Great Moments in '90s Mediocrity

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Inspired by Grand Royal on the auction block.

In 1994, I got laughed at and patronized by a bunch of indie-rock fan coworkers for daring to suggest that the rhymes on the Beastie Boys' "Pass the Mic" were wack, and for saying that there were a lot of other, much better rap records around that weren't made by the Beastie Boys.

I sense this thread is redundant already, but what the hell.

― M Matos (M Matos), Friday, 16 January 2004 07:17 (twenty-two years ago)

blur

― phil turnbull (philT), Friday, 16 January 2004 07:20 (twenty-two years ago)

please don't just list things, tell stories related to them.

― M Matos (M Matos), Friday, 16 January 2004 07:21 (twenty-two years ago)

(originally had "--personal experiences division" as part of title--could a mod. maybe add it back?)

― M Matos (M Matos), Friday, 16 January 2004 07:22 (twenty-two years ago)

Isn't "Pass the Mic" the one where "commercial" is rhymed with "commercial?"

― dylan (dylan), Friday, 16 January 2004 07:22 (twenty-two years ago)

yep.

― M Matos (M Matos), Friday, 16 January 2004 07:22 (twenty-two years ago)

but you know this was '94 when too many people in Minneapolis were still under the impression that all non-Beastie Boys rap was in fact of the gangsta persuasion. dorks.

― M Matos (M Matos), Friday, 16 January 2004 07:23 (twenty-two years ago)

Pretty Girls Make Graves---one of the last, if not one of the greatest. They're like a triceratops who lived to see hominids go biped.

― Rod Smith (Biggie Stardust), Friday, 16 January 2004 07:24 (twenty-two years ago)

after listening to the mp3s of sigur ros's agaetis byrjun on the law journal's computer, i realized that it was total shit and deleted all of them. an underclassman said "what the fuck?" i said, "cause i'm the managing editor and it sucks, THAT's what the fuck."

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Friday, 16 January 2004 07:24 (twenty-two years ago)

'90s, motherfucker!

― M Matos (M Matos), Friday, 16 January 2004 07:24 (twenty-two years ago)

(that was for Rod, but it applies across the board)

― M Matos (M Matos), Friday, 16 January 2004 07:25 (twenty-two years ago)

Seaweed in the house!

― Rod Smith (Biggie Stardust), Friday, 16 January 2004 07:25 (twenty-two years ago)

Although it seemed like Cypress Hill's debut used to play all the time between bands at the Entry.

Rhyming a word with the same word is bad form.

― dylan (dylan), Friday, 16 January 2004 07:26 (twenty-two years ago)

FWIW I hear that "...commericial/...commercial" repetition as rhyme offense committed by a billion rappers.

― bnw (bnw), Friday, 16 January 2004 07:28 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm a little confused--do you mean it's making fun of them or that everyone does it?

― M Matos (M Matos), Friday, 16 January 2004 07:29 (twenty-two years ago)

Let's go lounge: Combustible Edison, Love Jones, Brian Setzer Orchestra---those fuckers with the moogs---all those fuckers with the moogs! Are we there yet?

― Rod Smith (Biggie Stardust), Friday, 16 January 2004 07:30 (twenty-two years ago)

Here are are two artists soundpeople compared my band to during the '90s:

Weird Al (feelings of high mediocrity followed)
Leon Russell (this I was flattered by)

― dylan (dylan), Friday, 16 January 2004 07:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Girlfriend breaks up with me: I trade my half of the sofa (by which I mean we bought it together) for all of her CDs, even the ones I hated.

― dylan (dylan), Friday, 16 January 2004 07:33 (twenty-two years ago)

Dude from Possum Dixon almost threw up on me in the VIP room at Worst Avenue once. I was barbacking. Had he puked, I was fully prepared to drop a case of beer on his head.

― Rod Smith (Biggie Stardust), Friday, 16 January 2004 07:34 (twenty-two years ago)

The Toadies, "Backslider," "Possum Kingdom," "Tyler" - the singer has a new band that sounds exactly like the Toadies. I heard their single on the radio and wondered if the Toadies got back together.

Blink-182, "Dammit" - the second-to-last great punk-pop hit ("Adam's Song" came later?) Unbelievably easy to sing along to, which should be an absolute requirement for every punk-pop song that gets on the radio.

Jill Sobule, "I Kissed A Girl" - mom-rock lesbianism, but it gives me weird A League of Their Own/Tank Girl flashbacks from the Lori Petty video

― miloauckerman (miloauckerman), Friday, 16 January 2004 07:37 (twenty-two years ago)

I wish I could remember all the early '90s country I listened to.

Did anyone else love the Kentucky Headhunters'? I wish I still had the CD w/ "Dumas Walker"

― miloauckerman (miloauckerman), Friday, 16 January 2004 07:40 (twenty-two years ago)

I think the KH album w/ "Dumas Walker" is from '89. Great band, though. "Electric Barnyard" is my favorite of the ones I've heard.

― dylan (dylan), Friday, 16 January 2004 07:51 (twenty-two years ago)

This is like firing point blank into a sardine can! I recall a Soul Coughing in-store at Let It Be that drew somewhere in the neighborhood of 500 people--nearly as many as the line-around-the-block crowd that showed up for Ben Folds Five the first time they played the Entry. It's like 800 below and these cretins are risking frostbite, hypothermia, and the likelihood that they won't even be able to buy a drink because they're part of a 517-person crowd cramming into a venue with a legal capacity of 215--all to hear "Underground."

― Rod Smith (Biggie Stardust), Friday, 16 January 2004 07:53 (twenty-two years ago)

Let's go lounge

Wah! But I just did a Rough Guide to Late 90's Lounge Pop! Although honestly, I have little love for the neo-swing of Brian Setzer/Squirrel Nut Zippers/Cherry Poppin' Daddies. Combustible Edison I like because they're more indebted to Esquivel-style exotica.

― jaymc (jaymc), Friday, 16 January 2004 07:55 (twenty-two years ago)

Combustible Edison did a very credible "Surabaya Johnny." And they don't sound nearly as dated as, say, Prong, or Godhead Silo now. I think they just got an ankle tangled in the tide of fabulousness, paniced, and ended up being swept away in the tide of ironic preciousness that brought us Moog Cookbook.

― Rod Smith (Biggie Stardust), Friday, 16 January 2004 08:17 (twenty-two years ago)

I'd forgotten all about Squirrel Zit Nuppers. Brian Setzer was at least a pro, with seasoned fellow-professionals buttressing him on all sides. SNZ simply didn't have the chops to pull off what they were trying to do. It wasn't punk rock, it was just inept.

― Rod Smith (Biggie Stardust), Friday, 16 January 2004 08:22 (twenty-two years ago)

Jill Sobule, "I Kissed A Girl" - mom-rock lesbianism, but it gives me weird A League of Their Own/Tank Girl flashbacks from the Lori Petty video

-- (suspectdevic...), January 16th, 2004 6:37 PM. (miloauckerman)

Strangely enough this is just about the only song I can remember all the lyrics too, no idea why. Possibly because they're so rhymey-whimey.

― ipsofacto (ipsofacto), Friday, 16 January 2004 08:55 (twenty-two years ago)

Time for some UK mediocrity- I can't believe I got into arguments with young whippersnappers after declaring that I regarded both entries in the Blur vs Oasis singles "race" to be a bit wonky!!!!! (Similarly, I also got into arguments for declaring Tru-Steppers featuring Victoria Beckham to be far superior to some tepid filter-disco by numbers featuring a "posh bird" from a failed indie band, but I don't think that's 90s, strictly speaking, is it?)

