Landmark Albums: 1992

Second in a series of influential albums. 

(in no particular order other than the order I'm playing them on the radio)

Alice in Chains - Dirt

[All the kids love Alice in Chains, right?]

"This record has been recognized for its extraordinarily gritty and realistic representation of the suffering caused by heroin addiction... which may have something to do with the fact it was written and recorded while Staley was suffering from an extraordinarily gritty and realistic case of heroin addiction." --Cracked.com

 

 Nirvana - Incesticide

[yeah, it's a B-sides collection, but it's hard to overstate Nirvana's impact on alternative and indie music]

 Screaming Trees - Sweet Oblivion

[Remember that year when everyone knew the words to "Nearly Lost You"? Yeah, that was weird. Might have also been thanks to the Singles Soundtrack. That one was great, too.]

 

 

 R.E.M. - Automatic for the People

[R.E.M. once stated that putting out a quiet, acoustic album in 1992 was the most punk thing they could do. Then, they returned in 1994 with a 1992-flavored album...]

Catherine Wheel - Ferment

[Ahh-- the beautiful noise. MBV meets sugar-pop. A template for perfection]

The Cure - Wish

[Following up Disintegration, Robert Smith sounds happier, but not a bit less perfect.]

Some Velvet Sidewalk - Avalanche

[Ahh-- finally getting to the true indie on this list. Al Larsen makes an alternate-universe pop record about Cats, Frogs, breakups, and the Loch Ness Monster]


Guilty Pleasure / Special Mention: They Might Be Giants - Apollo 18

[TMBG at the peak of their powers. Humor, songcraft, and... fingertips....]

Seam - Headsparks

[Seam set the template for a decade. For a while, every band was trying to sound like Seam, and that's not a bad thing]

Pavement - Slanted and Enchanted

[Again, torchbearers for '90s indie rock. This is the fount from which it all flows.]

Landmark Albums: 1991

I'm doing a series here on The Chandelier Swing where I feature albums that I feel are landmarks-- influential, monolithic pieces of art that have influenced future generations and stood the test of time. These aren't even necessarily my favorite albums of these years, but what I feel are the most important to Indie Rock in general.

I'm starting this feature in 1991: The Year Punk Broke

(in no particular order, other than the order I'm playing them on the radio)

Nirvana - Nevermind

[absolutely epochal. Not only a great album in its own right, but it triggered a cultural change so massive we had to stop calling this stuff "Alternative" and had to call it "Indie"]

Beat Happening - Dreamy

[In a fair universe, these guys would be every tween's favorite jam]

Pearl Jam - Ten

[Mock if you'd like, but these guys took all the pieces of the alternative scene and made them timeless.. at least for one album]

The Jesus Lizard - Goat

[Noise for the masses]

Slint - Spiderland

[Unheard of in their time. Inescapable 10 years later]

My Bloody Valentine - Loveless

[Thousands have tried to imitate, but nobody gets this loud and sounds this cool.]

Guilty Pleasure/Special Mention: U2 - Achtung Baby

[Not indie or alternative in any sense, but how often does the biggest rock and roll band in the world completely reinvent itself?]

Jesus Jones - Doubt

[A little left-field here, but an unprecedented melding of loud rock, sampling, and beats. The sound of the future]

R.E.M. - Out of Time

[Not their best album, but critical in introducing alternative to the masses]


---editor's note: you may notice I'm no longer posting playlists. Nobody was looking at them. If you're really interested, go to Spinitron.com. My station is KMUZ, and my show is Fridays 4-6 PM. Here's a link.

Playlists 03-2013

Show 2-13
Airdate: 03-01-2013
Theme: Skaa Rebellion

Talking Heads - Life During Wartime [live]
Rye Coalition - The Higher the Hair, The Closer to God
Pavement - Cut Your Hair
Jejune - Drive By Negly
Maritime - Tearing Up the Oxygen
Kerosene 454 - With Age
Slint - Glenn
Gastr Del Sol - Dictionary of Handwriting
Low - Untitled
Death Cab for Cutie - What Sarah Said
Ribbon Fix - Sunset in Reverse

Toots and the Maytals - Pressure Drop
The Specials - Ghost Town
The Aquabats - Ska Robot Army

Liquorice - Blew It
Mill Race - Pink and Red Lights
Plants - Gnostic Fame
David Byrne - Dinosaur
Black Eyed Snakes - Rise Up!
[guilty pleasure]   Savage Garden - I Want You [Jason Nevins' Radio Remix]
Deerhoof - Super Duper Rescue Heads !
Chain and the Gang - Hunting for Love
Shipping News - This Is Not an Exit
Radiohead - All I Need
Mineral - February (March Version)
Rainer Maria - Breakfast of Champions
Helmet - Biscuits for Smut
Shellac - Killers

Playlists 02-2013

Show 2-09
Airdate: 02-01-2013
Theme/Guest: 7" Records with Mick

Mick from Northwest Notes guested on this Pledge-Drive show. We swapped 7"s and stories. I brought mostly northwest-themed 7"s, and Mick brought mostly stuff from outside the northwest. Songs labeled M are Mick's picks, songs labeled A are mine.

