What are some obscure alternative hits from the early 90's?

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I'm thinking about getting together some local punk bands to do covers of songs like "Believe" by Dig and "Two Princes" by the Spin Doctors. I don't know where I have to go to look through all the Billboard charts from 91-95, so who can help me think of forgotten/semi-hit/one-hit wonders from this wonderful period in adult contemporary rock?

Famous Athlete, Tuesday, 2 September 2003 02:29 (twenty years ago) link

Stuff I remember from WHTG Eatontown, NJ back in the day...

"Very Best Years," The Grays
"Lie on Lie," Chalkfarm
"Here and Now," Letters to Cleo
"I'm Allowed," Buffalo Tom
"Web in Front," Archers of Loaf
"Boring," (?) Denzil
"Watch the Girl Destroy Me," Possum Dixon

...That's a good start, hopefully.

Prude (Prude), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 02:40 (twenty years ago) link

"Where I Find My Heaven" and "Cope," Gigolo Aunts

Prude (Prude), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 02:42 (twenty years ago) link

three strange days by school of fish
disneyland by dada

keith (keithmcl), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 02:44 (twenty years ago) link

"You Suck," The Murmurs
"Trampoline," Greenberry Woods

Prude (Prude), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 02:51 (twenty years ago) link

The Caulfields, "Devil's Diary"

Sonny A. (Keiko), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 02:55 (twenty years ago) link

"hey jealousy" by gin blossoms

electric sound of jim (electricsound), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 03:00 (twenty years ago) link

Flagpole Sitta by ??? (it is like Captain something...don't remember the bandname.)

earlnash, Tuesday, 2 September 2003 03:10 (twenty years ago) link

Lieutenant Harvey Danger.

Thanks d00ds. Some of these songs arent terrible.

Famous Athlete, Tuesday, 2 September 2003 03:20 (twenty years ago) link

judybats - all day afternoon

luna (luna.c), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 03:26 (twenty years ago) link

soul asylum to thread.

fact checking cuz, Tuesday, 2 September 2003 03:38 (twenty years ago) link

"Twentieth Century" by Brad

cuspidorian (cuspidorian), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 03:52 (twenty years ago) link

the The - Slow Emotion Replay (a bit of a hit on alt rock radio)

ham on rye (ham on rye), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 03:58 (twenty years ago) link

"Every Generation's Got Its Own Disease (And I've Got Mine)," Fury in the Slaughterhouse (feel the social consciousness! yeah!)

Prude (Prude), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 04:43 (twenty years ago) link

"Last Goodbye" by Jeff Buckley

(well, obscure at the time)

nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 04:53 (twenty years ago) link

I saw obscure alternatives and thought the thread was about Japan...mmph

SplendidMullet (iamamonkey), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 06:16 (twenty years ago) link

I came here just to mention the Gin Blossoms. Hey Jealousy is a GREAT song.

also,
Presidents of the United States of America - Peaches
Third Eye Blind - Semi-Charmed Life (sounds just like Two Princes)
Breeders - cannonball
The Odds - Eat My Brain(so good)

derrick (derrick), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 06:21 (twenty years ago) link

Blind Melon: Rain

Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 08:09 (twenty years ago) link

"No Rain", I mean

Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 08:10 (twenty years ago) link

The Lemonheads, "Into Your Arms"
The Juliana Hatfield Three, "My Sister"
Soul Asylum, "Runaway Train"
Cracker, "Low"
Matthew Sweet, "Girlfriend"
The Cranberries, "Linger"
Toad the Wet Sprocket, "All I Want"
Freedy Johnston, "Bad Reputation"
Deep Blue Something, "Breakfast at Tiffany's"
Del Amitri, "Roll With Me"

Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 09:08 (twenty years ago) link

Most depressing post ever! Also,

Candlebox, "You"

Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 09:12 (twenty years ago) link

Better Than Ezra, "Good"
Live, "Lightning Crashes"
Stone Temple Pilots, "Plush"

These suggestions may be a little skewed because I consider nearly every alt.rock MTV-friendly hit from that time "forgotten" in some sense. Perhaps if I still listened to rock radio, things would be different.

Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 09:17 (twenty years ago) link

Jess I think I may have identified another lull.

