What I've Been Into Recently: 1990s Bay Area (and wider CA) Indie Scene

So I've been into this band PEE for a while now. Their name may be off-putting, but I sincerely think this should be required listening. If you haven't heard of them, check it out - Now, More Charm and More Tender (1996), The Roaring Mechanism (1997)

It's gone from "funny name haha" to "this is some of the best music I've ever heard and every time I listen it just keeps getting better."

When I get really into any band, naturally I try to find supplementary information about them. The problem with PEE is, though, that in their original career they remained very obscure, with little to no surviving documentation other than their music and a few live recordings uploaded by fans.

In recent years, they have been gaining more popularity on internet forums like rateyourmusic.com. There is even a relatively new interview with the band, which is the cause of my interest in this scene.

Briefly and offhandedly, a member of PEE name-dropped a list of their contemporaries in the scene. This immediately had me looking up all these bands and their relations to each other on RYM. 

Here are a few of them:

Track Star

More noise-poppy indie rock that over time lost the rock and gained the pop. Lots of slower, sadder songs with some surprisingly beautiful melodies. Vocalist Wyatt Cusick is notable.

Listening: Sometimes, What's the Difference? (1995), Communication Breaks (1997)

Lowercase

Seriously heavy slowcore. Long, repetitive, driving songs.  Vocalist Imaad Wasif is incredible, with very unique clean vocals and intense screams. Very creative stuff, highly recommended. Tiber Scheer, the bassist for their last album, was also in PEE.

Listening: Kill the Lights (1997), The Going Away Present (1999)

Three Mile Pilot

On the quirky and experimental side of things. Addition of odd instruments like bagpipes. Great melodies and songwriting within the layer of experimentation.

Listening: The Chief Assassin to the Sinister (1994)

Heavy Vegetable

Not from the Bay Area but perhaps the most overt influence on PEE. Some think Heavy Veg did it better, but I would disagree. Very similar, though. Songs are often less than two minutes with lots of tempo changes and other quirks.

Listening: The Amazing Underwater Adventures of Aqua Kitty and Friends (1994), Frisbie (1995)

Cars Get Crushed

Very interesting band that got picked up by Numero recently (Hope for PEE reissues???). Started out being typical post-hardcore of the time for the first two albums, but on the third, a strange mix of the former sound with psychedelic space-rock. 

Listening: Blue and West (1996), Evolution to Thrust (1999)

Trumans Water

Again, on the quirky side of things. Lots would call it unlistenable, I think it's great. I have only listened to one album though. Unlike the other bands on this list, this band has a long list of albums with most relatively unknown. Vocals more similar to 1970s weirdo rock (see Hampton Grease Band) than any contemporaries.

Listening: Spasm Smash XXXOXOX Ox & Ass (1993)

Overall a very rewarding scene with lots of interesting connections and a sonically diverse group of artists. There are many more not on this list; let me know if there are any glaring inaccuracies or things overlooked. Thanks for reading!