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Our “Top 100 Big Tunes of the 90’s” continues this week right up until Jan 6. As we have shown so far we’ve compiled a pretty amazing list of songs but you can imagine how many great ones didn’t make the cut. So I’m still using Matt Tracks to cheat a little bit by offering tunes that didn’t quite make it but are still songs from the 90’s you should hear….in my little old opinion.

Exactly What You Wanted –Helmet – “Aftertatse” (1997)

Helmet formed in the late 80’s and even though their commercial success peaked when they collaborated with House of Pain on the “Judgment Night” soundtrack around ’93, they left a large rock and roll imprint on bands like System of a Down, and Nine Inch Nails. Listen to Helmet!

Love Spreads – The Stone Roses – “Second Coming” (1994)

In our ongoing list of the “Top 100 Big Tunes of the 90’s” I talk a little bit about the Madchester music scene which described a group of bands who were emerging from the Manchester music scene eventually laying the groundwork for bands like The Verve and Oasis. One of those early influential bands was The Stone Roses who had early success but went away pretty quickly for a variety of reasons; some blame it on their indifference towards media and promotion others say it was because of the 5 year gap between albums….I’m sure it all played a role. Whatever the case they were a very important piece of the music that came after them and made a lot of people happy last year announcing a 2012 reunion.

So Real – Jeff Buckley –“Grace” (1994)

I’ve talked about Jeff Buckley many times before but you can never get enough of his music and voice. He died at the young age of 30 and is perhaps best remembered for his cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah”, but before his death (and based on his own music) he was being called the next Dylan or the next Springsteen. I understand that they are just words and just someone’s opinions but I think it gives a tiny glimpse into how revered he was after just one album…… and what might have been.

Fade into You – Mazzy Star – “So Tonight That I Might See” (1993)

Let’s talk some Paisley Underground. This was the label given to a group of artists in the mid 80’s who were making music in Los Angeles mixing elements of psychedelic music, folk rock, and rock with an emphasis on vocal harmonies that channeled bands like The Byrds and The Beach Boys meets The Velvet Underground. The Bangles were actually the most notable band to emerge from that scene but one of the most interesting was Mazzy Star best know for this tune and who has very recently released their first single in 15 years.

What U Waitin 4 – Jungle Brothers – “Done by the Forces of Nature” (1990)

The 1989 Jungle Brothers album “Done by the Forces of Nature” really hasn’t really gotten the credit it deserves. Some call it one of the most influential hip hop albums of all time while others have never heard of it… or the group. The Jungle Brothers were making a style of hip hop that fused elements of jazz long before the mainstream success of De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest or Digable Planets, and not for nuttin’ this was one of the first hip hop albums I ever owned!!

enjoy!
=m