Tom (Groke), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 09:25 (twenty years ago) link

LULL?!?!

Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 09:28 (twenty years ago) link

OK, abyss.

Tom (Groke), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 09:29 (twenty years ago) link

ABYSS?!?!

Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 09:34 (twenty years ago) link

Done Lying Down - "Just A Misdemeanour"

(NB The Spin Doctors' "Two Princes" was anything but obscure! It was bloody massive! and so AWFUL it made me want to stick forks in my ears.)

CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 10:09 (twenty years ago) link

MBV soon.

Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 10:13 (twenty years ago) link

World of Twist: Sweets

Jez (Jez), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 10:31 (twenty years ago) link

Joyrider - "Rush Hour"

Nick H, Tuesday, 2 September 2003 11:07 (twenty years ago) link

Oh, well in that case: Lick - "Shirtlifter".

CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 11:19 (twenty years ago) link

Tripmaster Monkey "Roman Catholic Haircut"
J Church "Good Judge of Character"

Lynskey (Lynskey), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 12:22 (twenty years ago) link

There's another thread floating around I started like this one.

Wax -- Southern California

Local H -- THe Kids are Right

Soul Asylum -- Misery, Somebody To Shove, Just Like Anyone (Starring Claire Danes!!)

Sponge -- Molly

Filter -- Hey Man Nice Shot

Flaming Lips -- She Don't Use Jelly

Faith No More -- We Care A Lot, Epic

Screaming Trees -- Nearly Lost You

Len -- Steal My Sunshine

Sneaker Pimps -- Six Underground

Verve Pipe -- THe Freshman

ModJ, Tuesday, 2 September 2003 12:28 (twenty years ago) link

Cracker's best singles from the early 90s =

"Teen Angst (What the World Needs Now)"
"Happy Birthday to Me"

nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 12:59 (twenty years ago) link

Primitive Radio Gods -- Standing in a blah blah blah oh I give up. The greatest one-hit wonder since "Sugar Shack."

Jesse Fuchs (Jesse Fuchs), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 13:42 (twenty years ago) link

C'mon, people, he said OBSCURE!

Try....

"Ten Dollar Bill" by Cop Shoot Cop
"Heterosexual Male" by the Odds
"Annie's Gone" by Redd Kross
"13th Disciple" by the 5:30

Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 13:46 (twenty years ago) link

"Whoever You Are," Geggy Tah
"I Kissed a Girl," Jill Sobule
"X-French Tee Shirt," Shudder to Think

jaymc (jaymc), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 13:52 (twenty years ago) link

Good call with Shudder to Think there, Jaymc.

Some mo'....

"Stay" by Shakespeare's Sister
"Something Good" by Utah Saints

Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 13:54 (twenty years ago) link

C'mon, people, he said OBSCURE!

But he also said "forgotten," and that kinda covers a lot of territory. Plus he cited "Two Princes" as an example.

Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 13:55 (twenty years ago) link

Seek ya also The Wolfgang Press' cover of "Mama Told Me Not to Come".

Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 13:59 (twenty years ago) link

dada - "Dizz Knee Land"

BrianB, Tuesday, 2 September 2003 14:05 (twenty years ago) link

Sidi Bou Said "Twilight Eyes"

Out-obscure that one ya fukkas :)

Lynskey (Lynskey), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 14:45 (twenty years ago) link

Oooh....

- The Pale Saints' cover of "Kinky Love"
- "Paradise" by Birdland
- "I'd Sell My Soul to God" by Passion Fodder

Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 14:49 (twenty years ago) link

Lightning Seeds-"Pure"
and second Wolfgang Press's cover of "Mama Told me not to Come"

ddb, Tuesday, 2 September 2003 15:51 (twenty years ago) link

C'mon, people, he said OBSCURE!
Try....

"Ten Dollar Bill" by Cop Shoot Cop

Haha, Jackie Brambles made that single of the week on the Radio 1 mid-morning show.

David Merryweather (DavidM), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 16:09 (twenty years ago) link

"Valerie Loves Me" - Material Issue

Y'all are AMATEURS.

Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 16:11 (twenty years ago) link

Also, "I Need You Like A Drug" - They Eat Their Own

Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 16:11 (twenty years ago) link

A second for "Pure" and "Homeboy" by the Adorable.

