Part 1 of my conversation with guest Phil Stacey about the music of 1994.

Show notes:

• Back after a two-month summer break

• In 1994, Jay turned 27, Phil turned 25

• Steely Dan was touring again

• Jay: Life improved in '94 on job and home front

• Jay: Saw a ton of shows including Pearl Jam, Afghan Whigs, Rollins Band, Cracker, Soundgarden, Buffalo Tom, Blues Explosion, Tragically Hip, Sugar

• Debating the merits of the Mighty Mighty Bosstones

• Phil's kids love the pop music

• Phil went to the infamous Green Day show at the Hatch Shell

• Top singles were all pop and hip hop, lots of ballads

• Big year for indie rock

• Grunge peaked and major labels started signing bands from non-Seattle locations like Chicago, San Diego, etc.

• Pearl Jam sued TicketMaster and tried to do a tour of non-TM venues, but it fizzled

• Cobain's death was a pivotal moment

• Woodstock '94 didn't get as much press as '99

• Other newsy events: Baseball strike, OJ Simpson chase, Eagles started charging $100 for concert tickets

• Phil's non-top 5 albums: Alice in Chains, R.E.M., Hole, Beastie Boys, Weezer, Phish, Sonic Youth, Meat Puppets, Sugar, Dinosaur Jr., Luscious Jackson, Beck, Liz Phair, Veruca Salt, Stone Roses, Jesus and Mary Chain, Portishead, Stone Temple Pilots, Dave Matthews Band, Tom Petty, Neil Young & Crazy Horse

• What is emo? Also, what is internet?

• Weezer started out strong, but now they're a parody of themselves

• To be continued

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The opening and closing theme of Completely Conspicuous is "Theme to Big F'in Pants" by Jay Breitling. Voiceover work is courtesy of James Gralian.