The Top 50 Modern Rock Tracks of 1992-93 (Part 1)
"I'm trying my best not to look like a minor niner."
We wrap up the high school years with 1992-93. A few fewer selections this time, mostly because the chart only had 30 songs per week during this era, and modern rock was still in its transformational stage after the introduction of grunge as a larger concept in September 1991. Also, I was a freshman, so I mean…OK, anyway.
Once more, let Hood Internet’s 60 songs in 3:30 set the mood.
50). "Underwhelmed" by Sloan (from Smeared, released on1/13/1993) (peaked at #25 on 3/13/1993)
A little CanCon to get us going, even if there are so much better Sloan tracks coming in later years that would not make the U.S. chart.
49). "Pets" by Porno for Pyros (from Porno for Pyros, released on 4/27/1993) (peaked at #1 on 6/19/1993)
It fascinates me that Jane’s Addiction carried the torch for “alternative nation,” as Perry Ferrell himself named them. Ferrell founded Porno for Pyros, and Dave Navarro joined Red Hot Chili Peppers. “Pets” is a reasonably fun song; Ferrell’s voice makes it work even better.
48). "If I Ever Lose My Faith In You" by Sting (from Ten Summoner's Tales, released on 3/9/1993) (peaked at #4 on 3/27/1993)
The guy named himself a verb, present tense. Because he’s not Stung, and he’s not Stinging, he’s Sting.
47). "Angry Chair" by Alice In Chains (from Dirt, released on 9/29/1992) (peaked at #27 on 2/9/1993)
That line between “heavy metal” and “hard rock” is very thin. I just presumed that Alice in Chains got the alternative nod because they were from Seattle.
46). "Step It Up" by Stereo MC's (from Connected, released on 10/5/1992) (peaked at #19 on 5/15/1993)
When you’re an English rap group, you have to figure out which part lands you on which chart, and in this case, their Englishness won out and landed them on the Modern Rock chart.
45). "Helpless" by Sugar (from Copper Blue, released on 9/4/1992) (peaked at #5 on 10/17/1992)
“Named in an Athens, Georgia Waffle House, Sugar saw their album Copper Blue named Album Of The Year 1992 by NME.” That’s a fun sentence.
44). "What's Up?" by 4 Non Blondes (from Bigger, Better, Faster, More !, released on 10/13/1992) (peaked at #29 on 3/13/1993)
“25 years, and my life is still, trying to get up that great big hill of hope.” I mean, yes?
43). "Wicked Garden" by Stone Temple Pilots (from Core, released on 9/29/1992) (peaked at #21 on 8/21/1993)
42). "Fields of Gold" by Sting (from Ten Summoner's Tales, released on 3/9/1993) (peaked at #12 on 5/22/1993)
Hey, remember in 2006 when Sting did a new version of this song with medieval instrumentation and got a spot on Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip as a promo for it. I did.
41). "Steam" by Peter Gabriel (from Us, released on 9/28/1992) (peaked at #1 on 12/12/1992)
And thus began “Things that have happened since Peter Gabriel last released an album.”
40). "Human Behaviour" by Björk (from Debut, released on 7/5/1993) (peaked at #2 on 8/21/1993)
This song is way more fun if you imagine Björk is presenting a report on the people of Sol III to the Vulcan Science Academy.
39). "Numb" by U2 (from Zooropa, released on 7/5/1993) (peaked at #2 on 8/7/1993)
It’s The Edge, on vocals! I still prefer “Van Diemen’s Land” in this realm, but it’s solid.
38). "Dream All Day" by The Posies (from Frosting on the Beater, released on 4/27/1993) (peaked at #4 on 7/17/1993)
Is the trick of “Dream All Day” that it simultaneously sounds like it absolutely fits into the moment but also doesn’t quite sound like anything else out there? I’m saying yes.
37). "The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite" by R.E.M. (from Automatic for the People, released on 10/5/1992) (peaked at #24 on 5/15/1993)
”Michael Stipe laughs after saying ‘Doctor Seuss’ because he had mispronounced the author’s name as Dr. Zeus since childhood and kept screwing up takes.” OK, that’s fun.
36). "Feed the Tree" by Belly (from Star, released on 1/25/1993) (peaked at #1 on 3/6/1993)
Hey, I found the third part of my “bands from Rhode Island” bonus!
35). "Drown" by The Smashing Pumpkins (from Singles soundtrack, released on 6/30/1992) (peaked at #24 on 11/7/1992)
Just look at this listing. There’s so much to like in these thirteen tracks!
As a sampler platter of Seattle, it’s great. Still, you also get some solo Westerberg to connect you back to the Replacements, you get the Lovemongers, which is just basically “Heart, but acoustic,” you get some Hendrix to connect back to Seattle of an earlier generation. It’s a really great album from the first track to the last.
34). "Tones of Home" by Blind Melon (from Blind Melon, released on 9/22/1992) (peaked at #20 on 12/19/1992)
Blind Melon had a great sound and was much more than “No Rain.”
33). "Mrs. Robinson" by The Lemonheads (from It's a Shame About Ray, released on 6/2/1992) (peaked at #8 on 12/12/1992)
It’s interesting when an artist makes their name with a cover, especially a cover of a very well-known song, because it means that either they can open themselves up to a wider audience. Still, it can also have the potential to tank their efforts to reach a wider audience with their own originals. The Lemonheads seemed to be able to balance those two things; they show up on these lists with various releases, after all, “Into Your Arms” charted higher, and “It’s a Shame About Ray” had already been a breakthrough, but “Mrs. Robinson might remain their most well-known effort.
32). "Disarm" by The Smashing Pumpkins (from Siamese Dream, released on 7/27/1993) (peaked at #8 on 4/2/1994)
The use of a broad range of instruments on this track elevates it to another level.
31). "Black Gold" by Soul Asylum (from Grave Dancers Union, released on 10/6/1992) (peaked at #6 on 2/20/1993)
There’s always something funny to me about the efforts by the fans of Minneapolis alt-rock bands to argue they were “Seattle before Seattle” because, well, they kind of have a point. Consider, if you will, Soul Asylum, Hüsker Dü, The Replacements, there’s definitely an argument to be made.
30). "Plush" by Stone Temple Pilots (from Core, released on 9/29/1992) (peaked at #9 on 6/26/1993)
I like “Plush” a great deal (it speaks volumes to the songs ahead of it that it’s this low), but the unplugged version is something else.
29). "Creep" by Radiohead (from Pablo Honey, released on 2/22/1993) (peaked at #2 on 6/12/1993)
The importance of “Creep” cannot be overstated because this introduces one of the most important bands of the 1990s, even if they would diverge from this work going forward. But it’s a damn good song.
28). "Believe" by Lenny Kravitz (from Are You Gonna Go My Way, released on 3/9/1993) (peaked at #10 on 6/26/1993)
I like the dreamy trippiness of this, especially the use of the organ in the intro to a song whose central thesis is a series of questions about faith and higher powers.
27). "No Rain" by Blind Melon (from Blind Melon, released on 9/22/1992) (peaked at #1 on 9/18/1993)
What happens when you have a good song and an un-bee-lievably popular video? Well, funny you should ask; you end up getting to be #1 on the Modern Rock chart (and enough to bee Top 20 on the Hot 100 in this case as well.)
26). "Low" by Cracker (from Kerosene Hat, released on 8/24/1993) (peaked at #3 on 11/6/1993)
And to jump ahead if you want, the full playlist.
We’ll be back tomorrow with 25-1, and if you sign up for The Barchive (which is free!!!), you will get it the moment it publishes.
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