The Lemonheads - Forgotten 90’s

The Lemonheads (not the candy) are still criminally underrated and no one can sway me. Evan Dando just has this knack for writing these perfect little pop songs that stick in your head forever—catchy as hell, but with that slightly sad, sideways twist that makes them feel real. Pure melody, sharp lyrics, zero fat. The guy can write a hook that hits you right in the chest. The b-sides on many singles are the hidden gems. Start with “It’s a Shame About Ray”, and ignore Mrs. Robinson. That made the Lemonheads known, but that is NOT the Lemonheads or reflective of Dando’s songwriting. My Drug Buddy, Bit Part, Alison’s Starting to Happen, all give a nice sampling of what to find on this album. On the 30th anniversary version, check out the b-sides Shakey Ground and Divan. Simple, catchy songs.

Yeah, Dando’s had (and still has) his share of ongoing personal troubles, and that’s been well-documented. I walked out of a Lemonheads concert 3 years ago because he didn’t know what planet he was on. BUT, that never takes away from how good the songs are. When the musician is on, it still holds up better than most of what was coming out of that era. Underrated as hell.