For our latest Diamond Episode, we're checking out Jewel’s 1995 debut Pieces of You. A blend of minimalist folk ballads with polished pop, Pieces of You is a showcase for Jewel's rich and varied soprano voice. Hits like “Who Will Save Your Soul” and “You Were Meant for Me" are the rarity featuring multi-tracked instrumentation. Much of the record was recorded live at a San Diego coffeehouse, which gives an intimate feel to its confessional lyrics, but also lacks the dynamic and filled-out sound of the singles.

Songs In This Episode

Intro - Who Will Save Your Soul

32:20 - Foolish Games

38:32 - Near You Always

42:37 - I'm Sensitive

Outro - You Were Meant For Me

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Released in 1995, the waning years of grunge and riding the big wave of the alternative rock explosion, That’s What Love Songs Often Do by Fig Dish was a punchy major label debut from Chicago quartet Fig Dish. Lyrically, Fig Dish steers away from overwrought introspection in favor of sly, observational jabs at love and life, delivered with rasp and grit. Raw yet clear production allows the interplay between all the instruments shine, with just enough hooks and attitude to keep you interested.

Songs In This Episode

Intro - Weak and Mean

25:17 - Bury Me

29:29 - Seeds

35:29 - Going Gone

Outro - Chew Toy

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For Him and the Girls, the debut album by Canadian singer-songwriter Hawksley Workman, is an eclectic blend of glam rock, cabaret, and indie pop. Recorded largely in his home studio, the album revels in his uniquely quirky and theatrical style. Songs like “Tarantulove” and “Safe and Sound” feature lush arrangements, dramatic tempo shifts, and playful yet poignant lyrics that shift between earnest and odd. Lo-fi production adds raw intimacy, complementing the unconventional approach.

Songs In This Episode

Intro - Bullets

17:05 - Maniacs

20:37 - Don't Be Crushed

23:07 - No Sissies

27:33 - Tarantulove

39:34 - Baby This Night

Outro - Bullets

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One Simple Word, the fourth studio album by The Connells, showcases the band’s melodic southern jangle pop sound with a more polished and introspective tone. While not a commercial blockbuster, the album scored with critics and college radio listeners thanks to catchy but not overly sugary melodies that sound like attempts at a mainstream radio hit. Lush guitar interplay and heartfelt lyrics highlight their knack for emotionally resonant songwriting without leaning into melancholy.

Songs In This Episode

Intro - Stone Cold Yesterday

20:27 - Speak To Me

25:04 - Get A Gun

31:32 - Too Gone

36.21 - What Do You Want?

Outro - Take A Bow

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Blending progressive house, techno, and ambient, the 1996 album Second Toughest in the Infants is Underworld’s ambitious follow-up to their breakout album Dubnobasswithmyheadman. Crafted with expansive, hypnotic soundscapes, tracks like “Pearl’s Girl” and the multipart suite “Juanita/Kiteless/To Dream of Love” highlight their exploration of rhythm and texture, while Karl Hyde’s cryptic, stream-of-consciousness lyrics add a surreal and poetic layer to the music.

Songs In This Episode

Intro - Confusion the Waitress

16:28 - Stagger

19:26 - Juanita : Kiteless : To Dream of Love

23:34 -Banstyle/Sappy's Curry

27:06 - Rowla

Outro - Pearls Girl

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In our third installment of Surviving the 90s, we’re revisiting one of the arena rock powerhouses of the late '70s and early '80s — Foreigner. Known for a string of massive hits like "Cold as Ice," "Hot Blooded," "Urgent," "Juke Box Hero," and the chart-topping ballad "I Want to Know What Love Is," Foreigner dominated radio and MTV in their prime. Albums like Double Vision, Head Games, and 4 went multi-Platinum, cementing their legacy. But as the musical landscape shifted in the 90s, the band faced lineup changes and a changing industry. Though new material was scarce, they continued touring and remained a fixture on classic rock airwaves. We revisit their biggest hits, their activity in the 90s, and try to determine: did Foreigner thrive, adapt, or fade during the decade?

Songs In This Episode

Intro - Feels Like The First Time

30:29 - Headknocker

34:03 - Blue Morning, Blue Day

47:29 - Double Vision

50:52 - Moment of Truth

56:34 - Lowdown and Dirty

1:10:54 - Big Dog

1:19:35 - White Lie

Outro - Juke Box Hero

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An Eye For A Brow, A Tooth For A Pick, the 2006 debut album by Australian band Ground Components, blends elements of garage, punk, and soul that fits in nicely with the garage rock revival of the early '00s. Featuring a mix of aggressive punk-ish guitar riffs, driving and boogie rhythms, and horn arrangements give the album a unique sound compared to contemporaries. All that is a playground lead for lead singer Joe McGuigan, who yelps and screams with soulful veracity throughout the record.

Songs In This Episode

Intro - Hands In The Air

15:27 - Stale Thoughts

20:43 - On Your Living Room Floor

28:01 - Head In The Sand

38:23 - Fistful of Dallas

Outro - Coming In from All Angles

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While their debut album tagged them as Dinosaur Jr Jr thanks to loud guitars and J. Mascis behind the board, Buffalo Tom's second album, Birdbrain, builds on the raw, guitar-driven sound of their debut but with more mature songwriting and production. Produced again by J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr. with Sean Slade, the album emphasizes emotional intensity over polish, with songs like "Birdbrain" and "Enemy" showcase the band’s knack for combining distorted guitars with introspective lyrics. Though not a commercial hit, the album helped solidify Buffalo Tom’s place in the early '90s indie rock scene and shows a significant step in the band’s evolution toward the more refined sound of their later work.

Songs In This Episode

Intro - Fortune Teller

17:23 - Birdbrain

23:07 - Crawl

26:26 - Heaven

29:40 - Skeleton Key

Outro - Guy Who Is Me

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