Dig Me Out: 90s & 00s Rock

2006 wasn't just any year in the 00s. It's the year Twitter launched, the year before the release of the iPhone, Nintendo debuted the Wii console, Borat burst into movie theaters, and Justin Timberlake made sure sexy was back. It was also when danceable post-punk, alternative metal, and UK post-Brit pop were making waves bubbling up to the underground, and much more. We've invited a group of our Patrons to revisit the year and discuss albums that stood the test of time (and a few that did not), overlooked and underappreciated albums, albums we were late to discover, and much more. Songs In This Episode Intro - Supermassive Black Hole by Muse, Young Folks by Peter, Bjorn and John, Crazy by Gnarls Barkley 22:00 - Unleashed by Front Line Assembly 31:53 - Family Band by The Tragically Hip 43:58 - Rockstar by The Fags 56:46 - Master Exploder by Tenacious D 1:00:39 - Tear You Apart by She Wants Revenge 1:17:39 - Star Witness by Neko Case 1:22:34 - Come Clarity by In Flames 1:32:26 - Standing In The Way Of Control - Gossip Outro - Different World by Iron Maiden Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon. Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.

Released during the protracted second Iraq war, Josh Ritter's fourth album The Animal Years layers a singer/songwriter album with somber lyrical depth softened by effective melodies and thoughtful instrumentation. Songs In This Episode Intro - Wolves 17:04 - Girl In The War 18:58 - Monster Ballads 25:29 - Thin Blue Flame 32:36 - Good Man Outro - Here at the Right Time Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon. Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.

Earnest without sliding into overwrought emo, Silkworm struck a balance between raw and refined on their fourth album, 1996's Firewater. Like most of their releases, the band turned to Steve Albini to engineer, capturing the live sound of the band crisp and clearly across the nearly hour running time. The band rarely overindulge, leaving those spare moments to the guitarist Andy Cohen, who channels the overdriven chaos of J. Mascis and Neil Young on tracks like "Wet Firecracker" and "Drag the River." The rhythm section, though never flashy, are tight and locked-in, with the bass taking melodic turns to support the sing-speak vocals that waver between understated and explosive. Though the band called Seattle home for the early part of the 1990s, the band eschews any grunge influence for post-punk and indie rock influences that helped separate the band from their homebase peers. Songs In This Episode Intro - Nerves 19:28 - Quicksand 21:28 - Drag the River 29:06 - Cannibal Cannibal 31:07 - The Lure of Beauty Outro - Don't Make Plans This Friday Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon. Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.

Self-produced after parting ways with their major label, 12 Rods released the genre-bending Lost Time in 2002, combining elements of power pop, indie rock, 70s art rock and more. Eclectic songwriting, dynamic shifts, and a mixture of organic and treated sounds balance an album full of catchy hooks with inventive and occasionally straight-up weird choices, like the loungy-groove of "Fake Magic 8-Ball," falling somewhere between Eels and Ben Folds Five, or the relentlessly melodic "Twenty Four Hours Ago." The lack of cohesion is offset by the versatility of the material, never overstaying its welcome, and quality of the songwriting that welcomes repeated listens. Songs In This Episode Intro - Terrible Hands 17:12 - Fake Magic 8-Ball 21:19 - Summertime Vertigo 26:05 - Boy in the Woods 30:16 - Twenty Four Hours Ago 41:31 - The Time Is Right (To Be Wrong) Outro - Accidents Waiting to Happen Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon. Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.

Is an industrial song ever really done? KMFDM’s 1993 release Naïve/Hell to Go asks that question, revisiting tracks from their 1990 release Naïve and offering new remixes and modified versions. Leaning heavily on sequenced aggression - pounding drum machines, serrated metal guitar loops, and chant-ready slogans that feel engineered as much for the dance floor as the mosh pit. Tracks like “Go to Hell” and “A Drug Against War” distill the band’s confrontational ethos into blunt, almost cartoonishly militant hooks that nonetheless hit with real force. Songs In This Episode Intro - Welcome/Naïve 19:10 - Got To Hell (Fuck MTV Mix) 24:57 - Godlike (Doglike Mix) 27:47 - Die Now Live Later (Born Again Mix) Outro - Disgust (Live in Seattle) Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon. Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.

