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The best band in the 1990s


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The Flaming Lips. Transmissions from the Satellite Heart, Zaireeka, Clouds Taste Metallic, Hit to Death in the Future Head and THE SOFT BULLETIN. Nothing else even comes close to a run like that.

 

Uncle Tupelo's best stuff was from the 80s, and Wilco's best stuff is 2000+.

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Were Nirvana really all that big of a deal before Cobain died?

Yes, they were. I was in college at the time, and they were a big deal. I actually remember where I was and what I was doing when I heard the news that he was dead.

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Phish

Yep. For me it's not even close. You can love or hate the studio stuff, but live...

 

The "A Live One" LP is one of the great live albums EVER.

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Were Nirvana really all that big of a deal before Cobain died? I'm not denying that they were, it's just that I didn't hear of them until after the fact. I'm sincerely curious about this. Granted, I was in junior high and listening almost exclusively to rap/hippity-hop in the early nineties so there were a lot of musical things going on that I didn't notice. It may just be that I wasn't hanging out with "Nirvana fan type people" until after 1994.

Yes. There was a time in about 1991 or so when you could not get away from "Smells Like Teen Spirit" if you took a subway to the Rat Kingdom in the subways of New York and used their tunnels to get to the Moleman Empire and then let the Molemen nuzzle you with their moley snouts, after which they would open up the booby hatch to the Earth's molten core.

 

Oh, and I would like to inject the Roots into this discussion. Scoffing? Go listen to "Things Fall Apart" again.

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my older bro was always listening to Bush's Sixteen Stone back in the 90's. i haven't listened to in a while but it was my fav. back then.

 

however, best 90's band goes to Nirvana. i was too young to have been a big fan before Cobain died but do recall seeing them on MTV in the early 90's and really liking their music. it wasn't until junior high, when Muddy Banks was released, that my friends and i really started listening to them on a consistent basis.

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I'm gonna give 'Grant Lee Buffalo' a shout here. Great band, whose first three records all hit the spot. Quite influencial in terms of alot of the 'americana' bands that followed. Similarly 'The Jayhawks' deserve a mention.

 

In the UK the nineties were a strange decade. We had 'Brit-Pop' with bands like Oasis, Blur, Pulp etc but, and much more interesting, was the trip-hop scene that came out of Bristol. The four key contenders in the scene would be Portishead, Massive Attack, Tricky and Roni Size. In terms of best band of the decade I would plump for 'Massive'. The three album run of 'Blue Lines', 'Protection' and 'Mezzanine' was sublime.

 

Whilst not a band, special mention needs to be given to Bjork. See had quite a decade. 'Debut' was an amazing record and she followed that with 'Post', 'Homogenic' and 'Vesperine' (was that one in the nineties?). I think in terms of one artist that had a huge influence over all facets of popular culture (the music video, fashion, film) she was massivlely important.

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My taste in music was pretty terrible during the 90's. First half of the decade it was pop radio, second half was mainstream alternative rock.

 

I'll give my vote to Pearl Jam. Other than the Beatles (who obviously do not count here), they are probably the only band I listened to during that decade that I still stand behind.

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Afghan Whigs

-Gentlemen

-Black Love

-1965

Great pick!

 

I like Morphine lots in the 90's

 

Cure For Pain

Yes

Like Swimming

 

Jayhawks also deserve recognition...

 

Hollywood Townhall

Tomorrow the Green Grass

Sound of Lies

 

All are ace!

 

Can I count Elliott Smith as a band?

 

--Mike

 

I would! :cheers Great choice too!

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I can get down with Yo La Tengo, Guided By Voices, and Pavement.

Had Neutral Milk Hotel had more than just 2 records, they would win this for me, hands down.

 

BUT...

did I miss it, or has anybody yet to mention

LOS LOBOS?

  • The Neighborhood
  • Kiko
  • Colossal Head
  • This Time

 

And, that's not even to mention The Latin Playboys material.

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Swervedriver.

 

Raise

Mezcal Head

Ejection Seat Reservation

99th Dream

 

all great records, and they show a natural progression that was thwarted by record business bullshit. they shoulda been huge.

 

of the other Creation Records bands, I'd toss Slowdive out there too...not seriously as the greatest band of the decade, but they were a significant one nonetheless.

 

Hitchcock's '90s material was ok but certainly not up to his '80s work.

 

 

Another fantastic band that totally deserves consideration is Thinking Fellers Union Local 282...they are not a band w/ a lot of overlap for typical Wilco fans but holy damn what a band. one of the last originals, i'd reckon. they took some parts from Beefheart and the Residents but for the most part chartered new waters.

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Uncle Tupelo's best stuff was from the 80s, and Wilco's best stuff is 2000+.

 

I just can't let this go unchecked. This comment shakes me at my core. I can't believe I just read this.

 

 

The Black Crowes

Son Volt

Dino Jr.

Lemonheads

Flaming Lips

Pumpkins

Whiskeytown

Wilco

Jayhawks

Hayden

 

These are just favorites, can't really say they are the best of the 90's.

 

Porno for Pyros? read as sarcasm

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I don't know who was the best band of the '90s, but the best album released in the '90s is:

 

The_Breeders_Pod_large.jpg

 

I'll take that opinion to my grave.

 

being from dayton, i have to give props to breeders and GBV. i loved the Safari EP by the breeders. cool psychedelic video too.

 

 

looking at this thread, the 90s really weren't bad at all. lot better than the 80s...nothing better than the 70s (beginning in '67 of course:)

 

Yep. For me it's not even close. You can love or hate the studio stuff, but live...

 

The "A Live One" LP is one of the great live albums EVER.

 

 

phish was the best live band in the 90s, no doubt and all the albums from that era, not including hoist, are fantastic. especially lawnboy and ghost is born.

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i must confess that in addition to the grateful dead and phish, the other band i worshipped in the 90s was the indigo girls. i basically learned how to play guitar by studying every bit of early albums. in addition, the angst and romantacism of their music was validating and soothing for sensitive teenagers like myself back then. can't really listen to any of those bands now, but the indigo girls were a major band in the 90s.

 

I don't know who was the best band of the '90s, but the best album released in the '90s is:

 

The_Breeders_Pod_large.jpg

 

I'll take that opinion to my grave.

 

i never noticed how phallic that cover is.

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