Ep. 182 - From Grunge to Pop: The Cultural Shifts of 90s Music

Send us a textWe riff through The Cars’ catalog, defend Ben Orr’s legacy, and stress why Candy O and Panorama still reward deep listens. We test a stack of California Dreamin’ covers, revisit 60s pillars like CCR and Hendrix, and salvage “forgotten” 70s and 80s bands with fresh ears. We end by crowning a 1975 opening line that still shocks and make the case for separating art from the artist.• dual-frontman chemistry in The Cars and why Ben Orr’s vocals anchor the biggest hits• Candy O’s shift from the debut and Panorama’s darker edge• Drive and Heartbeat City as commercial peak vs fan favorites• CCR’s Fortunate Son and Hendrix’s Watchtower as era-defining statements• California Dreamin’ cover shootout and what makes a good cover• Blood, Sweat & Tears, Ten Years After, Mountain, ELP re-evaluated• 1975 standouts and the power of a perfect opening line• separating music from artist politics to preserve memoryI won’t be here next Thursday. I will be on the Icon of the Seas somewhere in the Western Caribbean. Jealous? I’ll see you in a couple of weeksIf you like this podcast SHARE it. If you have any ideas or suggestions for the show you can email us at: [email protected]

Send us a textWe go live, shake off tech gremlins, and dive into a sharp, funny tour through music headlines, a KISS guitar legacy check, and a Halloween-ready sprint through one-word horror greats. Along the way, we debate what “legendary” really means and why some songs grow back after years away.• Wyman’s solo box set and the meaning of legendary • How guest lists and name gravity shape solo careers • Ace Frehley’s feel vs technique and KISS’s show design • Why shredding fades but melody sticks • 80s pop that suddenly sounds good again • The neuroscience of the Phil Collins drum fill • One-word horror rankings with must-watch picks • Rob Zombie’s Halloween remake defended • Listener chat shoutouts and local Corey Hart loreIf you like it, share it. If you didn’t like it, thanks for watching and listening for an hour and five minutes and 47 seconds.If you like this podcast SHARE it. If you have any ideas or suggestions for the show you can email us at: [email protected]

Send us a textWe trace a wild line from hip‑hop sampling and 70s rock hooks to a brand‑new supergroup, a fiery takedown of residency culture, a riff‑detective dive into Paranoid, and the unsung glue of Michael Anthony. We end on boomer one‑hit wonders and why some intros outlive the songs.• sampling’s craft and the 70s sources it elevates• Howl Owl Howl’s lineup, chemistry, and tour dates• the Vegas residency economy and thin setlists• Motley Crüe’s nostalgia, Dolly feature, and fan expectations• Paranoid vs Half‑Life: riff similarity and influence• Eddie Van Halen’s remarks vs Michael Anthony’s real impact• why harmonies shape the Van Halen sound• boomer one‑hit wonders and the power of introsThanks for watching. Thanks for listening. If you liked it, share it. If you didn’t like it, well, thanks for watching and listening for an hour and 12 minutes. You are the engine that runs this machine. Doing a show for you—the pleasure, the privilege is mine, and I’ll be back next week.If you like this podcast SHARE it. If you have any ideas or suggestions for the show you can email us at: [email protected]

Send us a textThis week I dive into music news solo, covering Aerosmith's uncertain future, overplayed yet undeniably great 90s songs, and an exhaustive history of progressive rock that might have tested everyone's patience.• Steven Tyler "just doesn't want to tour" according to bandmate Joe Perry, though Aerosmith might still have one show left• Joe Perry Project touring with Chris Robinson from Black Crows as vocalist and musicians from Stone Temple Pilots• Radiohead's "Creep" and Metallica's "Enter Sandman" maintain their greatness despite radio overexposure• Four Non Blondes' "What's Up" decidedly does not deserve similar retrospective appreciation• Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You" remains undisputed as a powerful soundtrack contribution• Progressive rock timeline from King Crimson (1969) through decades of complex compositions• Plans potentially forming for a special 200th episode reunion with former co-hostsI'll be back next Thursday night, with or without Jack, to continue bringing you more music news and commentary. Thanks for listening and for being the engine that runs this machine.If you like this podcast SHARE it. If you have any ideas or suggestions for the show you can email us at: [email protected]

Send us a textWe dive into music news and controversy, examining the recent Steve Miller Band tour cancellation that blamed "extreme weather" while evidence suggests poor ticket sales were the real reason.• Exploring Ozzy Osbourne's musical legacy through a zodiac sign-matching exercise that pairs his songs with astrological personalities• Debating the best opening tracks from debut albums, challenging conventional picks with our own selections like The Doors' iconic opener• Reviewing Rick Derringer's claim that working with Weird Al Yankovic "single-handedly ruined" his production career despite their commercial success• Uncovering Roger Waters' revelation that David Gilmour's famous "Comfortably Numb" solo was actually compiled from multiple takes• Discussing Hulk Hogan's surprising attempts to become a bassist for Metallica and The Rolling Stones• Sharing personal music preferences and nostalgic connections to classic rock tracksIf you like this podcast SHARE it. If you have any ideas or suggestions for the show you can email us at: [email protected]

Send us a textWe jump into the absurdity of Steve Miller Band canceling all upcoming tour dates, supposedly due to "extreme weather events," while exposing this as a likely cover for poor ticket sales.• Steve Miller's weather excuse includes potential hurricanes, tornadoes, and forest fires for venues that are mostly indoors• Unpacking why Steve Miller's music might not be connecting with audiences today• Exploring 15 terrible albums by otherwise legendary classic rock bands• Questioning the inclusion of Led Zeppelin's "Presence" on the worst albums list• Discussing what happens when iconic singers are replaced (Queen with Paul Rogers, Genesis post-Phil Collins)• Examining the cringeworthy Duran Duran covers album that Q Magazine called "the worst of all time"• Breaking news about the revival of Joe Perry Project with an all-star lineup featuring Chris Robinson and members of Stone Temple Pilots• Quick spotlight on rediscovered gems like Grace Jones' "Slave to the Rhythm"Visit our social media pages for updates on upcoming shows, and join us next Thursday night for another deep dive into music history.If you like this podcast SHARE it. If you have any ideas or suggestions for the show you can email us at: [email protected]

Send us a textWe explore the recent revelation of an AI-generated rock band called The Velvet Sundown that gained over one million Spotify listeners before announcing they weren't real, raising questions about artistic creation and authenticity in the music industry.• The Velvet Sundown revealed themselves as an AI project after gaining viral success on Spotify• YouTube recently announced it will cut monetization from AI-generated content• The 90s represented a transformative decade with multiple musical movements• Whitney Houston's 1991 Super Bowl national anthem set the standard for all performances that followed• Janet Jackson emerged from Michael's shadow to become a music powerhouse in her own right• Napster revolutionized music distribution and was partly a response to CD price gouging• TLC demonstrated the industry paradox of chart-topping success while filing for bankruptcy• 1995 ranked as the strongest year in 90s music with cohesive R&B dominance• The decade featured diverse movements from grunge to boy bands to hip-hop going mainstream• Pop culture moments like the Spice Girls phenomenon and Britney's schoolgirl video defined the eraIf you like this podcast SHARE it. If you have any ideas or suggestions for the show you can email us at: [email protected]

Send us a textIf you like this podcast SHARE it. If you have any ideas or suggestions for the show you can email us at: [email protected]

Send us a textIf you like this podcast SHARE it. If you have any ideas or suggestions for the show you can email us at: [email protected]

Send us a textIf you like this podcast SHARE it. If you have any ideas or suggestions for the show you can email us at: [email protected]