A: Pond - Young Splendor
M: Too Much Joy - Hey Merlin
A: Typhoon - Shallows
M: Nothing Painted Blue - Another Child Bride
A: The Spinanes - Rummy
M: Now, Now - Shifting
A: Sunny Day Real Estate - Song #8
M: Spitfire - Come On, Get On
A: Juno - Venus on Ninth
M: Starflyer 59 - Next Time Around
A: Dub Narcotic Sound System - Shake a Puddin'
M: Shove - JohnLyons8TrackMachine
A: Modest Mouse - A Life of Arctic Sounds
M: Noah Stone - Dress
A: Dharma Bums - Shake Some Action
M: Guided By Voices - Volcano Divers / Snowman
A: Thirty Ought Six - Talon
M: Limblifter - Cordova
A: [guilty pleasure]   Phil Collins - Against All Odds
M: Stanford Prison Experiment - My Teacher Dad
A: Unwound - Torch Song
M: The Hi-Fives - Rip It Up
A: A Weather - One More One Night Stand
M: Flake - Science Diet



Show 2-10
Airdate: 02-08-2013
Theme: Untitled


Boy Eats Drum Machine - Untitled
Icu - Untitled
Mates of State - Untitled
All-Time Quarterback - Untitled
The Cure - Untitled
Jimmy Eat World - Untitled
Appleseed Cast - Untitled 1/2 [demo]
Sunny Day Real Estate - Untitled [demo]
Elliott Smith - No Name #6
Verona - Untitled
Stereolab - Untitled
Cat Power - Untitled
Belly - Untitled and Unsung
Shipping News - Untitled w/Drums
Yume Bitsu - Untitled #7
Swords - Untitled (white out)
Secret Stars - Untitled #2
Proudentall - Untitled with Mike and Breeze
Crom-Tech - Untitled #7
Super Deluxe - Untitled
[guilty pleasure]   Counting Crows - Untitled Love Song
Travis Morrison - Untitled
Paper - Untitled
Sigur Ros - Untitled #4



Show 2-11
Airdate: 02-15-2013
Theme: Bullet Proof Cupid


Girls Against Boys - Bullet Proof Cupid
Crom-Tech - Untitled #1
Jesus Lizard - Blue Shot
Make Believe - "Boom" Sounds Like "Hiss" from Inside It
Bluetip - Precious
Helmet - Street Crab
The Hellacopters - Soulseller
Rye Coalition - One Daughter Hotter Than One Thousand Suns
The Sonics - Louie Louie
Soundgarden - Hunted Down
10 Minute Warning - Is This the Way?
Black Flag - Forever Time
Godheadsilo - Your'e Fighting Me Now
Dead Kennedys - Halloween
Rites of Spring - Remainder
Teen Angels - Teen Dream
C Average - Dark Harbour / Green Mountain Airways / Illgagaard Forever
Earth - High Command
Karp - How Si Si How
Nebula - Ignition
The Hellacopters - Twist Action
Zwan - Number of the Beast
[guilty pleasure]   Iron Maiden - The Prisoner
Zeke - Evil Woman
Nirvana - Anorexorcist
Destruction Island - Casually Finding a Torso on Sunday Morning
Rocket From the Crypt - Sturdy Wrists
Kinski - Rhode Island Freakout
Saint - Hell Blade


Show 2-12
Airdate: 02-22-2013
Theme: Sickness

Nirvana - Pennyroyal Tea
The Soundtracks - The Icy Hands of Death
Rodan - The Everyday World of Bodies
Owls - Holy Effing Ghost
The Cure - Pornography
Talking Heads - Drugs (Electricity) [live]
Smart Went Crazy - I Liked You Better When You Were Sick
Easterly - Get Well Card
Bettie Serveert - Healthy Sick
Weinland - Sick as a Gun
Suzanne Vega - Blood Makes Noise
Palace Brothers - I Tried to Stay Healthy for You
The Smiths - Still Ill
Symmetry/Symmetry - Drugs are Quick
Mary Timony - Dr. Cat
The Regrets - A Sick Man's Grief
Election Year - Down in the Jaw
Shipping News - Horrible Bed Versus Sickening Bridge
Yume Bitsu - Doctor Trips
Rainer Maria - Sickbed
[guilty pleasure]   Thompson Twins - Doctor Doctor
His Name Shall Breathe - Swallow No More Drugs
Typhoon - The Sickness Unto Death / The Honest Truth [NPR Tiny Desk Concert]
Low - Shots and Ladders

