Now praised as one of the most underrated 90’s bands, the Detroit rockers of Sponge debuted with a cauldron-full of tracks in 1994. The album title itself came from some dark humor within the band, and some songs cover deeper topics. Fan favorites include “Molly,” and “Plowed,” both singles. However, the focus is on the title track.
“Rotting Piñata” starts with an upbeat, jangly riff, but builds up and hits with loud, crunchy instrumentation and frontman Vinnie Drombowski’s drawn-out vocals, almost like wailing. The high-tempo anger remains steady throughout the track’s entirety, leaving little room to rest, even in the quieter bridge. A final burnout of noise closes it all out, as the so-called “Rotting Piñata” loses its energy.
As 90’s music trends in the fall months, here’s a reminder to check on that old, deep candy bucket of forgotten rock tracks.
