Against The 90's

The Dark Stuff Podcast
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Music Commentary

Against the 90's is a music podcast hosted by people who lived the decade—bought the records, watched the videos, went to the shows, and fell hard for the music. But somewhere along the way, the story of 1990s music got flattened. Reduced to clichés, overplayed hits, and a handful of tired narratives. This show exists to fix that. Each episode reexamines the music of the 90s by spotlighting the artists, albums, and movements that actually mattered—across alternative, rock, indie, and beyond. We celebrate what the decade did right -- and separate the era’s lasting brilliance from the stuff that didn’t age so well. This isn’t revisionist history from a distance. It’s perspective from people who were there when it happened—now looking back with context, experience, and zero nostalgia goggles. If you think the 90s deserve better than the story they’ve been given… you’re already Against the 90s.

Episodes

  1. Sep 20

    Did Grunge REALLY Kill Hair Metal? The Great 90s Rock Debate // Against The 90s Ep. 8

    Did Nirvana and the grunge revolution really kill hair metal, or was the genre already on its way out? On this episode of Against The 90s, Dave and MarQ welcome special guest Erika from Rock of Aging to tackle one of rock music’s most enduring debates: Did grunge kill hair metal? The conventional story is that Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, and Alice In Chains arrived in the early '90s and suddenly made bands like Mötley Crüe, Poison, Warrant, and Ratt irrelevant. But was it really that simple? We dig into the changing musical landscape of the early 1990s, including MTV's shifting priorities, record label decisions, oversaturation in the hair metal scene, and the rise of alternative rock. We also examine something that often gets overlooked in this conversation: the massive popularity of country artists like Garth Brooks and how changing mainstream tastes affected the entire music industry. With Erika bringing her lifelong love of '80s metal to the discussion, Dave and MarQ challenge the accepted narrative and explore whether grunge was responsible for hair metal's decline or simply arrived at exactly the right moment. Join the debate in the comments! Do you think grunge killed hair metal, or is that one of the biggest myths in rock history? Subscribe to Against The 90s for more discussions about the music, artists, albums, and cultural shifts that defined the decade — without the tired narratives or nostalgia goggles. Find us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Thedarkstuff

  2. Aug 20

    Elvis Costello in the ’90s Was Better Than You Remember || Against The 90s

    Elvis Costello entered the 1990s as an established legend—but he definitely didn’t spend the decade playing it safe. In this episode of Against The 90s, Dave and MarQ take a deep dive into Elvis Costello’s fascinating, unpredictable run through the decade. From 'Mighty Like a Rose' and 'Brutal Youth' to 'All This Useless Beauty', reunions with The Attractions, and plenty of stylistic left turns, we look at an era of Costello’s career that doesn’t always get the attention it deserves. Was 90s Elvis Costello overlooked? Which albums still hold up? And where does this decade rank compared to his celebrated late-70s and 80s work? We’re revisiting the records, the songs, and the strange twists and turns of Elvis Costello in the 90s. Let us know in the comments: What’s your favorite Elvis Costello album or song from the 1990s? Find us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Thedarkstuff

  3. Jul 20

    The 90s Alt-Country Revolution: The Music That Changed Americana

    Alternative rock may have dominated the headlines in the 1990s, but another musical revolution was quietly taking shape. Long before Americana became a Grammy category or artists like Jason Isbell and Tyler Childers became household names, a generation of musicians was blending country, folk, rock, punk, and roots music into something entirely new. In this episode of Against The 90s, Dave and Marq explore the rise of Alt-Country and Americana—the artists who rejected Nashville conventions while embracing the storytelling traditions of classic American music. From influential pioneers to forgotten classics, they discuss the records that helped define one of the decade's most enduring musical movements. Whether you discovered these records when they were new or you're hearing them for the first time, this episode celebrates a movement that proved some of the best music of the 1990s didn't come from Seattle—or Nashville. What are your favorite alt-country or Americana albums from the '90s? Let us know in the comments! Find us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Thedarkstuff

  4. Jun 20

    90s Artists We Hated That We Love Now (And Vice Versa) || Against The 90s : A 90s Music Podcast

    We all have musical opinions that don't age very well. In this episode of Against The 90s, Dave and MarQ revisit some of the artists they couldn't stand during the 1990s—but somehow ended up appreciating years later. Was it changing tastes? Maturity? Or did these artists deserve more credit than we gave them at the time? But it goes both ways. Each of us also reveals one artist we absolutely loved back in the '90s that just doesn't connect with us anymore. Some favorites don't survive the test of time, and we're not afraid to admit it. Join us as we talk about changing perspectives, musical redemption, and the artists that prove our younger selves didn't always get it right. What artists have you changed your mind about? Tell us in the comments: Which '90s artist did you once hate but now love? And is there a band you were obsessed with back then that you just can't listen to anymore? Find us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Thedarkstuff

