenty-two years ago)

Stuff I remember from WHTG Eatontown, NJ back in the day...

"Very Best Years," The Grays
"Lie on Lie," Chalkfarm
"Here and Now," Letters to Cleo
"I'm Allowed," Buffalo Tom
"Web in Front," Archers of Loaf
"Boring," (?) Denzil
"Watch the Girl Destroy Me," Possum Dixon

...That's a good start, hopefully.

― Prude (Prude), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 02:40 (twenty-two years ago)

"Where I Find My Heaven" and "Cope," Gigolo Aunts

― Prude (Prude), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 02:42 (twenty-two years ago)

three strange days by school of fish
disneyland by dada

― keith (keithmcl), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 02:44 (twenty-two years ago)

"You Suck," The Murmurs
"Trampoline," Greenberry Woods

― Prude (Prude), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 02:51 (twenty-two years ago)

The Caulfields, "Devil's Diary"

― Sonny A. (Keiko), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 02:55 (twenty-two years ago)

"hey jealousy" by gin blossoms

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 03:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Flagpole Sitta by ??? (it is like Captain something...don't remember the bandname.)

― earlnash, Tuesday, 2 September 2003 03:10 (twenty-two years ago)

Lieutenant Harvey Danger.

Thanks d00ds. Some of these songs arent terrible.

― Famous Athlete, Tuesday, 2 September 2003 03:20 (twenty-two years ago)

judybats - all day afternoon

― luna (luna.c), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 03:26 (twenty-two years ago)

soul asylum to thread.

― fact checking cuz, Tuesday, 2 September 2003 03:38 (twenty-two years ago)

"Twentieth Century" by Brad

― cuspidorian (cuspidorian), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 03:52 (twenty-two years ago)

the The - Slow Emotion Replay (a bit of a hit on alt rock radio)

― ham on rye (ham on rye), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 03:58 (twenty-two years ago)

"Every Generation's Got Its Own Disease (And I've Got Mine)," Fury in the Slaughterhouse (feel the social consciousness! yeah!)

― Prude (Prude), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 04:43 (twenty-two years ago)

"Last Goodbye" by Jeff Buckley

(well, obscure at the time)

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 04:53 (twenty-two years ago)

I saw obscure alternatives and thought the thread was about Japan...mmph

― SplendidMullet (iamamonkey), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 06:16 (twenty-two years ago)

I came here just to mention the Gin Blossoms. Hey Jealousy is a GREAT song.

also,
Presidents of the United States of America - Peaches
Third Eye Blind - Semi-Charmed Life (sounds just like Two Princes)
Breeders - cannonball
The Odds - Eat My Brain(so good)

― derrick (derrick), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 06:21 (twenty-two years ago)

Blind Melon: Rain

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 08:09 (twenty-two years ago)

"No Rain", I mean

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 08:10 (twenty-two years ago)

The Lemonheads, "Into Your Arms"
The Juliana Hatfield Three, "My Sister"
Soul Asylum, "Runaway Train"
Cracker, "Low"
Matthew Sweet, "Girlfriend"
The Cranberries, "Linger"
Toad the Wet Sprocket, "All I Want"
Freedy Johnston, "Bad Reputation"
Deep Blue Something, "Breakfast at Tiffany's"
Del Amitri, "Roll With Me"

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 09:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Most depressing post ever! Also,

Candlebox, "You"

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 09:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Better Than Ezra, "Good"
Live, "Lightning Crashes"
Stone Temple Pilots, "Plush"

These suggestions may be a little skewed because I consider nearly every alt.rock MTV-friendly hit from that time "forgotten" in some sense. Perhaps if I still listened to rock radio, things would be different.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 09:17 (twenty-two years ago)

Jess I think I may have identified another lull.

― Tom (Groke), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 09:25 (twenty-two years ago)

LULL?!?!

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 09:28 (twenty-two years ago)

OK, abyss.

― Tom (Groke), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 09:29 (twenty-two years ago)

ABYSS?!?!

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 09:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Done Lying Down - "Just A Misdemeanour"

(NB The Spin Doctors' "Two Princes" was anything but obscure! It was bloody massive! and so AWFUL it made me want to stick forks in my ears.)

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 10:09 (twenty-two years ago)

MBV soon.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 10:13 (twenty-two years ago)

World of Twist: Sweets

― Jez (Jez), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 10:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Joyrider - "Rush Hour"

― Nick H, Tuesday, 2 September 2003 11:07 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh, well in that case: Lick - "Shirtlifter".

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 11:19 (twenty-two years ago)

Tripmaster Monkey "Roman Catholic Haircut"
J Church "Good Judge of Character"

― Lynskey (Lynskey), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 12:22 (twenty-two years ago)

There's another thread floating around I started like this one.

