This Is Comp: Weird Al's The Alternative Polka (1996), Tracks 1-6
Summary
Hosts Rich, Phil, and Dan analyze Weird Al’s "Alternative Polka" medley from *Bad Hair Day*, treating it as a snapshot of mid-90s alternative rock. They discuss the cultural impact and legacy of Beck’s "Loser," Stone Temple Pilots’ controversial "Sex Type Thing," Sheryl Crow’s "All I Want to Do," and Nine Inch Nails’ "Closer." The episode explores how these diverse hits defined the "alternative" brand of the era.
Topics discussed
Introduction to the Weird Al Polka Medley series
Context of the Alternative Polka and 90s radio
Beck's 'Loser' and the 2015 Grammy controversy
Stone Temple Pilots' 'Sex Type Thing' and criticism
Sheryl Crow's 'All I Want to Do' and alt-country
Nine Inch Nails' 'Hurt' and Trent Reznor's style
R.E.M.'s 'Bang and Blame' and the Monster album
Alanis Morissette's 'You Ought to Know' and Jagged Little Pill
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