Mixtape Madness #13 - 90's Revue Part III

According to the novel High Fidelity the making of a good mix tape, like breaking up, is hard to do. Furthermore, a good mix is never finished. You never know when you will come across a song that changes the dynamic of the mix you just completed. There is a litany of intricacies to crafting the ideal mix no matter what the mix’s intended purpose should be. This feature is merely a guide on the cosmic highway of mix making, and while experienced, the writer does not claim to be an expert.

90's Revue Part III - Pop

We have been riding the wave of 1980's nostalgia for awhile now. Don't get me wrong, it's been fun, but I think it is time we moved on to the 1990's. Some of the best music of the past thirty years was created in the decade between the Exxon Valdez and Y2K. Because of that, we here at the What will take a three-part look at the music of the 1990's.
PART I - Rock
PART II - Hip-Hop

1. "This Is How We Do It" by Montell Jordan (1995) - Honestly, is there any better song to start a mix with? I doubt it. Especially when doing a 90's mix.

2. "Get Ready For This" by 2 Unlimited (1991) - As will be the case with many songs on this list, this one was a staple at middle school dances when I was younger. 

3. "Lovefool" by the Cardigans (1996) - What would a 90's pop mix be without some Swedish action? Incomplete. It would be incomplete.

4. "Groove Is In the Heart" by Deee-Lite (1990) - This songs is what happens when you sample Herbie Hancock and get Bootsy Collins and Q-Tip to guest on the track. Pure 90's gold.

5. "Praise You" by Fatboy Slim (1999) - This song was pretty catchy on its own, but it was Spike Jonze's video with the whacky dance group that made it a 90's icon.

Mixtape Madness #12 - 90's Revue Part II

According to the novel High Fidelity the making of a good mix tape, like breaking up, is hard to do. Furthermore, a good mix is never finished. You never know when you will come across a song that changes the dynamic of the mix you just completed. There is a litany of intricacies to crafting the ideal mix no matter what the mix’s intended purpose should be. This feature is merely a guide on the cosmic highway of mix making, and while experienced, the writer does not claim to be an expert.

90's Revue Part II - Hip Hop

We have been riding the wave of 1980's nostalgia for awhile now. Don't get me wrong, it's been fun, but I think it is time we moved on to the 1990's. Some of the best music of the past thirty years was created in the decade between the Exxon Valdez and Y2K. Because of that, we here at the What will take a three-part look at the music of the 1990's.
PART I - Rock
PART III - Pop - Coming Soon!

1. "Can I Kick It?" by A Tribe Called Quest (1991) -  What better way to kick off the 90's hip-hop mix than with this Lou Reed-sampling jam from Tribe? I had forgotten about this song for along time until, as is the case with several songs on this mix, I saw the film The Wackness.


2. "Flava In Ya Ear" by Craig Mack (1994) - Much like the rock mix, I will be discussing the greatness that was the music scene in 1994. This track, with verses from Biggie, Busta, LL Cool J, and Rampage, is a classic.


3. "Not Tonight (Remix)" by Lil Kim (1997) - Though we'll address the Spice Girls in Part III of the 90's Revue, this is the true girl power anthem of the 1990's. Kim is joined by Da Brat, Angie Martinez, Missy Elliott, and Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes on the track, and in the video by everyone from Queen Latifah to TLC to Mary J. Blige. 

Mixtape Madness #11: 90's Revue Part I

According to the novel High Fidelity the making of a good mix tape, like breaking up, is hard to do. Furthermore, a good mix is never finished. You never know when you will come across a song that changes the dynamic of the mix you just completed. There is a litany of intricacies to crafting the ideal mix no matter what the mix’s intended purpose should be. This feature is merely a guide on the cosmic highway of mix making, and while experienced, the writer does not claim to be an expert.

90's Revue Part I - Rock

We have been riding the wave of 1980's nostalgia for awhile now. Don't get me wrong, it's been fun, but I think it is time we moved on to the 1990's. Some of the best music of the past thirty years was created in the decade between the Exxon Valdez and Y2K. Because of that, we here at the What will take a three-part look at the music of the 1990's.
PART II - Hip Hop
PART III - Pop - Coming Soon!


1. "Bittersweet Symphony" by the Verve (1997) - By now, everyone is aware of all of the controversy surrounding this song. Whether or not the Verve intended to lift a hook from the Rolling Stones or not, this is an amazing song and it's a shame that the legal fallout from it ruined such a promising band.


2. "Spiderwebs" by No Doubt (1995) - Am I the only one itching for No Doubt to put out a new album that returns to their Ska/SoCal punk roots? Of course not. Aside from being a great tune, this is more than likely the song most widely used in answering machine messages.


3. "Come As You Are" by Nirvana (1991) - In their short time as a band, Nirvana left us with a litany of great tracks, but "Come As You Are" has always been my favorite. Both Kurt Cobain and Krist Novoselic tuned their instruments down a step for this song, giving it the familiar, distinct sound throughout.


4. "What's The Frequency, Kenneth?" by REM (1994) - As you will see over this three-part Mixtape Madness, 1994 was an incredible year for music. With the ability to look back on the now-ceased career of REM, I can easily pinpoint this song, with its interesting back story, as my favorite. 


5. "Got You (Where I Want You)" by the Flys (1998) - The unmistakable plodding march of the rhythm section carries the lyrics well throughout this quintessential 90's tune. The Flys may have only had the one hit, but at least they got Katie Holmes to be in their video.