1993—The Year Dad Rock Cemented Its Legacy

Steve and Keith crank up the time machine to 1993, revisiting the year where grunge, alt-rock, and indie collided in an explosion of creativity. From late-night dorm radio at WGSU to the first season of Beavis & Butthead, they uncover the cultural threads that tied their formative music experiences together. This episode is packed with tales of Chapel Hill bands like Superchunk and Archers of Loaf, discovering Quicksand’s Slip alongside Helmet and KMFDM, and the unforgettable oddity of Ween performing on MTV Spring Break hosted by Pauly Shore.

The duo also dives into seminal albums from 1993 that continue to hold a special place in their hearts:

• In Utero by Nirvana, a raw and unfiltered masterpiece.
• Vs. by Pearl Jam, where rock met introspection.
• Siamese Dream by The Smashing Pumpkins, anthemic and lush.
• Slip by Quicksand, blending post-hardcore and alt-metal.
• Boces by Mercury Rev, a kaleidoscopic psych experiment.

They touch on genre-defining moments like Rage Against the Machine’s politically charged fury, the rise of Beck’s Loser, the enduring mystique of Tom Waits’ The Black Rider, and Phish’s Rift. They also review the latest from The Cure: Songs of a Lost World.

Tune in and take a trip back to 1993, when dad rock was evolving, and The New Dad Rock was just beginning to take shape.

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In Episode 92 of The New Dad Rock, Steve and Keith take a deep dive back into 1992, a year that arguably defined the dawn of dad rock. This was the year that grunge hit mainstream radio, MP3s were born, and Lollapalooza was the place to be, with acts like Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Ice Cube, and Ministry. As they journey through memories of late-night concerts and cheap beers in Central Park, they reflect on iconic moments and albums that shaped the era.

Steve and Keith remember wild concerts like GWAR’s chaotic "America Must Be Destroyed" tour and the second Lollapalooza. They relive the sounds of bands like Nirvana, whose rise was unstoppable, and reflect on albums that have become dad-rock staples like Automatic for the People by R.E.M., Eric Clapton’s Unplugged, and Dirt by Alice in Chains. They also touch on lesser-known gems: The Afghan Whigs’ Congregation, PJ Harvey’s Dry, and Sonic Youth’s Dirty.

With their usual banter, Steve and Keith bring the sounds and vibes of ’92 back to life, giving a tour of the soundtrack of their youth—when Pavement, Radiohead, Beck, and Rage Against the Machine were just beginning to shape the musical landscape. So, pop in your earbuds and take a trip back in a time when rock was raw and dad rock was just getting started.

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In this episode of The New Dad Rock, Steve and Keith dive into the transformative year of 1990, a time when music was in flux, much like Steve’s transition from high school to college. They review new music from The Jesus Lizard, Mercury Rev, and Chappell Roan, but the heart of the episode is a look back at the iconic releases of 1990.

Expect deep discussions about:

• Queensrÿche’s Empire
• Iron Maiden’s No Prayer for the Dying
• Megadeth’s Rust in Peace
• Judas Priest’s Painkiller
• Slayer’s Seasons in the Abyss
• Anthrax’s Persistence of Time
• Jane’s Addiction’s Ritual de lo Habitual
• Primus’ Frizzle Fry

With King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard touring, The Pavements documentary, and Will Sergeant's book in mind, they also reflect on the changing music landscape that paved the way for the upcoming grunge explosion.

The episode touches on key themes like whether metal was running out of steam or just evolving, while also covering some big pop culture moments of 1990, including MTV’s Unplugged debut, The Simpsons series launch, and Pearl Jam’s first live show (then known as Mookie Blaylock).

Steve and Keith reminisce about what they were listening to back then, from N.W.A. on the way to Taco Bell to the inescapable chart-toppers like MC Hammer and The Black Crowes. Tune in for a trip down memory lane and see what music from 1990 still holds up today!

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In this episode of The New Dad Rock, Steve and Keith turn back the clock to explore the rich and diverse musical landscape of 1989—a year that was anything but a blank space. While Taylor Swift might have reimagined "1989" in her own style, we're diving into the original sounds that defined the end of a decade.

The duo kicks off by introducing new music from Joey Valence & Brae, drawing parallels between the fresh sounds of today and the innovative tracks of '89, setting the stage for a deep dive into a pivotal year in music history.

Steve and Keith explore Nirvana's debut album "Bleach", discussing its raw energy and how it laid the groundwork for the grunge movement. They revisit Madonna's "Like a Prayer", examining its controversial themes and undeniable impact on pop culture.

