Fantômas - Fantômas | 90s Album Review

Fantômas’ self-titled 1999 debut establishes the concept from note one: an exercise in extreme, avant-garde expression, and as a listener it’s easy to understand what the band is attempting. The barrage of short, fragmented pieces and sudden stylistic shifts signal a deliberate rejection of traditional song structure. Mike Patton’s vocalizations function more as sound effects than performances, reinforcing the record’s abstract intent. While the musicianship, particularly Dave Lombardo’s precision drumming and the band’s tight execution, is impossible to deny, the experience can feel more clinical than engaging. The experimental nature creates distance, making it difficult to emotionally connect despite appreciating the idea behind it. In the end, Fantômas succeeds intellectually, but the album’s confrontational approach may leave some listeners admiring the concept more than the music itself.   Songs In This Episode Intro - Book 1: Page 1 12:12 - Book 1: Page 4 16:42 - Book 1: Page 17 21:12 - Book 1: Page 7 Outro - Book 1: Page 30   Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon. Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.

Star, the 1993 debut album by Belly, blends dreamy alt-rock textures with Tanya Donnelly’s airy, emotionally charged vocals and songwriting. Shimmering guitars and off-kilter hooks give the album a distinctive, almost fairy-tale quality that set it apart from its grunge-era peers, drawing as much from UK dream and jangle pop as American alternative. Singles like “Feed the Tree” and “Gepetto” highlight Donnelly’s knack for bright melodies wrapped around enigmatic lyrics. Throughout the album, the band balances buoyant energy with darker undercurrents, creating a sound that feels both inviting and haunting, though it does a bit long at fifteen tracks and over fifty minutes.   Songs In This Episode Intro - Feed The Tree 15:36 - White Belly 20:06 - Gepetto 21:58 - Angel Outro - Dusted   Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon. Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.

Eve 6’s 1998 self-titled debut delivered a punchy slice of late-’90s alternative rock loaded with catchy hooks and teenage urgency. The band utilizes pop-punk energy without the whine, creating a sound that’s both radio-friendly and tightly performed, showcasing their knack for clever, rapid-fire lyrics and instantly memorable choruses. The album balances angst and humor, giving it a charm that sets it apart from many of its era peers, and more twists and turns than one might expected based on the lead single "Inside Out."   Songs In This Episode Intro - Inside Out 19:51 - Jesus Nitelite 23:44 - Leech 39:26 - Showerhead Outro - Small Town Trap   Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon. Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.

Another Thanksgiving is upon us, and our yearly post-Covid tradition continues as we gather patrons together and give thanks for the new music that gave us happiness and good vibes in 2025. There's a wide array of bands and artists, new and old, that helped make 2025 another great year for music!   Songs In This Episode Intro - Critical Thinking by Manic Street Preachers Outro - Disintegrate by Suede   Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon. Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.

Human Clay by Creed is a polished, radio-ready slab of late-’90s hard rock that helped define (fairly or unfairly) the aesthetic now cheekily labeled “butt rock.” The album leans heavily on soaring, overly-earnest choruses and Mark Tremonti’s muscular guitar work, which give tracks like “Higher” and “With Arms Wide Open” a memorable arena-rock punch. Scott Stapp’s vocals, full of dramatic baritone gravitas, remain divisive but central to the band’s signature sound. The record can feel repetitive in its reliance on inspirational platitudes, its glossy production, and melodic hooks without much depth. Ultimately, Human Clay stands as both a commercial triumph and a touchstone for the era’s post-grunge mainstream, embracing the very qualities that later sparked the backlash “butt rock” label.   Songs In This Episode Intro - Higher 28:42 - Beautiful 33:40 - Are You Ready 37:57 - Never Die 53:57 - What If Outro - With Arms Wide Open   Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon. Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.

In 2002 Speedstar released their debut, Bruises You Can Touch, and unless you were in Australia, you probably never heard it. The Australian band's first album is a quietly affecting collection of melancholic indie pop that trades in mood and atmosphere over flash. Restrained production gives the band’s delicate melodies and wistful vocals room to breathe, creating an intimate and emotionally resonant experience. The album blends acoustic warmth and subtle distorted textures that recalls early Coldplay, Keane, Starsailor, and other 2000s post-Britpop bands, and stands as an overlooked gem of early-2000s indie.   Songs In This Episode Intro - Song For You 9:24 - Crazy Happy 16:39 - This Everyday Life (Into Your Arms) 22:59 - Piano Song (Sometimes) 26:09 - Wishing Your Life Away 29:12 - It's Ok To Be Sad When It Rains Outro - Revolution   Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon. Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.

Virtuoso guitarist Nuno Bettencourt of Extreme stepped out on his own for the 1997 solo debut Schizophonic to explore a more diverse sonic landscape. Blending alt-rock, power pop, and electronic influences, the album showcases Bettencourt’s strong sense of melody and knack for songwriting. Tracks like “Gravity” and “Swollen Princess” highlight his ability to fuse inventive guitar riffs with catchy hooks, with production that leans toward the dense, experimental textures of late-’90s rock. Having flown under the radar, Schizophonic stands as an underrated and inventive record that captures an artist unafraid to reinvent himself, a fascinating glimpse of what happens when a guitar hero eschews showmanship for songwriting.   Songs In This Episode Intro - Gravity 14:23 - What You Want 19:28 - Karmalaa 25:43 - Swollen Princess 36:31 - Fine By Me 47:28 - Fallen Angels Outro - Severed   Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon. Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.

Appalachian folk, Gothic country, and fire-and-brimstone intensity are not sounds you heard often on alternative albums in the 1990s. Sixteen Horsepower, led by David Eugene Edwards’ trembling voice and Old Testament fervor, sings like a sermon delivered from the traveling pulpit of redemption and ruin on their 1996 debut Sackcloth 'N Ashes. Songs churn with banjo, accordion, and tremolo guitar, evoking both frontier hardship and Calvinistic spiritual warfare. The production is stark yet cinematic, allowing every haunted whisper and stomped rhythm to resonate. While fans of Nick Cave, The Handsome Family, The Gun Club, etc. will find commonality, those unfamiliar may take a bit to warm up.   Songs In This Episode Intro - Black Soul Choir 21:14 - Prison Shoe Romp 23:37 - Horse Head 34:09 - Red Neck Reel Outro - Strong Man   Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon. Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.

Pervert by Charm Farm swaggered into the mid-’90s with industrial-tinged alternative rock that fused sleazy hooks with gritty guitar licks. Mechanical grooves create a sound that feels both nightclub-ready and deeply personal. Tracks like “Superstar” and “Sick” capture the era’s obsession with fame and self-destruction while wrapped in infectious, neon-lit melodies. Completely overlooked upon release, Pervert offers sleek and subversive rock at a time the mainstream sought a more radio friendly (i.e. marketable) sound. Songs In This Episode Intro - I'm A Man 13:52 - Sick 18:44 - Superstar 26:07 - Pain 31:14 - Pervert Outro - Desire   Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon. Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.

Author Serena Fragassi joins us to discuss her new book, "Pearl Jam Live! 35 Years Of Legendary Music And Revolutionary Shows." Filled with band history, archival photography, interviews, and more, the book covers Pearl Jam's evolution, influence, fan culture and community, behind-the-scenes stories, and much, much more.    Songs In This Episode Intro - State of Love and Trust* 31:49 - Evenflow* Outro - Black* (*Live from the Dissident singles)   Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon. Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.