by: Lauren Jonik

The musical landscape of the 1990s changed dramatically. It began during the era of “hair bands” (think rock and roll, power ballads and a little too much hairspray on the long-haired men who dominated the genre), introduced grunge (Nirvana!) and alternative and ended with a resurgence of radio-friendly boy bands like *NSYNC and Backstreet Boys. In short, it produced a lot of music—a lot of great music—that fans would discover through a whole new means: the internet.

The importance of the internet can’t be overstated. In addition to allowing fans to find bands that they might never have never found otherwise, it facilitated the creation of fan communities.  People who liked the same music suddenly had a way to find each other, even if they didn’t live in the same geographic region.

When I first heard Dishwalla’s hit single, “Counting Blue Cars,” in August of 1996, I instantly was captivated.  The catchy melody, stunning vocals and witty lyrics (“Tell me all your thoughts on God /’Cause I’d really like to meet her / And ask her why we’re who we are“) moved me. I had no way of knowing that my love of a song would connect me to friends I still am close to twenty years later. Online friendships that were forged on message boards in a pre-social media world transitioned into offline friendships. Plans were made, flights were taken, money was well spent on concert tickets and merch.

The communal experience of enjoying music is a powerful one. It taps into something primal and profound and teaches us about ourselves and each other. It reminds that no matter what our backgrounds, abilities, preferences or pursuits, we share more in common with one another than we sometimes remember.  In the words of Henry Wadworth Longfellow, “Music is the universal language of mankind.”

We featured female musicians of the ‘90s you should know here. This time around, we’re focusing on some of the male musicians/bands who made the music of the ‘90s.

Third Eye Blind – In the summer of 1998, if you listened to the radio or turned on the cable music channel VH1, you would have had heard the irresistibly catchy “Semi-Charmed Life” from the band’s self-titled release or seen the video shot in their hometown of San Francisco. From the “do do do / do do do do” beginning to the lyrics of the chorus (I want something else to get me through this / Semi-charmed kind of life), the song is the epitome of summer in musical form. But, its melodic cheerfulness overshadows the darker narrative of the song, which is about crystal meth addiction.

Though the band has had several personnel changes during its tenure, lead singer, guitarist and principal songwriter Stephan Jenkins and drummer/bandleader, Brad Hargreaves have remained constants. Songs like “Jumper” (Everyone I know has got a reason to say / Put the past away / I wish you would step back from that ledge, my friend) and “How’s It Going to Be” (also radio hits) are still as relevant as they were at the time of their release—a testament to the songwriting prowess of Jenkins. “Motorcycle Drive-By,” also from their first album, exquisitely captures the experience of finding and losing yourself in relationships while coming of age.

Third Eye Blind’s subsequent releases were just as strong. Blue, one of the last albums to be released in the 1990s, featured other songs that had an element of timelessness to them, in particular “Wounded,” which was about sexual assault. (Back down the bully to the back of the bus / ‘Cause it’s time for them to be scared of us.)

While some bands linger in nostalgia, Third Eye Blind has been intentional about doing the opposite—the band still tours regularly and has been releasing new music. The full length album Dopamine was released in 2015 and contains “Back to Zero” and “Shipboard Cook,” both of which are about finding your way back from break-ups.  The EP We Are Drugs, whose title is a clever nod to Salvador Dali’s famous quote, “I don’t do drugs. I am drugs,” came out in 2016. Standout tracks are “Weightless” and the enchanting “Isn’t It Pretty.”  The band released the live album Summer Gods in 2017 and on August 24, 2018, will release Thanks for Everything, an EP of covers by Bon Iver, Santigold, Babyshambles and more. Third Eye Blind’s longevity could easily be attributed to their willingness to continually grow and stay engaged both with their fans (who now span several generations) and with the power that music possesses to unite people and inspire social change.

Butch Walker – In the past nearly 15 years, Walker has established himself as one of pop-rock music’s premier producers (P!nk, Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, Weezer) in addition to maintaining his solo career as a singer and songwriter. Hailing from Cartersville, GA, Walker moved to Los Angeles in the late 1980s to pursue his musical aspirations. By the end of the ‘90s, Walker and two of his former bandmates from other endeavors formed The Marvelous 3. Their hit single, “Freak of the Week,” blends the bombastic rock sensibilities of the 1980s with the emerging power-pop melodies of the ‘90s. Walker is the consummate front man.  By 2002, Walker had gone solo and released the album Left of Self-Centered. In a dingy venue in Philadelphia in September of that year, I saw Walker perform for the first of what would be many times. It was a loud, sweaty rock show—and so much fun that I knew I had to pursue concert photography. I yearned to capture on film the energy that pulsed through the room. His concerts had a distinct performative arc—it never felt out of place to hear somber ballads like “If (Jeannie’s Song),” about the loss of a loved one or “Sober,” about struggling with addiction.

Walker’s songwriting skills have continued to grow exponentially throughout his long career. Letters, released on 2004, showcased the beautiful ballad “Joan.” (And after all this time / You were waiting on the ride / To stop at the place where they slowly misplaced your life / Go get it right) “ATL” is breath taking live. He seems as comfortable behind a piano belting out before a hushed audience as he does rocking out and whipping the crowd into a delightful frenzy.

That Butch Walker musically came of age during an era when the concept of a complete album still had great artistic merit and commercial meaning is wonderfully apparent. On each of his solo albums through the 2000s, the care that went into song selection, album artwork and even song order shines through. Butch Walker has remained unafraid to mine his own life—and that of others— for inspiration. Relationships, loss (and the loss of relationships) and growing through different life stages are recurrent themes. Through it all, Walker has maintained his sense of humor and wit. He’ll be touring throughout the Fall of 2018 in the US. If he swings by your town, it’s a show not to be missed.

