Alt-Riot is a blog featuring slternative and independent music from before the dot com boom.
Lull - Polvo
Can I Ride (Kitchen Puff 1990)
Polvo is a noise rock band considered to be the standard bearer of the math rock genre. The band has toured with acts such as Sonic Youth, Pavement, and Superchunk. This album was released as a limited edition double 7” in the 90’s.
Good For You - My Bloody Valentine
Unreleased 1988
Sounds like: Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr., Slowdive.
Tuff Gnarl - Sonic Youth
Sister (SST Records 1987)
Sonic Youth is one of the most established and influential independent experimental rock bands. Sister was released a year before their monumental Daydream Nation and was a loose concept album inspired by Philip K. Dick, the title of the album a reference to Dick’s fraternal twin sister who died at birth and supposedly haunted the science fiction writer for the rest of his life.
Sounds like: Dinosaur Jr., My Bloody Valentine, Pixies.
Lucy - Helium
What’s Up Matador? (Matador 1997)
Originally called Chupa, Helium is an indie rock band formed in 1992. A few years later, prominent female artist Mary Timony of bands such as The Spells was recruited. Although Timony is often compared to Liz Phair for her pottymouth lyrics, Helium’s dissonant sound established the group as a distinct force in alternative and noise rock of the decade.
Sounds like: Sleater-Kinney, The Spells, Chavez.
Nub - The Jesus Lizard
Goat (Touch & Go 1991)
The Jesus Lizard is an alternative noise band formed in 1987 in Austin, Texas. They broke up in March 1999 and then reunited in 2008. They are considered to be the most influential independent noise band, despite never achieving commercial success.
Sounds like: <Shellac, Unsane, Bardo Pond.
Flux - Bardo Pond
Lapsed (Matador 1997)
Bardo Pond is a psychedelic space rock band formed in 1991. Their music is heavily drug inspired, album titles often being derived from names of psychedelic substances. Their sound is described as lengthy, deliberate sound explorations filled with all the hallmarks of modern-day space rock: droning guitars, thick distortion, feedback, reverb, and washes of white noise. Band members have participated in numerous side projects and collaborations with other musicians including Roy Montgomery.
Sounds like: Explosions in the Sky, Flying Saucer Attack, Acid Mothers Temple.
Raised by Tigers - Silkworm
In The West (C/Z Records 1994)
Silkworm was a prominent indie rock band from 1987 until 2005 when founding member Michael Dahlquist was killed by a driver intending to commit suicide. In The West was their first album produced by long-time friend Steve Albini.
Sounds like: Pavement, Shellac, Chavez, Archers of Loaf.
As Good As New - Run On
No Way (Matador 1997)
Sounds like: Bettie Serveert, Wilco, Helium, Thinking Fellers Union Local 282.
My Dreaming Hill - Flying Saucer Attack
Flying Saucer Attack (Vhf Records 1994)
Sounds like: The Jesus & Mary Chain, Explosions in the Sky, Bardo Pond
Beach Side Property - Modest Mouse
This is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think About (Up Records 1996)
Sounds like: Neutral Milk Hotel, Pinback, Pixies, Yeah Yeah Yeahs