You Forgot It in People captures Broken Social Scene at their most expansive, an indie rock communal experience balancing meticulous arrangements and unhinged joyfulness. Layers of guitars, synths, horns, and rotating vocalists creates a warm chaos that rewards repeated listens, as new details constantly surface. Songs like “Anthems for a Seventeen Year-Old Girl” and “Cause = Time” balance intimacy and grandeur, pairing fragile emotion with sweeping crescendos. Two decades on, it still sounds like the 2000s blueprint for how indie rock bands like Arcade Fire, Godspeed, You Black Emperor, and many more could be messy, emotional, and deeply human without losing their ambition. Songs In This Episode Intro - Stars and Sons 12:15 - KC Accidental 20:29 - Cause = Time 26:03 - Anthems For A Seventeen Year-Old Girl Outro - Pacific Theme Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon. Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.

Naomi Carmack of the Dope Nostalgia podcast joins us to revisit the six times platinum debut album Sixteen Stone by Bush. Released in May of 1995, the album spawned five inescapable singles and videos released in 1995 and 1996, propelling the band into the bright media spotlight. While the band had their share of fans, they also had detractors labeling the band as radio made grunge-lite thanks to frontman Gavin Rossdale appealing to more than just a young, male audience. In revisiting the record, we take time to appreciate the guitar work of Nigel Pulsford, who riffs and slides with taste and noise throughout the well crafted record despite some lackluster album tracks. Songs In This Episode Intro - Machinehead 24:13 - Testosterone 28:37 - Monkey 41:09 - Comedown Outro - Little Things Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon. Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.

Our fifteenth season is in the books. Check out our picks for most surprising discoveries, the top review albums, and more from 2025. Stay tuned as towards the end we cover some changes to the DMO schedule and more choices for album picking patrons starting in 2026. Songs In This Episode Intro - Dig Me Out by Sleater-Kinney Outro - Dig Me Out by Sleater-Kinney Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon. Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.

In our fourth installment of Surviving the 90s, we’re revisiting Heart - the band that not only churned out hits across multiple decades, but played a key role in the burgeoning Seattle music scene of the 80s and 90s. Known for a string of massive hits like "Barracuda," "Crazy On You," "Magic Man," and more in the 70s, the chart-topping band suffered a downturn in the early 80s only to return with two successful albums, 1985's self-titled record and the 1987 follow-up Bad Animals, both of which achieved multi-Platinum status. But as the musical landscape shifted in the 90s, the band released their 1990 album Brigade to a shifting musical landscape, and doubled-down with the out-of-step Desire Walks In in 1993. Though new hits failed to materialize, they continued to remain relevant thanks to their strong ties to the Seattle scene and the undeniable talent of Ann and Nancy Wilson. We revisit their biggest hits, their activity in the 90s, and try to determine: did Heart thrive, adapt, or fade during the decade? Songs In This Episode Intro - Barracuda 21:49 - Heartless 41:31 - Wild Child 51:16 - Will You Be There (In The Morning) Outro - Magic Man Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon. Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.

Fantômas’ self-titled 1999 debut establishes the concept from note one: an exercise in extreme, avant-garde expression, and as a listener it’s easy to understand what the band is attempting. The barrage of short, fragmented pieces and sudden stylistic shifts signal a deliberate rejection of traditional song structure. Mike Patton’s vocalizations function more as sound effects than performances, reinforcing the record’s abstract intent. While the musicianship, particularly Dave Lombardo’s precision drumming and the band’s tight execution, is impossible to deny, the experience can feel more clinical than engaging. The experimental nature creates distance, making it difficult to emotionally connect despite appreciating the idea behind it. In the end, Fantômas succeeds intellectually, but the album’s confrontational approach may leave some listeners admiring the concept more than the music itself. Songs In This Episode Intro - Book 1: Page 1 12:12 - Book 1: Page 4 16:42 - Book 1: Page 17 21:12 - Book 1: Page 7 Outro - Book 1: Page 30 Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon. Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.

Star, the 1993 debut album by Belly, blends dreamy alt-rock textures with Tanya Donnelly’s airy, emotionally charged vocals and songwriting. Shimmering guitars and off-kilter hooks give the album a distinctive, almost fairy-tale quality that set it apart from its grunge-era peers, drawing as much from UK dream and jangle pop as American alternative. Singles like “Feed the Tree” and “Gepetto” highlight Donnelly’s knack for bright melodies wrapped around enigmatic lyrics. Throughout the album, the band balances buoyant energy with darker undercurrents, creating a sound that feels both inviting and haunting, though it does a bit long at fifteen tracks and over fifty minutes. Songs In This Episode Intro - Feed The Tree 15:36 - White Belly 20:06 - Gepetto 21:58 - Angel Outro - Dusted Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon. Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.