Wax -- Southern California

Local H -- THe Kids are Right

Soul Asylum -- Misery, Somebody To Shove, Just Like Anyone (Starring Claire Danes!!)

Sponge -- Molly

Filter -- Hey Man Nice Shot

Flaming Lips -- She Don't Use Jelly

Faith No More -- We Care A Lot, Epic

Screaming Trees -- Nearly Lost You

Len -- Steal My Sunshine

Sneaker Pimps -- Six Underground

Verve Pipe -- THe Freshman

― ModJ, Tuesday, 2 September 2003 12:28 (twenty-two years ago)

Cracker's best singles from the early 90s =

"Teen Angst (What the World Needs Now)"
"Happy Birthday to Me"

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 12:59 (twenty-two years ago)

Primitive Radio Gods -- Standing in a blah blah blah oh I give up. The greatest one-hit wonder since "Sugar Shack."

― Jesse Fuchs (Jesse Fuchs), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 13:42 (twenty-two years ago)

C'mon, people, he said OBSCURE!

Try....

"Ten Dollar Bill" by Cop Shoot Cop
"Heterosexual Male" by the Odds
"Annie's Gone" by Redd Kross
"13th Disciple" by the 5:30

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 13:46 (twenty-two years ago)

"Whoever You Are," Geggy Tah
"I Kissed a Girl," Jill Sobule
"X-French Tee Shirt," Shudder to Think

― jaymc (jaymc), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 13:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Good call with Shudder to Think there, Jaymc.

Some mo'....

"Stay" by Shakespeare's Sister
"Something Good" by Utah Saints

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 13:54 (twenty-two years ago)

C'mon, people, he said OBSCURE!

But he also said "forgotten," and that kinda covers a lot of territory. Plus he cited "Two Princes" as an example.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 13:55 (twenty-two years ago)

Seek ya also The Wolfgang Press' cover of "Mama Told Me Not to Come".

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 13:59 (twenty-two years ago)

dada - "Dizz Knee Land"

― BrianB, Tuesday, 2 September 2003 14:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Sidi Bou Said "Twilight Eyes"

Out-obscure that one ya fukkas :)

― Lynskey (Lynskey), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 14:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Oooh....

- The Pale Saints' cover of "Kinky Love"
- "Paradise" by Birdland
- "I'd Sell My Soul to God" by Passion Fodder

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 14:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Lightning Seeds-"Pure"
and second Wolfgang Press's cover of "Mama Told me not to Come"

― ddb, Tuesday, 2 September 2003 15:51 (twenty-two years ago)

C'mon, people, he said OBSCURE!
Try....

"Ten Dollar Bill" by Cop Shoot Cop

Haha, Jackie Brambles made that single of the week on the Radio 1 mid-morning show.

― David Merryweather (DavidM), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 16:09 (twenty-two years ago)

"Valerie Loves Me" - Material Issue

Y'all are AMATEURS.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 16:11 (twenty-two years ago)

Also, "I Need You Like A Drug" - They Eat Their Own

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 16:11 (twenty-two years ago)

A second for "Pure" and "Homeboy" by the Adorable.

― Ess, Tuesday, 2 September 2003 16:15 (twenty-two years ago)

"Joyride," "Fading Like A Flower," "The Look" -- Roxette (I shamelessly love that band.)

― Jeanne Fury (Jeanne Fury), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 16:18 (twenty-two years ago)

"I Need You Like A Drug" - They Eat Their Own

Dan, I kiss you. I found that on an unlabelled mixtape the other day and have been tearing my hair out trying to remember who sang it.

How the heck are Roxette obscure? Or alternative?

What about Push The Little Daisies by Ween?

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 16:37 (twenty-two years ago)

(not that that's obscure either, but then what is around here?)

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 16:37 (twenty-two years ago)

If not for Beavis and Butthead, "Push the Little Daisies" woulda been hella obscure.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 16:40 (twenty-two years ago)

didn't "push the little daisies" get hella regular mtv airplay? or am i hallucinating that?

posies - "dream all day," which remains hella obscure to anyone who isn't a music geek.

― fact checking cuz, Tuesday, 2 September 2003 16:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Oooh, "Valerie Love Me" seconded, although that's the only song of Material Issue's I could actually stomach.

Seek ye also "F Minor" by Nudeswirl and "Psych Out" by the Seers!

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 16:58 (twenty-two years ago)

i'm reasonably sure that nudeswirl's "f sharp" (that was the actual title, wasn't it, alex?) missed out on one of the three qualifications for being an "obscure" "alternative" "hit," but hot damn that's still a great choice.

anyone want to nominate a big nurse song next, or perhaps "lesbians" by nudeswirl side project they might be vaginas?

― fact checking cuz, Tuesday, 2 September 2003 17:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Oop, yer right, cuz. Great wah-wah-wah guitars on that one.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 17:16 (twenty-two years ago)

great "immigrant song" groove on that one.

