Nirvana at 1992 MTV Music Awards
This made we crazy with indescribable excitement when I saw it live on TV. I had just found my dad's old guitar at this point and was determined to do things with it.
Jesus Jones, “Real Real Real”
Doubt was my first CD, along with Nevermind and Shubert Dip by EMF. I still listen to Jesus Jones regularly. When I was 9 and saw this video I was just like “who the fuck are these guys and how can I do that?” “International Bright Young Thing” is awesome too.
Depeche Mode, “Enjoy The Silence”
This is obviously one of the best songs ever to top the charts. Gotta say, I don't remember the video, but the song was the jam in my mom's car.
Enya, “Caribbean Blue”
Since “Orinoco Flow”, Enya was always a huge thing in my childhood. I wanted to hear this music, but loud and destroyed at the same time.
Sinéad O'Connor, “Nothing Compares 2 U”
This one. When it finally gets to the end and that chorus repeats…
Tricky, “Overcome”
Tricky is some 90s I didn't discover until 2000, unfortunately. Probably worked out well that way though, for whatever reason. The first three Tricky records are in regular rotation for me year round.
Suede, “Still Life”
Another 90s discovered after Y2K for me. Also good. I may have overlooked it in the 90s because Suede didn't have the distortion turned all the way up all the time. This song is bonkers though, it fucked me up pretty good at age 18.
Nine Inch Nails at Woodstock 94
My dad taped this off Pay-Per-View for me (including the Primus and Metallica sets), and I watched it constantly. He fondly referred to NIN as 'The Mudslingers' from then on.
Ministry, “Jesus Built My Hotrod”
This kid Keith lived a couple houses down from me, when I was around 11 or so he started lending me CDs – he was a huge Wax Trax junkie and therefore I was every week or so coming home with new industrial CDs and tapes. Skinny Puppy, Thrill Kill Cult, Chris Connelly, etc. Ministry was a big thing on my block. He was into Marilyn Manson before it was huge. I think Keith is a lawyer now.
1000 Homo DJs, “Apathy”
With Ministry inevitably came my discovery of 1000 Homo DJs, an Al Jourgensen side project. I actually recently bought several copies of the 4-track Supernaut disc really cheap, if anyone is searching for it. Anyway, I love this track.
Butthole Surfers, “Pepper”
And of course after seeing the “Jesus Built My Hotrod” video, I found out about the Butthole Surfers. “Pepper” was obviously their mainstream crossover, but I have to include it as, honestly, when I was 11 or whatever, this was the jam.
The Flaming Lips, “Pilot Can at the Queer of God”
This summed up everything I wanted to feel/hear in music at the time. And now. Thanks to Teebs for playing it in his car on the way to IHOP.
Elliott Smith, “Sweet Adeline”
The last couple years of my 90s were pretty much dominated by Elliott Smith. I stopped listening to almost everything else and 'experimented with depression until I went to college and actually got clinically depressed.
