Jane's Addiction

Sound Familiar?

“Jane Says,” “Mountain Song,” “Been Caught Stealing”

Who Are They?

An alternative rock band so important that its initial farewell tour turned into one of the biggest music festivals ever (hello, Lollapalooza).

In the mid-1980s, Perry Farrell was trying (unsuccessfully) to salvage the remains of his pet project, Psi Com. On his search for a new bass player, Perry found Eric Avery and the two bonded over their mutual love for Joy Division and The Velvet Underground. With Eric by his side, Perry changed the name of the band to Jane’s Addiction after his housemate Jane Bainter (who would later be the inspiration for the song “Jane Says”).

After going through three guitarists and two drummers, Jane’s Addiction settled on a permanent lineup of Perry Farrell, Dave Navarro, Stephen Perkins and Eric Avery, and released its self-titled debut in 1987 (recorded live at the Roxy Theatre in Los Angeles).

One year later, Jane’s Addiction actually went into the studio to record its real debut, Nothing’s Shocking (since Jane’s Addiction was a live album, it’s technically not the band’s first album). “Mountain Song,” the first single, featured a slightly controversial music video that MTV refused to play because it contained a scene of full frontal nudity. Without exposure on MTV and modern rock radio, Nothing’s Shocking was initially a commercial failure.

Despite the disappointing sales, Perry and company ended up touring with Iggy Pop and The Ramones, and eventually headlined clubs and theaters.

But the greatest thing (and also the worst thing) to happen to the band was 1990’s Ritual de lo Habitual. From having no recollection of recording the album (so says Dave Navarro, who was battling a crippling addiction to heroin at the time) to beating the shit out of each other on stage, Jane’s Addiction’s most successful album marked the beginning of the end (well, the first time, at least).

The band’s 1991 tour turned into a farewell tour, as everyone realized that they couldn’t stand each other anymore. According to Perry, “That thirteen-month tour behind Ritual was half the reason we wound up unable to stand one another. The other half is that I am an intolerable narcissist who can’t get along with anyone” (from Brendan Mullen's Whores: An Oral Biography of Perry Farrell and Jane's Addiction). 

That tour became the first Lollapalooza festival. Along with Jane’s Addiction, it featured such musically diverse acts as Siouxsie and the Banshees, Ice-T and Nine Inch Nails.

Meanwhile, singles “Been Caught Stealing” and “Stop!” became smash hits thanks to heavy airplay on MTV.

By late 1991, Jane’s Addiction had split into two camps: Dave and Eric vs. Perry and Stephen. Eventually, Dave and Eric decided to quit and the band played its last shows in Australia and Hawaii.

Following the demise of Jane’s Addiction, Perry and Stephen recruited guitarist Peter DiStefano and bassist Martyn LeNoble to form Porno For Pyros in 1992. (Fun fact: Perry named the band after seeing a fireworks ad in a porn magazine.)

Porno For Pyros’ self-titled debut was released in 1993 and the video for the first single, “Pets,” was put into heavy rotation on MTV. The band toured extensively and even made an appearance at Woodstock ’94. (This is one of my favorite Woodstock ’94 sets, so here’s a little taste of it for you.)

The follow-up album, 1996’s Good God’s Urge, reunited Perry and Stephen with Mr. Navarro, and even featured Red Hot Chili Peppers bass pro Flea.

A year later, Jane’s Addiction reunited (minus Eric Avery) and embarked on a fairly successful tour.

Where Are They Now?

Still releasing (somewhat disappointing) new material.

In 2001, Jane’s Addiction embarked on the strange spectacle that was the Jubilee Tour (also known as the “Sexual Psycho Circus”). Porno For Pyros bassist Martyn LeNoble filled in for Eric Avery, who still refused to rejoin the band.

Following the tour, the band finally decided to record a follow-up to Ritual de lo Habitual. Chris Chaney replaced Martyn on bass and Jane’s Addiction went back to the studio for the first time in 21 years. The result was 2003’s Strays.

Another tour followed, but this one was cut short because, let’s face it, these guys can’t get along for an extended period of time. Jane’s Addiction broke up yet again at the end of 2003.

Fast-forward to 2008 when the band reunited yet again at the first ever NME Awards, this time with Eric Avery on board. After that performance, Trent Reznor announced that Jane’s Addiction would accompany Nine Inch Nails on their summer 2009 tour.

After playing the Soundwave Festival in Australia in 2010, Eric left the band for good, stating, “That’s it. With equal parts regret and relief, the Jane’s Addiction experiment is at an end.”

Next in the rotating door of bass players was Guns N' Roses/Velvet Revolver bassist Duff McKagan, who began to work with the band on 2011’s The Great Escape Artist (which is probably one of the most disappointing albums I’ve ever heard, as evidenced by my fairly scathing review).

But of course, Duff left after playing only a handful of live shows (because bassists who join Jane’s Addiction are apparently cursed). TV on the Radio’s Dave Sitek and Strays-era bassist Chris Chaney replaced him.