The conversation heats up as they delve into the world of thrash metal with Testament's "Practice What You Preach", Exodus's "Fabulous Disaster", Laaz Rockit's aggressive riffs, and Overkill's "The Years of Decay". They don't miss a beat, touching on King Diamond's haunting "Conspiracy", and discussing the rise of Sepultura and Annihilator's "Alice in Hell".

Switching gears, they celebrate the timeless appeal of Tom Petty's "Full Moon Fever" and the unforgettable soundtrack of Prince's "Batman", which added a musical dimension to the iconic film. The duo reminisces about Chris Isaak's haunting "Wicked Game" and the sultry vibes it brought to the airwaves.

They groove to the alternative beats of Love and Rockets' "So Alive", The B-52s' infectious "Love Shack" and "Roam", and the psychedelic sounds of The Stone Roses. The punk ethos of Fugazi's "13 Songs" and the industrial edge of Nine Inch Nails' "Pretty Hate Machine" and Ministry's "The Mind is a Terrible Thing to Taste" also make the cut.

Steve and Keith delve into The Cure's melancholic masterpiece "Disintegration" and Depeche Mode's influential "Violator", discussing how these albums shaped the goth and synth-pop scenes. They share their admiration for Faith No More's "The Real Thing", Red Hot Chili Peppers' energetic "Mother's Milk", and Primus's quirky debut "Suck on This".

The episode wouldn't be complete without a nod to the rising stars of the era, including Sick of It All's hardcore anthem "Blood, Sweat, and No Tears", and the Beastie Boys' genre-blending genius on "Paul's Boutique". They also touch upon the phenomenon of Milli Vanilli's "Girl You Know It's True" and the controversy that followed.

Amid the rich musical tapestry, they reflect on The Ramones' "Brain Drain", signaling the endurance of punk rock. They discuss how bands like Metal Church with "Blessing in Disguise" and Skinny Puppy's "Rabies" pushed the boundaries of metal and industrial music.

Join Steve and Keith as they reminisce about 1989—a year of musical diversity and innovation that continues to influence artists today. This is not Taylor Swift's 1989; this is the original soundtrack of a generation.

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In this episode of The New Dad Rock, we dive into the electrifying year of 1988, where the worlds of metal, rock, and synth-pop collided in unexpected ways. We explore the rise of concept albums like Queensrÿche’s Operation: Mindcrime and King Diamond’s Them, which pushed the boundaries of storytelling in metal.

The Big Four of thrash metal—Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax—dominated with releases like ...And Justice for All, South of Heaven, So Far, So Good... So What!, and State of Euphoria. Meanwhile, the second tier of thrash, including bands like Testament, Overkill, and Death Angel, delivered powerful albums that kept the genre’s momentum going.

Synths still reigned supreme in the pop world with bands like Depeche Mode, New Order, and Yaz. At the same time, they began to influence industrial music, leading to groundbreaking releases from Ministry and Skinny Puppy. We also revisit R.E.M.’s Green, which marked a shift in the band’s sound and solidified their place in the alt-rock pantheon.

From the massive success of Def Leppard’s Hysteria to the Monsters of Rock Tour, 1988 was a year where genres collided, new sounds emerged, and nothing was shocking, though Donnie Darko and Fishbone were certainly a bit out there.

Join us as we reminisce about the music that defined 1988 and still resonates with us today.

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Did you know that The New Dad Rock has swag? Coffee mugs, pillow and t-shirts in a multitude of colors and arm lengths.

Join us as we delve into the transformative year of 1987 in this episode of The New Dad Rock. We'll explore the iconic albums and unforgettable moments that defined the music scene. From U2’s monumental The Joshua Tree to INXS’s Kick and The Cure’s Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me, this year was a watershed moment for rock and pop.

We'll reminisce about why Steve spent an entire month listening to just one album—King Diamond’s Abigail—and relive the wild Motley Crue Girls, Girls, Girls tour. We'll also cover the release of Document by R.E.M. and the psychedelic sounds of Echo & the Bunnymen. And we can’t forget Pink Floyd’s A Momentary Lapse of Reason, their first album led by David Gilmour.

We’ll highlight the new music from HARDY and Beak>, with their eclectic, genre-blending sounds. Keith will share memories of truckloads of porta potties heading to Telluride for a Grateful Dead concert and the influence of television shows on music tastes, like the classic "Paint It Black" from Tour of Duty.

Tune in to hear Keith read song titles from our playlist in the outro and play along with Steve in our music trivia game. This episode is a celebration of a pivotal year in music, full of personal anecdotes and musical milestones.

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Did you know that The New Dad Rock has swag? Coffee mugs, pillow and t-shirts in a multitude of colors and arm lengths.