The Music Blog of the Infonistacrat!

Cake epitomized the postmodern, irony-drenched aesthetic of ‘90s geek-rock. Their sound freely mixed and matched pastiches of widely varying genres — white-boy funk, hip-hop, country, new wave pop, jazz, college rock, and guitar rock — with a particular delight in the clashes that resulted. I remember really on two songs of theirs…Rock N Roll Lifestyle, and The Distance, both were pretty big hits as I recall.

Old-school hip-hop, traditional classic rock, and spooling electronic vibes were the initial factors behind the building of the alternative metal quintet Linkin Park. The band’s Southern Californian musical roots were also an underlying basis, for drummer Rob Bourdon, guitarist Brad Delson, and MC/vocalist Mike Shinoda formed a tight friendship while still in high school.

While they play around with the infectious grooves of reggae and Latin music as well as the heavy deliverance of hip-hop and rock, San Diego’s hard rock four-piece P.O.D. has defined a universal message. They’re born-again Christians and their faith takes a central place in their music. Honestly, I never knew they were a Christian band…not that it makes a difference, I just never realized it.

Pennywise was one of the key bands of the punk-revival of the ’90s. Using Californian hardcore as a foundation, the group incorporated funk-metal and skate-punk into their sound, developing a sound that functioned as edgy, post-punk frat rock — it was speedy and occasionally stupidly catchy, with heavy, propulsive rhythms and positive, optimisitic lyrics that stood in pointed contrast to their grunge-addled peers.

Aspiring to nothing more than a good old-fashioned rock & roll party, the Donnas won a cult following and considerable media attention in the late ’90s after scoring a record deal right out of high school. Early on, they were invariably described as “the Ramones meet the Runaways,” with a definite emphasis on the former (they’d even adopted identical first names as a tribute). Songs concerned themselves mostly with boys, booze, drugs, and hated classmates. I love punk rock girls…you know, the attitude, the ability to sling it low and crack it out. And these girls, along with Poly Styrene from the X-Ray Spex, are the best.

Fueled by “rejection, food, coffee, girls, fishing and food,” the Descendents sprang up during the halcyon days of the Los Angeles punk scene; fusing the blind rage of hardcore with an unexpectedly wry, self-deprecating wit and a strong melodic sensibility which set them distinctly apart from their West Coast brethren, they gradually emerged as one of the most enduring and adored bands of their time.

During their existence, Fugazi created some of the most intelligent, invigorating, and undeniably musical post-hardcore rock & roll. Along with their stridently underground ethics — which were more out of pragmatism and modesty than anything else — they gained an extremely loyal and numerous global following. Waiting Room is just about the best damn song I have ever hear…yeah, I know I said that before, but this time I am pretty sure I mean it…until I don’t, of course.

1. Cake - Rock N Roll Lifestyle
2. Linkin Park - Crawl
3. Linkin Park - Somewhere I Belong
4. Linkin Park - In The End
5. P.O.D. - Boom
6. P.O.D. - The Nation
7. Pennywise - Punch Drunk
8. Pennywise - God Save The USA
9. The Donnas - Friday Fun
10. The Donnas - Get Rid Of That Girl
11. Descendents - Merican
12. Descendents - Hope
13. Fugazi - Badmouth
14. Fugazi - Waiting Room
15. Fugazi - Ice Cream Eater…Play Nice In The Pit!