Stopping by Can you see the sunset from the southside? the other day, I heard a track by a band called Ruth Ruth which pretty much embodies everything that makes 90s punk great. Grittier than Green Day, more melodic than The Descendents, driving drums, and a bubbly little bass beat that makes you want to get up and jump around. And it’s all over in about two and a half minutes.
Tenderlung – Ruth Ruth
Intrigued, I explored some more, and found a band I wish I had paid attention to back in the day. Here’s one more about the great state of Michigan
Cadillac Michigan – Ruth Ruth
Actually, these songs reminds me a lot of the mid-90s Goo Goo Dolls. Now, I know they’re not that cool these days with the indie kids, but they made some pretty fantastic music back in the day. I would even go so far as to say that the three album set of Superstar Car Wash, A Boy Named Goo, and Dizzy Up the Girl matches up favorably with any three consecutive albums from comparable bands (and yes, I’m including The Replacements in that). Sure, I’ve outgrown “Iris” a little bit, but it was my favorite song for a while in high school and it’s still a damn fine tune. And for all their famous ballads, their real strength was crunching guitars and great jangly rockers like “Girl Right Next to Me,” “Stop the World,” “Long Way Down,” and “Ain’t That Unusual.”
Girl Right Next to Me – Goo Goo Dolls
As I grow older, some of their later stuff sounds weaker, but this one only gets more powerful. They became pretty famous later, but I have to say that Superstar Car Wash remains a criminally underappreciated piece of 90s rock and roll. Any time I’m feeling a little nostalgic for those days, I can toss that one on and it all comes back with force.
Going back a little further, how about a Prince cover?
Never Take the Place of Your Man – Goo Goo Dolls
And, since I’ve already broken the Prince cover firewall, how about another version of this song by The Eels?
I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man – Eels
Alright, enough unconnected musings for a Friday afternoon. Good weekend everyone.