― fact checking cuz, Tuesday, 2 September 2003 17:25 (twenty-two years ago)

i don't know whether to laugh or cry...

― robin (robin), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 17:33 (twenty-two years ago)

Wordy mcword word.

― Larcole (Nicole), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 17:34 (twenty-two years ago)

* "Breathe" - Loud Lucy
* The Silverchair one where he says "the water out of the tap is very... very... haaaard to driiink...."
* "Three Little Pigs" - Green Jelly
* and a personal favorite of mine: "In the Meantime" - Spacehog

― Ben Boyer (Ben Boyer), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 20:37 (twenty-two years ago)

Truly obscure songs weren't hits, so the task is impossible anyway.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 20:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Truly obscure songs weren't hits, so the task is impossible anyway.

He's got a point. Maybe it should be, Some Obscure Alternative SINGLES from the early 90's instead, no?

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 21:37 (twenty-two years ago)

Dishwalla - "Counting Blue Cars"

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Tuesday, 2 September 2003 21:43 (twenty-two years ago)

not sure i agree with geir and alex. the murmurs, freedy johnston and del amitri songs mentioned upthread, for example, were all chart hits in their day and are all pretty damn obscure now.

― fact checking cuz, Tuesday, 2 September 2003 21:47 (twenty-two years ago)

yeah, but lots of these suggestions were very decidedly not hits, despite the fact that they were released as singles or were played as videos.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 21:49 (twenty-two years ago)

quite true. but i got the impression the famous athlete was looking for hits when he started the thread. but as i am neither famous nor an athlete, i can not speak for him.

― fact checking cuz, Tuesday, 2 September 2003 21:54 (twenty-two years ago)

This is true, this is true, but maybe the famed athelete himself (and I'm guessing it's a 'he', apologies if it is not) should've said "singles" instead.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 21:59 (twenty-two years ago)

He said that he was interested in stuff that charted, so.

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Tuesday, 2 September 2003 22:04 (twenty-two years ago)

We're splitting hairs here.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 22:05 (twenty-two years ago)

I guess I meant singles. In either case, these are all excellent. The kind of stuff I was shooting for was things like "Counting Blue Cars" by Dishwalla and "Breathe" by Loud Lucy and "The Freshmen" by the Verve Pipe and "Into Your Arms" by the Lemonheads. Guess I really just meant forgotten hits, not so much obscure.

― Famous Athlete, Tuesday, 2 September 2003 22:54 (twenty-two years ago)

this thread is awesome because there were radio stations in the 90s that played this and ONLY this kinda music.

what about female of the species by that band space?
and anything by catherine wheel.

― bill stevens (bscrubbins), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 23:23 (twenty-two years ago)

what about female of the species by that band space?

would that be a cover of the walker brothers song?

― fact checking cuz, Tuesday, 2 September 2003 23:30 (twenty-two years ago)

King Missile - Detachable Penis
Living Colour - Nothingness

― momalley, Wednesday, 3 September 2003 01:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Feed the Tree Belly
Grey Cell Green Ned's Atomic Dustbin
Cut Your Hair Pavment
Whip Smart Liz Phair
She Bangs the Drums Stone Roses
Stone Cold Yesterday The Connells
Unsung Helmet

― William R Henderson (Cabin Essence), Wednesday, 3 September 2003 01:33 (twenty-two years ago)

Semisonic, "FNT"

― Sonny A. (Keiko), Wednesday, 3 September 2003 01:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Here's one y'all missed that was actually No. 1 on Billboard's Modern Rock Charts, beating out U2 and REM, who both had hits at the time.

"Ballerina Out Of Control" by The Ocean Blue

Another gooder is "Rush" by Big Audio Dynamite II

― blutroniq (blutroniq), Wednesday, 3 September 2003 02:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Seven Mary Three. Can't remember the name of the song, but it may have been the worst song of the 90's. Hootie and the Blowfish, too.

― Shmuel (shmuel), Wednesday, 3 September 2003 02:20 (twenty-two years ago)

field mice - sensitive
catherine wheel - flower to hide
lemonheads - it's a shame about ray (there were better ones, i have forgotten the titles)
house of love - christine (see above)
luna - tiger lily (there are more)
yo la tengo - blue line swinger
stereolab - peng
tindersticks - blood
red house püainters - katy song
cocteau twins - heaven or las vegas
bel canto - mornixuur
my bloody valentine - when you sleep

― alex in mainhattan (alex63), Wednesday, 3 September 2003 02:56 (twenty-two years ago)

Seven Mary Three. Can't remember the name of the song, but it may have been the worst song of the 90's. Hootie and the Blowfish, too.

