From the same Champaign-Urbana, IL music scene as Hum, Poster Children, National Skyline, and others, Love Cup is a name you might not be familiar with. Their lone 90s release, ..Grefus Gronks and Sheet, is a snapshot of mid-’90s alternative rock, tinged with grunge and post-hardcore, as well as shoegaze and space rock. Tracks like "Even When I Sleep" and "Nothing in Particular" showcase the band's knack for crafting big, straightforward yet infectious riffs, while the eight-minute closer "Green Machine / Scientifically Yours" allows for more sprawling, immersive exploration. Though not as complex instrumentally or melodically as some of their peers, the album begs to be cranked at high volume.

Songs In This Episode

Intro - Entirely Made of Wood

12:54 - Billfershort

15:46 - Heroine

26:50 - Nothing in Particular

32:34 - Even When I Sleep

Outro - Green Machine / Scientifically Yours

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Sky Cries Mary’s 1993 album A Return to the Inner Experience is a sprawling, psychedelic journey unlike almost anything else out of Seattle in the 90s. Formed in the late 1980s, Sky Cries Mary blends elements of trance, space rock, ambient textures, and spoken word, and this album marked their first major label release, giving them wider exposure. Across 17 tracks, the record flows like a hallucinatory dream, shifting between hypnotic rhythms, swirling guitar effects, and ethereal male-female vocal interplay from Roderick Wolgamott and Anisa Romero. At once atmospheric and tribal, the record reflects the early ’90s fascination with both electronic textures and post-psychedelic exploration, balancing cosmic ambition and underground sensibility.

Songs In This Episode

Intro - Lay Down Your Head

17:53 - 2000 Light Years From Home

22:03 - Gone

25:39 - Walla Walla

34:17 - Broken Down

Outro - Moving Like Water

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Mogwai’s 1999 album Come On Die Young trades some of the explosive catharsis of their debut for a slower, more deliberate exploration of mood and texture. Opening with Iggy Pop’s laconic musings on punk ethos, the record unfolds in hushed tones, with fragile guitar lines and patient rhythms evoking a late-night, half-lit world. Songs like “Cody” favor aching melancholy over the band’s trademark crescendos, making the few bursts of volume feel seismic. The production by Dave Fridmann is spacious and shadowy - it broods like an atmospheric statement that rewards deep, uninterrupted listening.

Songs In This Episode

Intro - Helps Both Ways

12:31 - Chocky

20:26 - Cody

25:20 - Christmas Steps

39:22 - Oh! How the Dogs Stack Up

Outro - Kappa

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In a Priest Driven Ambulance marks a pivotal moment for The Flaming Lips with the addition of Jonathan Donahue as a member of the band (and later Mercury Rev), along with Dave Fridmann behind the board for the first time. The blend of lo-fi psychedelic rock retains the melodic chaos while exploring new experimental territory. Wayne Coyne finds his voice, and tracks like “Shine on Sweet Jesus” showcase his spiritual fixation, filtered through fuzz pedals and existential yearning. It’s an ambitious, unpolished gem that foreshadows the band’s later sonic evolutions.

Songs In This Episode

Intro - Sweet Jesus (Jesus Song No. 1)

23:20 - Raining Babies

32:42 - Take Meta Mars

37:30 - Five Stop Mother Superior Rain

Outro - Unconsciously Screaming

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The 1993 debut album No Biting by Los Angeles-based band Greta blends post-grunge aggression with quirky, off-kilter alternative rock. Led by Paul Plagens’ distinctive vocals and lyrics, the album features tracks like “Revolver” and “School On Fire” showcase a mix of heaviness and melody. The willingness to veer into funk, noise, and pseudo-progressive territory adds a level of chaotic charm to the record that fans of Faith No More or Jane's Addiction might enjoy.

Songs In This Episode

Intro - School on Fire

14:28 - Is It What You Wanted

20:33 - Revolver

23:08 - Love Is Dead

30:44 - Insomnia

Outro - Sleepyhead

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Legendary guitarist and songwriter Richard Thompson's 1999 album Mock Tudor explores the dark corners of suburban England with sharp wit and rich storytelling. Produced by Tom Rothrock and Rob Schnapf, the album steers away from Thompson's signature folk-rock sound towards a leaner, more contemporary approach. While still rooted in traditional genres with touches of rockabilly and reggae, the album feels urgent and modern, capturing a sense of unease beneath its melodic surface.

Songs In This Episode

Intro - Sibella

9:42 - Hard On Me

11:44 - Bathsheba Smiles

22:24 - Dry My Tears and Move On

33:39 - Cooksferry Queen

Outro - Sights And Sounds of London Town

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For our latest Diamond Episode, we're checking out Jewel’s 1995 debut Pieces of You. A blend of minimalist folk ballads with polished pop, Pieces of You is a showcase for Jewel's rich and varied soprano voice. Hits like “Who Will Save Your Soul” and “You Were Meant for Me" are the rarity featuring multi-tracked instrumentation. Much of the record was recorded live at a San Diego coffeehouse, which gives an intimate feel to its confessional lyrics, but also lacks the dynamic and filled-out sound of the singles.

Songs In This Episode

Intro - Who Will Save Your Soul

32:20 - Foolish Games

38:32 - Near You Always

42:37 - I'm Sensitive

Outro - You Were Meant For Me

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Released in 1995, the waning years of grunge and riding the big wave of the alternative rock explosion, That’s What Love Songs Often Do by Fig Dish was a punchy major label debut from Chicago quartet Fig Dish. Lyrically, Fig Dish steers away from overwrought introspection in favor of sly, observational jabs at love and life, delivered with rasp and grit. Raw yet clear production allows the interplay between all the instruments shine, with just enough hooks and attitude to keep you interested.

Songs In This Episode

Intro - Weak and Mean

25:17 - Bury Me

29:29 - Seeds

35:29 - Going Gone

Outro - Chew Toy

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