Bandsplain

One of the earlier bands to form in what would become the biggest music scene of the 90s, Soundgarden started up in Seattle in 1984 when two friends from Illinois named Kim and Hiro formed a band with a local drummer named Chris. The band blended influences and styles from post punk and new wave to Beatles and metal, slowly forming a sound that was all their own. Along the way Chris Cornell took the front, took off his shirt, and the band started to take off, especially with the addition of a few new band members. Soundgarden brought the founders of SubPop together and brought major labels sniffing around the scene, though they themselves took a more considered and well-paced path to rock stardom. In this episode we are blessed with the presence of returning guest Hanif Aburraqib to help chart the journey of this excellent band, from their earliest days through their third album, Badmotorfinger. Follow Hanif Abdurraqib on Twitter @NifMuhammad Listen to songs we detail in the episode HERE Host: Yasi Salek Guest: Hanif Abdurraqib Producer: Jesse Miller-Gordon Audio Editor: Adrian Bridges Additional Production Supervision: Justin Sayles Theme Song: Bethany Cosentino Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The C/Z Records 'Deep Six' compilation is a thing of legend. An early document of a nascent Seattle scene that would be national news within five years, the comp features several bands that had yet to put out any recorded music, including Melvins, Soundgarden, and Andrew Wood’s first band, Malfunkshun, plus tracks from Green River, Skin Yard, and the biggest band in the scene at the time, the U-Men. Kim Thayil of Soundgarden joins the show to talk about how the compilation came about and how this six-band compilation serves as a cultural artifact of the foundation of the Seattle alternative scene. Follow Soundgarden on Instagram @soundgarden. Listen to songs we detail in the episode HERE. Host: Yasi Salek Guest: Kim Thayil Producer: Olivia Crerie Additional Production Supervision: Jesse Miller Gordon, Justin Sayles Theme Song: Bethany Cosentino Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

One of the greatest compilations of its time (the greatest time for compilations), No Alternative was the third in the Red Hot series benefiting AIDS relief. The lineup is studded with iconic artists, many on the precipice of their biggest records, from Soundgarden to Sarah McLachlan, and also features influential alternative greats like Buffalo Tom, The Verlaines, and Soul Asylum. It even spawned an MTV special with live performances from Smashing Pumpkins and Goo Goo Dolls, plus short films by the likes of Tamra Davis, Hal Hartley, and Derek Jarman. Plus, the biggest rock band in the world at the time contributed an uncredited song that even without proper listing became a huge part of the comp's hype. We used to be a proper country indeed. The Ringer’s own Chris Ryan joins us to break down this important cultural artifact. Follow Chris Ryan on Twitter @ChrisRyan77 Listen to songs we detail in the episode HERE Host: Yasi Salek Guest: Chris Ryan Producer: Jesse Miller-Gordon Audio Editor: Adrian Bridges Additional Production Supervision: Justin Sayles Theme Song: Bethany Cosentino Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dinosaur Jr. rose from the ashes of a teenage hardcore band looking to make some “Ear Bleeding Country.” They went on to become one of the most influential and interesting alternative rock bands of the 80’s and 90’s. The band went from underground to indie to major label to MTV, shedding a few original members along the way, and eventually broke up before reforming the og line-up in the mid 2000’s to put out even more gorgeous records. Singer, songwriter, and Broken Social Scene member Kevin Drew joins us to navigate the long and storied path of Dinosaur Jr.  Follow Kevin Drew on instagram @kevinselection Listen to songs we detail in the episode HERE  Host: Yasi Salek Guest: Kevin Drew Producer: Jesse Miller-Gordon Audio Editor: Adrian Bridges Additional Production Supervision: Justin Sayles Theme Song: Bethany Cosentino Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It is time once again to hear from our beloved listeners, so we opened up the mail bag to answer some of your most pressing questions. Rob Harvilla joins us to help plan Yasi’s trip to Ohio, discuss the sordid swing dance moment of the 90’s, parse Taco Bell menu highlights, and give some answers of his own.  Follow Rob Harvilla on Twitter @Harvilla Host: Yasi Salek Guest: Rob Harvilla Producer: Jesse Miller-Gordon Audio Editor: Adrian Bridges Additional Production Supervision: Justin Sayles Theme Song: Bethany Cosentino Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Claire Cottrill, a.k.a. Clairo, drops by the pod to talk about her sexy, new album, 'Charm'; donkeys; the Beyoncé song that changed her life; her inspired choice of sandwich; listening to the Arctic Monkeys in high school; Dobby the house elf; her favorite Beach Boys era; and more. Host: Yasi SalekGuest: ClairoProducer: Chris SuttonAdditional Production Supervision: Justin SaylesTheme Song: Hether Fortune Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Stone Temple Pilots were given no benefit of the doubt by critics in their heyday, but the band had hits, and did not care. Hailing from Southern California, STP’s equally charismatic, talented, and troubled frontman Scott Weiland helped the band take off quickly, and then frequently kept them in a state of disarray for much of their existence. Along the way Stone Temple Pilots put together a catalog of records that is much stronger upon re-examination than many originally thought. Sean Fennessey joins us today to wade through the history of a misunderstood and sometimes tragic band.   Follow Sean Fennessey on Twitter @SeanFennessey Listen to songs we detail in the episode HERE Host: Yasi Salek Guest: Sean Fennessey Producer: Jesse Miller-Gordon Audio Editor: Adrian Bridges Additional Production Supervision: Justin Sayles Theme Song: Bethany Cosentino Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jennifer Herrema of Royal Trux, RTX, and Black Bananas comes by the pod to talk about personal style, early-2000s reality television, lychee fruit, memes from loving husbands, the 'Grease' soundtrack, why she’s a Deadhead, and more. Host: Yasi SalekGuest: Jennifer HerremaProducer: Chris SuttonAdditional Production Supervision: Justin SaylesTheme Song: Hether Fortune Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kim Deal initially formed The Breeders with her sister Kelley as a side project while she was in the Pixies so that she could record her own songs, but it definitely turned into something way bigger, more iconic, and more influential than that. Through shifting line ups and several starts and stops, the band managed to make some of the best rock albums of the 90’s and beyond, setting the bar for coolness and influencing artists from Nirvana to Olivia Rodrigo along the way. Author and New York Times pop music editor Caryn Ganz joins us to talk about their history, their impact, and of course, their incredible music. Follow Caryn Ganz on Twitter @mehpatrol Listen to songs we detail in the episode HERE Host: Yasi Salek Guest: Caryn Ganz  Producer: Jesse Miller-Gordon Audio Editor: Adrian Bridges Additional Production Supervision: Justin Sayles Theme Song: Bethany Cosentino Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Shannon Shaw of Shannon and the Clams comes by the pod to talk about their beautiful new album, 'The Moon Is in the Wrong Place'; bad smoothies; dealing with grief through making art; Primus fandom; FMK the Beatles; being saved by Drew Carey; her future career as a product jingle writer; and more. Host: Yasi SalekGuest: Shannon ShawProducer: Chris SuttonAdditional Production Supervision: Justin SaylesTheme Song: Hether Fortune Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices