No Alternative compilation: Gather here, corny old indie fux

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I have some intense nostalgia issues linked to that No Alternative comp. I got shivers listening to "Unseen Power" flashing back to early college... (I know the same thing will happen the next time I hear "Glynis," or even "Take a Walk," the Urge Overkill song... I'll know I'm in a bad place when the Goo Goo Dolls cover of "Bitch" hits me in the gut, though...)
-- Clusterfuck at the Baja Fresh Salsa Bar (fiestasandsiestas[nospam...), October 29th, 2004 2:24 PM. (Ben Boyer) (later)

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"REM" is said 3 times in the song I think.
That Barbara Manning cover of the Verlaines is really one of the greatest things ever. I heard it in K-Mart a very long time ago... no censor of "fuck" either... I ROFL-ed.

-- gygax! (gygax0...), October 29th, 2004 2:26 PM. (gygax!) (later)

― n/a (Nick A.), Friday, 29 October 2004 18:32 (twenty-one years ago)

I really like "Iris" by the Breeders and that American Music Club song, in addition to the Pavement, the Urge Overkill, and the Nirvana. Shittiest song might possibly be "Sexual Healing" covered by Soul Asylum, but I may be blocking some songs from my memory.

― n/a (Nick A.), Friday, 29 October 2004 18:33 (twenty-one years ago)

I think I bought an AMC album because I really liked their song on this comp and was duly disappointed.

― n/a (Nick A.), Friday, 29 October 2004 18:34 (twenty-one years ago)

That Soul Asylum one was the one released as the promo single from the album, god help us.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 29 October 2004 18:34 (twenty-one years ago)

1 Superdeformed Matthew Sweet 3:58
2 For All to See Buffalo Tom 3:36
3 Sexual Healing Soul Asylum 4:45
4 Take a Walk Urge Overkill 4:39
5 All Your Jeans Were Too Tight American Music Club 3:33
6 Bitch Goo Goo Dolls ... 3:17
Performed by: Goo Goo Dolls, Lance Diamond

7 Unseen Power of the Picket Fence Pavement 3:54
8 Glynis Smashing Pumpkins 4:53
9 Can't Fight It Bob Mould 3:49
10 Hold On Sarah McLachlan 4:23
11 Show Me Soundgarden 2:48
12 Brittle Straitjacket Fits 3:24
13 Joed Out Barbara Manning ... 3:52
Performed by: Barbara Manning, San Francisco Seals

14 Heavy 33 Verlaines 4:21
15 Effigy Uncle Tupelo 5:59
16 New Style [live] Beastie Boys, DJ Hurricane 2:20
17 Iris [live] Breeders 3:44
18 Memorial Song [live] Patti Smith 3:33
19 Verse Chorus Verse [*] Nirvana 3:24

― n/a (Nick A.), Friday, 29 October 2004 18:35 (twenty-one years ago)

Looking at that track listing, I'm amazed at how much terrible shit was on this comp, yet I still have fond memories of it.

― n/a (Nick A.), Friday, 29 October 2004 18:36 (twenty-one years ago)

"Glynis" is perhaps unsurprisingly the one I rememeber with most fondness. It's quite a delicate, affecting song.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 29 October 2004 18:36 (twenty-one years ago)

But HOLY SHIT I had forgotten about the Uncle Tupelo cover of Effigy which was pretty amazing. I was kind of obsessed with that song for a while.

― n/a (Nick A.), Friday, 29 October 2004 18:37 (twenty-one years ago)

Effigy had some HOTTT guitar solos on it.

― n/a (Nick A.), Friday, 29 October 2004 18:37 (twenty-one years ago)

If someone can hook me up with an mp3 of the live version of Sonic Youth's "The Burning Spear" that was on the cassette version, I'd be thrilled.

― Matthew Perpetua (Matthew Perpetua), Friday, 29 October 2004 18:40 (twenty-one years ago)

which AMC album did you buy? that song was actually uncharacteristic of them but it's so good.

The Bob Mould song on this is brilliant. and of course there's Verse Chorus Verse.