But Why Jane’s Addiction?

Perry has discussed the possibility of releasing a follow-up to The Great Escape Artist, and there may also be a possible Porno For Pyros reunion!

What Does Sam Think?

I should have written about Jane’s Addiction a long time ago, but I’m more excited about a Porno For Pyros reunion than a new Jane’s Addiction album. Sorry I’m not sorry.

But I’m not saying that I don’t like Jane’s Addiction. I just think this band’s discography can be split right down the middle in terms of quality.

Nothing’s Shocking and Ritual de lo Habitual are stellar records. They kind of set the standards for alternative rock in the ‘90s. That’s what really interesting about this band. Jane’s Addiction technically only released one album in the ‘90s, but ended up becoming one of the bands that defined the entire decade. Most of that has to do with creating Lollapalooza, but looking at the band’s musical contributions, I’ve got to give credit where it’s due.

It’s really hard to pinpoint Jane’s Addiction’s sound without using the word “alternative.” Perry and the gang draw influences from punk rock and heavy metal, but there are also some moments of folk rock ("Jane Says"), psychedelic rock ("Three Days") and a touch of Eastern European gypsy music ("Of Course").

Porno For Pyros expanded on all those extra elements, which made them infinitely more interesting, in my opinion. (Side note: I really urge you to listen to PFP’s self-titled debut. It’s one of my favorite albums of the ‘90s.)

But the later Jane’s Addiction albums (Strays and The Great Escape Artist) don’t capture the free-form feel of those first two albums. It’s so frustrating because I know this band is creative, but this new shit just doesn’t reflect that.

Perhaps a Porno For Pyros reunion can reignite that creative spirit? What do you say, Mr. Farrell?

-- Sam Boyer, reporting from the ‘90s.

Björk

Sound Familiar?

“Human Behaviour,” “It’s Oh So Quiet,” “All Is Full of Love”

Who Is She?

An Icelandic pixie with a musical style as eclectic as her fashion choices.

Björk’s musical career began at the tender age of 11 in her hometown of Reykjavík, Iceland. One of her piano instructors sent a recording of Björk singing Tina Charles’ “I Love to Love” to the only radio station in Iceland. Once a label rep from Fálkinn Records heard it, he immediately offered our Icelandic darling a record contract and her first* album, Björk, dropped in 1977 (*this album is considered juvenilia, or musical work produced during the artist’s youth, which doesn’t usually see the light of day until after the artist has become well known for later works).

Instead of riding the child prodigy train all the way to the bank, Björk did what most teenagers tend to do: she got angsty and started a punk band. At 14, she formed the all-girl punk band Spit and Snot, then later formed the jazz fusion group Exodus (she was eclectic even as a youngster). Björk graduated music school in 1980 and formed yet another band the following year called Tappi Tíkarrass (which literally means “Cork the Bitch’s Ass” in Icelandic).

In 1986, Björk formed the Icelandic alternative band The Sugarcubes. The band received both critical and popular international acclaim until its disbandment in 1992.

Once The Sugarcubes broke up, Björk moved to London to start a solo career. Her first solo single, “Human Behaviour,” was an international dance hit. Debut, her first (aptly-titled) solo album, was released in 1993 to positive reviews.

Post, released two years later, built on Debut’s dance-pop aesthetic, adding big band and trip-hop sounds. Spin, Rolling Stone and Pitchfork regard the album as one of the best of the ‘90s (and so do I).

In 1997, Björk shifted her image from sweet pixie pop girl to icy abstract queen with Homogenic (this blogger’s favorite Björk album). The album has a conceptual focus on Iceland. Björk reportedly wanted it to sound like “rough volcanoes with soft moss growing all over it.” And you know what? That’s kind of what it sounds like.

(Fun fact: In an interview with Spin, Radiohead’s Thom Yorke professed his undying love for the song “Unravel” from Homogenic. He loved it so much that he made Radiohead do a cover of it.)

Homogenic is also famous for the single “All Is Full of Love” and its accompanying music video, which features two Björk robots getting intimate. This video really doesn’t strike me as odd since it was directed by Chris Cunningham (you know, that guy who directed one of the most frightening music videos of all time).

Where Is She Now?

Still making intriguing musical choices (including an iPad app album).

Björk briefly took a detour into acting in 2000, starring in Lars von Trier’s musical drama Dancer in the Dark. The song “I’ve Seen It All,” performed by Björk and Thom Yorke (or BjörkYorke, if you will), was nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Song.

Her fourth studio album, 2001’s Vespertine, dropped the big beats of its predecessors in favor of a more intimate sound. The lyrics were far more personal, and so were the videos.

The video for "Pagan Poetry" caused a bit of controversy. It featured images of graphic piercings, Björk’s exposed nipples and a simulated blowjob. Even though it was heavily edited by MTV, the video was rarely shown.

