This retrospective charts the birth of grunge, the commercial rise of hip-hop, a batch of gutsy female songwriters and a few goofy one-hit wonders we’d mostly forgotten about. This episode is also Ann Powers’ debut as a member of NPR Music, and she and Stephen Thompson join Bob and Robin to take a look back at the decade of flannel and spice.
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Rewind: The ’90s Are Back, Or Whatever…
Smells Like Teen Spirit
- Artist: Nirvana
- from: Nevermind
Grace
- Artist: Jeff Buckley
- from: Grace
No Surprises
- Artist: Radiohead
- from: OK Computer
Doo Wop (That Thing)
- Artist: Lauryn Hill
- from: Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
Holland, 1945
- Artist: Neutral Milk Hotel
- from: In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
Shine
- Artist: Collective Soul
- from: Hints Allegations and Things Left Unsaid
Black Hole Sun
- Artist: Soundgarden
- from: Superunknown
Long Snake Moan
- Artist: PJ Harvey
- from: To Bring You My Love
Hit ‘Em Wit da Hee
- Artist: Missy Misdemeanor Elliott
- from: Miss E…So Addictive/Da Real World/Supa Dupa Fly
Mustt Mustt (Lost in His Work)
- Artist: Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
- from: Mustt Mustt
Steal My Sunshine
- Artist: LEN
- from: You Can’t Stop the Bum Rush
1979
- Artist: The Smashing Pumpkins
- from: Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
Car Wheels on a Gravel Road
- Artist: Lucinda Williams
- from: Car Wheels on a Gravel Road
Soul and Fire
- Artist: Sebadoh
- from: Bubble & Scrape
Song 2
- Artist: Blur
- from: Blur
- Artist: Metallica
- from: Metallica
Brimful Of Asha
- Artist: Cornerstone
- from: When I Was Born For The 7th Time
The Fixer
- Artist: Pearl Jam
- from: Backspacer
Note: Ann Powers chose this song to play to show how Pearl Jam is still relevant 20 years after the band started. “The Fixer” is from the group’s 2009 album, Backspacer.
When You Sleep
- Artist: My Bloody Valentine
- from: Loveless
Delia’s Gone
- Artist: Johnny Cash
- from: American Recordings
Featured Artist
Good Music. Good Life. 