― kyle (akmonday), Friday, 29 October 2004 18:40 (twenty-one years ago)

hahaha remember when sarah mclachlan had some credibility and could be on a comp with bands like this?

― kyle (akmonday), Friday, 29 October 2004 18:41 (twenty-one years ago)

That version of "Effigy" is one of the greatest Crazy Horse tributes ever. Uncle Tupelo played that on their 93 tour, it was cool to hear a recorded version.

― gygax! (gygax!), Friday, 29 October 2004 18:41 (twenty-one years ago)

"Take A Walk" was renamed "View Of The Rain" for inclusion on the excellent EXIT THE DRAGON.

― adam... (nordicskilla), Friday, 29 October 2004 18:42 (twenty-one years ago)

The only thing I dislike on the entire compilation is that damn Goo Goo Dolls song. Well, and maybe the Patti Smith track.

I quite liked the Jonathan Richman live recording on the tape version.

Like a lot of you, I have a very sentimental attachment to this compilation. It was a big deal to me when I was 14/15.

― Matthew Perpetua (Matthew Perpetua), Friday, 29 October 2004 18:43 (twenty-one years ago)

did anyone really ever listen to the patty smith track all the way through? instant skip button material

― kyle (akmonday), Friday, 29 October 2004 18:43 (twenty-one years ago)

I think there was another bonus track on the cassette besides "Burning Spear" (not very notable performance IIRC).

― gygax! (gygax!), Friday, 29 October 2004 18:44 (twenty-one years ago)

http://wso.williams.edu/~junterek/urgelogo.gif

― adam... (nordicskilla), Friday, 29 October 2004 18:45 (twenty-one years ago)

"Superdeformed," for me, justifies Matthew Sweet's entire existence.

― joseph cotten (joseph cotten), Friday, 29 October 2004 18:46 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh, Jesus, I forgot about the Soul Asylum cover... Pirner busting the "please don't procrastinate / or I will have to masturbate" line
made me want to stick knives in my earholes.

― Clusterfuck at the Baja Fresh Salsa Bar (Ben Boyer), Friday, 29 October 2004 18:46 (twenty-one years ago)

xpost: yeah it was JoJo. This was a pretty shitty comp. Thank god Pavement and Barbara Manning both have rarities comps.

― gygax! (gygax!), Friday, 29 October 2004 18:47 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm not sure why I didn't get this album at the time. I was interested in it. I forgot that Sarah McLachlan was considered "alternative" for a few months.

― jaymc (jaymc), Friday, 29 October 2004 18:48 (twenty-one years ago)

Gygax, you're probably thinking of the Jonathan Richman live song. I don't remember any other extras besides that.

I listened straight through that Patti Smith song a lot. I had it on tape and used to listen to it a lot while I did homework.

― Matthew Perpetua (Matthew Perpetua), Friday, 29 October 2004 18:48 (twenty-one years ago)

and i object to calling this "corny old indie" (which would be the Working Holiday comp or Simple Machines or Hey Drag City or something like that).

― gygax! (gygax!), Friday, 29 October 2004 18:49 (twenty-one years ago)

I always thought of this comp as shit. I just thought of it as the compilation you had to buy if you wanted "Unseen Power Of The Picket Fence".

I had no fucking clue who Matthew Sweet or Barbara Manning were.

Actually I'm still not sure.

― adam... (nordicskilla), Friday, 29 October 2004 18:51 (twenty-one years ago)

I bought the AMC album that was called either California or San Francisco. I don't think it was an album geared towards 15-year-olds.

― n/a (Nick A.), Friday, 29 October 2004 19:00 (twenty-one years ago)

San Francisco

― adam... (nordicskilla), Friday, 29 October 2004 19:08 (twenty-one years ago)

Kyle will be furious when he reads that.

― adam... (nordicskilla), Friday, 29 October 2004 19:09 (twenty-one years ago)

FURIOUS

― adam... (nordicskilla), Friday, 29 October 2004 19:09 (twenty-one years ago)

What a piece of shit. Compilation albums are the fucking worst. All the great Nirvana songs to choose from... AND THEY PICKED "VERSE CHORUS VERSE"!?!?!?

