As we sit here looking back on 2024, we can’t help but feel a mix of exhaustion and excitement. Fourteen years of Dig Me Out. That’s fourteen years of diving headfirst into forgotten albums, overlooked gems, and, let’s be honest, a few that left us scratching our heads. This year felt like a turning point—not just for the podcast, but for us as fans and curators of music that still deserves to be heard.
Rediscovering Records We Thought We Knew
2024 was the year of rediscovery. Sure, we’ve been digging into the past for years, but this season reminded us how much we’ve still got to learn. Take It’s a Shame About Ray by The Lemonheads—a record we’d both heard in bits and pieces over the years but had never really sat with. Listening with fresh ears, it hit us just how strong it was. Songwriting, production, Evan Dando’s voice—it all came together in a way we didn’t fully appreciate before.
Then there was Jesus Jones’ “Perverse”, which blew us away with its mix of innovation and timelessness. Somehow, that record still sounds like it could be released today, which isn’t something you can say about most early-90s digital experiments. These moments are why we love doing this podcast—realizing we’ve been sleeping on records that deserve more love.
The Community That Keeps Us Going
Our Substack subscribers and Patreon community—aka the Dig Me Out Union—was at the heart of this year’s discoveries. It’s not just the suggestions, although we wouldn’t have found half these albums without them. It’s the conversations, the passion, and the shared sense of adventure that make this all so rewarding. When someone suggests a record like Ho Hum’s “Local” or The Dwarves’ “Are Young and Good Looking”, we’re reminded just how broad this community’s taste is—and how lucky we are to be a part of it.
One of the best surprises this year was the punk compilation It Came From Simi Valley. We went in blind, expecting a lot of noise and chaos (which we got), but also found a handful of tracks that have since snuck onto our personal playlists. Who knew a 1980s hardcore comp would end up as a sleeper favorite?
Surprises in Sound: Nu Metal and Beyond
One of our favorite episodes this year was the Nu Metal Roundtable. Yeah, we said it. Nu metal. For years, we’d written it off as a genre that wasn’t “our thing,” but taking a deeper dive with guests who really understood its impact gave us a whole new appreciation. Bands like Deftones—already on our radar—opened up in new ways. It turns out there’s a lot more to this genre than just Limp Bizkit’s backwards red cap.
We also had a blast revisiting albums that surprised us in totally different ways. Blind Guardian’s “Nightfall in Middle-Earth” was either super dumb or super genius, and we’re still leaning toward genius. And don’t even get us started on Tigertailz. Love Bomb Baby? That song is a riot, and if you haven’t heard it yet, what are you waiting for?
A Year of Deep Dives
This year wasn’t just about the albums; it was about the conversations around them. Whether it was the launch of our 80s Metal Podcast or the kickoff of Surviving the 90s, these series let us dig into the broader stories of the 90s effect on classic artists. The Bruce Springsteen in the 90s episode, for example, reminded us how even the biggest artists struggle to adapt to new eras. And then there was the Albums of 1994 roundtable, part of our annual series looking back at key years in 90s music—a highlight for us both.
What’s Next for 2025?
We’re heading into our 15th year (we can’t believe it either), and we’re planning to keep the momentum going. Expect more roundtables, deeper dives into forgotten genres, and even some exploration of 70s rock in our 80s Metal Podcast. We’re also hoping to line up more interviews like the one we did with Bob Halligan Jr., co-writer of Kix’s “Midnight Dynamite”. Those kinds of conversations—talking directly to the people who made the music—are what we want more of.
And, of course, we’ll still be doing what we do best: uncovering lost gems, giving them the attention they deserve, and sharing our love for the music that shaped us. Whether it’s a classic you’ve forgotten or a hidden treasure you’ve never heard, we’re here to keep digging.
So, here’s to 2025. We hope you’re ready, because we’re just getting started. See you in the new year.
Songs in this Episode
Intro - Dig Me Out by Sleater-Kinney
5:17 - 0 for 1 by Poster Children
10:40 - Don't Go Out with Your Friends Tonite by Ho-Hum
18:07 - Love Bomb Baby by Tigertailz
Outro - Mirror Mirror by Blind Guardian
Make Your Voice Heard!
In our quest to explore the depths of 90s Rock, we rely on you, our listeners. Your suggestions drive our show – be it an underrated classic or a forgotten gem. By joining our DMO Union on Patreon, you help us stay independent and ad-free and gain the power to vote on and choose the albums we dive into each year. Together, let's unearth the treasures of 90s Rock, one listener-powered episode at a time.
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