By the end of the 1990s, mixing rock and other genres was no big deal, but in the first half the first half of the decade it was still a novel idea. 311 established their unique sound by mixing elements rock, reggae, hip-hop, and funk, and on their sophomore album Grassroots, bits of 70s progressive rock and psychedelic jam bands. The innovative fusion of genres, combined with high-energy vocal and musical performances, make the album an undeniable head-bobber. On the flip-side, the band can lock into a staccato delivery across instruments, not exploring interesting counter melodies or rhythms, while certain genre touches can go overboard into straight-up imitation. Depending on your musical preferences, it can make for an exciting experience or a repetitive disappointment.

Songs In This Episode

Intro - Homebrew

23:54 - Lucky

28:32 - Salsa

40:40 - Rock That Doesn't Roll / Dope Nostalgia podcast promos

48:47 - Omaha Stylee

57:43 - 8:16 AM

Outro - 1, 2, 3

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After achieving massive success in the 1970s and 80s, Bruce Springsteen began the 1990s with the release of two albums in 1992, "Human Touch" and "Lucky Town," which showcased a departure from his work with the E Street Band. Like with his 1987 album "Tunnel of Love," Springsteen explored more personal themes at the end of his marriage and relocation from New Jersey to Los Angeles. Despite mixed critical reception, the albums produced notable singles like "Human Touch" and "Better Days." While some wrote off Springsteen as stale and out of touch, he returned on the soundtrack to the movie Philadelphia with the haunting and sparse "Streets of Philadelphia." He followed that up in 1995 with "The Ghost of Tom Joad," a stark, acoustic folk album that harkened back to the style of "Nebraska" and focused on social and economic issues, earning him critical acclaim and a Grammy Award for the title track. This period, though less commercially dominant than the 1980s, demonstrated Springsteen's versatility and commitment to evolving as an artist, and the 1998 four-disc compilation Tracks made up of 66-outtakes from the earliest years of his career up to the 90s showcased his hidden gems and concert-only favorites, leading up to his induction into the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame in 1999.

Songs In This Episode:

Intro - Better Days (Lucky Town)

19:12 - Leap of Faith (Lucky Town)

34:42 - Streets of Philadelphia (Philadelphia soundtrack)

45:27 - Rock That Doesn't Roll / Dop Nostalgia podcast promos

50:20 - Youngstown (The Ghost of Tom Joad)

1:03:45 - Born In The U.S.A. (Tracks)

1:11:52 - American Skin (41 Shots) (Live)

Outro - 57 Channels (And Nothin' On) (Human Touch)

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The provocative album covers and lyrical content have kept the Dwarves an underground band for four decades, appreciated by punk enthusiasts and fellow musicians across musical genres. After getting dropped by Sub Pop, the band returned with The Dwarves Are Young and Good Looking in 1997. While a cursory listen pins this as classic punk rock, the band isn't afraid to push the pop end of punk thanks to doubled and harmonized vocals spitting out obviously catch choruses that only missed mainstream attention thanks to a liberal use of explicit language and themes.

Songs In This Episode

Intro - Crucifixion Is Now

20:43 - I Will Deny

25:54 - Rock That Doesn't Roll / Dope Nostalgia podcast promos

28:17 - Everybodies Girl

30:08 - You Gotta Burn

39:02 - Unrepentant

45:52 - Demonica

Outro - We Must Have Blood

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