  5. May 20

    90s Soundtracks BETTER Than The Actual Movie! // Against The 90s Episode 4

    Welcome to the fourth episode of the newest podcast from The Dark Stuff, Against The 90's. This is a show about 90s music from people who lived the decade—bought the records, watched the videos, went to the shows, and fell hard for the music. Each episode reexamines the music of the 90s by spotlighting the artists, albums, and movements that actually mattered—across alternative, rock, indie, and beyond. For this episode, MarQ and Dave have each selected three 90s soundtracks that are better than the film they accompany. Action thrillers, comic book adaptations, superheroes...whatever. In these cases, the movie sucked, but the soundtrack is still on repeat. Before we talk soundtracks, we have a quick concert review. MarQ and Dave caught 90s legend, Mark Robinson (Unrest, Air Miami), doing a solo show at Pageturners in Omaha. It was an unusual set in that he played 50 songs in 60 minutes. It was a whirlwind of all the best parts of his songs. Very unique.  Find us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Thedarkstuff

  6. Apr 20

    Against The 90's Episode 3: "Lost" Albums from the 90s // Albums That Deserved More Love

    Welcome to the third episode of the newest podcast from The Dark Stuff, Against The 90's. This is a show about 90s music from people who lived the decade—bought the records, watched the videos, went to the shows, and fell hard for the music. Each episode reexamines the music of the 90s by spotlighting the artists, albums, and movements that actually mattered—across alternative, rock, indie, and beyond. For the new episode, Marq and Dave are discussing some "lost" albums of the 90s. Our definition of a lost album is one from an artist who never got their due. Never got the attention they deserved, nor the accolades for such fine work. There are million of these kinds of albums, we have each chosen three. Find us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Thedarkstuff

  7. Mar 20

    Against The 90's Episode 2: 90s Artists Who Became Rock’s New Legacy Acts

    Welcome to the second episode of the newest podcast from The Dark Stuff, Against The 90's. This is a show about 90s music from people who lived the decade—bought the records, watched the videos, went to the shows, and fell hard for the music. Each episode reexamines the music of the 90s by spotlighting the artists, albums, and movements that actually mattered—across alternative, rock, indie, and beyond. For the new episode, Marq and Dave wrestle with the idea that much of that cool, cutting edge, underground music we loved in the 90s, is now...classic rock. Yes, that's right. Nineties artists are now legacy artists. Many are among the country's top touting attractions -- selling out festivals coast to coast. For others, their vinyl reissues and box sets are among the best sellers in record stores We each chose five 90s artists that are still big sellers and/or big concert draws on the festival circuit. These are, by no means, all of them. But many of these will surprise you! Find us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Thedarkstuff

  8. Feb 20

    Episode One: Best Albums of 1996 // 90's Music Podcast

    Welcome to the premier episode of the newest podcast from The Dark Stuff called "Against the 90s." This is a 90s music podcast hosted by two people who lived the decade—bought the records, watched the videos, went to the shows, and fell hard for the music. Each episode reexamines the music of the 90s by spotlighting the artists, albums, and movements that actually mattered—across alternative, rock, indie, and beyond. We celebrate what the decade did right, challenge the lazy myths, and separate the era’s lasting brilliance from the stuff that didn’t age so well. If you think the 90s deserve better than the story they’ve been given… you’re already Against the 90s. For our first episode, we wanted to give you a little window into our 90s. Well, 1996, specifically. We have each offered up our five favorite albums of 1996. About your hosts... You probably already know your buddy, Dave. He runs this channel; and hosts the Omaha area radio show, New Day Rising, as well as co-hosting the podcast, Rock of Aging. MarQ Manner: In addition to managing the legendary record store, Homer's Records, Marq also runs the highly popular music blog, Omaha Buzz (https://omahabuzz.substack.com/). He has also booked and managed numerous bands over the last 30 years. Find us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Thedarkstuff

  • 8 Episodes

About

Against the 90's is a music podcast hosted by people who lived the decade—bought the records, watched the videos, went to the shows, and fell hard for the music. But somewhere along the way, the story of 1990s music got flattened. Reduced to clichés, overplayed hits, and a handful of tired narratives. This show exists to fix that. Each episode reexamines the music of the 90s by spotlighting the artists, albums, and movements that actually mattered—across alternative, rock, indie, and beyond. We celebrate what the decade did right -- and separate the era’s lasting brilliance from the stuff that didn’t age so well. This isn’t revisionist history from a distance. It’s perspective from people who were there when it happened—now looking back with context, experience, and zero nostalgia goggles. If you think the 90s deserve better than the story they’ve been given… you’re already Against the 90s.

Information

  • Creator
    The Dark Stuff Podcast
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    8
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Against The 90's
  • Show Website
    Against The 90's