This Is Modern Rock: Alternative Rock Music of the 80's & 90's

This Is Modern Rock: Alternative Rock Music of the 80's & 90's

This Is Modern Rock is a podcast about Alternative Rock Music of the 80's & 90's. Each episode takes a look at one month on the Billboard Modern Rock charts, beginning with September 1988. This Is Modern Rock is currently in Season 5 (1992). Hosted by Will Westercauw - thisismodernrock@gmail.com

Episodes

March 27, 2025 42 mins
Will Westercauw chats with Johnny (guitarist from the band Dig) about scandalous rumors, working at Tower Records, Clear Channel censorship, and the modern rock hits of March 1994. Songs under discussion include: Crash Test Dummies - "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm" Tori Amos - "God" Alice In Chains - "No Excuses" Dig - "Believe" Season 7 (1994) Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/19V29Sq8PhdbMVyODJyUz6
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Will Westercauw is joined by indie comic writer/artist & music podcaster Jason Martin to talk about the modern rock songs of February 1994. Songs under discussion include: Beck - "Loser" Counting Crows - "Mr. Jones" Bjork - "Big Time Sensuality" Cracker - "Get Off This" Season 7 (1994) Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/19V29Sq8PhdbMVyODJyUz6
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January 10, 2025 39 mins
Will Westercauw and Orly are back for the 1994 Season premiere of This Is Modern Rock. Songs under discussion include: Pearl Jam - "Daughter" Gin Blossoms - "Found Out About You" Nirvana - "All Apologies" Nick Heyward - "Kite" Season 7 (1994) Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/19V29Sq8PhdbMVyODJyUz6?si=_xvnAdEzQVaJE0EchWUThA
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May 26, 2024 50 mins
Will and Orly wrap up the 1993 season with a discussion of modern rock statistics and trends, a game of "Name that Cover Song", and a look at a few cool songs that we missed earlier in the season. Songs under discussion include: Matthew Sweet - "Superdeformed" R.E.M. (ft. Natalie Merchant) - "Photograph" Ultra Vivid Scene - "Blood and Thunder" X - "Country at War" Season 6 Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3RV2g...
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Will Westercauw's good friend Jeremy T. returns to talk about 6 artists/bands that didn't chart on the Modern Rock Charts in 1993, but maybe should have... Songs under discussion include: Pulp - "Razzmatazz" Buzzcocks - "Innocent" Palace Brothers - "Ohio River Boat Song" Swervedriver - "Duel" Liz Phair - "Fuck and Run" Archers of Loaf - "Web in Front" & more... Season 4 Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3RV2gzA...
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February 25, 2024 39 mins
Will Westercauw is joined by his friend Dusty Hoesly to talk about identical twins, glossolalia, Danger Man, and the modern rock hits of December 1993. Songs under discussion include: James - "Laid" The Smashing Pumpkins - "Today" Dead Can Dance - "The Ubiquitous Mr. Lovegrove" Blur - "Chemical World" Season 6 (1993) Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3RV2gzADXh93VuQieGrbVX?si=b3c96fa3c5044a15
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Will Westercauw and Orly discuss kerosene hats, the merits of being Evan Dando, why it pays to be friends with Mark Pellington, whether or not being with you, girl, is actually like being "stone", and the modern rock hits of November 1993, including: The Lemonheads - "Into Your Arms" Cracker - "Low" The Connells - "Slackjawed" The Afghan Whigs - "Debonair" Season 6 (1993) Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3RV2gz...
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Sice (The Boo Radleys) joins Will Westercauw to talk about mental health for touring musicians, career changes, key changes, the perfect level of fame, and the modern rock hits of October 1993, including: Nirvana - "Heart-Shaped Box" The Breeders - "Cannonball" U2 - "Lemon" The Boo Radleys - "Lazarus" Music Industry Therapist Collective: https://musicindustrytherapists.com/ The Boo Radleys on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/ar...
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Will and Orly talk about medieval torture devices, bands who play barefoot, Dr. Who, and the modern rock hits of September 1993. Songs under discussion include: Juliana Hatfield Three - "My Sister" Blind Melon - "No Rain" The Catherine Wheel - "Crank" Pet Shop Boys - "Can You Forgive Her?" Season 6 (1993) Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3RV2gzADXh93VuQieGrbVX?si=be027c1c7c6641f6
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November 29, 2023 38 mins
Will talks to Kevin Macbeth (Fabulon) about sharing a practice space with Deee-Lite, becoming a casualty of the grunge explosion, and (of course) the modern rock songs of August 1993. Songs under discussion include: Red Hot Chili Peppers - Soul to Squeeze Björk - Human Behavior Urge Overkill - Sister Havana Fabulon - In A Mood Season 6 Music Playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3RV2gzADXh93VuQieGrbVX?si=f4953919...
