Artist
1990s
Glasgow, United Kingdom • 2004 – 2013
1990s is a music group from Glasgow, United Kingdom, active 2004–2013. Their discography on Gatefold includes 1 record.
1
Albums tracked
1
In collections
2004
Since
Biography
Jackie McKeown was still lugging around the ghost of The Yummy Fur when he started 1990s. He traded the frantic, angular art-punk for something that felt like it was recorded in a basement filled with empty Tyskie cans and old Bolan 7-inches. They signed to Rough Trade because Geoff Travis knew a good hook when he heard one, but the band never seemed interested in playing the industry game. They were too busy making glam-stomp records that sounded like they were falling down a flight of stairs in the best way possible. Bernard Butler stepped in to produce the debut and tried to polish the grime, but the Glasgow swagger was too thick to buff out. The band thrived on a specific kind of chaos that only exists when you have nothing to lose and a lot of cheap distortion pedals. They didn't reinvent the wheel; they just stole the hubcaps and sold them back to you with a smirk. By the time they hit the second record, the wheels were starting to wobble, but that friction is exactly why those tracks still kick.
The Arc of 1990s
The pivots — what forced 1990s to reinvent.
The Bernard Butler Sessions
When the band headed into the studio with the former Suede guitarist, the goal was to capture the raw energy of their live sets without losing the melodic filth. Butler focused on a big, saturated guitar sound that pushed McKeown’s vocals right to the edge of the red. The result was 'Cookies,' an album that felt like a bridge between the post-punk revival and the classic 70s pub rock scene. You can hear the tension between Butler’s precision and the band’s loose, rattling rhythm section in every track.
The Kustard Castle Shift
For the follow-up, the band retreated to their own space, dubbed Kustard Castle, to self-produce a messier and more psychedelic record. This era saw them leaning into weirder textures and abandoning the radio-friendly sheen of the debut for something far more idiosyncratic. The label pressure was mounting, but the band responded by making 'Kicks,' an album that felt like a middle finger to commercial expectations. It was the sound of a group realizing that the hype cycle was a trap and choosing to go out on their own terms.
Influences
- T. Rex — McKeown has consistently cited Marc Bolan as the blueprint for his guitar style and vocal delivery. You hear it in the boogie-inflected riffs of 'You're Supposed to Be My Friend.' It’s that specific brand of glam-rock strut stripped of the velvet.
- The Modern Lovers — The band’s deadpan delivery and minimalist arrangements draw directly from Jonathan Richman’s early work. The repetitive, driving rhythm of 'See You at the Pole' is a straight line back to the proto-punk simplicity of 'Roadrunner.' No-nonsense rock and roll with an art-school brain.
- The Fall — The Yummy Fur and 1990s both inherited Mark E. Smith’s penchant for repetitive, hypnotic grooves and sharp lyrical wit. McKeown’s approach to the guitar often mirrors the scratchy, dissonant energy found on 'Hex Enduction Hour.' It’s about the attitude as much as the notes.
- The Velvet Underground — The band’s fascination with the 'White Light/White Heat' era of the Velvets is evident in their use of feedback and floor-tom heavy drumming. They take that New York noise and filter it through a cynical Glasgow lens. It's the sound of a band that knows its history but isn't afraid to scuff it up.
- Big Star — Underneath the distortion, 1990s always had a knack for the kind of power-pop melodies perfected by Alex Chilton. You can hear the 'Radio City' influence in the way they stack harmonies over jagged guitar lines. It’s the art of the perfect pop song buried under a layer of grit.
Discography
Their records — most-collected first.
Related artists
Around the web
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