― Mr. Snrub, Friday, 29 October 2004 19:14 (twenty-one years ago)

1) It was a odds & sods type of comp.
2) The Nirvana song was a hidden track.
3) San Francisco is fantastic; all of you shut up; nyeah
4) "The singer, he had long hair hair, and the drummer, he knew restraint."
5) I thought the Goo Goo Dolls' lead singer was the guy singing "Bitch"; I wouldn't've minded GGD if it were true
6) I bought this & Come On Feel The Lemonheads on the same day; "Rick James Style" is IT.

PS: "Corny old indie" = thee Pop Narcotic comp OR the bonus LIVE! disc that came with some mailorder copies of Working Holiday. And this is the part of the thread where we begin to outgeek each other.

― David R. (popshots75`), Friday, 29 October 2004 19:24 (twenty-one years ago)

I am not furious! There were albums named both California and San Francisco. California is late 80's, largely barren, stripped down, underproduced stark songs, San Francisco is mid-nineties, really overproduced but has great songs and some shit. Neither of these would probably appeal to 15 year olds though.
Barbara Manning is San Francisco royalty! Too bad she has gone so long neglected in her home town (I don't know if she lives here anymore, I remember she got evicted a few years ago).

All the great Nirvana songs to choose from? Well the idea was to have one that wasn't on something else. This was the first place Verse Chorus Verse showed up, I think. It's still one of their best songs.

― kyle (akmonday), Friday, 29 October 2004 20:06 (twenty-one years ago)

It was San Francisco then, because it was a new album at the time.

― n/a (Nick A.), Friday, 29 October 2004 20:08 (twenty-one years ago)

I was living in India and my mom went back to the US to visit her parents and that was one of the cds I asked her to pick up for me. Another was "Blowout Comb" by Digable Planets!

― n/a (Nick A.), Friday, 29 October 2004 20:09 (twenty-one years ago)

lame

― adam... (nordicskilla), Friday, 29 October 2004 20:10 (twenty-one years ago)

I WAS 15, YOU EMF-LOVER.

― n/a (Nick A.), Friday, 29 October 2004 20:11 (twenty-one years ago)

Barbara went back to school to become a forest ranger @ Chico State.

28th Day reunited last year which was really cool. I'm kinda waiting for a similar World Of Pooh thing but Jay lives in Boston (hence, the demise of TFUL282).

She's playing 11/13/04 at the Mile High Club in OAK.

― gygax! (gygax!), Friday, 29 October 2004 20:12 (twenty-one years ago)

I remember hearing this fall of soph. year of college in the room of this girl I really liked who didn't feel the same about me. Ah the memories.

― 57 7th (calstars), Friday, 29 October 2004 20:13 (twenty-one years ago)

Blowout Comb is great, shut up!

― jaymc (jaymc), Friday, 29 October 2004 20:32 (twenty-one years ago)

While you enjoyed your Digable Planets, I would listen to
http://www.ukhh.com/features/interviews/hijack/hijackhorns.jpg

― adam... (nordicskilla), Friday, 29 October 2004 20:36 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh, so an even WORSE Slipknot, then.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 29 October 2004 20:42 (twenty-one years ago)

Ned, You burden me with your questions, You'd have me tell no lies, you're always asking what it's all about, Now listen to my replies
You say to me I don't talk enough, But when I do I'm a fool
These times I've spent, I've realized, I'm going to shoot through
And leave you.

― adam... (nordicskilla), Friday, 29 October 2004 20:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Winsome!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 29 October 2004 20:46 (twenty-one years ago)

Heh I was just sorting thru CDs and came across this. Agreed about the spottiness of the comp and the fact that AMC rules and that it brought back some serious memories. I bought it for the Bob Mould song. I remember really liking the Urge Overkill track even though I thought it was sappy. And I remember that on the Patti Smith track someone yells, "we missed you Patti," and wondering where she'd been. And then tracking down Buffalo Tom CDs and deciding they kind of sucked.