Ess, Tuesday, 2 September 2003 16:15 (twenty years ago) link

"Joyride," "Fading Like A Flower," "The Look" -- Roxette (I shamelessly love that band.)

Jeanne Fury (Jeanne Fury), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 16:18 (twenty years ago) link

"I Need You Like A Drug" - They Eat Their Own

Dan, I kiss you. I found that on an unlabelled mixtape the other day and have been tearing my hair out trying to remember who sang it.

How the heck are Roxette obscure? Or alternative?

What about Push The Little Daisies by Ween?

ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 16:37 (twenty years ago) link

how come nobody's mentioned "french disko"?

grimly fiendish, Monday, 4 June 2007 15:17 (sixteen years ago) link

Tripping Daisy "I Got A Girl"

cipher, Monday, 4 June 2007 15:19 (sixteen years ago) link

These 1990-91 KROQ charts are making me unexplicably sad.

baaderonixx, Monday, 4 June 2007 15:28 (sixteen years ago) link

That Dog "Hey Old Timer"

cipher, Monday, 4 June 2007 15:35 (sixteen years ago) link

Got a good one: The Clarks - "Madeline"

Erroneous Botch, Monday, 4 June 2007 16:00 (sixteen years ago) link

Lush "Hypocrite"
Morphine "I'm Free Now"
Babes in Toyland "Bruise Violet"
Meat Puppets "Backwater"

daria-g, Monday, 4 June 2007 17:09 (sixteen years ago) link

It's actually Living Colour, not Living Color.

My choice for obscure alternative "hit" would be:

"If You See Kay" by The Poster Children

MC, Monday, 4 June 2007 18:08 (sixteen years ago) link

two years pass...

Hi I'm looking to find the name of this song and the group who sang it. They only had two hit songs back in '95. I vaguely remember the lyrics which went like this: "Hold back the (rose?,so that the others may go. Can anyone help me out? Thanks.

Jam90s, Monday, 1 March 2010 07:15 (fourteen years ago) link

two years pass...

Paraffin by Ruby :)

mz.SQUIRRILLEX, Tuesday, 28 August 2012 19:47 (eleven years ago) link

and I forgot to mention
Three Little Pigs
By Green Jelly
(Originally Green Jello)

mz.SQUIRRILLEX, Tuesday, 28 August 2012 19:50 (eleven years ago) link

Mother Mother by Tracy Bonham

mz.SQUIRRILLEX, Tuesday, 28 August 2012 19:56 (eleven years ago) link

Jars of Clay "Flood" and Stone Roses "Love Spreads" even though they are christian songs

Love Spreads is not a Christian song!

Poliopolice, Tuesday, 28 August 2012 20:45 (eleven years ago) link

"Who Sucked Out the Feeling" - Superdrag
most... annoying... song... ever

the worst is that horrible, forced, gutteral, grating "FEEEEEEELLLLINGGG." How terrible is that?

Poliopolice, Tuesday, 28 August 2012 20:46 (eleven years ago) link

Hi I'm looking to find the name of this song and the group who sang it. They only had two hit songs back in '95. I vaguely remember the lyrics which went like this: "Hold back the (rose?,so that the others may go. Can anyone help me out? Thanks.

― Jam90s, Monday, March 1, 2010 2:15 AM (2 years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Two years too late but this is Shudder To Think's "X-French T-Shirt"

jjjdoom (Whiney G. Weingarten), Tuesday, 28 August 2012 23:43 (eleven years ago) link

Imperial Drag - "Boy Or A Girl"
Shonen Knife - "Riding On The Rocket"
Greta - "Fathom"
Paw - "Jessie"
Toadies - "I Come From The Water" & "Possum Kingdom"
Sunscreem - "Love You More"
Quicksand - "Dine Alone" & "Thorn In My Side"
Jennifer Trynin - "Better Than Nothing"
Magnapop - "Slowly, Slowly"
Velocity Girl - "Sorry Again"
Ass Ponys - "Little Bastard"
Civ - "Can't Wait One Minute More"

Old Lunch, Wednesday, 29 August 2012 00:28 (eleven years ago) link

two years pass...

