Download: It Was A Good Decade, Vol. IV (1995)

And we continue on with the series. This week: 1995.

A surprising amount of upbeat music on this installment, possibly as a direct reaction to the down-in-the-dumps ambiance of grunge and post grunge music. '94 birthed Weezer, and here we have at least three Weezer-influenced bands in Wax (who were friends with the guys in Weezer), The Rentals (the former being the solo project of much-missed Weezer bassist Matt Sharp) and Self (no connection, but I think they kinda sound like 'em). Besides The Rentals there are two fantastic side-project bands included: Kim Deal (Pixies, The Breeders) tried her hand at Guided By Voices style lo-fi rock with The Amps, and Layne Staley of Alice in Chains teamed up with Mike McCready of Pearl Jam to make a one-off album under the name Mad Season that sounds, well, a lot like a cross between Alice in Chains and Pearl Jam--but a good one. Beyond that, we've compiled a mixture of jazz rock (Morphine), britpop (which was reaching the states around this time in the form of bands like Supergrass, Cast and Elastica), punk (Jawbreaker) and even Christian rock (Jars of Clay)! We're talking at least half a dozen different strands of alternative rock. Truly something for everybody!

This is in the top 3 contenders for my favorite mix of the series. There was just a ton of great music to cull from this time out. So much good music in fact, that it would maybe even be possible to make a Volume II of this Volume IV. But that sounds complicated. And I'm bad at math.

Enjoy.



It Was A Good Decade, Vol. IV, 1995

1. Self - So Low
2. Cast - Alright
3. The Rentals - Waiting
4. Wax - California
5. K's Choice - Not An Addict
6. Morphine - Honey White
7. The Amps - Tipp City
8. Toadies - Tyler
9. Black Grape - Kelly's Heroes
10. Supergrass - Alright
11. Rocket from the Crypt - On A Rope
12. Sparklehorse - Someday I Will Treat You Good
13. Sweet Water - Feed Yourself
14. Jars of Clay - Flood
15. Scarce - Freakshadow
16. Elastica - Stutter
17. Jawbreaker - Fireman
18. Dragmules - Send Away
19. The Mother Hips - Shut The Door
20. For Squirrels - Mighty KC
21. Tripping Daisy - I Got A Girl
22. Mad Season - River of Deceit


Click album art to download or click here