Dishwalla – The Santa Barbara, CA band released their debut full length album Pet Your Friends in August 1995. By August of 1996, the single “Counting Blue Cars” was a hit, receiving plentiful radio and VH1 airplay. Follow-up singles didn’t receive the attention they deserved, though “Charlie Brown’s Parents,” a song with grunge-like guitars and lyrics that would still be apt today did garner some notice. Lead singer JR Richards shines on the tender ballad, “Give.” His emotive vocals on “Until I Wake Up,” one of the most beautiful songs written, exudes authenticity. Dishwalla continued to tour and make music until they disbanded in the mid-2000s and reformed with Justin Fox as the lead singer in 2008, as JR Richards had left to pursue a solo career.

Chalk FarM – ChalkFarM’s Columbia Records debut, Notwithstanding, was released in August 1996 and featured the hit single “Lie on Lie,” as well as “Wonder” and “Live Tomorrow.” Their driving, guitar-based pop rock melodies were accentuated by nuanced songwriting and lead singer Michael Duff’s strong vocals that captured a sense of urgency and intensity. Like other bands in the ever-changing musical landscape of the late 1990s, they didn’t receive the necessary support from their label and ended up disbanding in 2000. The four original members (Duff, Trace Ritter, Orlando Sims and Toby Scarbrough) reformed around 2010, but sadly, bassist Sims passed away in 2014. Michael Duff, a digital marketing and design professional, currently is at work on a book called, Happily Unsingle.

Goo Goo Dolls – The band with the funny, but memorable name was formed in the late 1980s in Buffalo, NY and found mainstream commercial success starting around 1995 with “Naked,” the alternative rock track that features elements of both grunge and power pop. Their sixth studio album in 1998, Dizzy Up the Girl, propelled them to even greater notoriety through the singles, Dizzy, “Slide” and “Broadway.” “Slide” remains one of my favorite quintessential ‘90s songs- – it captures the energy and hopefulness that the decade brought to life without even realizing it. (What you feel is what you are / And what you are is beautiful.) The Goos became a household name internationally when “Iris,” also from Dizzy Up the Girl, appeared on the soundtrack to the Nicolas Cage film City of Angels. The band continues to release new music and perform live.

OURS – Lead singer Jimmy Gnecco’s voice is otherworldly. Though the band’s major label break-through album Distorted Lullabies came out in 2001, the band originated in the early 1990s. The haunting single “Sometimes” was released in 2001 and showcases Gnecco’s considerable vocal range. Their follow up record Precious came out a year later and included “Leaves,” and “Realize.” I didn’t have the chance to see the band until the mid-2000’s ,but it is difficult to put into words how intense the shows were. When the band set foot on stage and Gnecco began to sing, the air in the room became electrified. OURS released Mercy (Dancing for the Death of an Imaginary Enemy), their third full-length release in 2008. There is not a weak song on it. A standout track is “Worst Things Beautiful.” The band continues to release new music and tour.

Semisonic – If you’ve been in a bar or music venue late at night during the past twenty years, you may have heard “Closing Time,” the song that bartenders everywhere play to get you to go home after last call. Lead singer Dan Wilson revealed that the song from their 1998 release Feeling Strangely Fine was a tribute composed in celebration of the birth of his first child with his wife. The Minnesota based trio, which also includes John Munson and Jacob Slichter, released their second single “Singing In My Sleep” later that year. It was an ode to the beauty of the mixtape and captures a moment in time in a world before downloads and streaming.

Dan Wilson also has had a thriving career as a songwriter and producer. He’s worked with Adele, Josh Groban, Carole King, John Legand and more—and has several Grammy awards to show for it, including one for  “Song of the Year” for “Not Ready to Make Nice,” which he co-wrote with the Dixie Chicks.

Foo Fighters – No list of music from the 90s is complete without “Everlong.” The Foo Fighters began as a solo endeavor by Dave Grohl after his previous band Nirvana ended due to Kurt Cobain’s tragic and untimely death. Everlong appeared on the Foo’s second album, The Colour and the Shape, which was released in 1997. (And I wonder / When I sing along with you / If everything could ever feel this real forever / If anything could ever be this good again / The only thing I’ll ever ask of you / You gotta promise not to stop when I say when, she sang.)

Here’s a mixtape of sorts with a few more fantastic songs of the 1990s. Put your headphones on and sonically step back two decades.

“In the Meantime” – Spacehog

“One Headlight” – The Wallflowers

“Banditos” – The Refreshments

“Hey Jealousy” – Gin Blossoms

“Santa Monica” – Everclear

“A Lifetime” – Better Than Ezra

“Our Man Army” – Our Lady Peace

“Everything You Want” – Vertical Horizon

“Open Up Your Eyes” – Tonic

“All I Want” – Toad the Wet Sprocket

Many of these bands are still actively touring and releasing new music. The arts enrich all of our lives, yet a complicated royalty system makes it difficult for some musicians to be compensated fairly. (You can read more about that here.) If you are in a position to do so, please support the people who make the music you love—from any era.

Are there bands you think should be included on this list? Post below and let us know!

Photos courtesy of these talented and generous photographers:

Main photo by: Adi Goldstein

Photo of Stephan Jenkins of Third Eye Blind by: Rehana Cale

Photo of Chalk FarM by: Megan Kanipe

All other photos by: Janet Boltz

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Lauren Jonik is a writer and photographer in Brooklyn, NY. Her work has appeared in 12th Street, The Manifest-Station, Two Cities Review, Amendo, The Establishment, Bustle, Calliope and Ravishly.

When she is not co-editing TheRefresh.co, she is working towards her Master’s degree in Media Management at The New School. Follow her on Twitter: @laurenjonik.