― Old Fart!!! (oldfart_sd), Friday, 16 January 2004 12:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Well.

There was that whole SXEHARDCORE thing. I knew lots of kids who were real into that scene (from In My Eyes to Youth of Today to Converge, etc.) I went to a fair amount of shows of that nature as well; not much else to do when you're in middle school. I remember seeing Converge with American Nightmare and Converge's set was really short because people made a pigpile on the singer and made him puke and break things. Pussy.

― Ian Johnson (orion), Friday, 16 January 2004 12:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Ha. I'm going to see Converge in a week. There's like a big stage and junk so I doubt that'll happen.

British mediocrity... um, going to see non-local band, non-festival live music for the first time (Groop Dogdrill and Cable - the British ones) and being a bit scared to talk to one of Groop Dogdrill cos he might think I was "unpunk", wearing a RATM shirt. That's quite lame in all respects. But I was 15.

― DJ Mencap (DJ Mencap), Friday, 16 January 2004 12:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Matos, Just so you know, that "commercial/commercial" line was supposed to be "commercial/rehearsal", but they fucked it up. That doesn't make that song any better, though. (when the best songs on a Beastie Boys record are hardcore punk, well yeah.)

I really used to think Stabbing Westward was the shit, thanks to Clerks. Then a REV 105 DJ told a story about a rat fancier who liked to put the rats' heads in her mouth and give them "lickies"; this was immediately followed up by the DJ referring to the Stabbing Westward album as Wither, Blister, Burn and Lickies before playing "What Do I Have to Do" and I found it impossible to take them seriously after that. I couldn't take Filter seriously after that, either; I was saved from a fascination with atrocious industrial proto-nu-metal and could otherwise be listening to Orgy today.

― nate detritus (natedetritus), Friday, 16 January 2004 13:02 (twenty-two years ago)

That's interesting about "commercial/rehearsal," though I'm not quite sure why they didn't just punch in and fix it.

― dylan (dylan), Friday, 16 January 2004 14:46 (twenty-two years ago)

Squirrel Nut Zippers were at least creepy and had bad-ass songs though, wtf?

As for 'great moments' of 90s mediocrity: at a HORDE Festival* one year, I was treated to a Blues Traveler set** wherein Darius fucking Rucker from Hootie and the Blowfish came out to sing on a cover of John Lennon's "Imagine" with them***. Wow.

*90s mediocrity aplenty that year - Joan Osbourne, Black Crowes, etc.

**Blues Traveler - 90s mediocrity taken to it's PINNACLE

***NOT ENOUGH REEFER IN THE WORLD TO MAKE THIS SOUND COOL

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Friday, 16 January 2004 15:27 (twenty-two years ago)

1993 - Spin Doctors, Soul Asylum and Screaming Trees live in concert at Great Woods. Loved it at the time, plus I saw my buddies hot girlfriends bush peeking out of her underpants. There was no trimming in 93.

― Chris V (Chris V), Friday, 16 January 2004 15:33 (twenty-two years ago)

Time for some mid-90's Brit support band hell :

The Hair And Skin Trading Company
67
Bivouac
Elevate
Rosa Mota
Rollerskate Skinny
Done Lying Down
Tribute To Nothing
AC Acoustics

I'm sure they were all nice guys and all, but any of these lot were guaranteed to drive me into a catatonic stupor on a regular basis back then. They only positive thing I could say about any of them is that they always made the headline act sound better and, crucially, more adventurous.

― udu wudu (udu wudu), Friday, 16 January 2004 15:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Being told by a friend he had found an excellent band. I actually thought he might have good taste. "Northern Uproar" was the answer.

It was some time after that he tried the same with "Cast".

― ___ (___), Friday, 16 January 2004 15:40 (twenty-two years ago)

I actually wouldn't put Screaming Trees in the mediocre category, but that's just me.

― Sean (Sean), Friday, 16 January 2004 15:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Gay Dad. One of those bands with nothing wrong with them, except being mind-numbingly medicore. Britpop's last gasp maybe?

― Aaron W (Aaron W), Friday, 16 January 2004 15:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Does anyone remember Mishka? Alan McGee goes over to Jamaica in search of new talent and comes back with a white Bob Marley-alike hippy. His was the worst gig I've ever seen at Glastonbury.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Friday, 16 January 2004 15:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Jesse James - Shake It Like A White Girl

― Chris V (Chris V), Friday, 16 January 2004 15:57 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh, come on, "To Earth With Love" is ace. Now, Catwalk....

― Jim Eaton-Terry (Jim E-T), Friday, 16 January 2004 16:04 (twenty-two years ago)

What was that one song that went "she don't eat meat but she sure like the bone"? I could never understand how something so first-song-written-by-a-fourteen-year-old-sounding became so popular.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Friday, 16 January 2004 16:07 (twenty-two years ago)

oh come on patrin stabbing westward were fucking great!!!

― iiii cant even saaaaave my-sellllllffff!!!!!!!, Friday, 16 January 2004 16:10 (twenty-two years ago)

Everything but Space Ghost. Just got the first vol. DVD.

SG: Greetings, citizen! Do you have enough oxygen?
Guest: I'm fine. How are you?
SG: ENERGIZED!

― Luigi Vampa (Horace Mann), Friday, 16 January 2004 16:11 (twenty-two years ago)

What was that one song that went "she don't eat meat but she sure like the bone"?

Ben Folds Five - Kate

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Friday, 16 January 2004 16:11 (twenty-two years ago)

No it doesn't.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Friday, 16 January 2004 16:21 (twenty-two years ago)

ha ha Andrew not quite

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Friday, 16 January 2004 16:23 (twenty-two years ago)

I remember watching the video to Material Issue's "Valerie Loves Me" and thinking, "Wow, this is insanely catchy and great! These guys are gonna be around forever." Five seconds later, I went, "Oh, wait a second, this is shit. No one's going to remember them in a month."

MORAL: First impressions can be wrong; don't discount the followup!

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 16 January 2004 16:25 (twenty-two years ago)

DeadEyeDick

― Luigi Vampa (Horace Mann), Friday, 16 January 2004 16:27 (twenty-two years ago)

New Age Girl
SUNG BY - Deadeye Dick -

Yow Ruff I've got a new age girl
Tell us what she's like
Environmentalism girl
Does she ride a bike
She has a crystal necklace
She spend a lot of cash
Though her vibes are rather reckless
She's heading for a crash
Oh, her flowing skirt is blowing
In a transcendental wind
And she wonders without knowing
Where did we begin

Mary Moon... She's a vegetarian
Mary Moon, Mary Moon, Mary Moon
Mary Moon will outlive all the septugenarians
Mary Moon, Mary Moon, Mary Moon
Oh, she loves me so She hates to be alone
She don't eat meat But she sure like the bone Ruff

You know she drives a wind car
How does she like it
It doesn't get her far
Why she doesn't bike it
But it gets her to where she's going to
I don't know, I don't know, I don't know
Where that is, I wish I knew
I don't know where she's going
And I don't know where she's been
All I know that lovin her has got to be a sin

Mary Moon... Will you hesitate
Don't segregate your thoughts from your emotions
Mary Moon... I know devotion isn't way up high
High... Ruff Mary Moon... She's a vegetarian
Mary Moon, Mary Moon, Mary Moon
Mary Moon will outlive all the septugenarians
Ohhh... Mary Moon, Mary Moon, Mary Moon
Mary Moon... She's an intellectual
Mary Moon, Mary Moon, Mary Moon Mary Moon...
Moon... Despite that fact still remains quite sexual
Mary Moon, Mary Moon, Mary Moon Mary Moon...
Mary Moon, Mary Moon, Mary Moon Ohhh Mary Moon...
Mary Moon, Mary Moon, Mary Moon Mary Moon...
Mary Moon, Mary Moon, Mary Moon
She's the one for me, me, ohhh...
Mary Moon, Mary Moon, Mary Moon Ruff

― tweemu (Jody Beth Rosen), Friday, 16 January 2004 16:28 (twenty-two years ago)

xpost

― tweemu (Jody Beth Rosen), Friday, 16 January 2004 16:28 (twenty-two years ago)

they're so bad (or at least that song is) that I always assumed they were Canadian.