Eve 6’s 1998 self-titled debut delivered a punchy slice of late-’90s alternative rock loaded with catchy hooks and teenage urgency. The band utilizes pop-punk energy without the whine, creating a sound that’s both radio-friendly and tightly performed, showcasing their knack for clever, rapid-fire lyrics and instantly memorable choruses. The album balances angst and humor, giving it a charm that sets it apart from many of its era peers, and more twists and turns than one might expected based on the lead single "Inside Out." Songs In This Episode Intro - Inside Out 19:51 - Jesus Nitelite 23:44 - Leech 39:26 - Showerhead Outro - Small Town Trap Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon. Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.

Another Thanksgiving is upon us, and our yearly post-Covid tradition continues as we gather patrons together and give thanks for the new music that gave us happiness and good vibes in 2025. There's a wide array of bands and artists, new and old, that helped make 2025 another great year for music! Songs In This Episode Intro - Critical Thinking by Manic Street Preachers Outro - Disintegrate by Suede Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon. Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.

Human Clay by Creed is a polished, radio-ready slab of late-’90s hard rock that helped define (fairly or unfairly) the aesthetic now cheekily labeled “butt rock.” The album leans heavily on soaring, overly-earnest choruses and Mark Tremonti’s muscular guitar work, which give tracks like “Higher” and “With Arms Wide Open” a memorable arena-rock punch. Scott Stapp’s vocals, full of dramatic baritone gravitas, remain divisive but central to the band’s signature sound. The record can feel repetitive in its reliance on inspirational platitudes, its glossy production, and melodic hooks without much depth. Ultimately, Human Clay stands as both a commercial triumph and a touchstone for the era’s post-grunge mainstream, embracing the very qualities that later sparked the backlash “butt rock” label. Songs In This Episode Intro - Higher 28:42 - Beautiful 33:40 - Are You Ready 37:57 - Never Die 53:57 - What If Outro - With Arms Wide Open Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon. Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.

In 2002 Speedstar released their debut, Bruises You Can Touch, and unless you were in Australia, you probably never heard it. The Australian band's first album is a quietly affecting collection of melancholic indie pop that trades in mood and atmosphere over flash. Restrained production gives the band’s delicate melodies and wistful vocals room to breathe, creating an intimate and emotionally resonant experience. The album blends acoustic warmth and subtle distorted textures that recalls early Coldplay, Keane, Starsailor, and other 2000s post-Britpop bands, and stands as an overlooked gem of early-2000s indie. Songs In This Episode Intro - Song For You 9:24 - Crazy Happy 16:39 - This Everyday Life (Into Your Arms) 22:59 - Piano Song (Sometimes) 26:09 - Wishing Your Life Away 29:12 - It's Ok To Be Sad When It Rains Outro - Revolution Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon. Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.

Virtuoso guitarist Nuno Bettencourt of Extreme stepped out on his own for the 1997 solo debut Schizophonic to explore a more diverse sonic landscape. Blending alt-rock, power pop, and electronic influences, the album showcases Bettencourt’s strong sense of melody and knack for songwriting. Tracks like “Gravity” and “Swollen Princess” highlight his ability to fuse inventive guitar riffs with catchy hooks, with production that leans toward the dense, experimental textures of late-’90s rock. Having flown under the radar, Schizophonic stands as an underrated and inventive record that captures an artist unafraid to reinvent himself, a fascinating glimpse of what happens when a guitar hero eschews showmanship for songwriting. Songs In This Episode Intro - Gravity 14:23 - What You Want 19:28 - Karmalaa 25:43 - Swollen Princess 36:31 - Fine By Me 47:28 - Fallen Angels Outro - Severed Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon. Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.

Appalachian folk, Gothic country, and fire-and-brimstone intensity are not sounds you heard often on alternative albums in the 1990s. Sixteen Horsepower, led by David Eugene Edwards’ trembling voice and Old Testament fervor, sings like a sermon delivered from the traveling pulpit of redemption and ruin on their 1996 debut Sackcloth 'N Ashes. Songs churn with banjo, accordion, and tremolo guitar, evoking both frontier hardship and Calvinistic spiritual warfare. The production is stark yet cinematic, allowing every haunted whisper and stomped rhythm to resonate. While fans of Nick Cave, The Handsome Family, The Gun Club, etc. will find commonality, those unfamiliar may take a bit to warm up. Songs In This Episode Intro - Black Soul Choir 21:14 - Prison Shoe Romp 23:37 - Horse Head 34:09 - Red Neck Reel Outro - Strong Man Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon. Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.