Anyone? Bueller?
Was driving back from Bedford yesterday and one of my spotify daily mixes was full of basically all of my favourite songs from bands that were big in the 90's in the US. Made me realise that it's probably my favourite "genre" (if you can call it that), as it's the one that's arguably had the biggest influence on my musical likes to date.
Would be good to find some gems I may not have heard of.
Although Canadian, Barenaked Ladies are the first band I became obsessed with as a teenager, having heard their song "Shoebox" on the FRIENDS soundtrack. If it wasn't for that song, and then becoming a bigger fan, I wouldn't have discovered half of the bands I listen to today, probably.
From there, I became a fan of Counting Crows, Matchbox Twenty and Third Eye Blind...and from there this has extended to the likes of;
Better Than Ezra
Guster
Gin Blossoms
Toad the Wet Sprocket
Hootie and the Blowfish
Vertical Horizon
LIVE
Our Lady Peace (also Canadian)
Goo Goo Dolls
Dishwalla
to name a few, there's probably a bunch I'm missing...but these bands all seem to have links in one way or another, be it through shared tours, or band members from other bands being a fan and me checking them out. Something about all of these bands resonates with me - their song writing, their sound, all just pushes the right buttons for me.
If anyone wants any recommendations on any of the above, I'm happy to do so, but feel free to throw some recommendations out, as I'm always game to expand my horizons to other bands of similar ilk.
Comments
Would have loved to have seen the Gin Blossoms and Toad back then but never did.
(I had no idea this was on the dumb and dumber soundtrack!)
The Posies were easily my favourite 90s American band. Criminally underrated.
Redd Kross were good and definitely worth seeing on the rare occasions they do play the UK.
Sloan (another Canadian band) also well worth checking out.
I said maybe.....
Wilco are another great band too.
Will give the Posies a listen this afternoon and stick Redd Kross and Sloan on the list too!
If there's enough interest, might start a public Spotify Playlist that people can add to.
Dogs Eye View are/were great and in the same vein too.
How could I forget about Cracker! good work sir.
Goddamn! Crows with Cracker on support touring August is absolute dream gig scenario for me! Very jealous.
I think a lot of these bands got drowned out by Britpop for me- I've discovered a few of them along the way, but never loved them.
@joneve- Matt Scannell from Vertical Horizon is on the latest No Guitar Is Safe podcast- worth a listen.
Funny you should mention the Friends soundtrack- Mrs_bob and I have been watching the show on Netflix and it's had a few good tunes on it. I was wondering who'd done the cover of "In My Room"...
Don't talk politics and don't throw stones. Your royal highnesses.
Very 90s, that whole "I want to be famous but I don't want to be famous" thing.
Like rock bands have to worry about that any more.
Don't talk politics and don't throw stones. Your royal highnesses.
He's one of my guitar heroes and an incredible talent on the Guitar.
This version of Wash Away is one of my favourite live tracks;
I really like the Across A Wire live album. The Live From The 10 Spot version of "Round Here" is a.ma.zing.
I certainly wouldn't break up with NGIS for excessive frequency of episodes. Some of them have been a bit "meh" recently though. Matt Scannell was interesting, although I was never a fan of Vertical Horizon.
Don't talk politics and don't throw stones. Your royal highnesses.
Have you heard them do Rain King with Bruce Springsteen's Thunder Road casually played in the middle?
Wow, forgot all about that song. Thanks, that really brings back memories.
Do bands like Weezer count? What about Collective Soul?