― Luigi Vampa (Horace Mann), Friday, 16 January 2004 16:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Material Issue - "Everything" was decent.

When I dj'ed in college they used to make me play Dead Eye Dick on every shift I worked. It was quite a popular tune on the playlist.

― Chris V (Chris V), Friday, 16 January 2004 16:35 (twenty-two years ago)

that's possibly the most '90s song ever -- only in the '90s would someone express surprise over a liberal liking sex.

― tweemu (Jody Beth Rosen), Friday, 16 January 2004 16:38 (twenty-two years ago)

PCU to thread etc etc

― tweemu (Jody Beth Rosen), Friday, 16 January 2004 16:42 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh god I forgot how horrible that song really was. For some reason (possibly had BLANKED IT OUT as TRAUMATIC) I had completely forgotten the duntdaduntdahdoodledoodydoot-"RUFF" part. MY EARS THE GOGGLES THEY DO NOTHINGK.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Friday, 16 January 2004 16:43 (twenty-two years ago)

that song is actually kinda good... i like it in dumb and dumber at least

― $$$$, Friday, 16 January 2004 16:47 (twenty-two years ago)

The epitome of early-mid ‘90s Brit slacker ‘fraggle’ scene were the forever cheerfully humdrum and resolutely mundane, The Senseless Things.
Plodding, weak-blooded grunge-mush, tatty white trainers or purposefully scuffed/distressed/spatter-painted ‘docs’, vivid yellow cider in plastic beakers, ‘Deadline’ comic-zine, loud, silly student-only fans with piercings, stripy leggings with ‘Pop-Kid‘ shapeless long-sleeve t-shirts, and the 1.30pm slot on main stage at every fucking festival every bastard summer: remember The Senseless Things?
Pleased-with-themselves self-deprecation, proud of their über-ordinariness, Miles Hunt was their god. They served alongside the equally wretched and almost forgotten Thousand Yard Stare, Midway Still, Mega City 4, Ned’s Atomic Dustbin and others. Their shining moment was the single Homophobic Asshole but who now can remember how it goes?

― David Merryweather (DavidM), Friday, 16 January 2004 17:58 (twenty-two years ago)

OK computer: I mean, after the genius of Pablo honey, that cow pat of a record was just the biggest letdown EVAH!

― jole, Friday, 16 January 2004 18:19 (twenty-two years ago)

Ok I didn't mean that

― jole, Friday, 16 January 2004 18:19 (twenty-two years ago)

My local college radio station is playing a Magnapop song right now....

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Friday, 16 January 2004 18:28 (twenty-two years ago)

Four. Non. Blondes.

― Pleasant Plains (Pleasant Plains), Friday, 16 January 2004 18:33 (twenty-two years ago)

The permanently up-and-comer funk-metal band 2 Skinnee J's played at my college. I can't quite remember the reaction: I think it was 35% party vibe and 65% bbbbut they're a funk-metal band, eww!

The guitarist kept running in circles around the quad, which was amusing because I was sitting down in a lounge chair right in the middle, drunk (and possibly) stoned off my ass with nothing better to do than watch the guy play his jive-ass guitar stylings.

Later, Tom Hammerman got royally dissed for being a smug prick by one of the band members, and I think that when you're dissed into silence by someone from the 2 Skinnee J's, you really can't sink too much lower.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Friday, 16 January 2004 18:33 (twenty-two years ago)

Four. Non. Blondes.

too horrible to be mediocre.

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Friday, 16 January 2004 18:35 (twenty-two years ago)

every lillith fair song ever recorded

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Friday, 16 January 2004 18:43 (twenty-two years ago)

But where are you co-workers now, eh? (Purely hypothetical answers are encouraged.)

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Friday, 16 January 2004 18:45 (twenty-two years ago)

They are roadies for Uncle Cracker.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 16 January 2004 18:48 (twenty-two years ago)

My Bloody Valentine - overrated toss, Echobelly and Sleeper were much better.

And the rap wars. Fucking children with guns eh?

― C-Man (C-Man), Friday, 16 January 2004 18:50 (twenty-two years ago)

Dan, I think they're members of Dido's "street team."

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Friday, 16 January 2004 18:57 (twenty-two years ago)

Never knew that about the "Rehearsal/Commercial" thing in the Beasties song... so what's the story? Why didn't they punch it in?

Reminds me, though, in EPMD's "Who Killed Jane," Erick Sermon rhymes "Lawyer" with "Lawyer."

― Ben Boyer (Ben Boyer), Friday, 16 January 2004 20:25 (twenty-two years ago)

90's funk metal bands :

Mindfunk
Infectious Grooves
Limbomaniacs
Heads Up
Dan Reed Network
Living Colour
Stevie Salas Colourcode
Mordred

I'm sure there were other, worse funk metal bands but thankfully my mind's blanked them out. This entire genre was a refuge for music shop employees who'd twigged that Van Halen style shredding wasn't cutting it any more, but they still wanted to be in a band for the sole purpose of showing off their chops. They would also claim that they were forging new fusions in music, breaking down barriers etc etc - wrong! I guess the whole thing kicked off around 1988 or so, but by the early 90's the real mediocrities listed above were getting deals from the kind of labels that hadn't realised the moment was gone.

Oh yeah, one more for the list - Red Hot Chili Peppers.

― udu wudu (udu wudu), Friday, 16 January 2004 20:30 (twenty-two years ago)

The Dan Reed Network had been around for a while. But unsurprisingly only Europe cared for some reason.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 16 January 2004 20:31 (twenty-two years ago)

I believe those coworkers are still working in the restaurant (*coughfigliocough*) they were at the time of said incident.

― M Matos (M Matos), Friday, 16 January 2004 20:34 (twenty-two years ago)

The permanently up-and-comer funk-metal band 2 Skinnee J's played at my college. I can't quite remember the reaction: I think it was 35% party vibe and 65% bbbbut they're a funk-metal band, eww!

They played at my college too, only a few years ago. They had two roadies in bunny suits, which was pretty cool.

― Prude (Prude), Friday, 16 January 2004 20:41 (twenty-two years ago)

toad the wet sprocket own this thread

― anthony kyle monday (akmonday), Friday, 16 January 2004 20:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Most depressing show of the 90's: Public Enemy. 45 minutes of clipped versions of "hits," with only the most perfunctory banter. The dragging death of James Bird had just happened in Jasper, TX, so Chuck D says, "You know Public Enemy has something to say about that!" And then he launches into another brief version of some supposedly angry song. Way to give us exactly what we expect, man.

It was really sad.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Friday, 16 January 2004 20:46 (twenty-two years ago)

RE: Four Non Blondes

I was bugged by FNB, but Linda Perry's songwriter-for-hire career has made me wonder if I didn't miss something. Augilera-Perry's "Beautiful" is very fine piece of songwriting.

