#133. “Closer” – Nine Inch Nails
#134. “No Excuses” – Alice In Chains
#135. “The Day I Tried To Live” – Soundgarden 
For some reason, the summer of 1994 was a heyday for particularly grim music. Saturating the air were the negative vibes of “industrial” bands like Nine Inch Nails and Ministry (their 1994 offering was entitled Filth Pig. Indeed.) All the grunge knock-offs and second-generation shoegaze aided and abetted the general ambiance of doom. Which was fine by me. It matched my state of mind. I was in the grips of post-breakup grief, and things like the NIN magnum opus The Downward Spiral (“Help me – I’ve broke apart my insides/Help me – I’ve got no soul to sell/Help me – the only thing that works for me/Help me get away from myself…My whole existence is flawed…”) gave it a voice.
The gritty Alice In Chains EP Jar Of Flies was also a favorite at this time, thanks to the song that may have summed up my feelings better than anything else. I almost wore out the CD on this one, so it’s worth quoting at length:
It’s alright…There comes a time
Got no patience to search for peace of mind
Laying’ low…Want to take it slow
No more hiding or disguising truths I’ve sold
Everyday something hits me all so cold
Find me sittin’ by myself — no excuses that I know
It’s okay…Had a bad day
Hands are bruised from breaking rocks all day
Drained and blue …I bleed for you
You think it’s funny, well you’re drowning in it too
Everyday something hits me all so cold
Find me sittin’ by myself — no excuses that I know
Yeah, it’s fine…We’ll walk down the line
Leave our rain, a cold trade for warm sunshine
You my friend …I will defend
And if we change, well I love you anyway
Get the picture, skipper? Continue reading
Holy Bee of Ephesus 