Time to Vote: Which 90s Album Should We Dig Into Next?

🗳️ One of these overlooked 90s albums is getting a deep dive—your vote decides which.

Apr 05, 2025

Last month, you picked Thelonious Monster – Beautiful Mess—and we had a blast digging into it on the latest episode of the 90s Rock podcast. A folk-punk underdog with major-label drama, L.A. scene cred, and guest spots from Soul Asylum, Tom Waits, and more—it sparked a deep dive into one of the era’s most chaotic and compelling stories.

Now it’s time to choose our next journey.

🥳 And here’s something new: if you’re a paid Substack subscriber, you can now vote too! (Previously, this was exclusive to Patreon.)

We’ve got four new albums nominated by listeners, each with its own path through the 90s. Some made waves overseas, others flickered on college radio, and a few barely got their shot.

Which one should we explore next?

Let’s break them down:

Boom Crash Opera - These Here Are Crazy Times!

Listen | Suggested by Keith P. Miller

If you’re in the U.S., you might’ve missed this one. But in Australia? This album exploded. Anchored by the high-energy single “Onion Skin,” it even got some MTV and radio love here—but didn’t quite break through.

And yet… there’s something infectious here. Think INXS-style grooves, bold hooks, and a polished sheen that feels like the late 80s gearing up for a bigger sound.

Keith puts it best: “It’s a pretty good album that wears its INXS influences on its sleeves.”

Monsterland - Destroy what you love

Listen | Suggested by Gavin Reid

Ever buy an album off the strength of one killer track? Gavin did—he heard “Car on Fire,” raced to the record store, and expected more of the same. But the rest of the album? Totally different.

At first, he didn't get it. But years later, revisiting it with a new perspective, he found himself hooked. This album’s doing something we didn’t fully appreciate at the time. And the band members intersect with a lot of other 90s alt-rock scenes. If you’re into digging through the connective tissue of the era, this one might light up your radar.

Social Distortion - Social Distortion

Listen | Suggested by Patrick Testa

Okay, this one has some name recognition—but the timing is everything. This 1990 self-titled album wasn’t the big breakthrough. Not yet. It planted the seeds, though. “Ball and Chain” and their Johnny Cash cover started to get traction, especially in college towns and underground clubs. But commercial alt-rock radio barely existed then.

It wasn’t until Bad Luck (1992) that the band really broke through—and this album slowly followed, earning Gold eight years later.

Kill Holiday - Somewhere Between The Wrong Is Right

Listen | Suggested by Jason W.

Shoegaze from ex-hardcore kids? Tell me more. Kill Holiday came out of the SoCal hardcore scene and decided to turn the volume down, fuzz the guitars up, and float into dreamy territory.

It didn’t last long, but it left a footprint. This is the kind of record that forces you to consider the hardcore scene as a jumping-off point for modern rock.