― dylan (dylan), Friday, 16 January 2004 23:11 (twenty-two years ago)

"Beautiful" is far and away the best song Linda Perry has written.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 16 January 2004 23:14 (twenty-two years ago)

And set against female-objectification anthems such as "Get Low," "Beautiful" was a great tonic.

― dylan (dylan), Friday, 16 January 2004 23:26 (twenty-two years ago)

I vote for Linda Perry just got better post-4NB, because their records are still bad today.

― M Matos (M Matos), Friday, 16 January 2004 23:29 (twenty-two years ago)

I think you're right.

― dylan (dylan), Friday, 16 January 2004 23:33 (twenty-two years ago)

Seven Mary Three.

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Saturday, 17 January 2004 06:19 (twenty-two years ago)

re Britpop, has anyone mentioned the glory that was Powder

― dave q, Saturday, 17 January 2004 12:42 (twenty-two years ago)

The best* Senseless Things record as far as I remember was "Too Much Kissing". I wonder if it's on Soulseek. I never hated them because the Hewlett artwork at least gave them a good visual style - they were better* than Mega City Four too.

*(words such as 'best', 'better' etc. are relative and should not be taken as a guarantor of quality. The value of records may go down as well as up etc.)

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Saturday, 17 January 2004 12:55 (twenty-two years ago)

Bad senseless things moment = doing monitor mixes for l34th3rf4c3 at some venue in london - i forget where, it was a long time ago, the bill = l34th3rf4c3, red kross, senseless things. After l34therf4c3's set they went off to get shitfaced drunk, and I sat on the EXCLUSIVE STARZ ONLY balcony, beside cass (!) (who i have never met before or since), as he sat and horribly slagged off red kross' AWESOME set. /senseless things come on stage and approximate nirvana badly, no doubt the lammo horde lapped it up but it was STANK.

90's mediocrity = the seahorses

― Pashmina (Pashmina), Saturday, 17 January 2004 13:07 (twenty-two years ago)

Hair & Skin Trading Co (at least from the one or two tracks I've heard) and Living Colour were better than they're being given credit for. "New Age Girl" is possibly the single worst song of all time though.

Mediocrity North:
I remember having bitter Doughboys vs Tea Party arguments. (I took the Doughboys side. I occasionally wonder if I should have hung on to Crush. Not for really long or anything.) Now and then I get a little nostalgic for 13 Engines or Varga's "Freeze Don't Move". And I think I like every Gandharvas hit.

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Saturday, 17 January 2004 15:39 (twenty-two years ago)

Downloaded "Too Much Kissing" (a live version it sounds like) and it's obviously the work of a band who haven't heard Nirvana yet - bouncy pop punk, sort of like Busted with much worse tunes and no charisma or wit.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Saturday, 17 January 2004 16:19 (twenty-two years ago)

(poss idea for a thread/prob too boring for a thread really - name and shame the desperate brit indie bands who totally changed their sound to catch onto nirvana's coat-tails - Senseless Things & The High come to mind immediately)

― Pashmina (Pashmina), Saturday, 17 January 2004 16:23 (twenty-two years ago)

The semi-mainstream guitar bands that were caught between the rise and peak of alternative/grunge and the boy band/teen pop resurgence are the very definition of 90's mediocrity, IMO. Stuff like Collective Soul, Semisonic, Matchbox 20, Tripping Daisy, Live ... there was nothing overly bad about them, even a few decent tunes here and there, but it's all completely forgettable.

The British equivalent, I guess, would be the bands caught between Madchester and Britpop. Senseless Things, Hair and Skin Trading Co., Neds, Midway Still, have all been mentioned, you can add Frank and Walters and The Family Cat.

― Barry Bruner (Barry Bruner), Sunday, 18 January 2004 01:08 (twenty-two years ago)

The Tragically Hip. I remember they were massively popular at the campus radio station when I started DJing in 1991. I could never understand it - I thought they were terrible. And now they get played on the local classic rock station - thanks, no doubt, to those pesky Canadian content regulations. The songs are still terrible.

The Tea Party also took Canadian musical mediocrity to new depths in the 1990's. *shudder*

― Kent Burt (lingereffect), Sunday, 18 January 2004 04:37 (twenty-two years ago)

David Gray becoming Ireland's adopted son.

― fcussen (Burger), Sunday, 18 January 2004 04:59 (twenty-two years ago)

I remember seeing Bad Brains (sans HR) in the early 90s and thinking there was no way they could have ever been worth a shit.

I remember when I saw the first couple of Lollapaloozas that the concept was great but that it was just another excuse to get drunk or high. The music was never that great (because playing sheds almost never is.)

MPLS memories figure heavily into the 90s for me as well. I saw Nirvana at First Ave around the time "Smells Like Teen Spirit" came out (fall of 91 I think it was), and overheard that timeless form of mediocrity known as, "Yeah, this is a pretty good song but it's nowhere near as good as anything on their first one." I had heard Bleach a bunch in college and never thought much of it (other than "Love Buzz"), but since I am full of mediocrity I went straight to Roadrunner Records and bought Bleach the next day. It was as mediocre as I'd remembered.

I remember meeting a coworker out for drinks who was in their late 20s--this was probably 1994 or so--and her asking me what kind of music I liked. I told her I pretty much like it all, and she turns to me and says, "I think my favorite is Alternative. Because I really love 'It's a Shame About Ray.'"

That whole attempt to brand Alternative Nation was so pervasive and so dud. Except when Steve was giving props to the Flaming Lips on "Beverly Hills 90210."

― don weiner, Sunday, 18 January 2004 11:56 (twenty-two years ago)

Daisy Chainsaw

― Andrew L (Andrew L), Sunday, 18 January 2004 12:33 (twenty-two years ago)

Pete Namlook, FSOL, Bandulu, Banco Da Gaia, lots of other shitty techno ambient mung that I gobbled up like a fool in the early 90s

― Andrew L (Andrew L), Sunday, 18 January 2004 12:36 (twenty-two years ago)

The New Radicals

― searchanddelete, Sunday, 18 January 2004 12:40 (twenty-two years ago)

Daisy Chainsaw

GAH! How can you call Daisy Chainsaw "mediocre". Fuckin' Katie Jane Garside was LEGITIMATELY INSANE! They were GREAT!!!!

Actual mediocre `90s bands:
- Teenage Fanclub
- Oasis
- The Pooh Sticks
- Inspiral Carpets

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Sunday, 18 January 2004 12:46 (twenty-two years ago)

College rock chancers.

The Caulfields
Cold Water Flat
Carvival Art (except for that first album)
The Connells
The Reivers
92 Degrees
Dada
Trip Shakespeare

― mzui, Sunday, 18 January 2004 13:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Alex is shooting for the moon.

- Gigolo Aunts
- Nightblooms
- Drunken Boat
- Vanilla Trainwreck
- Rollins Band
- The Nields
- that dog. / papas fritas
- Ben Lee
- Sleepyhead
- Butterglory
- The Elevator Drops
- Whale
- The Inbreds

― Chris Ott (Chris Ott), Sunday, 18 January 2004 13:25 (twenty-two years ago)

i remember moving back to connecticut for a few years in the early nineties and getting a job working the graveyard shift in a supermarket where they blasted I-95 the local classic rock station all night long. I-95 refused for the longest time to play any grunge AT ALL. even though, by then, everyone knew it was the big thing. They fought against the tide and i have no idea why. They played Brother Cane, and Sass Jordan, and Jackyl, and Big Head Todd & The Monsters, and new Kiss, and Dream Theatre, and Mr.Big, and even Melissa Etheridge and Sarah McLaughlin, but no grunge. Then every top 40 station in connecticut started playing nirvana et al and they had no choice. They proceeded to play nirvana, soundgarden, alice in chains constantly from then on as if they had invented it. Oh, and Jeffrey Gaines. They played him too. That station was the worst.