"Seven Mary Three. Can't remember the name of the song, but it may have been the worst song of the 90's. Hootie and the Blowfish, too.
That would be the godawful "Cumbersome", which was only slightly more irritaing than the work of Collective Soul."

Pretty much every song by Collective Soul. Great band, don't know why this guy has to hate on them.

wipefeetnmat, Thursday, 19 March 2015 18:10 (nine years ago) link

Ohhhh, man, I was looking in vain for this thread the other day.

Dog's Eye View - "Everything Falls Apart"
MC 900 Ft. Jesus - "If I Only Had A Brain"
Life, Sex & Death - "Tank"
Animal Bag - "Everybody"
Tragically Hip - "Courage"
Big Head Todd & The Monsters - "Bittersweet"
Abra Moore - "Four Leaf Clover"
K's Choice - "Not An Addict"
Days Of The New - "Touch, Peel & Stand"
Tonic - "Open Up Your Eyes"
Forest For The Trees - "Dream"
Verve Pipe - "Photograph"
Stabbing Westward - "What Do I Have To Do"
Patti Rothberg - "Inside"
Imperial Teen - "You're One"
Gravity Kills - "Guilty"
Heather Nova - "Walk This World"

And the other Seven Mary Three single I had forgotten, "Water's Edge".

God, some of this stuff is so, so bad. And yet I revisit it regularly.

A Whizzer, A Poo Star (Old Lunch), Thursday, 19 March 2015 18:52 (nine years ago) link

O damn, "Not An Addict"

Don A Henley And Get Over It (C. Grisso/McCain), Thursday, 19 March 2015 19:06 (nine years ago) link

preach it, wipefeetnmat!

the geographibebebe (unregistered), Thursday, 19 March 2015 19:10 (nine years ago) link

I wonder why the lead singer of Collective Soul chose that particular username.

A Whizzer, A Poo Star (Old Lunch), Thursday, 19 March 2015 19:11 (nine years ago) link

the definition of 'obscure' sure has changed in the 'oral histories for all' era

maura, Thursday, 19 March 2015 19:11 (nine years ago) link

'Obscure' is naturally going to be a rather loose definition when used in conjunction with 'hits', alternative or otherwise. I'd prefer 'largely forgotten'.

A Whizzer, A Poo Star (Old Lunch), Thursday, 19 March 2015 19:15 (nine years ago) link

Reigndance - "Lazy Bones"
Rebecca Blasband - "Mr. Sunshine"

A Whizzer, A Poo Star (Old Lunch), Thursday, 19 March 2015 19:41 (nine years ago) link

Late 90s rather than early but this is a jam:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqXOo3e_BIg

everything, Thursday, 19 March 2015 20:09 (nine years ago) link

Yeah, I went a little mid-to-late-mid-'90s with some of my selections but was going for anything with that Alternative Nation vibe even if the video for the given song wasn't ever technically introduced or back announced by Kennedy.

A Whizzer, A Poo Star (Old Lunch), Thursday, 19 March 2015 20:13 (nine years ago) link

I think Fig Dish still qualify, in as much that they don't get talked about and are kinda good, terrible name though.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwUI9FBAjJc

MaresNest, Thursday, 19 March 2015 20:19 (nine years ago) link

Deacon Blue: "Your Town" https://youtu.be/Xf8gm7ou-YY

I was gonna suggest Dink's "Green Mind" but I just listened to it for the first time since the 90s and it's so bad I refuse to link it. At least the Deacon Blue tune sounds like something that would show up in a Michael Mann or Tony Scott movie.

Also, on that godawful "Cumbersome" song: the album whence it sprang was called American Standard. I only remember this because http://www.americanstandard-us.com/bathroom-products/toilets/

Devilock, Thursday, 19 March 2015 21:08 (nine years ago) link

Oh and
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGaX9lWBTMQ

Was this big outside of college radio? That's the only place I ever heard it.

Devilock, Thursday, 19 March 2015 21:13 (nine years ago) link

I guess college radio was big in and of itself though wasn't it.

Also xxxxxxxpost Heather Nova has a gorgeous voice and I will probably always buy whatever she does.