(Fun fact: The same year Vespertine was released, Björk showed up to the 73^rd Annual Academy Awards in her now infamous swan dress. The garment also appears on the Vespertine album cover.)

In 2004, Björk released an almost entirely vocal-based album called Medúlla. It featured the vocal talents of throat singer Tagaq, beatboxers Rahzel and Dokaka, avant-rocker Mike Patton, Soft Machine drummer/singer Robert Wyatt and a few different choirs. The most radio friendly single, “Triumph of a Heart,” is probably one of best examples of a song entirely dedicated to beatboxing. Also, check out the crazy video.

(Fun fact: Björk performed the song "Oceania" at the Opening Ceremony of the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. During her performance, the dress she was wearing unfurled to reveal a 10,000 square foot map of the world.)

Björk didn’t tour to promote Medúlla. Instead, she went right back to the studio to record Volta, released in 2007. An 18-month tour followed, after which Björk took a few years off to work on the massive project that is Biophilia.

Biophilia, released in 2011, is an album that combines music with technological innovation, science, nature and an iPad. The entire album is a series of interactive iPad apps that represent the scientific and natural ideas behind each song (for example, the app for the song “Virus” is a game where the goal is to stop a destructive relationship between a virus and a cell). Honestly, this isn’t the weirdest thing Björk’s ever done.

(Fun fact: Biophilia was partly composed on an iPad, and features musical instruments specifically designed for the album.)

But Why Björk?

She recently started a Kickstarter campaign to convert the Biophilia iPad apps for use with Android and Windows 8. Why is this important? Well, this is part of an educational project that teaches children all over the world about music and science. Pretty neat, if you ask me.

What Does Sam Think?

I think Björk is a magical being from beyond this earthly realm. How else could she create all this music that sounds like it came from outer space?

But seriously, this woman is so incredibly talented. I do think a lot of her music is an acquired taste, but you have to respect her originality.

When discussing the prominent female figures in music (especially those who “push the envelope”), the conversation usually turns to the Madonna vs. Lady Gaga debate. You can argue about those two all you want. I’m just going to sit here in my comfortable corner and side with Björk. Why? I’ll tell you why.

She’s experimented with so many different genres over the years, yet she’s maintained a signature sound. Her live shows are incredible. She did the weird fashion statement thing prior to Gaga (and better). She doesn’t rely on “sexy girl stereotypes” in her videos or performances. And she’s more interested in creating art than becoming a celebrity caricature. You could probably pair her with PJ Harvey, Fiona Apple and Tori Amos in the category of “Women Who Don’t Give a Fuck.”

So what makes Björk’s music listenable (or unlistenable to some people)? Her first two albums are probably the most accessible since they’re considered dance pop. Homogenic is where she starts to lose some people (perhaps because of the “All Is Full of Love” video). By the time you get to Medúlla, you kind of feel like you’re listening to a weird experiment.

But if you just put aside your preferences for a second, you might find that you really dig all the crazy noises she makes.  

-- Sam Boyer, reporting from the ‘90s.

OutKast

Sound Familiar?

“Rosa Parks,” “B.O.B.,” “Ms. Jackson”

Who Are They?

A tour de force hip-hop duo with a lot of funk and just enough soul.

Once upon a time in Atlanta, André “André 3000” Benjamin and Antwan “Big Boi” Patton met at a shopping mall. The two hit it off and started participating in rap battles in their school cafeteria. Eventually, André and Big Boi teamed up and attracted the attention of Organized Noize, a group of local producers. When faced with the dilemma of naming their project, André and Big Boi were torn between 2 Shades Deep and The Misfits. Unfortunately, both names were already taken, so they settled on OutKast.

OutKast, Organized Noize and Goodie Mob joined forces to form the Atlanta music collective Dungeon Family. Once André and Big Boi signed to LaFace records in 1992, they made their first appearance on a remix of TLC’s “What About Your Friends.” A year later, OutKast released its first official single, “Player’s Ball.” The song was a hit and climbed to number one on the Billboard Hot Rap Tracks chart.

The duo released its debut album, Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, in 1994 and ended up winning a Source Award for Best New Rap Group in 1995.

OutKast’s next two albums, 1996’s ATLiens and 1998’s Aquemini, earned André and Big Boi more recognition in both the East Coast and West Coast hip-hop scenes. Aquemini in particular was considered by The Source to be the duo’s best material to date. Through this record, OutKast was able to explore different sounds, including soul, trip-hop and electro music.

As OutKast’s sound evolved, so did the subject matter. André and Big Boi’s lyrics went from reflecting the lifestyles of pimps and gangsters to discussing the materialism and misogyny of the hip-hop scene. Don’t let those funky beats fool you; these guys rap about some serious shit.

Where Are They Now?

Unfortunately on an indefinite hiatus, but how long could that last?

Although André and Big Boi had released some groundbreaking and politically conscious material in the ‘90s, they had yet to achieve real commercial success. But that changed with the release of 2000’s Stankonia.

