90s Album Reviews

We dive into the four-singer/songwriter band Sloan to figure out if this is the best Canadian album of all time or even the best by the band

Along with Guided By Voices, Sebadoh flew the lo-fi flag in the 90s with a similar gift for short, punchy rock songs.

They are among 90s bands and artists who either surpassed expectations on their second album or sank like the proverbial stone.

Combining a variety of tasty guitar tones, a tight and original rhythm section, and interesting melodies.

Lots of shoegaze influenced bands spent less time on vocals and melody than dialing in the perfect delay on their guitar, but not Ripe.

I Mother Earth hits the sweet spots on Dig with big guitar and drums, crisp production, and slightly progressive elements

Travel back over twenty years in their catalog and tackle the most challenging album of their career.

Can the youth appreciate power pop? Can music be too good for radio? Those are questions as we discuss Prize by Wanderlust

Hooks, harmonies and loud guitars sum up Silver Sun's freshman release, and it's chock full of them

A band that easily recreates the dramatic bombast and minor chord melancholy of Radiohead, U2 and Our Lady Peace

What do Garth Brooks, X-Japan, and Dinosaur Jr. Have in common?

The lead track and single, Lenny Valentino, gets rave reviews from both of us, but how does the rest of the not-so-similar album stack up?

FEL perfectly encapsulate the odd and uneasy transition of 80s metal and punk into 90s alternative.

Big guitars and big hooks make the sound, but Bobgoblin has got some hidden tricks up their sleeves on The 12 Point Master Plan

It was the right sound released at the right time, so why isn't The Stereo mentioned along side Fall Out Boy and New Found Glory?

Exploring the mathematical side of indie rock, they aren't afraid to incorporate long sections of noise and dissonance.

Sugarplastic combine the twisted pop of XTC and the Pixies with clear Beatles influence, occasionally detouring into They Might Be Giants

We take in an in-depth look at the history of one our favorite bands and discuss their reunion album.

Dark and ominous, with comparison to Girls Against Boys and Nick Cave, Crow shift gears throughout the album.

On the surface this band sounds like a slightly edgier Bush, but dig deeper and a more complex and interesting band appears.

Melvins-eque sludge to frenetic punk, with a screaming vocal on top of it all. How can we not love this combination?

Simple is an understatement, as Bowery Electric takes minimalism to near Brian Eno levels.

The story of 10MW is long and troubled, taking over 20 years to release their only album featuring Duff McKagan.

Respected and admired by musicians and a legion of dedicated fans, King's X may be the quintessential overlooked band.

Tackle the sounds, politics and narcotic indulgences of Al Jourgenson and crew on their 1992 album Psalm 69

Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine runs the gamut from orchestral waltzes to Pet Shop Boy-esque dance to Ministry and Sex Pistol vitriol

Expanding their band and sound allows the band to bring in a variety of elements and genres not heard on their debut release.

Dabbling equally in Britpop and American alternative, Nu-Clear Sounds bounces from delicate ballads to fuzzed-out rave-ups in an instant

Borrowing from the Motown garage rock of the MCS, Stooges and Sonic Rendezvous Band, as well as stadium rockers like KISS and The Who.

Chrome hinted at a heavier sound from the band though their earlier shoegaze influences were still evident - not so on Happy Days

Though they managed to breakthrough minor hit with Sucked Out, Superdrag regretfully never crossed over into the mainstream consciousness

Remy Zero's sophomore album Villa Elaine owes a debt to Radiohead, but a deeper listen reveals a wider array of influences.

The single "Superstar" failed to connect with a big audience for Sweet Water, but there is no doubting it's a damn good song

In the 90s they drew comparisons to fellow Cincinnati residents The Afghan Whigs, but time has provided more perspective.

One of the bands often mentioned along with Soundgarden, Alice in Chains and Pearl Jam as early members of the Seattle grunge movement.

Pearl Jam, Lou Reed, Shudder to Think and more stand out as we go track-by-track through the album.