Well....it's been known around here for a month or so that the 90s weren't my favorite years for music. Combined with a disturbing tendency of some talented but not necessarily big-time performers having their videos "embed-disabled" it took me a little longer to finally get it together. But there were some individual songs I liked. I'm cheating big-time here, doing the whole decade instead of a year or two at a time but at least I'll get this over with!
Garbage was a couple of guys who could write some good songs but were smart enough to realize if they got a stunning looking Scottish woman to sing that they'd have an easier time selling their records, tapes and CDs. So they asked Shirley here to join, causing many wives around the world to wonder why their husbands liked the band. Well, probably many, right? At least one anyway.
Here's a group that became popular and they're relatively local, from just up I-5. The drummer's still making great music in the Foo Fighters, the bass player almost went into politics. He's retired from music now. The guitarist was not only brilliant, he was also a #%&%*!@$ idiot. He must have been really messed up, I guess. I can't understand suicide because no matter how bad things are, you can always leave and start over someplace else.
I like these guys, these Weezers, better now. They've turned into a really solid pop unit but they did good stuff starting out, too. Here's an absurd video that fits in with their sense of humor.
I love Billy Corgan's voice but some people didn't think much of the group. I found a mention of them by somebody less than enchanted with them, saying Smashing Pumpkins were the "grunge Monkees". I don't think that's a compliment. But this is a nice, moody song and I like them so buzz off, you Pumpkins hater!
Here's a group whose collective head sizes must be about 300 and there's only four of them so that's pretty big. Still, they're legends now because their music is big, full and really good.
Beck is some kind of genius. I had a 1990s one cued up and started thinking of Clap Hands, much more modern, then thought, why not? So here's this bit of greatness.
Speaking of voices (and I was up above with Billy Corgan), Brett Anderson of Suede has the kind of voice you either love or hate. One of the leaders of the Britpop thing in the 90s...
Tal Bachman is a one-hit wonder (as far as I know). I know some of you ladies like the prettier music so this is for you. He's the son of that Bachman-Turner Overdrive guy.
Hey, finally someone I've seen live! The Reverend Horton Heat is pretty frantic. I saw him and his group at the much lamented, now gone La Luna on Southeast 12th Avenue here in Portland. A great club. Oh well.