Originally titled Sandbox, Stankonia spawned three huge singles (“B.O.B.,” “Ms. Jackson” and “So Fresh, So Clean”) and earned OutKast two Grammys (Best Rap Performance for “Ms. Jackson” and Best Rap Album).

The mainstream appeal continued with 2003’s double album, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below (they called it a double album, but it’s basically just two solo albums released in one neat package).

Big Boi’s Speakerboxxx was mostly a funk/Dirty South party record, while André’s The Love Below mixed hip-hop, funk, jazz, rock, electronic music and R&B. “Hey Ya!” from The Love Below became the most successful single from either album, with Speakerboxxx’s “The Way You Move” coming in a close second. (Fun fact: Both “Hey Ya!” and “The Way You Move” became the first hip-hop songs to be played on adult contemporary radio stations.)

Speakerboxxx/The Love Below has become OutKast’s most successful album to date, going 11 times platinum and earning the dynamic duo a Grammy for Album of the Year.

After that whirlwind of accomplishments, André and Big Boi began working on a joint film called Idlewild, along with an accompanying soundtrack (released in 2006). Though the soundtrack was meant to be a follow-up to Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, Idlewild didn’t nearly the same commercial success. The film, which tells the story of a juke joint in a Depression-era Georgia town, received mixed reviews. The album faired a little better.

In 2007, Big Boi announced plans to release a solo album (and not the kinda-sorta solo album that was Speakerboxxx). Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty was released in 2010 to mass critical acclaim.

André took a break from music for a while to do some acting and launch a clothing line called “Benjamin Bixby” (so damn classy). Eventually, he went back to music to do some guest vocals on various songs and remixes, including Frank Ocean’s “Pink Matter.”

But Why OutKast?

André and Big Boi still secretly work together (see Big Boi’s remix of Frank Ocean’s “Pink Matter”), so new material isn’t entirely out of the question. But we may not see a new OutKast album for a while.

What Does Sam Think?

I was kind of wary about making an OutKast entry because I’ve always associated these guys as an early 2000s group rather than a ‘90s group. But I think that perception of them has to do with commercial appeal. André and Big Boi made great music in the ‘90s, but it didn’t reach a wide enough audience.

So the question becomes, did OutKast sell out?

I’ve never explored the concept of “selling out” with a hip-hop act before simply because I don’t listen to enough hip-hop. I’ll admit that I got into OutKast after hearing “Hey Ya!” and discovering the one and only masterpiece “Ms. Jackson.” Those songs have mass appeal for two slightly different reasons.

“Hey Ya!” is pure pop magic. It’s catchy, it’s danceable and it has one of the most fantastic videos of the 2000s. It’s got to be the greatest song of the 2000s (VH1 got it wrong, but don’t even get me started on that awful list).

Now let’s look at “Ms. Jackson.” It’s still catchy, though not in that “get all the girls on the dance floor” way. It’s a fairly personal song since it deals with André’s relationship with former girlfriend Erykah Badu and her mother, who is the real life “Ms. Jackson.” The animosity between a woman’s mother and her daughter’s boyfriend or husband is relatable, which is one of reasons why this song became so popular.

I’m not saying OutKast songs lost substance after Stankonia. André and Big Boi like to experiment and that’s what makes OutKast such a great project.

So did OutKast sell out? Of course not. Yes, there’s a big difference between Aquemini and Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, but it’s still the same group working with different styles and subject matter.

Bottom line: OutKast is an important part of hip-hop history, and André and Big Boi will no doubt continue to churn out great music, together or separately.

-- Sam Boyer, reporting from the ‘90s.

The Offspring

Sound Familiar?

“Come Out and Play,” “Self Esteem,” “Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)”

Who Are They?

One of the bands responsible for reviving mainstream interest in punk in the ‘90s.

Way back in 1983, Bryan “Dexter” Holland and Greg Kriesel decided to form a band after being refused entry to a Social Distortion show. They called themselves Manic Subsidal and eventually picked up Doug Thompson, James Lilja and Kevin “Noodles” Wasserman. (Fun fact: Noodles was a school janitor and quite a bit older than the other guys. Dexter and Greg allegedly let him join the band because he was old enough to buy them alcohol.)

After a small lineup change, the band changed its name to The Offspring in 1986. The boys recorded a few demos, lost a drummer (who went on to pursue a career in gynecology) and signed to Nemesis Records in 1988. The Offspring’s self-titled debut was released in limited numbers in 1989 and a proper CD release didn’t surface until 1995. After a six-week national tour, the band ditched Nemesis Records for Epitaph and released Ignition in 1992.

Ignition exceeded everyone’s expectations and led The Offspring to tour with the likes of Pennywise, No Doubt and Voodoo Glow Skulls.

But these California punk rockers didn’t achieve mainstream success until the release of the aptly-titled Smash in 1994. Thanks to huge singles like “Self Esteem” and “Come Out and Play,” Smash went on 16 million copies, a record for an independent label band.

