120 Months Podcast

1991 is a legendary year in the history of American popular music. As we’ll see, by the time summer hits, legendary albums are dropping literally every week, and a genuine renaissance is in full swing. But this is January 1991, and we’re still in the calm before the storm, though in the albums we profile in this episode, definite trends are rising. We listen to the grungy tones of Screaming Trees on Uncle Anesthesia; the earthy bluegrass of Athens, Georgia band Chickasaw Mudd Puppies on 8-Track Stomp (produced by Michael Stipe); the soon-to-be-irrelevant party rock stylings of David Lee Roth on A Little Ain’t Enough; the G-funk production and new gangster attitude of DJ Quik on the massively influential Quik is the Name; the jazz beats and introspective lyrics of legendary rappers Guru and Premier on Gang Starr’s dazzling Step in the Arena; the iconic sound and mega-hits of Jesus Jones on Doubt; and, of course, a mid-career solo album from Sting, The Soul Cages, which finds the Police frontman ruminating about ships and the sea (and it’s actually pretty good!). This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 120months.substack.com/subscribe

Over the past 12 podcast episodes, John and I have listened to (and argued over) more than 70 albums released in 1990. Some definite themes have emerged: the transition from ‘80s to ‘90s in both the form and content of popular music; the birth of new aesthetics and sociopolitical concerns in both rock and hip hop; and more than anything, the undeniable sound of underground music moving into the mainstream.On this episode, we share our respective “top ten” albums of 1990 and talk about the year’s dramatic developments in pop culture. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 120months.substack.com/subscribe

Let’s listen to albums released in December 1990: Tristessa, the first EP from The Smashing Pumpkins and a blistering proof of concept; Smooth Noodle Maps, a sad and disappointing collection of songs from Devo, one of the best to ever do it; Smoke ‘Em If You Got ‘Em, a promising debut album from rockabilly masters The Reverend Horton Heat; Kill at Will, Ice Cube’s fierce and refined follow-up EP to his now-classic Amerikkka’s Most Wanted; Gala, a collection of gorgeous work from British shoegaze pioneers Lush; and The Simpsons Sing The Blues, a cynical cash-in record that pushes the boundaries of listenability and defiles its brilliant source material. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 120months.substack.com/subscribe

This week we’re listening to music released in November 1990: Against the Grain, harmonic, philosophical punk rock from the legendary Bad Religion; Hell’s Ditch, Shane MacGowan’s final album with Celtic punk stalwarts The Pogues; Reverberation, Echo & The Bunnymen’s sad attempt to replace frontman Ian McCulloch; Ferociously Stoned, a surprisingly dynamic debut album from swing and ska band Cherry Poppin’ Daddies; and Naïve, a pulsing blast of electric noise from German industrial band KMFDM. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 120months.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit 120months.substack.comOn Part Two of our survey of albums released in October 1990, we listen to music from some of the most popular singer-songwriters of the era: Paul Simon’s Brazilian flavored mid-life crisis exploration on Rhythm of the Saints; Dwight Yoakum’s tenderhearted Bakersfield crooning on If There Was a Way; roots rock supergroup The Traveling Wilbury’s getting …