― Aaron W (Aaron W), Friday, 29 October 2004 20:56 (twenty-one years ago)

Seems like "Can't Fight It" had a skip in it on the first pressings of this slbum. And the tape also had Jonathan Richman's "Hot Summer Nights". Everyone I knew listened to this in the fall of '93, it seemed.

― Pleasant Plains (Pleasant Plains), Friday, 29 October 2004 21:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Yes! there's a drop out in Can't Fight It. That was so annoying. Not annoying enough for me to ever actually replace the CD (which I incidentally just sold about three weeks ago)

― kyle (akmonday), Friday, 29 October 2004 21:26 (twenty-one years ago)

During the year or 2 in the mid-90's (95-96ish) when I stopped appreciating Nirvana, "Verse Chorus Verse" remained one of the few Nirvana songs I didn't mind.

I also enjoy the Soundgarden track, but only for nostalgic purposes.

― billstevejim, Friday, 29 October 2004 23:45 (twenty-one years ago)

This thread inspired me to digitize a bunch of 90s label and CMJ promo CDs. Nostaligia is good.

― Orbit (Orbit), Friday, 29 October 2004 23:57 (twenty-one years ago)

"Effigy" is the John Fogerty song.

― eddie hurt (ddduncan), Saturday, 30 October 2004 00:25 (twenty-one years ago)

Right. It originally appeared on Willy & The Poor Boys.

― Pleasant Plains (Pleasant Plains), Saturday, 30 October 2004 00:29 (twenty-one years ago)

Can I just say that I'm fuckin' sick of the adjective "corny"?

Favorite track on this is the haplessly depressing Bob Mould tune.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 30 October 2004 00:34 (twenty-one years ago)

CORNY:

http://members.easyspace.com/lindah/bilder/CORNY.GIF

― David R. (popshots75`), Saturday, 30 October 2004 00:50 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.yopi.de/images/prod_pics/34/e/34918.jpg

― David R. (popshots75`), Saturday, 30 October 2004 00:51 (twenty-one years ago)

I LOVE THIS ALBUM!!! except for Sarah McLachlan and Soundgarden.

― manthony m1cc1o (Anthony Miccio), Saturday, 30 October 2004 00:52 (twenty-one years ago)

oh and Patti Smith. And Matthew Sweet hasn't aged supergreat. Otherwise AWESOME.

― manthony m1cc1o (Anthony Miccio), Saturday, 30 October 2004 00:52 (twenty-one years ago)

I actually like the Sarah McLachlan tune, as mawkish as it is. The Soundgarden tune -- its title escapes me -- is a natural-born b-side. Isn't there some live Beasties here too?

And Patti Smith always sucks.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 30 October 2004 00:57 (twenty-one years ago)

twenty years pass...

I just laughed my face off realizing that my introduction to sexual healing was through soul asylum. I just remember feeling really uncomfortable when it came on

― Heez, Saturday, 24 May 2025 02:40 (one year ago)

Probably was Winona Ryder’s too

― Evans on Hammond (evol j), Saturday, 24 May 2025 02:41 (one year ago)

Uncle Tupelo’s version of Effigy is an all timer for me though

― Heez, Saturday, 24 May 2025 02:53 (one year ago)

came here to type “effigy.”

― andrew m., Saturday, 24 May 2025 03:07 (one year ago)

xp20yearsago "Superdeformed" and "Memorial Song" are two of the highlights (as is "Effigy" - Uncle Tupelo knew what was coming).

― birdistheword, Saturday, 24 May 2025 03:09 (one year ago)

I never owned this, but I love that it pairs a Pavement song with an (excellent) Pumpkins track.

― bad faith guy (morrisp), Saturday, 24 May 2025 03:23 (one year ago)

I don’t care what anyone says, I like Soul Asylum’s cover. It’s so wrong that it’s right.

― Cow_Art, Saturday, 24 May 2025 14:37 (one year ago)

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