That would be the godawful "Cumbersome", which was only slightly more irritaing than the work of Collective Soul.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 4 September 2003 22:37 (twenty-two years ago)

Also, "Christine" by the House of Love was `89, I believe.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 4 September 2003 22:37 (twenty-two years ago)

earlier than that.

― keith (keithmcl), Friday, 5 September 2003 01:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Sponge - "Plowed"
Deadeye Dick - "New Age Girl"
Blur - "There's No Other Way"
The Butthole Surfers - "Pepper"
Pavement - "Cut Your Hair"
Butt Trumpet - "You're Ugly"
Radiohead - "Creep"
Candlebox - "You"
Sonic Youth - "100%"
Live - "Selling the Drama"
The Presidents... - "Lump"
The Smashing Pumpkins - "Bullet with Butterfly Wings"
Marilyn Manson - "Sweet Dreams"
Nine Inch Nails - "Piggy"

Pretty much my local rock radio station's playlist circa mid-90s, give or take the obligatory Nirvana song.

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Friday, 5 September 2003 04:08 (twenty-two years ago)

These might help...

http://www.mtv.com/bands/buzzworthy/history.jhtml?year=1991
http://www.mtv.com/bands/buzzworthy/history.jhtml?year=1992
http://www.mtv.com/bands/buzzworthy/history.jhtml?year=1993
and so forth..

― billstevejim, Friday, 5 September 2003 04:21 (twenty-two years ago)

for some reason, linking to those pages is impossible..

try http://www.mtv.com/bands/buzzworthy and clicking on "more history of buzz" and then choosing a year from the "choose a year" drop-menu.

― billstevejim, Friday, 5 September 2003 04:29 (twenty-two years ago)

there was this band called a house and i even had their album once and i liked it but i can't remember the song titles.

― youn, Friday, 5 September 2003 04:36 (twenty-two years ago)

A House had a couple of minor hits - "call me blue" and "endless art" (and i think there were others)

― the surface noise (electricsound), Friday, 5 September 2003 04:38 (twenty-two years ago)

James - "Laid"
Robyn Hitchcock - "So You Think You're In Love"
Love Spit Love - "Am I Wrong"
Lightning Seeds - "Sense"
Sugar - "Helpless"

― turkey (turkey), Friday, 5 September 2003 05:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Big Wreck - That Song
Artificial Joy Club - Sick And Beautiful
Econoline Crush - All That You Are
Matthew Good Band - Apparitions
Matthew Good Band - Everything Is Automatic
Marcy Playground - Sex and Candy
Our Lady Peace - Superman's Dead
Tonic - If You Could Only See

― derrick (derrick), Friday, 5 September 2003 06:30 (twenty-two years ago)

Too Much Joy - "Long Haired Guy from England"

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 5 September 2003 06:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Too Much Joy - "Long Haired Guy from England"

a masterpiece!

― fact checking cuz, Friday, 5 September 2003 14:57 (twenty-two years ago)

"Alice Everyday" - Book Of Love

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 5 September 2003 15:03 (twenty-two years ago)

"Drive That Fast" by the Kitchens of Distinction

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 5 September 2003 15:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Heart Fog - Th' Faith Healers
Chocolate Cake - Crowded House
Snacks & Candy - Miracle Legion
Out There - Blake Babies
Murdering Stone - Walkabouts
Feed the Tree - Belly

..I miss Summer already.

― dave225 (Dave225), Friday, 5 September 2003 16:11 (twenty-two years ago)

"Dim" - Dada
"Anything by the" - Gin Blossoms
"Story of My Life" - Social Distortion
"Pretend We're Dead" - L7
"Buena" - Morphine
"Nearly Lost You" - Screaming Trees
"Never Said" - Liz Phair
"Friends of P." - The Rentals

― My name is Kenny (My name is Kenny), Friday, 5 September 2003 16:13 (twenty-two years ago)

"Mr. Balloon Man" - Robyn Hitchcock and the Egyptians (might have been late 80s)

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 5 September 2003 16:14 (twenty-two years ago)

"Balloon Man" was on the brilliant Globe of Frogs album, which came out in 1988, I believe.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 5 September 2003 18:57 (twenty-two years ago)

"Suckerpunch" by the Wildhearts

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 5 September 2003 20:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Cud, Rich and Strange.

― David Merryweather (DavidM), Friday, 5 September 2003 20:13 (twenty-two years ago)

Katydids, Lights Out (Read My Lips) - which I really liked.
Would-Be's, I'm Hardly Ever Wrong - Morrissey's single of the year, 1990.

― David Merryweather (DavidM), Friday, 5 September 2003 20:17 (twenty-two years ago)

Popinjays, Please Let Me Go - which was brilliant!

― David Merryweather (DavidM), Friday, 5 September 2003 20:18 (twenty-two years ago)

"Dreamtime" by the Heartthrobs

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 5 September 2003 20:50 (twenty-two years ago)

"Blacker Than Black" by Goodbye Mr.Mackenzie

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 5 September 2003 21:01 (twenty-two years ago)

Speaking of underground power pop classics here?