Playlists 01-2013

Show 2-05
Airdate: 1/4/2013
Theme: Best of 2012

Wolf Colonel - The Perspective That a New Year Brings
Codeine - New Year's
Low - July [live]
His Name Shall Breathe - In the Northwest


Top 5 OLD Finds 2012:

5. The Hardship Post - New Wave
4. The Church - Reptile
3. Carissa's Wierd - One Night Stand
2. Mary Timony - Muzik and Charming Melodee
1. The Merry-Go-Round - Gonna Fight the War


Top 5 records 2012:

5. Typhoon - Green
4. Mumford and Sons - Whispers in the Dark
3. Finn Riggins - Plural
2. Counting Crows - Hospital
1. Landing - Heart Finds the Beat

Hazel - Comet
Arlo - Runaround
Eric's Trip - Lost
The Bloody Muse - Giant
The Breeders vs. They Might Be Giants - Istanbul
Dead Can Dance - Chant of the Paladin
[guilty pleasure] Hole - Violet
Black Whales - Books on Tape
Sugar Hiccup - Awa
Maya Shore - The Plan
Sigur Ros - Olsen Olsen
The Promise Ring - Scenes From Parisian Life



Show 2-06
Airdate: 1/10/2012 
Theme: None

The Smiths - Shoplifters of the World, Unite

Radiohead - Stupid Car
Stereolab - Anemie
Beat Happening - Cat Walk
Shadows of Knight - Gloria
Weird War - Girls Like That
Steel Pulse - Worth His Weight in Gold (Rally Round)
Modest Mouse - I Came as a Rat
Mineral - If I Could
Dirty Three - Lullaby for Christie

Mirah / The Vibration / Emilyn Brodsky Split 7"
     Mirah - Out Riding
     The Vibration - Sweet Oil
     Emilyn Brodsky - A Million Different Yous
     Emilyn Brodsky - What's Left

Cap'n Jazz - Basil's Kite
Lois - Hey Antoinette!
Stanley Brothers - Angel Band
Mumford and Sons - The Cave
Julian Snow - Twisted Roadless Dawn
Baptist Generals - Unimaginative
Destruction Island - The End is Near!
Some By Sea - A Book and No Disasters
[guilty pleasure]   Madonna - Express Yourself
Handsome Furs - Damaged
Get Up Kids - One Year Later
Rainer Maria - Sooyoung
Low - Old Man Song
Loch Lomond - Blood Bank
Dntel - Last Songs [Vocal Version]
Dharma Bums - Far from Gone


Show 2-07
Airdate: 01/18/2012
Theme: none

DEVO - Girl U Want
Rocket From the Crypt - Don't Darlene
The Vaselines - Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam
Kelley Stoltz - Your Reverie
Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit [Butch Vig Mix]
Cat Power - He War
Red House Painters - Make Like Paper
Bonnie Prince Billy - Three Questions
The Walkabouts - The Anvil Rise [live]
Wooden Indian Burial Ground - My Bones They Are Naked
P.W. Long - She's Gone
Scud Mountain Boys - Silo [version 1]
Norman - Seasons
The Cure - The Caterpillar
The Specials - Guns of Navarone
David Bowie - Yassassin
Talking Heads - The Listening Wind
Martyrs of Sound - Ong Namo
Five Style - Here We Go
The Fire Theft - Houses
[guilty pleasure]   Carly Rae Jepsen - Call Me Maybe
Mates of State - As Night as Now
Owls - I Want the Blindingly Cute to Confide in Me
Pixies - Monkey Gone to Heaven
R.E.M. - Camera
Mineral - Slower
Superchunk - Hyper Enough




Show 2-08
Airdate: 01/25/2012
Special Guest: Mitch Duafa

Typhoon - Common Sentiments
Black Happy - Home
Dan Jones and the Squids - Hot Pink UFO
Alkaline Trio - Nose Over Tail
Pavement - Conduit for Sale!
Afghan Whigs - What Jail Is Like
Wandering Lucy - Home, Home, Home
My Bloody Valentine - Soft as Snow (But Warm Inside)
Broken Hearts Are Blue - Because I Am
Man or Astro-Man? - DNI
Eraserheads - Bokchi Hokbu
Stone Roses - Elizabeth My Dear
Fela Kuti - Zombie
Sunny Day Real Estate - Rodeo Jones
Christie Front Drive - 4010
Rites of Spring - Hain's Point


Mitch Duafa Chandelier Session:
     Deep South Salem
     Ain't That a Funny Thing
     Soothsayer
     Father-Son


[guilty pleasure]   Cyndi Lauper - When You Were Mine
Cap'n Jazz - Oh Messy Life!
Camber - Hollowed-Out
Appleseed Cast - The Last Ring
Mineral - Take the Picture Now