Since they had a ton of cash to blow at this point, Dexter and Greg created their own label called Nitro Records. The label signed quite a few punk bands, including The Vandals and Guttermouth.

Smash’s follow-up, 1996’s Ixnay on the Hombre, didn’t do as well. The album marked a departure from the band’s signature punk sound with more mainstream rock songs like “All I Want” and “Gone Away.”

The Offspring’s ascension to mainstream status reached critical mass with 1998’s Americana. The album spawned three of the band’s biggest hits to date: “Pretty Fly (For a White Guy),” “Why Don’t You Get a Job?” and “The Kids Aren’t Alright.”

The boys rounded out the decade by appearing at Woodstock '99. (As always, I have included the entire set for your viewing pleasure.)

Where Are They Now?

Riding the success of a brand new album and tour.

The Offspring greeted the new millennium with just a hint of controversy. Conspiracy of One, the band’s sixth studio album, was originally supposed to be online through the official website, but the bigwigs at Sony put a stop to that. The Offspring just wanted to show its support for downloading music on the Internet. What’s so bad about that? (Fun fact: The band sold T-shirts with the Napster logo on them and donated the money to Napster founder Shawn Fanning.)

Drummer Ron Weity split in 2003 and replaced by Josh Freese during the recording of Splinter, then by Adam “Atom” Willard after the album’s release. Splinter’s original title was supposed to be Chinese Democrazy (You Snooze, You Lose), named after the long-delayed Guns N’ Roses album. Axl Rose got wind of this and did what he does best: pitch a bitch fit. He filed a cease and desist order against The Offspring, but took it back once he realized the album’s title was announced on April 1.

After a greatest hits album and an appearance at Warped Tour, The Offspring went on a short hiatus. During this time, Atom left the band to join Tom DeLonge’s pet project Angels & Airwaves.

The band’s eighth studio album, Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace, was released in 2008 to mixed reviews. The second single, “You’re Gonna Go Far, Kid,” landed at number one on the Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart and stayed there for 11 weeks.

The Offspring’s most recent album, 2012’s Days Go By, has also received mixed reviews, with particularly negative ones from Spin and Rolling Stone.

But Why The Offspring?

Along with having a brand new album to tour behind, the band will co-headline the 2013 Soundwave Festival in Australia with Metallica and Linkin Park.

What Does Sam Think?

I love ‘90s pop punk bands and you should, too. They helped bring punk to the mainstream, and no, I don’t consider that a bad thing. It’s accessible music that’s a little jagged around the edges. It doesn’t try to be hardcore or no wave or anarcho-punk. Pop punk is fun, but not “bubblegum pop” fun. Of course, I’m talking early pop punk, not the lame bands you see today (ahem, All Time Low). Green Day, Rancid, Operation Ivy, Social Distortion, The Offspring. These are names you should know.

Now let’s look at The Offspring. This band, along with Green Day, rode the mainstream wave longer than the rest of the scene and doesn’t show signs of stopping. Granted, The Offspring continues to dive into modern rock territory (see the decidedly mediocre Days Go By), but the pop punk roots are still there.

Smash is the band’s best album. Period. It’s a prime example of where punk was going in the ‘90s (see also: Green Day’s Dookie and Rancid’s …And Out Come the Wolves). It’s fast, but not too fast. You can hear the influence from The Ramones, but the songs have a bit more substance. “Self Esteem” remains one of the best Offspring tunes because it’s just so punk rock, man. No, but seriously, that riff is so heavy, sometimes I wonder how it reached all those teenyboppers.

This band is just coasting along now. These guys will always have a loyal fan base, but they really haven’t put out a solid album in a while. Yeah, they’ve passed the point of having to prove themselves to an audience, but come on. The Offspring is capable of so much more than Days Go By.

My advice to this band is to go back underground, experiment a little and come back with a fresh outlook on music. (Same goes for you, Green Day.)

-- Sam Boyer, reporting from the ‘90s.

Marcy Playground

Sound Familiar?

“Sex and Candy”

Who Are They?

Classic ‘90s one-hit-wonders responsible for one of the most frequently asked questions of the decade: “What the hell is disco lemonade?”

Marcy Playground (named after the elementary school front man John Wozniak attended) achieved success early on with its debut self-titled album and this little ditty called “Sex and Candy.” Prior to the band’s formation, John had already recorded an album of his own called Zog BogBean – From the Marcy Playground in 1990. Two songs from that record (“Our Generation” and “The Dog and His Master”) would appear on later Marcy Playground albums.

After attending notable liberal arts school Evergreen State College, John moved to New York and hooked up with his pal Jared Kotler. Once bassist Dylan Keefe joined the band, Marcy Playground began to play shows in NYC and eventually signed to Capitol Records in 1995. Unfortunately, John and Jared couldn’t get past their personal problems, so Jared split and Dan Rieser stepped in just in time to record Marcy Playground in 1997.