Devilock, Thursday, 19 March 2015 21:15 (nine years ago) link

The Only Living Boy in New Cross was a Top Ten hit in the UK.

everything, Thursday, 19 March 2015 21:18 (nine years ago) link

It certainly sounds like it.

Unrelated, I feel a Course of Empire binge coming on.

Devilock, Thursday, 19 March 2015 21:22 (nine years ago) link

"Mother Mother by Tracy Bonham"

Saw her play finally relent and play this while opening for a touring Blue Man Group show after the crowd wouldn't even clap for her then-new album (2008ish?)

Kiarostami bag (milo z), Tuesday, 24 March 2015 02:36 (nine years ago) link

Mary's Danish - "Don't Crash The Car Tonight"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaCSZHw5lS8

with HD lyrics (Eazy), Tuesday, 24 March 2015 02:54 (nine years ago) link

xpost. Tracy Bonham was the music teacher at my son's school in 2013.

dlp9001, Tuesday, 24 March 2015 03:01 (nine years ago) link

Anyway, also this Mary's Danish track, which I still like a lot:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTtJLC65zIk

dlp9001, Tuesday, 24 March 2015 03:02 (nine years ago) link

one year passes...

Green Apple Quick Step "Los Vargos"

van smack, Monday, 5 September 2016 05:01 (seven years ago) link

Sky Cries Mary "Shipwrecked"
The Frogs "Starboy"
Nixons "Sister"

van smack, Monday, 5 September 2016 05:20 (seven years ago) link

Smile, "Staring at the Sun"

Neanderthal, Monday, 5 September 2016 06:07 (seven years ago) link

three months pass...

Who covered "Temptation Eyes" in the late 90's/early 2000s? It was in the indie/college music. Kinda sounds like a brass band playing with Molly's Yes or Gin Blossums.

Triznorbob, Friday, 16 December 2016 16:26 (seven years ago) link

Blake Babies

My Lunch Is Older Than Your Lunch (Old Lunch), Friday, 16 December 2016 16:32 (seven years ago) link

Oh wait no, I incorrectly assumed Blake Babies because thread is for early '90s alt rock.

My Lunch Is Older Than Your Lunch (Old Lunch), Friday, 16 December 2016 16:33 (seven years ago) link

two years pass...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Maz6jFdvn2Q

Go-Gurt Ops (Old Lunch), Friday, 25 October 2019 12:52 (four years ago) link

Every time I hear it I'm like 'christ, how did I forget about this awful song that was in constant rotation for a decent stretch of time?' and then I immediately forget about it again once it's over.

Go-Gurt Ops (Old Lunch), Friday, 25 October 2019 12:55 (four years ago) link

There couldn't be a less memorable song!

When I saw the thread title, I thought of these three, all of which got a decent amount of airplay on my local alt-rock station in the early 90s:

E - Hello Cruel World

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLYSl3PblyU

Lloyd Cole - She's a Girl and I'm a Man

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2hGy7cBRNM

Freedy Johnston - Bad Reputation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsQBuFNt65U

☮ (peace, man), Friday, 25 October 2019 13:24 (four years ago) link

I think about "Hobo Humpin' Slobo Babe" by Whale not infrequently.

Chris L, Friday, 25 October 2019 13:30 (four years ago) link

It's rare that I suddenly recall a long-lost alternasingle from this era and think 'how could I possibly have forgotten such a good song?'.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VTBam8YzQg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJhulZ0zR58

Go-Gurt Ops (Old Lunch), Friday, 25 October 2019 14:27 (four years ago) link

Little Bastard, of course! Never heard that Rugburns song, but when I moved to San Diego I kept running into people who tried to sell me on Steve Poltz.

☮ (peace, man), Friday, 25 October 2019 14:55 (four years ago) link

Came here to post The Caulfields' "Devil's Diary," but someone did it sixteen years ago. Still will...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ja0eDZIyfbI

A breezy pop-rock feel fairly typical of the mid-'80s (Dan Peterson), Friday, 25 October 2019 14:58 (four years ago) link

Never cared for much of the rest of their records (singing is generally useless) but this riff is all time -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PugwqtNSwco

Maresn3st, Friday, 25 October 2019 15:07 (four years ago) link


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