YOU DESERVE ROCK TODAY!

ARTIST: SUGAR
ALBUM: FILE UNDER EASY LISTENING
SONG: GEE ANGEL
DATE: 1994
STATUS: NOT ACQUIRED

Sugar was A moderately big deal when they came out because of front man Bob Mould's previous work with Husker Du.

Its really not surprising that Sugar never made it huge. There's something a little to pure in their approach to music. They're like a craft beer. They expect an audience to think while they sip and enjoy they simple mix of  barley, yeast and water. Then again, you can always hope.

Gee Angel is a perfect example of the kind of assuredness that a punk rock veteran like Mould can bring to a rock music. Never dressing it up, just driving it down.

THEN AGAIN, THEY MIGHT NOT...

ARTIST: THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS
ALBUM: FLOOD
SONG: BIRDHOUSE IN YOUR SOUL
DATE: 1989
STATUS: NOT ACQUIRED

This is about as mainstream as these guys get.  This may sound weird, but don't these guys feel like Primus' kissing cousins. Granted Primus has more of a tweaked out biker vibe, but can you think of two other bands who make such willfully unpopular music. Might Be Giants appear a little more hugable, but when it comes down to it, they really don't care weather you get it or not, and there's some deep down weird creepiness in their work if you look closely.

It's all so delightful

... GIVE ME GIN AND TONIC

ARTIST: OASIS
ALBUM: DEFINITELY MAYBE
SONG: SUPERSONIC
DATE: 1994
STATUS: ACQUIRED

I always likes Liam Gallegher's reason for never holding a microphone  That would be work, and he's not a worker, he's a star.  Supersonic has that Oasis mix of grandiosity and threat.

FOR A MINUTE THERE EVERYTHING WENT ALL WONKY

ARTIST: PRIUMS
ALBUM: PORK SODA
SONG: MY NAME IS MUD
DATE: 1993
STATUS: NOT ACQUIRED

There are times in your life when you're filled with self righteous anger at the constraints that others put on you, and you just know how perfect the world would be if those others would just get out of your way. Then one day, sitting at home, drinking a Dr. K and watching a little MTV before your parents gets home mass media just vomits Primus all over you and you realize you can only see one small sliver of the possibilities that await you.

LEONARD

ARTIST - SUGAR RAY
ALBUM - FLOORED
SONG - FLY
DATE - JUNE 17, 1997
STATUS - NOT ACQUIRED

Fly was a sharp ninety degree turn from the work on Sugar Ray's debut "Lemonade and Brownies", but this song strikes a sweet spot between the hard goofball rock of that earlier album and their flat out sell out latter pop efforts. By the way, not hatting. Get them checks boys!

Three marks for awesome

Mark One - Super Cat (aka Wild Apache and older brother of Junior Cat)
Mark Two - DJ Homicide
Mark Three - "All around the world status crumble for me" I have no idea if this song is about anything at all, but with lines like that who cares.

COMING AT YOU SUNDAY-SUNDAY-SUNDAY!

ARTIST: RADIOHEAD
ALBUM: THE BENDS
SONG: STREET SPIRIT (FADE OUT)
DATE: JANUARY 22ND 1996
STATUS: ACQUIRED

In Thom York Radiohead is one of the few artsy rock bands whose voice stands up to the its artistic aspirations. Equally this video is aesthetically seamless and stands up today as well as it did nearly twenty years ago.

In the song I think you can hear Echos of R.E.M.'s "Drive" and a prelude to bands like Ours.

I TOTALLY HAD THAT HAIR CUT

ARTIST: THE CHARLATANS UK
ALBUM: SOME FRIENDLY
SONG: THE ONLY ONE I KNOW
DATE: MAY 14 1990
STATUS: ACQUIRED

First of all, if you were an American teen, boy or girl, who took your soccer seriously, you had that hair cut, and it was so ambig-ya-sexy.

Second, Hammond Organ is the most underrated instrument in rock

Third, guitar is awesome, and that my friend is the secret to British pop per-capita dominance.

MADCHESTER!