It seems as though this year has been characterized by emerging bands reminiscent of 1980s post-punk and new wave genres. Until now.
While it hardly feels as though we are mid-way through the first decade of the 21st century, the '90s are coming back with a vengeance.
Madison is about to be bombarded with shows reminding us of our adolescent, middle-school days amid the '90s alternative music craze.
Lately I have taken a break from listening to new music and reconnected with music that characterizes my middle-school years with bands such as Sublime, Weezer, Smashing Pumpkins, Save Ferris, Cake, Beck and Oasis.
Part of this '90s revival, however, comes not only with a yearning to remember the past, but also with shows coming to Madison within the week and upcoming albums are remnants from the '90s.
In 1996, Cake achieved popularity with its album, Fashion Nugget. While \The Distance"" was their claim to fame, their cover of ""I Will Survive"" was played at middle-school dances nationwide. It seemed odd for an all-male band playing a female-empowerment song, but it worked. Their latest release, Pressure Chief, maintains Cake's sound established in the '90s. Remember the '90s and see how Cake has grown-up tonight at The Orpheum, 216 State St.
While the Violent Femmes started in the early 1980s, their classic songs from that era were introduced to our generation, finding young new fans in the '90s with their release Add it Up (1981-1993) and again with Viva Wisconsin. When we were adolescents, we could relate to this teen-age or pre-teen angst captured in music of the day, and for us the Violent Femmes was our answer in the scene of alternative music.
Over 20 years, the trio has undergone some changes, but all three original members, Gordon Gano, Brian Ritchie and Victor DeLorenzo, are back together to relive the past 20 years of their unique, distinctive music. The Femmes, all native Wisconsinites, will be gracing the stage of the Memorial Union Terrace this Friday to celebrate the All Campus Party.
Speaking of Wisconsin's home-grown bands, Garbage returns home this week. Garbage, indeed, was quintessential in the '90s and in 1996 they received a large following from their self-titled debut and their presence in the ""Romeo and Juliet"" soundtrack. Songs such as ""Only Happy When it Rains,"" ""Stupid Girl"" and ""#1 Crush"" characterized their dark, yet passionate sound. On their follow-up, Garbage kept their fan base and their song ""Special"" re-emphasized what they established.
Most recently Garbage released Bleed Like Me, building off their original sounds, but it shows how they have grown and changed into the new music scene of the 21st century. Garbage will be at The Rave in Milwaukee Thursday and in Madison at the Orpheum Sunday.
Cake, The Violent Femmes and Garbage-these bands, all a mainstay in the 1990s, have resurfaced today and are reconnecting with their now grown-up fans. While these bands characterized our youth in the 1990s, they, like us, want to remember the past but also continue growing and looking to the future.
But '90s alternative fun does not stop with these local shows. Bands and artists who established themselves back then are coming back to connect to their fan base. Hopefully, for them and us, they will be able to be successful in their attempts.
Weezer's new album Make Believe will be out in a few weeks. Their single ""Beverly Hills"" harkens back to sounds from the '90s, but adds some interesting guitar work. This album could go either way. It may be hard to grow and change since fans latched onto The Blue Album and Pinkerton.
Similarly, Oasis will be releasing their anticipated follow-up to Heathen Chemistry. But can they surpass the success they received in the past, or will fans be fed up with the brothers' feuds and indecisiveness?
So here it comes again, '90s alternative rock in full force. Though middle school feels like it was only yesterday, we may not realize how far we have come-not only in time but also in music. Go back and rekindle your adolescent days by seeing one of these shows or by putting on old albums you listened to when you were a mere pre-teen.
eawick@wisc.edu.