The album’s first single, “Poppies,” failed to make a splash, but once “Sex and Candy” hit the radio waves, the band’s popularity skyrocketed. (Fun fact: “Sex and Candy” knocked Oasis’ “Wonderwall” out of the number one spot on Billboard’s Modern Rock Tracks list.)

But what does “Sex and Candy” mean, you ask? Well, according to John, the title is a reference to an evening he spent in his girlfriend’s dorm room when he was 17. The girl’s roommate walked into the room and said, “Oh, it smells like sex and candy in here!” John liked the phrase, so that’s why we have a song called “Sex and Candy.” As for the meaning behind the lyrics, your guess is as good as mine. (But according to Urban Dictionary, “disco lemonade” is actually a tasty cocktail made with vodka and lemonade.)

Marcy Playground released its follow-up, Shapeshifter, in 1999. The album didn’t do nearly as well as its predecessor (hence why the band is considered a one-hit-wonder), and Marcy Playground went on a short hiatus.

(Fun fact: The cover art for Shapeshifter had originally been conceptualized by Paul Leary of Butthole Surfers for the Surfers’ aborted project After the Astronaut. After the artwork was used without permission, Paul was ready to fight. Fortunately for John and company, it was Capitol Records who had stolen the artwork, not the band, so Paul let it go and John had a mini fanboy moment when he realized that a member of Butthole Surfers had designed one of his album covers.)

Where Are They Now?

Touring till death do them part.

After a brief hiatus, Marcy Playground released its third studio album, MP3, in 2004. It didn’t achieve mainstream success, but “Deadly Handsome Man” was featured on the Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back soundtrack and “Punk Rock Superstar” was featured on an XBox 360 playlist.

But the boys remained positive about their future in music, especially on the track “Hotter Than the Sun,” in which John reflects on the band’s short success.

Leaving Wonderland…In a Fit of Rage followed MP3 and Marcy Playground began touring along the California coast.

Lunch, Recess & Detention, a collection of rarities, b-sides and new material, new released earlier this year. Marcy Playground spent the summer touring in support of it alongside fellow ‘90s heavyweights Everclear, Sugar Ray, Lit and Gin Blossoms on the Summerland Tour (which I had the privilege of attending).

But Why Marcy Playground?

There’s the album, the tour and the band’s determination to keep touring no matter what. These guys have another album or two in them. Just wait.

What Does Sam Think?

I have a soft spot for most ‘90s one-hit-wonder bands, mostly because a lot of them deserve more than one hit. Marcy Playground is number one on that list.

“Sex and Candy” is one of the best songs of the ‘90s (though it was ranked criminally low on VH1's list). It’s simple, but murky and just plain sexy. The band’s debut album as a whole is pretty quiet and minimalistic, and I think that really works to its advantage. The late ‘90s was chock full of post-grunge bands wanting to be as loud as possible and Marcy Playground was a welcome alternative to that mindset.

Marcy Playground was heavily influenced by bands like Van Morrison and Nirvana, and you can definitely hear that on each album. The band’s music is a little dark, but not the black metal kind of dark; it’s the art school kind of dark.

As far as live performances go, these guys definitely know who their audiences are. They make light of being one-hit-wonders and always, always play “Sex and Candy” at least once (they usually let the audience sing it a few times). Seeing them live actually prompted me to listen to the rest of their discography, which is pretty solid.

So will Marcy Playground come back to rock radio with a vengeance? Probably not. But I think this band has some more secretly great music up its sleeve. And if these boys continue to tour in support of that new music, they will always have a faithful audience.

If you tour, they will come.

-- Sam Boyer, reporting from the ‘90s.

Nine Inch Nails

Sound Familiar?

“Closer,” “Wish,” “The Perfect Drug”

Who Are They?

One of the most influential industrial music projects in music history.

Though Nine Inch Nails is usually referred to as a group, producer/singer/songwriter/instrumentalist/deity Trent Reznor is really the only official member. Trent started out playing keyboards in a band called Exotic Birds in 1987. Once he quit that group, he landed a job as assistant engineer and janitor (what a combo!) at Right Track Studios. One day, he asked studio owner Bart Koster for some studio time to record some demos. Unable to find a band that could do everything he wanted to achieve with the demos, Trent decided to play all the instruments (minus the drums) himself.

After playing a few shows with Skinny Puppy, Trent signed with TVT Records and released Pretty Hate Machine under the name Nine Inch Nails in 1989. (Fun fact: Trent said in 1994 that there is no meaning behind the band name. He chose it because it abbreviated easily. Other rumored explanations include a reference to Jesus’ crucifixion with nine-inch spikes and Freddy Krueger’s nine-inch knife fingers.)

Pretty Hate Machine was praised by critics, but failed to break the Top 70 on the Billboard charts. The album did, however, become one of the first independently released records to reach platinum status.

