90s Whatever... Helium

There is always great music in every era and I know I am biased but the 90s did seem to push some creativity to the commercial tops. 

I remember hearing Helium for the first time and thinking that it sounded like nothing else. In fact, they seem to fit into what seems like a 90s band template. They released two albums and lasted from 1992 to 1998. It’s almost like the scene was so rocket powered and like other great scenes and eras, the music industry decided what could and couldn’t sell and pushed everything else away. 1995s The Dirt of Luck with opener Pat’s Trick has to be on a short list of greatest 90s albums. 

The bands follow up was recorded with Mitch Easter and critics cite unlikely influences like Yes, King Crimson and early Genesis. Band leader Mary Timony was so talented that she couldn’t be kept down. She had a productive solo career that led to another spot on year end Best Ofs with 2014s Rips- the debut of her band Ex Hex. 

Like so many of these 90s bands, one can’t necessarily talk about concert attendance or album sales, but influence. Helium was a big influence on Sleater- Kinney. Sleater- Kinney have cut such an unique path that they seemingly came from nowhere with maybe some Ramones albums, early riot grrl records and admiration for trailblazing British post punk bands like the Raincoats and the Slits, that you almost miss a Helium connection. But it was there and recognized. Timony recorded an album -2011s Wild Flag with Carrie Brownstein and Janet Weiss of Sleater -Kinney which was a critical and chart success. Timony also plays in Hammered Hulls, a band fronted by Alec MacKaye. She also made Rolling Stone’s 2023 Greatest Guitarists of All Time list. 

As I have been featuring 90s music, it’s also notable that Timony has a new solo album. Her first solo work in 15 years and her first significant album since Ex Hex’s second record in 2019. Her drummer on the album is Dave Mattakcs who played on Fairport Convention’s Liege and Lief and Nick Drake’s Bryter Layter. Pitchfork and Uncut give it positive reviews. 

While putting this together, I was reading the biography of Helium. The original band was named Chupa and featured another classic 90s indie rock artist Mary Lou Lord along with Juliana Hatfield’s brother Jason and rhythm section Shawn King Devlin and Brian Dunton. It was Devlin and Dunton (and Polvo guitarist Ash Bowie) who joined Timony in Helium. Devlin and Dunton were members of another great indie band called Dumptruck. 

Those bands could also deserve entry in the College Rock hall of fame. Dumptruck being a contemporary of Game Theory, REM and Miracle Legion predating the Americana and alt country music. Polvo breaking musical ground for later bands like Explosions in the Sky and Cursive.