― scott seward (scott seward), Sunday, 18 January 2004 14:25 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh, and Jeffrey Gaines.

That "Garth Brooks with a soulpatch" album? Holy crap.

― nate detritus (natedetritus), Sunday, 18 January 2004 16:33 (twenty-two years ago)

(oops, that was Chris Gaines. *** on AMG!)

― nate detritus (natedetritus), Sunday, 18 January 2004 16:35 (twenty-two years ago)

While I don't think the Hip are terrible per se (they're not great but I'd hum along to "Fifty-Mission Cap"), it is pretty incredible that, at least in Ottawa, they seem to get more classic rock airplay than the Beatles, Stones, and Hendrix combined.

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Sunday, 18 January 2004 16:39 (twenty-two years ago)

Just about any grunge-related moment in history seems thoroughly mediocre now.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Sunday, 18 January 2004 17:19 (twenty-two years ago)

I remember being really excited in middle school when Bono said he'd continue to "fuck up the mainstream" after winning the Best Alternative Album for Zooropa. I may have even written down that it was the one shining beacon of awesomeness or whatever.

Basically the nineties can be summed up in one sentence for me: "hey, I was a teenager. What was AMERICA'S excuse?"

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Sunday, 18 January 2004 17:21 (twenty-two years ago)

Just about any grunge-related moment in history seems thoroughly mediocre now.

"They're the next hot thing in grunge...and they're teenagers from Australia!"

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 18 January 2004 17:33 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah, those guys failed to live up to the MAJESTY of Pearl Jam. Jesus.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Sunday, 18 January 2004 17:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Pearl Jam isn't the greatest band in the world but Silverchair is INFINITELY WORSE.

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Sunday, 18 January 2004 17:56 (twenty-two years ago)

My point, re: 90's grunge mediocrity.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Sunday, 18 January 2004 18:12 (twenty-two years ago)

I bet somebody will hate me for it but I will say Jane's Addiction. Also, perhaps Reverend Horton Heat. Could add dozens more except their uniquely awful mid 90's mediocrity seems to have melted the brain cells retaining their names.

― sucka (sucka), Sunday, 18 January 2004 19:01 (twenty-two years ago)

Whale at least managed one great single ("Hobo Humping Slobo Babe").

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Sunday, 18 January 2004 19:23 (twenty-two years ago)

The Reverend Horton Heat had one great album (Full Custom Gospel Sounds), and really only became mediocre when they tried to move into the swing craze (It's Martini Time), then went full-on rockabilly for a while.

― miloauckerman (miloauckerman), Sunday, 18 January 2004 21:41 (twenty-two years ago)

ben fucking harper

― mullygrubber (gaz), Sunday, 18 January 2004 21:48 (twenty-two years ago)

from waaaaay upthread but I must tell you:

Mischka = Heather Nova's brother, so clearly they can be on this list together.

― suzy (suzy), Monday, 19 January 2004 00:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh, oh, I know what I'm supposed to say!

So I was talking to this guy and saying "hey you know you should listen to some band", and he said "no I only like Radiohead."

Did I do it right?

― Stupid (Stupid), Monday, 19 January 2004 00:48 (twenty-two years ago)

"Fuckin' Katie Jane Garside was LEGITIMATELY INSANE!"

Still is.

― Stupid (Stupid), Monday, 19 January 2004 00:57 (twenty-two years ago)

that Spacehog song.

― Lukas (lukas), Monday, 19 January 2004 01:43 (twenty-two years ago)

Pete Namlook, FSOL, Bandulu, Banco Da Gaia, lots of other shitty techno ambient mung that I gobbled up like a fool in the early 90s

B B B I still like FSOL and Banco Da Gaia *pouts* And Orbital, and Aphex Twin, and .....I'll get me coat.

― Trayce (trayce), Monday, 19 January 2004 02:07 (twenty-two years ago)

legitimate insanity /= free pass from mediocrity

― M Matos (M Matos), Monday, 19 January 2004 03:11 (twenty-two years ago)

Must dispute the Reivers' inclusion here; they were mostly excellent (and barely lasted into 1991).

Deep Blue Something and "Breakfast At Tiffany's" own this thread.

― mike a, Monday, 19 January 2004 03:48 (twenty-two years ago)

ISDN is the crowning embarrassment for the sci-fi tainted first wave of IDM/electronica. Though you could argue the artwork on Prodigy's first LP had already set the bar low enough. What a con..."Artificial Intelligence" indeed. I sold all my Autechre CDs when I should have smashed them.

― Chris Ott (Chris Ott), Monday, 19 January 2004 04:44 (twenty-two years ago)

Brian Eno's start-up music for Windows '95.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Monday, 19 January 2004 04:55 (twenty-two years ago)

Haha! Mike wins.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 19 January 2004 04:56 (twenty-two years ago)

Jane's Addiction do not belong on this list! I concede that the Relapse tour was a cynical cash grab which tarnished the legacy of one of rock's great bands but never, even on their absolute worst day, has that band ever been mediocre. The present incarnation may yet prove me wrong however...

― J-rock (Julien Sandiford), Monday, 19 January 2004 05:20 (twenty-two years ago)

Gene and The Shed Seven just came to mind. Thanks a lot England.

― J-rock (Julien Sandiford), Monday, 19 January 2004 05:27 (twenty-two years ago)

Tell me all your thoughts on God.

― My name is Kenny (My name is Kenny), Monday, 19 January 2004 08:14 (twenty-two years ago)

imani coppola, jimmy ray!

― Pablo Cruise (chaki), Monday, 19 January 2004 08:33 (twenty-two years ago)

"All For You" by Sister Hazel
"Mouth" by Merril Bainbridge

I'm not sure what to think about "Roll To Me" by Del Amitri.

re:
- "Teenage Fanclub" - This is unexceptable.
- "The Toadies, "Backslider," "Possum Kingdom," "Tyler"" - That whole first album was fantastic.
- "every lillith fair song ever recorded" - Hopefully you're excluding Fiona Apple's 2 albums.
- "that Spacehog song" - I can see why some people might be "eh" about it, but I still love "In the meantime."

― billstevejim, Monday, 19 January 2004 08:46 (twenty-two years ago)

Livin On The Edge - Aerosmith
Cats In The Cradle - Ugly Kid Joe
Love Spreads - Stone Roses
Cumbersome - Seven Mary Three
Mother Mother - Tracy Bonham
I Will Buy You A New Life - Everclear
Bitch - Meredith Brooks
Graduate - Third Eye Blind

― billstevejim, Monday, 19 January 2004 09:05 (twenty-two years ago)

stories not lists, please

― M Matos (M Matos), Monday, 19 January 2004 09:11 (twenty-two years ago)

I was just about to say, this has kind of turned into that 'Pitchfork cutout bin feature' thread over the weekend

― DJ Mencap (DJ Mencap), Monday, 19 January 2004 10:06 (twenty-two years ago)

Also, the 90s seems like it was the first big decade of "dinosaur act" tours i.e. bands from the 60s that realized they could shake the Baby Boomers down. The Steel Wheels tour by the Rolling Stones was horrible...I saw Living Color (!?!??!!?) open for the Stones on that one. I think I saw James Taylor in 1990 as a ploy to get laid, and I remember thinking that everyone there was my parents' age. I can't remember the year, but I think it was 1990 or 1991 when SPIN named Perry Farrel as "Artist of the Year", a move so mediocre it stuns me to this day.