Three music videos accompanied the album, but it was the explicit video for “Sin” that gave Trent his first taste of controversy. If you’ve never seen the video, you’re not alone. The full version never made it to air, but you can watch the whole thing here. (Warning: The video is definitely NSFW because it contains images of pierced genitals. So if you’re not into that, avoid it.)

(Fun fact: During promotion for Pretty Hate Machine, Trent and his touring band were asked what shows they’d like to appear on. They jokingly replied with Dance Party USA. So what happened? They were booked on the show and actually made an appearance. Be careful what you wish for.)

After the tour, Trent and company faced pressure from TVT to produce a follow-up record. Trent tried to get the label to terminate his contract, but of course, that wasn’t going to happen. So he began recording under various pseudonyms. The result was the Broken EP, which was released in 1992.

Broken marked a drastic change in NIN’s sound. The songs were much more abrasive, which was a preview of what was to come. Two of these tracks (“Happiness in Slavery” and “Wish”) earned Nine Inch Nails two Grammy Awards, both for Best Metal Performance. (Fun fact: After winning the award for “Wish,” Trent joked that his epitaph should read: “REZNOR: Died. Said ‘fist fuck,’ won a Grammy.” “Wish” is still the only Grammy Award-winning song to include that phrase.)

NIN’s second full-length album, 1994’s The Downward Spiral, was recorded in a studio Trent built in the house where the Manson Family murdered Sharon Tate. Charming, eh?

The Downward Spiral debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 (ahead of Soundgarden’s Superunknown) and remains NIN’s highest-selling release to date. The record’s success was mostly due to the lead single “Closer” and its bizarre music video.

With “Closer” came more controversy. A heavily edited version of the video received frequent rotation on MTV, but it still didn’t sit well with people. The video features graphic sadomasochistic and sacrilegious imagery (but no genital shots, so it’s perfectly safe for work).

NIN also gave a particularly aggressive performance at Woodstock ’94. It’s so good that I’ve included it for your viewing pleasure. (I actually watch this at least once a week because I’m just that obsessed with it.)

Five years after The Downward Spiral, NIN released the double album The Fragile at the tail end of the ‘90s.

Where Are They Now?

Apparently planning to release some new material (finally)!

Six years elapsed between the release of The Fragile and 2005’s With Teeth. During that time, Trent was battling alcoholism and substance abuse. The album is heavily influenced by his struggle and eventual recovery.

Along with being a criminally underrated album, With Teeth featured a “leaner,” much less abrasive sound. With Teeth is also the last NIN studio album to have a Parental Advisory label.

In 2007, NIN released Year Zero, which Trent refers to as “the soundtrack to a movie that doesn’t exist.” Essentially, it’s a concept album that revolves around a futuristic version of the United States where the government has seized absolute control of the country and reverted to a Christian fundamentalist theocracy (or “Year 0”). It gets a little more complicated, so I won’t give you the entire synopsis here. I will say that there’s apparently a TV adaptation in the works.

After releasing Ghosts I-IV and The Slip in 2008, Trent decided to make NIN “disappear for a while” and focus on his new project, How To Destroy Angels, and win an Oscar for Best Original Score for The Social Network.

But Why Nine Inch Nails?

Trent recently answered some questions for fans on Reddit and revealed that 2013 looks like a good year to bring Nine Inch Nails back. He will also appear on the next Queens of the Stone Age record.

What Does Sam Think?

I think I’ve alluded to my love for NIN quite a few times on here, and now I finally have an excuse to gush about it.

First of all, The Downward Spiral is one of the greatest albums of the ‘90s. Period. I know I say that about a lot of albums, but this is seriously a masterpiece. This is also a pivotal album for NIN and Trent. This was the record that defined Nine Inch Nails after the softer-edged Pretty Hate Machine. Though I do love PHM, The Downward Spiral just has a much more aggressive sound.

And can I just mention how amazing the Broken EP is? I mean, two of the songs on that EP won Grammys. Yeah, Grammys don’t mean much, but it’s still a big deal for a band like NIN to win some.

Let’s not forget about With Teeth either. It’s pretty underrated, in my opinion. It’s probably the most personal NIN album considering the road Trent was on when he wrote most of the songs. With Teeth isn’t classic industrial NIN, but it’s still great.

If I could wish for one thing for Christmas, it would probably be for Trent to get his head out of his ass and stop with the How To Destroy Angels thing because it’s just lame. Nine Inch Nails is great. His film scores are great. We don’t need How To Destroy Angels. There, I said it. Come back to the light, Trent.

Ahem. Sorry about that. Anyway, I’m pumped to see where Nine Inch Nails will end up with this new material. For now, I’ll just have to watch the Woodstock ’94 performance about a million more times and creep out the small population of the world that hasn’t seen the “Closer” video.

-- Sam Boyer, reporting from the ‘90s.

Weezer

Sound Familiar?

“Buddy Holly,” “Say It Ain’t So,” “El Scorcho”

Who Are They?

Power pop geeks with enough successful singles to make blink-182 jealous.