In which case Tearaways' "Jessica Something" really deserves a mention.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Saturday, 6 September 2003 09:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Katydids! i didn't think anyone else remembered them. i vote for their "Girl in a Jigsaw Puzzle"

― the surface noise (electricsound), Saturday, 6 September 2003 09:19 (twenty-two years ago)

one year passes...

Gregory Gray's "The Pope Does Not Smoke Dope" was mentioned in the ilE thread "The Pope is Dead" and that used to receive quite a bit of airplay on the local modern rock station even though it apparently never charted and isn't even listed as making the top 40 modern rock singles on AMG. (Very odd, considering how selective that particular station's output was. They usually played the same twenty songs over and over, and that was before the 1998 mass media-mergers, where now they only play ten songs over and over.)

Consolidated (feat. the Yeastie Girls) - "You Suck"

― What we want? Sex with T.V. stars! What you want? Ian Riese-Moraine! (Eastern Ma, Thursday, 31 March 2005 23:03 (twenty years ago)

Whale--Hobo Humpin' Slobo Babe

Frente--Bizarre Love Triangle

― kornrulez6969 (TCBeing), Friday, 1 April 2005 00:10 (twenty years ago)

Crow- "Railhead"

I was abt to mention the Whale song too. God this thread is like reading a bad old JJJ playlist.

― Trayce (trayce), Friday, 1 April 2005 00:25 (twenty years ago)

"That's a Lie" - Too Much Joy
"LSD is the Bomb" - Radioactive Goldfish
"This Love" - Daniel Ash
"Hippychick" - Soho
"Black Glove" - The Fluid
"Move any Mountain" - The Shamen
"Lightning Man" - Nitzer Ebb
"Love Your Money" - Daisy Chainsaw
"Something Good" - Utah Saints
"Accidentally 4th Street" - Figures on a Beach
"Burst" - Shellyan Orphan
"Monster Mouth" - Popinjays
"Miss Freelove '69" - Hoodoo Gurus

Whew!..

― Yngwie AlmsteenMay (sgertz), Friday, 1 April 2005 02:04 (twenty years ago)

Yikes. All I had to do was picture what I listened to in my car while I was in college & came up with this winner of a list...
"Drinking In LA" - Bran Van 3000
"Popular" - Nada Surf
"Summer" - Buffalo Tom
"Mockingbird" - Grant Lee Buffalo
"Stone Me Into The Groove" - Atomic Swing
"Sister Havana" - Urge Overkill
"Bug Powder Dust" - Bomb The Bass
"Naked Eye" - Luscious Jackson
"Teenage Loser Anthem" - Dambuilders
"Jimmy's Fantasy" - Redd Kross

― VegemiteGrrl (VegemiteGrrl), Friday, 1 April 2005 02:53 (twenty years ago)

one year passes...

"Ladykiller" - Lush
"Wembley" - Candyskins
"Angry Johnny"
"Hello"
"Trigger Happy Jack" - all by Poe
"Who Sucked Out the Feeling" - Superdrag

― FrankieSu, Wednesday, 17 May 2006 02:37 (nineteen years ago)

"Who Sucked Out the Feeling" - Superdrag

most... annoying... song... ever

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Wednesday, 17 May 2006 03:02 (nineteen years ago)

Here's a few more.

"Drawer" - Summercamp
"Alcohol" - Howlin' Maggie
"Debonair" - Afghan Whigs

― FrankieSu, Wednesday, 17 May 2006 03:08 (nineteen years ago)

But....was Superdrag more annoying than...

"Hitchhiker Joe"
and
"Me and Eddie Vedder" by The Rugburns

― FrankieSu, Wednesday, 17 May 2006 03:21 (nineteen years ago)

eleven months pass...

Hobo Humping Slobo Babe, best song ever. period. done.

Folk Implosion-Natural One

what was that one song by that Kula Shaker band?

No Sister Hazel? Not one Veruca Salt mention? And lest we forget DNA featuring Suzanne Vega with that hot hammed Tom's Diner song with the doot doot doot duh doot sheite in it....I could go on and on but I think I am burning a bundt cake.

― NCGRUDGE, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 08:44 (eighteen years ago)

These charts are a good resource:

http://www.radiohitlist.com/KROQ/KROQ-1990.htm
http://www.radiohitlist.com/KROQ/KROQ-1991.htm

etc

― o. nate, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 15:48 (eighteen years ago)

Seek ye also "F Minor" by Nudeswirl and "Psych Out" by the Seers!

Nudeswirl I can live without but I snagged that Seers record for a buck last week -- not a bad little album, actually, maybe only half great but a good demi-gaze effort from 1990.

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 26 April 2007 03:12 (eighteen years ago)

one month passes...

