JANUARY 1991: Screaming Trees, David Lee Roth, Jesus Jones, DJ Quik, Gang Starr, Sting, Chickasaw Mudd Puppies

1991 is a legendary year in the history of American popular music. As we’ll see, by the time summer hits, legendary albums are dropping literally every week, and a genuine renaissance is in full swing. But this is January 1991, and we’re still in the calm before the storm, though in the albums we profile in this episode, definite trends are rising. We listen to the grungy tones of Screaming Trees on Uncle Anesthesia; the earthy bluegrass of Athens, Georgia band Chickasaw Mudd Puppies on 8-Track Stomp (produced by Michael Stipe); the soon-to-be-irrelevant party rock stylings of David Lee Roth on A Little Ain’t Enough; the G-funk production and new gangster attitude of DJ Quik on the massively influential Quik is the Name; the jazz beats and introspective lyrics of legendary rappers Guru and Premier on Gang Starr’s dazzling Step in the Arena; the iconic sound and mega-hits of Jesus Jones on Doubt; and, of course, a mid-career solo album from Sting, The Soul Cages, which finds the Police frontman ruminating about ships and the sea (and it’s actually pretty good!). This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 120months.substack.com/subscribe