Throwback Thursday: '90s Edition
Looking backward to some favorites and new to me listens ...
This was supposed to be a Way Back Wednesday post. But yesterday took a negative turn with the news about the school shooting in Winder, GA (45 minutes north of my home in a metro-Atlanta suburb) and then the hard, but necessary, decision to schedule a euthanasia appointment for my beloved, almost 23-year old best girl, Turkey Trot (she’s a cat, not a large flightless bird).
Needless to say, this didn’t go out. Luckily, this Thursday theme works just as well.
This playlist came about after the good old shuffle function brought Jennifer Trynin’s “Better Than Nothing” streaming into my ears. From there it was pretty easy to dive into discographies and radio stations to create a playlist full of old favorites I don’t listen to as often as I’d like, as well as ‘90s artists I somehow missed or ignored back in the day.
Old Friends Revisited
I often think of songs I’ve loved in the past as old friends I’ve lost touch with for one reason or another. The indie crooning of Evan Dando and Matthew Sweet, who both soundtracked many moments in my twenties. The angsty female-fronted storytelling of Madder Rose, a band I adored, but got lost in the shuffle as I continued to seek out new and new to me listens. What about Cool For August? I devoured Grand World, but then the band fell off my radar completely.
New Acquaintances, Soon To Become Good Friends
While digging deeper into the era and the bands I adored, I managed to find some artists I either completely missed or ignored at the time for some reason now unknown.
How did I manage to miss the brilliance of bands like Tuscadero and Lotion? Music discovery was a lot harder in the nineties. I couldn’t rely on algorithms to find similar sounds.
But, better late than never!
The Playlists
Listen with Apple Music:
https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/throwback-thursday-september-5-2024/pl.u-76oNEpMuvX23KaV
Listen with Tidal:
https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/c782eac2-290c-473b-a890-d0e6a39e2edd
There you go, a day later than planned, but, still, I hope, a decent looking back playlist that just might prompt some deeper digging into discographies. Looking backward is just as awesome as looking forward when looking for new to you listens. Nostalgia is also a great balm when things in your present aren’t as positive as you’d like.
What songs or artists do you count on as old friends when your mood needs a lift or you simply want to sink into your feels?
First and foremost, I’m sorry to hear about Turkey Trot. Thats never easy.
As for comfort food? You will be shocked (shocked!) to see New Order on the list. I’d also add The Replacements, Talking Heads, and Jawbreaker. George Benson too.
For this list specifically, “She Says (Come Around)” reminds me of a really fun time in my life, so I suppose that counts as a bit of comfort food as well.
Sorry to hear you’re having a tough week. I hope it gets better.
I listened to a lot of music in the 90s but I don’t actually know anything on this playlist so I’m looking forward to diving in.
My own “old friends” are things like REM, The Cranberries, Ocean Colour Scene and Counting Crows. There are lots of albums or even single tracks that I will play occasionally and be transported right back to my teens or early twenties.