2 songs I cannot remember who sang them...maybe some1 on here can give me some help

First song; it was a girl singer and all i remember is the chorus said something about "here and now" couldn't understand the rest of what she was saying cuz she said it so fast.

The Second Song, "last chinese" was part of the chorus again with the partial choruses

As far as 90's songs go "Talkin Seattle Grunge Rock Blues" by Todd Snider is funny

Faith No More's "Last Cup of Sorrow"

Primal Scream "Rocks"

"Cult of Personality" by In Living Color

― cipher, Monday, 4 June 2007 12:15 (eighteen years ago)

Cult of Personality" by In Living Color

It's Living Color, and it was early '89.

Mine:

Kirsty MacColl – "Walking Down Madison"
Candy Flip – "Red Hills Road"
Juliana Hatfield – "I See You"
David Byrne – "She's Mad"
Lightning Seeds – "Life of Reilly"
Ned's Atomic Dustbin – "Not Sleeping Around"
Throwing Muses – "Firepile"
Havana 3 am – "Reach the Rock"

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Monday, 4 June 2007 14:25 (eighteen years ago)

Jars of Clay "Flood" and Stone Roses "Love Spreads" even though they are christian songs...it was played in rotation at least on the rock stations here in the U.S.

Sponge "Wax Estatic"

Green Jelly "3 Little Pigs"

Ugly Kid Joe "Everything About You"

It's borderline Alternative but i just thought i'd share

― cipher, Monday, 4 June 2007 14:49 (eighteen years ago)

You're right: I head "Love Spreads" more often on the AOR than on the college radio station.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Monday, 4 June 2007 14:51 (eighteen years ago)

Cipher, the "here and now" song is called "Here and Now" and is by Letters to Cleo. The second one might be "Mann's Chinese" by Naked.

― matt2, Monday, 4 June 2007 14:56 (eighteen years ago)

Hey thanx for the correction on the "mann's chinese" i'm looking for it now actually on limewire.

Ummm another song i've thought about "Andre" by L7

― cipher, Monday, 4 June 2007 15:08 (eighteen years ago)

I'm not sure I understand what's meant by "obscure" here - a lot of these songs were huge hits and virtually ubiquitous at the time.

― Hurting 2, Monday, 4 June 2007 15:11 (eighteen years ago)

Helmet "Exactly What You Wanted"

― cipher, Monday, 4 June 2007 15:12 (eighteen years ago)

Alfred's choices maybe. But "Everything About You" and "Three Little Pigs" were huge.

― Hurting 2, Monday, 4 June 2007 15:12 (eighteen years ago)

how come nobody's mentioned "french disko"?

― grimly fiendish, Monday, 4 June 2007 15:17 (eighteen years ago)

Tripping Daisy "I Got A Girl"

― cipher, Monday, 4 June 2007 15:19 (eighteen years ago)

These 1990-91 KROQ charts are making me unexplicably sad.

― baaderonixx, Monday, 4 June 2007 15:28 (eighteen years ago)

That Dog "Hey Old Timer"

― cipher, Monday, 4 June 2007 15:35 (eighteen years ago)

Got a good one: The Clarks - "Madeline"

― Erroneous Botch, Monday, 4 June 2007 16:00 (eighteen years ago)

Lush "Hypocrite"
Morphine "I'm Free Now"
Babes in Toyland "Bruise Violet"
Meat Puppets "Backwater"

― daria-g, Monday, 4 June 2007 17:09 (eighteen years ago)

It's actually Living Colour, not Living Color.

My choice for obscure alternative "hit" would be:

"If You See Kay" by The Poster Children

― MC, Monday, 4 June 2007 18:08 (eighteen years ago)

two years pass...

Hi I'm looking to find the name of this song and the group who sang it. They only had two hit songs back in '95. I vaguely remember the lyrics which went like this: "Hold back the (rose?,so that the others may go. Can anyone help me out? Thanks.

― Jam90s, Monday, 1 March 2010 07:15 (fifteen years ago)

two years pass...

Paraffin by Ruby :)

― mz.SQUIRRILLEX, Tuesday, 28 August 2012 19:47 (thirteen years ago)

and I forgot to mention
Three Little Pigs
By Green Jelly
(Originally Green Jello)

― mz.SQUIRRILLEX, Tuesday, 28 August 2012 19:50 (thirteen years ago)

Mother Mother by Tracy Bonham

― mz.SQUIRRILLEX, Tuesday, 28 August 2012 19:56 (thirteen years ago)

Jars of Clay "Flood" and Stone Roses "Love Spreads" even though they are christian songs

Love Spreads is not a Christian song!

― Poliopolice, Tuesday, 28 August 2012 20:45 (thirteen years ago)

"Who Sucked Out the Feeling" - Superdrag
most... annoying... song... ever

the worst is that horrible, forced, gutteral, grating "FEEEEEEELLLLINGGG." How terrible is that?

― Poliopolice, Tuesday, 28 August 2012 20:46 (thirteen years ago)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6d-s8I3BHIE

― chicago rap twitter luminary (Shakey Mo Collier), Tuesday, 28 August 2012 23:21 (thirteen years ago)

― Jam90s, Monday, March 1, 2010 2:15 AM (2 years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Two years too late but this is Shudder To Think's "X-French T-Shirt"

― jjjdoom (Whiney G. Weingarten), Tuesday, 28 August 2012 23:43 (thirteen years ago)

Imperial Drag - "Boy Or A Girl"
Shonen Knife - "Riding On The Rocket"
Greta - "Fathom"
Paw - "Jessie"
Toadies - "I Come From The Water" & "Possum Kingdom"
Sunscreem - "Love You More"
Quicksand - "Dine Alone" & "Thorn In My Side"
Jennifer Trynin - "Better Than Nothing"
Magnapop - "Slowly, Slowly"
Velocity Girl - "Sorry Again"
Ass Ponys - "Little Bastard"
Civ - "Can't Wait One Minute More"

― Old Lunch, Wednesday, 29 August 2012 00:28 (thirteen years ago)

two years pass...

"Seven Mary Three. Can't remember the name of the song, but it may have been the worst song of the 90's. Hootie and the Blowfish, too.
That would be the godawful "Cumbersome", which was only slightly more irritaing than the work of Collective Soul."

Pretty much every song by Collective Soul. Great band, don't know why this guy has to hate on them.

― wipefeetnmat, Thursday, 19 March 2015 18:10 (ten years ago)

Ohhhh, man, I was looking in vain for this thread the other day.

Dog's Eye View - "Everything Falls Apart"
MC 900 Ft. Jesus - "If I Only Had A Brain"
Life, Sex & Death - "Tank"
Animal Bag - "Everybody"
Tragically Hip - "Courage"
Big Head Todd & The Monsters - "Bittersweet"
Abra Moore - "Four Leaf Clover"
K's Choice - "Not An Addict"
Days Of The New - "Touch, Peel & Stand"
Tonic - "Open Up Your Eyes"
Forest For The Trees - "Dream"
Verve Pipe - "Photograph"
Stabbing Westward - "What Do I Have To Do"
Patti Rothberg - "Inside"
Imperial Teen - "You're One"
Gravity Kills - "Guilty"
Heather Nova - "Walk This World"

And the other Seven Mary Three single I had forgotten, "Water's Edge".

God, some of this stuff is so, so bad. And yet I revisit it regularly.

― A Whizzer, A Poo Star (Old Lunch), Thursday, 19 March 2015 18:52 (ten years ago)

O damn, "Not An Addict"

― Don A Henley And Get Over It (C. Grisso/McCain), Thursday, 19 March 2015 19:06 (ten years ago)

preach it, wipefeetnmat!

― the geographibebebe (unregistered), Thursday, 19 March 2015 19:10 (ten years ago)

I wonder why the lead singer of Collective Soul chose that particular username.

― A Whizzer, A Poo Star (Old Lunch), Thursday, 19 March 2015 19:11 (ten years ago)

the definition of 'obscure' sure has changed in the 'oral histories for all' era

― maura, Thursday, 19 March 2015 19:11 (ten years ago)

'Obscure' is naturally going to be a rather loose definition when used in conjunction with 'hits', alternative or otherwise. I'd prefer 'largely forgotten'.

― A Whizzer, A Poo Star (Old Lunch), Thursday, 19 March 2015 19:15 (ten years ago)

Reigndance - "Lazy Bones"
Rebecca Blasband - "Mr. Sunshine"

― A Whizzer, A Poo Star (Old Lunch), Thursday, 19 March 2015 19:41 (ten years ago)

Late 90s rather than early but this is a jam:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqXOo3e_BIg

― everything, Thursday, 19 March 2015 20:09 (ten years ago)

Yeah, I went a little mid-to-late-mid-'90s with some of my selections but was going for anything with that Alternative Nation vibe even if the video for the given song wasn't ever technically introduced or back announced by Kennedy.

― A Whizzer, A Poo Star (Old Lunch), Thursday, 19 March 2015 20:13 (ten years ago)

I think Fig Dish still qualify, in as much that they don't get talked about and are kinda good, terrible name though.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwUI9FBAjJc

― MaresNest, Thursday, 19 March 2015 20:19 (ten years ago)

Deacon Blue: "Your Town" https://youtu.be/Xf8gm7ou-YY

I was gonna suggest Dink's "Green Mind" but I just listened to it for the first time since the 90s and it's so bad I refuse to link it. At least the Deacon Blue tune sounds like something that would show up in a Michael Mann or Tony Scott movie.

