Tuesday, March 3, 2026

Completely Conspicuous 672: Amazing Disgrace

Part 2 of my conversation with guest Phil Stacey as we pick our favorite underrated albums. Listen to the episode below or download directly (right click and "save as").

Show notes:

  • Jay's #6: The Spinanes with a decidedly not-grunge album on Sub Pop
  • Female singer-songwriter teamed with kickass drummer
  • Phil's #5: Power pop that never hit big from Boston's Gigolo Aunts
  • Got a song on the Dumb and Dumber soundtrack
  • Jay's #5: Another power pop gem from the Velvet Crush
  • Saw them play in Austin in '94
  • Phil's #4: B-52s avoid the sophomore slump and getting labeled as a novelty act
  • Didn't hit as hard as the debut, but strong nonetheless
  • Jay's #4: Late '80s/early '90s anthemic indie rock from O-Positive
  • Influenced by R.E.M. and briefly on CBS
  • Phil's #3: More Boston-area indie rock with Belly
  • Tanya Donelly had a great rock pedigree, first playing with Throwing Muses and Breeders
  • Jay's #3: Ex-Dumptruck guitarist Kevin Salem with Replacements/Tom Petty sound
  • Released a couple of strong albums in the mid-90s before moving into production
  • Phil's #2: U2's electronic departure that turned off a lot of their fans
  • They were ahead of the game with the techno sounds
  • Bad choice for lead single
  • Jay's #2: Again with the power pop, this time from the Posies
  • Band fell out of favor, Geffen refused to promote it
  • Angry album that nobody heard
  • Phil's #1: The Neil Young album where he was backed by Pearl Jam but couldn't publicize it
  • "Godfather of grunge" with the biggest band at the time
  • Did a brief tour of Europe, couldn't play here because of PJ's Ticketmaster litigation
  • Jay's #1: Another major label flameout courtesy of Jawbreaker
  • Punk act that faced sellout cries from fanbase, but label didn't like finished product and dropped them
  • Great album that was a big influence on emo acts to come

Completely Conspicuous is available through wherever you get podcasts. Subscribe and write a review!

The opening and closing theme of Completely Conspicuous is "Theme to Big F'in Pants" by Jay Breitling. Voiceover work is courtesy of James Gralian.

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