― don weiner, Monday, 19 January 2004 15:57 (twenty-two years ago)

One time I heard the very end of Better Than Ezra's "Good" playing on one radio station, waited until the very end when the only part of the song I really liked came in (dude going "that's right!" gratuitously after guitar crunch fade-out), recognized the next song as Collective Soul by the second measure, switched the channel and lo and behold what song is playing on this other station but Better Than Ezra's "Good". This seems not quite so far-fetched now under our 21st century ClearChannel skies, but at the time it struck me as fairly irritating.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Monday, 19 January 2004 16:12 (twenty-two years ago)

legitimate insanity /= free pass from mediocrity

Hmmmm. Don't agree with this. I'm not saying you have to necessarily like and/or appreciate Daisy Chainsaw, but the mere fact that Katie Jane maintained a tenuous-at-best grasp on sanity immediately renders them better than merely "mediocre," given the unpredictable nature.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 19 January 2004 16:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Well, it could just render them 'unpredictable.'

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 19 January 2004 16:53 (twenty-two years ago)

Or 'zany'. Which let's face it is how they were received by the cockfarmers who liked them.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Monday, 19 January 2004 16:56 (twenty-two years ago)

legitimate insanity /= free pass from mediocrity

haha surely someone out there has a wesley willis story for this thread!

― tweemu (Jody Beth Rosen), Monday, 19 January 2004 17:07 (twenty-two years ago)

Check the Wesley RIP thread from some months back, I think that pretty well provides what you're looking for

― DJ Mencap (DJ Mencap), Monday, 19 January 2004 17:13 (twenty-two years ago)

Unpredicatable /= mediocre

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 19 January 2004 22:27 (twenty-two years ago)

My only nonviolent observation about Four Non Blondes at the time was that "What's Going On" sounded like "Don't Worry Be Happy"; TLC's "Waterfalls" also sounded like "It's Still Rock 'n' Roll To Me," but I forgave that...

― Pete Scholtes, Monday, 19 January 2004 22:28 (twenty-two years ago)

The early nineties me, seeing Nirvana for the first time on Saturday Night Live (having of course heard their SONG, yet not being particularly awestruck)

"Haha, the singer kind of looks like a younger Phil Collins".

Another Saturday, another night in front of the TV, and there's Billy Corgan

"Haha, that guy kind of looks like an older Peter Brady".

Knee-jerk irreverence was so nineties.

― Kim (Kim), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 00:21 (twenty-two years ago)

Anything involving rap.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 00:34 (twenty-two years ago)

*takes a drink*

― tweemu (Jody Beth Rosen), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 00:39 (twenty-two years ago)

Is that even worth a drink at this point?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 00:39 (twenty-two years ago)

Remember that west coast rapper named Domino or something (his big song was about reminiscing....how original)? Now HE was the epitome of mediocre!

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 00:40 (twenty-two years ago)

shakespeare's sister

― anthony kyle monday (akmonday), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 00:43 (twenty-two years ago)

stories not lists, please

uh, ok, not that i guess anyone needs my justification for nominating ben harper, cos his music sucks anyway

but

he kept us waiting two hours at a show then when he came on he noodled about, chatted/mumbled endlessly AND THEN started calling his peeps from the record company up on stage and hugging them and standing with his arms around them and telling us how great they were and requesting that we give them a round of appluse. the stupid stoned fucker.
by the time he started playing any songs i was leaving.

― mullygrubber (gaz), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 00:44 (twenty-two years ago)

"Stay" by Shakespeare's Sister if fucking MAWKTASTILICIOUS! Thus, not at all mediocre, and you should be pelted with wet socks filled with your own rancid discharge for making such an allegation.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 00:46 (twenty-two years ago)

MAWKTASTILICIOUS

How is it even pronounced?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 00:47 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.wrestlingzone.ru/s/s_borga.jpg

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 00:49 (twenty-two years ago)

mawk - tas - til - icious (?)

― tweemu (Jody Beth Rosen), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 00:51 (twenty-two years ago)

I love the fall, but their 1990 (? 1991?) show at the ANU in canberra was an exercise in supreme mediocrity. MarkE was bored, plainly didnt want to be there, and they plodded thru a very short set and IIRC didn't do an encore (or maybe one song, Im not sure).

God it was that bad I dont even remember anymore.

― Trayce (trayce), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 00:52 (twenty-two years ago)

wasn't that the tour where MES kicked two of the band members out during the Sydney show? was the Canberra one before or after the Syd show?

― the surface noise (electricsound), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 00:53 (twenty-two years ago)

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drc400/c486/c486849ujun.jpg

This is the clown I was talking about.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 00:54 (twenty-two years ago)

wasn't domino's big song sweet potato pie? plus he produced the casual record.

― mullygrubber (gaz), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 00:55 (twenty-two years ago)

ie getthefuckouttahere alex.

― mullygrubber (gaz), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 00:55 (twenty-two years ago)

dude the ghetto jam's about to slam! damn here comes the trojan man!

I wanna see some Zoo TV stories in here. I'm too young to really have any.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 00:57 (twenty-two years ago)

the niiiiineties! In allll it's glorrry!
http://www.u2tour.de/u2tours/photos_zootv/bonomullen.jpg

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 00:58 (twenty-two years ago)

Jesus H. I will never love again.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 00:59 (twenty-two years ago)

Is that a House of Pain sticker on his bass?

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 01:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Is there anybody on the planet who even got a moderate kick out of watching Dana Carvey as Garth(!) drum on "Even Better Than The Real Thing" VIA SATELLITE for the MTV Music Awards?

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 01:01 (twenty-two years ago)

from another angle
http://www.macphisto.net/phonecalls/photos/macphisto-pic-26.jpg

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 01:03 (twenty-two years ago)

It's like Marc Almond if he went insane. (Well, given his state of mind in 1983, insaner.)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 01:04 (twenty-two years ago)

I will gleefully shit gold if Radiohead ever gets THIS "ironic"
http://www.usatoday.com/life/gallery/u2/muscles.jpg

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 01:04 (twenty-two years ago)

you faked that picture! (didn't you?)

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 01:06 (twenty-two years ago)

yeah, that's right. I faked U2 circa 1997.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 01:07 (twenty-two years ago)

Ann Powers (I believe it was her) gave Pop a 9 out of 10 in SPIN. I'm curious if she would today.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 01:08 (twenty-two years ago)

No, I believe he would wear that, but doesn't his head look preternaturally, scary-big in that picture? or is is a special effects shirt thing?

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 01:09 (twenty-two years ago)

Satan has been known to change form.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 01:10 (twenty-two years ago)

god help us.

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 01:11 (twenty-two years ago)

Did Bono dress up like that a lot during that tour? I wasn't paying attention. So yeah it's kind of silly, but I actually think it looks cool. Really!

― Sean (Sean), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 01:13 (twenty-two years ago)

I was referring to the first photo of Bono btw, although the second one is kind of amusing too.

― Sean (Sean), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 01:15 (twenty-two years ago)

wasn't that the tour where MES kicked two of the band members out during the Sydney show? was the Canberra one before or after the Syd show?

He did? I dunno if Canb was before or after Sydney, so Ive no idea. There seemed to be a full complement of musicians onstage, including that annoying keyboard woman they had at the time.

― Trayce (trayce), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 01:23 (twenty-two years ago)

I never said mediocrity = unpredictability, I said just because someone is genuinely nuts doesn't necessarily protect them from making mediocre music.

