Released on February 9, 1993.
If it can be described as an underrated '90s album, it's probably in my record collection. And I probably love it.
Such is the case with Slip by Quicksand. The album was released on February 9, 1993, so this marks it's 30th anniversary. And while it's not as big of a deal as a few other albums that turn 30 this year--Nirvana's In Utero, Smashing Pumpkins' Siamese Dream, and Radiohead's Pablo Honey come to mind--it's still worthy of note. And it's a favorite of mine.
The early '90s was a prime time for alternative rock. Major labels were signing rock bands of every ilk all across the nation and even across the pond. MTV provided a showcase for these acts, both big and small. College radio acted as a launching pad. And by the middle of the decade, most major U.S. cities had a commercial radio station that played modern rock or billed themselves as "alternative."
This Underrated '90s Album Just Turned 30
The amount of alternative music and the number of acts making it in the '90s was astounding. And I made it my job then--first as a teenaged fan, then as a radio DJ--to consume as much of it as possible. Quicksand checked off a lot of boxes for me. Their frontman, Walter Schreifels, had played with legendary New York hardcore bands Youth of Today and Gorilla Biscuits. So there was a hardcore edge to Slip.
But it wasn't straight-up hardcore. Or punk, even though it had those sounds woven in. That's what made Quicksand so interesting to me: they didn't sound like anyone else, but they still sounded like other bands that I liked. There was a Cobain-like bent to a lot of the themes Walter wrote about. And some of the riffs on Slip were downright Soundgarden-esque to my young ears.
It's an album that I still come back to pretty regularly. Usually when I'm feeling down or upset or when I need a little angry motivation. It's heavy and alienated and it's the perfect soundtrack for when I'm stuck in my friggin' cellar working the wet-vac because the water is coming in again. They made a video for the leadoff cut "Fazer" which you can watch below. And you can cop the 30th anniversary reissue here.
26 Albums that Turn 30 in 2023
When it comes to albums that turn 30 in 2023, there's something for everyone.
If you're a fan of the "unplugged" trend, three artists released killer unplugged LPs: Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young and Rod Stewart. Love female singer-songwriters? Melissa Etheridge, Sheryl Crow, Liz Phair, PJ Harvey and Bjork released some incredible albums. Dig major rock bands? Aerosmith, Tool, Radiohead, U2, Nirvana, Pearl Jam and more released some must-own LPs.
Scroll below to see 26 albums that turn 30 in 2023!
Tool - ‘Undertow’
Released April 6, 1993.
Bruce Springsteen - ‘In Concert/MTV Plugged’
Released April 12, 1993.
Nirvana - ‘In Utero’
Released September 21, 1993.
Smashing Pumpkins - ‘Siamese Dream’
Released July 27, 1993.
Depeche Mode - ‘Songs of Faith and Devotion’
Released March 22, 1993.
Bjork - ‘Debut’
Released July 5, 1993.
PJ Harvey - ‘Rid of Me’
Released May 4, 1993.
Blur - ‘Modern Life Is Rubbish’
Released May 10, 1993.
Liz Phair - ‘Exile in Guyville’
Released June 22, 1993.
Counting Crows - ‘August and Everything After’
Released September 14, 1993.
Radiohead - ‘Pablo Honey’
Released February 22, 1993.
Pearl Jam - ‘Vs.’
Released October 19, 1993.
The Cranberries - ‘Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We?’
Released March 1, 1993.
U2 - ‘Zooropa’
Released July 5, 1993.
Lenny Kravitz - ‘Are You Gonna Go My Way’
Released March 9, 1993.
Sting - ‘Ten Summoner’s Tales’
Released March 1, 1993.
Meat Loaf - ‘Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell’
Released September 14, 1993.
Duran Duran - ‘Duran Duran’
Released February 11, 1993.
David Bowie - ‘Black Tie White Noise’
Released April 5, 1993.
Aerosmith - ‘Get a Grip’
Released April 20, 1993.
Rod Stewart - ‘Unplugged…and Seated’
Released May 24, 1993.
Neil Young - ‘Neil Young Unplugged’
Released June 15, 1993.
Sheryl Crow - ‘Tuesday Night Music Club’
Released August 3, 1993.
Billy Joel - ‘River of Dreams’
Released August 10, 1993.
Melissa Etheridge - ‘Yes I Am’
Released September 21, 1993.
Guns N’ Roses - ‘The Spaghetti Incident?’
Released November 23, 1993.
