Soul Coughing - Ruby VroomA band that has been unfairly maligned under the assumption that their work was meant to be associated with hip hop, Soul Coughing were one of the more unique bands of the "alternative" 90s. Fronted by spoken-word poet Mike Doughty, the group used the conventional drum and bass backing, added understated guitar, and then stacked on top of that excellent layers of sampled noise. At times on this debut, their strongest complete record, the results were silly and outlandish ("Is Chicago, Is Not Chicago") or reflective and beautiful ("True Dreams of Wichita"), but never less than interesting. Doughty's lyrics are consistently entertaining, and his inflections are perfect without being mannered. "Screenwriter's Blues," below, is one of the best songs about Hollywood. Ruby Vroom is not to be worshipped (it lags a bit in the second half), but not to be forgotten either.
Doughty'''s inflections are nothing but mannered.