Four geeks from Los Angeles played their first show in 1992 opening for Keanu Reeves’ band Dogstar (yes, that was a thing). A year later, Weezer recorded its debut album with producer and Cars frontman Ric Ocasek. The band’s first single, “Undone (The Sweater Song),” was an instant hit, but Weezer’s popularity really exploded with “Buddy Holly.”

The Spike Jonze-directed video for “Buddy Holly” featured Weezer spliced into an episode of Happy Days. If you’ve never seen this video, shame on you. It’s hands down one of the best music videos of the ‘90s (and perhaps of all time).

Fueled by the success of “Buddy Holly” (the four VMAs and two Billboard awards kind of success) and the fairly popular third single “Say It Ain’t So,” Weezer (or “The Blue Album”) went triple platinum.

After that whirlwind of fame and fortune, Weezer took a break from touring and frontman Rivers Cuomo began to piece together the next album with an eight-track recorder. The original concept was a space-themed rock opera called Songs from the Black Hole. Thankfully, that idea was dropped in favor of Pinkerton.

Though initially viewed as a commercial failure and labeled as “one of the worst albums of 1996” by a Rolling Stone readers’ poll, Pinkerton eventually achieved cult status and is considered one of the greatest albums of the ‘90s. (And if I can’t convince you, and Pitchfork’s perfect 10 rating can’t convince you, maybe you should just listen to it for yourself.)

(Fun fact: Rivers took college classes at Harvard and Berklee College of Music off and on between 1995 and 2006. He graduated from Harvard with a bachelor’s degree in English.)

Following Pinkerton, Weezer decided to take a break. Due to frustration and creative disagreements, the break turned into a hiatus until 2000.

Where Are They Now?

Releasing mediocre albums and playing shows on cruise ships (this sounds worse than it really is).

Weezer reunited in 2000 for the Fuji Rock Festival in Japan and released Weezer (or “The Green Album”) in 2001. Thanks to heavy MTV rotation of “Hash Pipe” and “Island in the Sun,” Weezer was able to enjoy renewed success.

Meanwhile, bassist Mikey Welsh was checked into a psychiatric hospital. He mysteriously went missing after the filming for the “Island in the Sun” video.

The recording process for 2002’s Maladroit was a little different from previous albums. Weezer decided to download demos on to its official website in return for fan feedback. The fans weren’t exactly helpful. The band’s original A&R rep Todd Sullivan said Weezer fans chose the “wackest songs.”

So Maladroit was released without fan feedback and ended up receiving generally positive reviews from critics. (And can I just say that "Keep Fishin'" is one of the best Weezer videos? I mean, it features The Muppets! How can you not love that?)

Make Believe, Weezer (or “The Red Album”) and Raditude followed Maladroit. I group them together because they’re basically the same mediocre album released under different titles. “Beverly Hills” (off Make Believe) and “Pork and Beans” (off Weezer) did do very well on the charts, but that doesn’t really make up for all the other songs.

After the release of Hurley in 2010, the band was hit with devastating news. On October 8, 2011, former bassist Mikey Welsh was found dead in a Chicago hotel room. Weezer performed in Chicago the next day and dedicated the concert to Mikey.

But Why Weezer?

There’s supposedly a new album in the works, but we may not see that for a while. For now, the band is heading to Australia in early 2013 for its first Australian tour since 1996.

What Does Sam Think?

Weezer was heavily influenced by my favorite band (Green Day, if you’re new to this blog), so me liking this band is kind of a given. (Also, check out the cover of "Worry Rock.")

Weezer is a band that floats between power pop and pop punk. What’s the difference, you ask? Answer: the word “punk.” I’m not going to get into an argument with anyone about what punk really means, so let’s just keep it simple, stupid. Power pop = bands like The Kinks, The Knack and Cheap Trick. Pop punk = bands like Green Day, blink-182 and Hüsker Dü. Listen and learn.

Back to Weezer. This band’s first few albums are golden. The Blue Album is an almost flawless debut album and Pinkerton is just genius. Songs like “Buddy Holly” and “Say It Ain’t So” are poppy enough to be played on mainstream radio, but have an underlying abrasiveness to them that appeals to the underground kids.

And let’s not forget about the “geek sheik” image. Rivers Cuomo’s black-rimmed glasses make all the ladies swoon and gave all those nerdy guys in bands something to hope for. That image definitely gave the band a universal appeal, as everyone seems to like nerdy boys-next-door.

Before I leave you, we should probably talk about Pinkerton in detail. I do consider it to be Weezer’s best album to date (and I’m probably not alone on this). It’s a bit more abrasive than The Blue Album and feels a bit more personal, especially with songs like “Tired of Sex” and “Across the Sea.” Each track is virtually flawless (both musically and lyrically), and admit it, "El Scorcho" is the best drunk sing-a-long song. I know from firsthand experience.

-- Sam Boyer, reporting from the ‘90s.