― M Matos (M Matos), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 01:31 (twenty-two years ago)

including that annoying keyboard woman they had at the time

marcia schofield? in that case the sydney show must have been after. cos she was one of the ones booted

― the surface noise (electricsound), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 01:33 (twenty-two years ago)

I really wish they'd booted her right before the shows on Seminal Live

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 02:00 (twenty-two years ago)

creed
nickelback
blink 182

there is so much to choose from...

― hector (hector), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 05:13 (twenty-two years ago)

For a second I thought this was the 'what tour are you looking forward to' thread and I was about to disown Hector completely.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 05:18 (twenty-two years ago)

"stories not lists, please"

You just HAD to wait until immediately after my post to write this.

― billstevejim, Tuesday, 20 January 2004 07:35 (twenty-two years ago)

I wrote it at the top of the thread

― M Matos (M Matos), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 07:59 (twenty-two years ago)

i got my first deep tongue kiss at a jr high dance while dink - "greenmind" played. what. the. fuck.

― sean marvin (williamtell), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 08:44 (twenty-two years ago)

I remember sitting around my house with some wannabe gangster types in '98 or so and playing them Tuff Jam records. Me: "I think garage is great, even the mcs are quite good". Them: "No garage MC will ever touch Skibadee."

Skibadee!

― Jacob (Jacob), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 13:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Also: "fuck this handbag house shit, lets go home, smoke a bong and listen to some Coldcut."

Overheard in 1995. I was on a podium wearing silver trousers. Probably.

― Jacob (Jacob), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 14:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Eels.

― Stupid (Stupid), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 14:29 (twenty-two years ago)

Breaking my wrist "slamdancing" to "Smells Like Teen Spirit" in my high school gymnasium. I ask you, can there be a moment of greater mediocrity.

― Chris Ott (Chris Ott), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 14:38 (twenty-two years ago)

Ann Powers (I believe it was her) gave Pop a 9 out of 10 in SPIN. I'm curious if she would today.

She's a whore...as is her man, Eric Weisbard. A pox on both their houses.

I actually saw the Zoo Tv tour four times. May god forgive me.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 15:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Watching kids do that "skank" dance is, to me, the ultimate mediocrity of the 90's. It was so "blah" and it looked like jogging in place. And such an easy dance to do, yet I found myself unable to belong. Now I relish my unwillingness to skank. Plus, I got kicked in the head on my birthday by a ska-mosher at a Less Than Jake show. The kind of pain that keeps on giving.

The fact that people revelled in it to such a degree makes this practice the ultimate in 90's mediocrity.

― p.j. (Henry), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 19:54 (twenty-two years ago)

Sister. Machine. Gun.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 19:55 (twenty-two years ago)

Lollapalooza '96. The big stink about it was that Metallica were headlining, **even** **though** they were METAL, NOT ALTERNATIVE!!!! And that was ACTUALLY CONTROVERSIAL!!!! Oh, and Rancid were there too. Sucked.

― Lewis J. Bateman (Lewis Bateman), Wednesday, 21 January 2004 09:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Totally unrelated mediocrity: Da Brat.

― Lewis J. Bateman (Lewis Bateman), Wednesday, 21 January 2004 09:48 (twenty-two years ago)

two years pass...

There's got to be more '90s mediocrity around here somewhere. (Also, that Pop review was by Barry Walters.)

― Matos-Webster Dictionary (M Matos), Tuesday, 7 March 2006 11:31 (twenty years ago)

The Smoking Popes. I bought their album because the lead single was catchy and the band was SO CUTE OMG even though I was old enough to know better.

"Rubella." In the song, the girl's name was "Rubella." "I'm in love with a girl she's infected my whole world." Oh man.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Tuesday, 7 March 2006 13:07 (twenty years ago)

And then, AND THEN...the cute lead guy went Christer.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Tuesday, 7 March 2006 13:10 (twenty years ago)

I heard "It's a Shame About Ray" the other night. I got all weepy-nostalgic, and I couldn't think of a modern equivalent.

― Dave will do (dave225.3), Tuesday, 7 March 2006 13:32 (twenty years ago)

Lenny Kravitz
Hank Rollins
Jewel
Cranberries
Cardigans
"Don't Sit On My Sunshine" or whatever it was called

― m coleman (lovebug starski), Tuesday, 7 March 2006 13:41 (twenty years ago)

Ninja Tune

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Tuesday, 7 March 2006 14:05 (twenty years ago)

otm.

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 7 March 2006 14:17 (twenty years ago)

Last summer I attended a concert (one of those free, all-day 'celebrate our city' events put on by inconsequential cities) that included the reunited Spin Doctors, and, in a fit of stirring mediocrity, the singer messed up the lyrics to "Two Princes." How is that possible?

Also: "Molly" by Sponge is a good example.

― erklie (erklie), Tuesday, 7 March 2006 15:07 (twenty years ago)

A dishwasher at a restaurant I was cooking at in the 90s used to snort coke in the bathroom during his shift and listen to Spacehog on this little tiny boombox. He seemed to be really into this band.

― p.j. (Henry), Tuesday, 7 March 2006 15:12 (twenty years ago)

Belly on the cover of Rolling Stone

― m coleman (lovebug starski), Tuesday, 7 March 2006 15:13 (twenty years ago)

i remember back at the '97 HFStival (my first non-parent-chaperoned concert and thus a really exciting one), i was out getting some pizza by the sidestage area w/my friends. what band should be playing said sidestage but third eye blind, who were starting to get big off of "semi-charmed life" (BTW, is there a better mediocre song title? I don't think so). at the conclusion of that song, stephen jenkins, apropos of nothing, yells out to the crowd "HEY MAN, FUCK THE GOVERNMENT!!!!" now i was pretty young and naive (i mean, i bought a fuckin dragon art magazine or something from a zendik earlier in the day), but that still seemed pretty dumb to me.

and re: spacehog, a dj at the radio station i used to work with definitely had a tatoo of their little logo guy on her inner thigh and had slept w/the singer.

― wangdangsweetpentangle (teenagequiet), Tuesday, 7 March 2006 15:14 (twenty years ago)

Garth Brooks IS Chris Gaines

― m coleman (lovebug starski), Tuesday, 7 March 2006 15:15 (twenty years ago)

I might add that this dishwasher guy would mosh to *anything* He'd tell me about all these shows he went to, doing that stompy-stompy dance in a circle at every one. I think he liked Primus a lot too.

― p.j. (Henry), Tuesday, 7 March 2006 15:17 (twenty years ago)

ooh now that Spacehog's been mentioned I remember a tour that took place circa 1996: Everclear - Spacehog - Tracy Bonham - 7 Year Bitch.

I was there, man!

― erklie (erklie), Tuesday, 7 March 2006 15:18 (twenty years ago)

Seeing Material Issue at an amusement park in NE Ohio and getting the singer's autograph on a piece of french fry wrapper.

AND

Going on a date with a guy whose license plate read "SKA GUY."

― The Milkmaid (82375538-A) (The Milkmaid), Tuesday, 7 March 2006 15:21 (twenty years ago)

Fury in the Slaughterhouse.

― Ryan Pitchfork (Ryan Pitchfork), Tuesday, 7 March 2006 15:34 (twenty years ago)

Gruntruck.

― The Milkmaid (82375538-A) (The Milkmaid), Tuesday, 7 March 2006 15:34 (twenty years ago)

Sorry. Let me elaborate: seeing Gruntruck open for Alice in Chains in Cleveland with my ridiculously stupid and mean-spirited boyfriend.

― The Milkmaid (82375538-A) (The Milkmaid), Tuesday, 7 March 2006 15:35 (twenty years ago)

That was a moment of painful, searing mediocrity.