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November 14, 2023 40 mins
Will talks to Ken Stringfellow (The Posies) about the origins of The Posies, his stints with R.E.M. and Big Star, touring with The Cranberries, and (of course) the modern rock songs of July 1993. Songs under discussion include: Tears for Fears -Break it Down Again The Posies - Dream All Day Trashcan Sinatras - Hayfever The Cranberries - Dreams Follow Ken Stringfellow on Instagram: @kenstringfellow Season 6 Music Playlist on Spot...
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November 1, 2023 39 mins
Pete Fij (Adorable, Polak) joins Will Westercauw to talk about the modern rock songs of June 1993. Songs under discussion include: Porno for Pyros - Pets Radiohead - Creep Suede - Metal Mickey Adorable - Sunshine Smile This Is Modern Rock - Season 6 Playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3RV2gzADXh93VuQieGrbVX?si=96c37f443ddf4a89
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October 17, 2023 42 mins
Fred Schreck (Crush, the Ancients) joins Will Westercauw to talk about DJ'ing at The Mission, Joey Ramone, Star Search, and some of the big modern rock hits of May 1993. Songs under discussion include: New Order - Regret Depeche Mode - Walking in My Shoes Midnight Oil - Truganini Crush - The Rain The Ancients on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/artist/4e2Smvg9gYeQ40mwlGFaU0?si=FTfuUjl-R_io2BHHOhKH9g This Is Modern Rock - Season...
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Will and Orly talk about Bill Nye, wet bus seats, True Lies, and the songs of April 1993. Songs under discussion include: Lenny Kravitz - Are You Gonna Go My Way Living Colour - Leave It Alone Frank Black - Los Angeles Tasmin Archer - Sleeping Satellite This Is Modern Rock - Season 6 Playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3RV2gzADXh93VuQieGrbVX?si=087249d149be447a
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September 18, 2023 36 mins
Steve Bryant (Chance the Gardener, Toadmortons) joins Will to talk about the modern rock songs of March 1993. Songs under discussion include: Belly - "Feed the Tree" Depeche Mode - "I Feel You" Jellyfish - "The Ghost at Number One" Ween - "Push th' Little Daisies" If you'd like to hear more from Steve Bryant, check out: Toadmortons - Susschord (new album!) https://open.spotify.com/album/5PIUYkdBr8ddZJb7T9jncj?si=h1uCFtknSKSJFX9...
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Orly is back to help Will discuss some of the big modern rock hits of February 1993. Songs under discussion include: Duran Duran - "Ordinary World" The The - "Dogs of Lust" INXS - "Beautiful Girl" Pearl Jam - "Black" Season 6 Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3RV2gzADXh93VuQieGrbVX?si=0922300917b349fd
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Will Westercauw and Larry Kirwan (Black 47) talk about Broadway musicals, Irish birth control, and the music of January 1993. Songs under discussion include: Ned's Atomic Dustbin - "Not Sleeping Around" Jesus Jones - "The Devil You Know" Neneh Cherry (feat. Michael Stipe) - "Trout" Black 47 - "Funky Ceili (Bridie's Song)" More info about Larry Kirwan and Black 47: https://www.black47.com/ Season 6 Spotify Playlist: https://open....
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July 31, 2023 48 mins
One more Bonus Episode! This time around, Will Westercauw is talking with another of his favorite musicians: Amelia Fletcher! For those listeners who aren't in the know, Amelia Fletcher is the singer and principal songwriter of a big list of indie pop bands, including Talulah Gosh, Heavenly, Marine Research, and Tender Trap. She's also been a supporting member and/or collaborator to many other bands to list here. If you're a fa...
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February 1, 2023 62 mins
Will Westercauw is pleased to present this very special episode all about one of his favorite bands - Big Dipper! Will is joined by Big Dipper guitarist/vocalist Gary Waleik to talk about the band's entire history. This episode covers the band's humble beginnings, their rise to indie-rock semi-stardom, their tragic fall, and their eventual (and underappreciated) return. Will and Gary listen to too many Big Dipper songs to list...
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Will Westercauw's good friend Jeremy T. returns to talk about 6 artists/bands that should have charted on the Modern Rock Charts in 1992. Songs under discussion include: Pavement - "Trigger Cut" Guided By Voices - "Exit Flagger" Bettie Serveert - "Palomine" Jonathan Richman - "That Summer Feeling" Spent Poets - "Walt Whitman's Beard" Arrested Development - "Tennessee" Season 4 Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0...
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