Also, on that godawful "Cumbersome" song: the album whence it sprang was called American Standard. I only remember this because http://www.americanstandard-us.com/bathroom-products/toilets/

― Devilock, Thursday, 19 March 2015 21:08 (ten years ago)

Oh and
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGaX9lWBTMQ

Was this big outside of college radio? That's the only place I ever heard it.

― Devilock, Thursday, 19 March 2015 21:13 (ten years ago)

I guess college radio was big in and of itself though wasn't it.

Also xxxxxxxpost Heather Nova has a gorgeous voice and I will probably always buy whatever she does.

― Devilock, Thursday, 19 March 2015 21:15 (ten years ago)

The Only Living Boy in New Cross was a Top Ten hit in the UK.

― everything, Thursday, 19 March 2015 21:18 (ten years ago)

It certainly sounds like it.

Unrelated, I feel a Course of Empire binge coming on.

― Devilock, Thursday, 19 March 2015 21:22 (ten years ago)

"Mother Mother by Tracy Bonham"

Saw her play finally relent and play this while opening for a touring Blue Man Group show after the crowd wouldn't even clap for her then-new album (2008ish?)

― Kiarostami bag (milo z), Tuesday, 24 March 2015 02:36 (ten years ago)

Mary's Danish - "Don't Crash The Car Tonight"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaCSZHw5lS8

― with HD lyrics (Eazy), Tuesday, 24 March 2015 02:54 (ten years ago)

xpost. Tracy Bonham was the music teacher at my son's school in 2013.

― dlp9001, Tuesday, 24 March 2015 03:01 (ten years ago)

Anyway, also this Mary's Danish track, which I still like a lot:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTtJLC65zIk

― dlp9001, Tuesday, 24 March 2015 03:02 (ten years ago)

one year passes...

Green Apple Quick Step "Los Vargos"

― van smack, Monday, 5 September 2016 05:01 (nine years ago)

Sky Cries Mary "Shipwrecked"
The Frogs "Starboy"
Nixons "Sister"

― van smack, Monday, 5 September 2016 05:20 (nine years ago)

Smile, "Staring at the Sun"

― Neanderthal, Monday, 5 September 2016 06:07 (nine years ago)

three months pass...

Who covered "Temptation Eyes" in the late 90's/early 2000s? It was in the indie/college music. Kinda sounds like a brass band playing with Molly's Yes or Gin Blossums.

― Triznorbob, Friday, 16 December 2016 16:26 (nine years ago)

Blake Babies

― My Lunch Is Older Than Your Lunch (Old Lunch), Friday, 16 December 2016 16:32 (nine years ago)

Oh wait no, I incorrectly assumed Blake Babies because thread is for early '90s alt rock.

― My Lunch Is Older Than Your Lunch (Old Lunch), Friday, 16 December 2016 16:33 (nine years ago)

two years pass...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Maz6jFdvn2Q

― Go-Gurt Ops (Old Lunch), Friday, 25 October 2019 12:52 (six years ago)

Every time I hear it I'm like 'christ, how did I forget about this awful song that was in constant rotation for a decent stretch of time?' and then I immediately forget about it again once it's over.

― Go-Gurt Ops (Old Lunch), Friday, 25 October 2019 12:55 (six years ago)

There couldn't be a less memorable song!

When I saw the thread title, I thought of these three, all of which got a decent amount of airplay on my local alt-rock station in the early 90s:

E - Hello Cruel World

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLYSl3PblyU

Lloyd Cole - She's a Girl and I'm a Man

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2hGy7cBRNM

Freedy Johnston - Bad Reputation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsQBuFNt65U

― ☮ (peace, man), Friday, 25 October 2019 13:24 (six years ago)

I think about "Hobo Humpin' Slobo Babe" by Whale not infrequently.

― Chris L, Friday, 25 October 2019 13:30 (six years ago)

It's rare that I suddenly recall a long-lost alternasingle from this era and think 'how could I possibly have forgotten such a good song?'.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VTBam8YzQg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJhulZ0zR58

― Go-Gurt Ops (Old Lunch), Friday, 25 October 2019 14:27 (six years ago)

Little Bastard, of course! Never heard that Rugburns song, but when I moved to San Diego I kept running into people who tried to sell me on Steve Poltz.

― ☮ (peace, man), Friday, 25 October 2019 14:55 (six years ago)

Came here to post The Caulfields' "Devil's Diary," but someone did it sixteen years ago. Still will...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ja0eDZIyfbI

― A breezy pop-rock feel fairly typical of the mid-'80s (Dan Peterson), Friday, 25 October 2019 14:58 (six years ago)

Never cared for much of the rest of their records (singing is generally useless) but this riff is all time -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PugwqtNSwco

― Maresn3st, Friday, 25 October 2019 15:07 (six years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.