10 albums you either forgot about or missed (1995-1999)

While I first really got into music when grunge broke in the early 90's, most of my musical tastes developed a few years later. 1995-1999 is when I first really discovered punk rock, realized that mainstream music was lacking in a lot of areas and kind of went my own way. It's also when my obsession for CD collecting really took off and probably why I still buy them today (mp3's are fine but I just like to own something physical). As I recently was listening to a bunch of albums from this time period that I really loved but hadn't listened to for a few years, it dawned on me that most of it is really fun stuff. Most are by either bands that never broke through to the mainstream or bands that maybe had some earlier hits but time had passed them by. This was before every band had a Myspace page and Napster was just beginning so the internet wasn't a viable an option for distribution. The radio was really the only way to make it big and most of these albums were overlooked by mainstream stations. All these albums are probably not classics but they are excellent, at least in my mind, albums to put on and be happy . Here are my 10 favorites, in alphabetical order by band.


Citizen King - Mobile Estates (1999)

Citizen King were 100% a Beck rip off, just not as eclectic, so innovation was not their strong suit. What were their strengths were catchy choruses mixed with basic hip hop beats and easy to sing along with half-rapped verses. Pretty much everything a rural white kid with very limited hip-hop experience would appreciate. While it probably hasn't aged all that well and is far from groundbreaking, it's still an excellent party album. The single "Better Days" got some airplay and is an obvious highlight.


Cracker - Gentleman's Blues (1998)

Cracker had a huge hit in 1993 with "Low" They followed that up with the worst album of their career 1996's The Golden Age. It seems Cracker then gave up on being popular which led them to make Gentleman's Blues. Basically being a 70's roots rock album, enabled main songwriter David Lowry to focus on his strengths, namely writing solid rockers with no hope for radio play or regard for the popular style. The album flows very well but it is a little long with some weaker moments in the 2nd half.


Dance Hall Crashers - Honey I'm Homely (1997)

Remember when ska was popular? That was a pretty quick 2 weeks or so. While No Doubt, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones and Reel Big Fish were among the most noticeable bands to emerge, Dance Hall Crashers were just as good and this is their best. They had 2 female lead vocalists who played off each other very well. The songs are all bouncy, energetic and fun while coming from a female perspective and never losing their sense of humor. Every track is very well written and nothing comes off as forced as most of the really bad ska from this era did. This album holds up well today even with ska long gone from the public conscience.


The Hippos - Head's are Gonna Roll (1999)

This is easily the pussiest album on the list. The Hippos were nothing more than a bubblegum pop band with an overly nasal lead singer disguised as a new wave influenced ska band. They also wrote insanely catchy melodies and had a ton of energy. Lyrically every song is about getting rejected by women which I totally identified with in my youth (and still do). The album breezes by and I still find myself singing along with every track.


The Lillingtons - Death By Television (1999)

This might be the the best pop-punk album of the 90's. There's nothing fancy going on at all, just solid 3 chord Ramones inspired rock. Every melody is a sing along masterpiece. They're easy enough to remember the first time you hear them without being completely pop either. The lyrics are different than most pop-punk albums as well, with very few references to girls. Instead the whole thing is a sci-fi nerds wet dream. References to alien take overs, maggot superheros and Neil Armstrong are all over with a strong sense of humor holding it all together. It doesn't get much better than this.


Local H - Pack Up the Cats (1998)

Local H was a later 2 man edition to the grunge wave. They had a pretty sizable hit with "Bound to the Floor off 1996's As Good as Dead. While that album is excellent the follow up Pack Up the Cats was a step forward. It's a loose concept album about the up and downs of a struggling band, a subject Local H knows quite well. There's a lot more humor in Cats than previously shown and while the production is more radio friendly the band didn't lose any power. Tracks like "All the Kids are Right" and "'Cha!' Said the Kitty" rocked hard while maintaining their pop skills. This album could have been a huge hit but their record label folded soon after it's release and the band was left in limbo.


The Refreshments - Fizzy Fuzzy Big and Buzzy (1996)

I have probably listened to this album more than any other on this list. The Refreshements played alternative influenced roots rock at it's finest and funnest. FFBAB features less of a country influence than they would show on other albums so it's not as varied but there's not a bad track here. Smart-ass lyrics abound and most of the songs are about drinking or Mexico or drinking in Mexico. Musically the album is nothing original but is full of solid rock with sing along choruses. You may remember "Banditos" as it got airplay for at least a few weeks, and yes the world is full of stupid people because this album should have been huge.


Rocket From the Crypt - Scream, Dracula, Scream (1995)

Rocket From the Crypt were together for about 15 years and they weren't really a band that evolved very much in that time. Their garage rock with horns never strayed too far from it's roots and it never got any better than on Scream, Dracula, Scream. The album (like all RFTC) is a short blast of energy and excitement. "On a Rope" got some MTV video play and is their most recognizable song but the rest of the album is just as strong. What lead singer "Speedo" lacks in technical skill, he more than makes up for with an energy that fits the music extremely well. The lyrics are range of intentionally dumb to surprisingly insightful and the rest of band always keeps things rocking. This album is a party waiting to happen.


Screaming Trees - Dust (1996)

Screaming Trees had the biggest hit of any band on this list with "Nearly Lost You" off of 1992's Sweet Oblivion as well as the Singles soundtrack. While the rest of that album was a pretty straight forward grunge affair the band added a lot of variety on Dust. They add some middle eastern beats to a couple tracks and delve into folk on a few more. This is also the album where singer Mark Lanegan really came into his own. He added subtlety to his powerful baritone here instead of solely singing at the top of his lungs as in previous efforts. There's still some excellent hard rock here as well with "All I Know" and "Dying Days" being the highlights. The album was not a success and the band broke up soon after but at least they went out on top artistically.


Superdrag - Head Trip in Every Key (1998)

Superdrag is best known for their minor hit "Sucked Out" from their debut album Regretfully Yours. That success enabled Superdrag to expand on the 3 chord pop-rock of that album on Head Trip in Every Key. That style still remains on tracks like "Hellbent" and "Do the Vampire" but they also branch out into pure pop on a number of occasions. There is also a much wider range of instruments used as well. There's a lot more acoustic guitar on display here while strings and horns are heard on at least a third of the tracks. I won't say this is Superdrag's best album but it's their most ambitious. Once again record label problems and a lack of a hit single kept it from going anywhere commercially but it's a great listen.