― The Milkmaid (82375538-A) (The Milkmaid), Tuesday, 7 March 2006 15:35 (twenty years ago)

Early 1996 my late flight to Boston gets cancelled so I rent a car and drive all night to make my 8am interview. Before heading back I stop into the woefully understocked mall record store attached to the hotel I was staying in and pick up some tapes for the ride back. I make the genius choices of Loud Lucy Breathe, Blur The Great Escape and The Mortal Kombat OST. Most mediocre Boston -> NYC drive ever.

― zaxxon25 (zaxxon25), Tuesday, 7 March 2006 15:53 (twenty years ago)

Oh man, the Stone Roses have a new album coming out! Finally!!! Yeah, "Love Spreads" wasn't that great, but I'm sure the rest of the album is going to be great! And then we'll never hear from Liam and company ever again!!!!!!!!!

― Viz (Viz), Tuesday, 7 March 2006 18:47 (twenty years ago)

Tag Team lapping every last stray drop of honey from "Whoomp! There It Is" on everything they subsequently recorded.

― Terrible Cold (Terrible Cold), Tuesday, 7 March 2006 18:58 (twenty years ago)

Also, knowing a guy who refused to buy anything but East Coast and English punk records because everything else sucked.

― Terrible Cold (Terrible Cold), Tuesday, 7 March 2006 19:03 (twenty years ago)

goldfinger was inexplicably popular in my school for a few months.

― Sym Sym (sym), Tuesday, 7 March 2006 22:29 (twenty years ago)

When I was attending Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, this label, Grass Records, decided to go on a "signing frenzy". They snapped up these bands Twitch, Rollinghead, and Doxie. I was into Doxie at the time, good kids. But man, looking back -- all those "Kalamzoo is the next Seattle" articles that appeared in the local newspaper sure were rough.

― QuantumNoise (Justin Farrar), Wednesday, 8 March 2006 00:44 (twenty years ago)

I can remember going to an EdgeFest at Ontario Place in Toronto during the mid-1990s because my girlfriend at the time was a huge fan of Toad the Wet Sprocket and the Proclaimers. It was perhaps the blandest "festival" I have ever attended.
The headliner was the Lemonheads, and a drug-addled Evan Dando was in the midst of his alternahunk phase. When a large crowd of teen girls jumped the barrier during his encore, a paranoid Dando began swinging his guitar, prompting security to tackle him before he could concuss some 14-year-old.

― Binjominia (Brilhante), Wednesday, 8 March 2006 01:22 (twenty years ago)

life's ruff for an alternahunk

― erklie (erklie), Wednesday, 8 March 2006 01:28 (twenty years ago)

The Adventures of Pete & Pete. I liked the show, probably still like if I saw it again, but all I remember music-wise is a lot of reverb-drenched cutes.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Wednesday, 8 March 2006 01:34 (twenty years ago)

Betty Boo drops the microphone during a live performance, and naturally the vocal track continues, putting an end to Boomania. Miss Boo is not heard from until years later when she decides to seek revenge by cowriting Hearsay's "Pure and Simple."

― Chantilly Bass (ChantillyBass), Wednesday, 8 March 2006 06:08 (twenty years ago)

http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6240/14/320/wigwam.jpg

― kit brash (kit brash), Wednesday, 8 March 2006 06:23 (twenty years ago)

Although it pains me to say it, one of the most mediocre shows I saw in the 90's was Heatmiser (Elliot Smith's old band) and The Mekons at La Luna in Portland Oregon circa '92. Off night for the Mekons and it was years before I gave Smith a chance again based on the soul-sucking void of boredom that his band projected.

I also saw The Fall do a mediocre show at the same venue, only time I've seen them :(

― sleeve (sleeve), Wednesday, 8 March 2006 06:30 (twenty years ago)

Summer 1994: Stone Temple Pilots's "Purple" has just come out. I learn the chords to "Big Empty" and play and sing it acoustic for the talent show at my CTY summer program (note: this is before the unplugged version had come out. I was a visionary). Later that afternoon, the hot asian girl that I have a crush on comes over to me and tells me, in a flirtacious voice, something along the lines of "All the girls on my floor think you have a really sexy voice." Simultaneously overwhelmed and embarassed, I blurt out something really retarded sounding like "That's awesome!" She gets a grossed-out look on her face and walks away.

― Abbadavid Berman (Hurting), Wednesday, 8 March 2006 06:39 (twenty years ago)

1993: Pianist Michael Horn, Drummer Robbie Mitzner, and I (on guitar) form The Nice Jewish Boys (NJB) with the intent of making money playing Bar Mitzvahs. We are 14 and not very good. Bar Mitzvahs played: 1

― Abbadavid Berman (Hurting), Wednesday, 8 March 2006 06:48 (twenty years ago)

1991: I join The Common Hellbenders as a drummer. I haven't been playing very long. We cover Good Enough by Mudhoney and some other songs. I don't know who Mudhoney is. We play a benefit show at a church for a paraplegic kid. We are gently encouraged to get off the stage after our Mudhoney cover.

― Abbadavid Berman (Hurting), Wednesday, 8 March 2006 06:51 (twenty years ago)

Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm

― Chantilly Bass (ChantillyBass), Wednesday, 8 March 2006 07:03 (twenty years ago)

ani difranco & green day! The mediocrity that just keeps on giving.

― timmy tannin (pompous), Wednesday, 8 March 2006 07:49 (twenty years ago)

Xpost

OTMFM!!!!!!! Lock thread.

― Elliot (Elliot), Wednesday, 8 March 2006 07:52 (twenty years ago)

Rise Robots Rise wins this thread

― [email protected], Wednesday, 8 March 2006 07:54 (twenty years ago)

The dude in Morphine (who is now dead) whenever he would try to pick-up my then girlfriend when she was waiting tables at the Middle East in '95 and '96. The dude wasn't even the cat's meow anymore, and he just kept making comment after comment. RIP bud, but you were still a prick.

― QuantumNoise (Justin Farrar), Wednesday, 8 March 2006 16:36 (twenty years ago)

Chantilly Bass OTM (and I'm from Winnipeg). Dullest band ever.

― Bryan (Bryan), Wednesday, 8 March 2006 17:58 (twenty years ago)

Listening to the painfully mediocre evolution of Seattle's 107.7, "The End" defines pretty much all of my mediocre 90s musical experiences.

I would also add the success of this:
http://i23.ebayimg.com/04/i/05/1c/5f/b1_1_b.JPG to this less-than-illustrious list.

― Sparkle Motion's Rising Force, Wednesday, 8 March 2006 19:21 (twenty years ago)

In the early to mid 90s, the power of house music / PLUR had me and all my friends looking with disdain on people that contnuted to drink alcohol at any social event. Actually, alcohol, leather shoes, guitars, fast food...it all looked pretty bad to all of us enthralled by the promise of synthetics, water and fruit...

Is that mediocre? Not sure.

― paulhw (paulhw), Wednesday, 8 March 2006 22:34 (twenty years ago)

That Motorcycle Emptiness guy carving his arm was decidedly mediocre. As was the NWONW (although I still stand by S.M.A.S.H.'s "Lady love your cunt").

― paulhw (paulhw), Wednesday, 8 March 2006 22:37 (twenty years ago)

"Semi-Charmed Life" should not be here.

― billstevejim (billstevejim), Thursday, 9 March 2006 02:50 (twenty years ago)

Buying the Meat Puppets album "No Joke" on the day it came out.

― Earl Nash (earlnash), Thursday, 9 March 2006 03:24 (twenty years ago)

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