15 Years Ago Today #4 - 10/18/96

As the alternative rock era continued on, the genre's diversity showed more than ever, as eels' "Novocaine For the Soul" took the top spot despite its bleak lyrics and odd, offbeat (literally) strings. The band's first single, it is the only eels song to date to top the chart, further demonstrating that even unsung heroes like eels could find success through talent and not just hype.

Elsewhere on the list, 311 continued their dominance with "Down", Sublime starts on the near-inexplicable continued popularity they would enjoy for the next 15 years and The Wallflowers get their first chart appearance before they blew up the next year.

Back on the diversity of the popular songs of the era, on this chart alone there are 2 songs that could be considered "adult alternative", one "rap-rock", one "industrial pop" and R.E.M.'s hauntingly beautiful "E-Bow the Letter," which featured Michael Stipe reading a rambling love letter over feedback and acoustic guitar and featuring Patti Smith on guest vocals. The song, 15 years later, remains as unusual and moving as the first time I heard it. 

Here's the Top 10:

1. eels - "Novocaine For the Soul"
2. 311 - "Down"
3. Sublime - "What I Got"
4. Soundgarden - "Burden In My Hand"
5. R.E.M. - "E-Bow the Letter"
6. Social Distortion - "I Was Wrong"
7. Better Than Ezra - "King of New Orleans"
8. Sheryl Crow - "If It Makes You Happy"
9. Republica - "Ready to Go"
10. The Wallflowers - "6th Avenue Heartache"

Whatever.

20 Years Ago Today #4 - 10/18/91

Back to taking a look at the charts of 20 years ago, and the alternative rock era has started to take shape, with the Red Hot Chili Peppers "Give It Away" at #3 and Nirvana already at 5th place only 3 weeks after the release of Nevermind. However, the only other band from this list that would make relevant music in the rest of the decade is Blur, whose "There's No Other Way" was fully representative of pre-Nirvana alternative music in the early 90s.

Robyn Hitchcock was in the #1 spot, with a song I have never heard before. The 90s: The Gift That Keeps on Giving.

Here's the Top 10:

1. Robyn Hitchcock - "So You Think You're In Love"
2. Billy Bragg - "Sexuality"
3. Red Hot Chili Peppers - "Give It Away"
4. The Cult - "Wild Hearted Son"
5. Nirvana - "Smells Like Teen Spirit"
6. Tin Machine - "One Shot"
7. Lloyd Cole - "She's a Girl and I'm a Man"
8. Blur - "There's No Other Way"
9. The Smithereens - "Top of the Pops"
10. Northside - "Take Five"

Whatever.

Happy Birthday, Thom Yorke!

A very Happy 43rd Birthday to someone whose genius cannot be oversold - Thom Yorke of Radiohead!

To prove it, here's one of the best songs of the 90s - no, one of the best songs of all time - "Fake Plastic Trees"

Happy Birthday, Thom! Hope it's a great one.

Whatever.

Happy Birthday, Matthew Sweet!

A Happy 47th Birthday to Matthew Sweet, who made some of the best, most underrated music of the 90s.

Here he is with one of said songs, "Sick of Myself" from that magical summer of 1995.



Happy Birthday, Matthew!

Whatever.