20 years on: April 6, 1991

As modern rock enters its (gulp) third decade, we're taking a look back at the charts of two decades ago.

This week in 1991:  The #1 song was, again, REM's "Losing My Religion." Jesus Jones finally dropped out of the top 10, and Sting returned to it with the fourth and final single off his Soul Cages album.

1. REM, "Losing My Religion"
2. Morrissey, "Our Frank"

3. Material Issue, "Valerie Loves Me"
4. Divinyls, "I Touch Myself"
5. Simple Minds, "See the Lights"
6. EMF, "Unbelievable"
7. The Godfathers, "Unreal World"
8. Havana 3 a.m., "Reach the Rock"
9. Sting, "The Soul Cages"

Few remember this now, because of the last 20 years of his career, but Sting dominated the early modern rock charts, due in no small part to his association with the Police (the early modern-rock stations loved the Police and the Clash... see also Havana 3 a.m.). This is his last Top 10 modern-rock hit, though, and he only appeared on the modern rock charts one more time, with "It's Probably Me" off the Lethal Weapon 3 soundtrack in 1992.

10. The Judybats, "Native Son"
The Judybats were a band of kids from the University of Tennessee who played the type of folky college-rock that dominated the modern rock charts pre-Nevermind. Unfortunately, Warner Brothers won't let me embed the video, but it's a decent song. This is their first hit, and they managed to put out four albums in total for Sire before breaking up in 1994.

Deal of the week... 99-cent greatest hits EPs

If you've been in a Best Buy recently, you know they've made some mistakes in the last few years in regard to exclusive CDs. Guns 'n Roses' Chinese Democracy is the biggest example, but you can still find minimum 6 or 7 copies of Scott Weiland's Happy in Galoshes in any Best Buy as well.

For Black Friday 2008, Best Buy sold six-song EPs of greatest hits from Stone Temple Pilots, Counting Crows, Weezer, the Cars, Three Doors Down, and Linkin Park. They cost $5.99 and were placed in prominent positions for people to buy as stocking stuffers. The Weezer one contains "Buddy Holly" and "Say it Ain't So" (but nothing from Pinkerton), while the STP one has "Sex Type Thing," "Wicked Garden," "Big Empty," etc.  Not a terrible idea, and they probably sold quite a few to clueless parents who were just looking for something their kid would like.

The problem is, Best Buy manufactured waaaay more than they sold. And now, two and a half years later, their mistake is your gain. Happened to be in Best Buy yesterday, and I saw that all of the six-pack CDs are now on sale for 99 cents. And there were a lot: I counted roughly 30 STPs, 20 or so Weezers, 25 Three Doors Downs. I already own STP's greatest hits and the Blue Album, but I did pick up the Cars one. Chances are these things will be on blowout prices until they're gone, so if you're interested, swing by and pick one up.

Name that song!

From the Tied to the '90s inbox, we have a request from reader "Drew."

"I'm trying to find out the name of a song and the band who sings it.  I can't seem to find it on the net except on YouTube.  It is on a show called Austin Stories on MTV circa 1997."
The song in question begins at 6:13 of the video below.


 Alright, '90s fans, any ideas? I have honestly no clue.