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History and archive
Subterranean is a weekly alternative music video block on MTV2. The show started back in 2003 as the successor to 120 Minutes, the long-running flagship alternative show on MTV. The series was hosted by Jim Shearer and featured interviews with alternative artists and bands every week until 2007, when MTV2 reformatted the hour as a video block.
When Subterranean premiered in 2003, it was billed as the next generation of 120 Minutes. The idea was to take that classic format and apply it to the next generation of alternative music.
Here at altmusictv, we like to think of Subterranean as the last stand of the alternative music show in the classic MTV format — the VJ, bands and artists being interviewed, live performances, and the like, in between music videos. For almost 4 years, Subterranean stayed true to that format. It was something worth staying up for at the end of the weekend. Well, we thought so.
So, what happened?
In February 2007, MTV2 fired its entire production staff and converted all of its remaining music shows into pure video blocks. No hosts, no band interviews, just videos and commercials.
As a result, we believe it's no longer worth it to watch Subterranean on TV and write down the playlist. In today's era of the Internet, sitting through 20 minutes of late night commercials only for some videos doesn't make sense. It's unfortunate that Subterranean isn't a show anymore. We hope MTV2 will change their mind about this decision, but we know they won't.
You can still watch alternative videos on MTV2 every Sunday night at about 1 AM ET. That hasn't changed. However, we suggest heading over to MTV.com at your convenience. The videos are still posted there, and you can watch them at any time without sitting through as many ads.
If you want a list of the videos played each week, go to the great Playlist Archives site (not affiliated with us) and take a look at the episodes. They have all the newest stuff every week.
subterranean playlist archive
If you want to look back at the show you once loved, that's our
specialty. We archived playlists for every original episode of Subterranean during all its days as a legit show with Jim Shearer. Seriously, all 188 of them. An original episode is one that was hosted by Jim Shearer, featured an interview or VJ segments, and earned an episode number from the gods of MTV2.
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February 27, 2007 |
PLUG Awards |
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February 11, 2007 |
Matt and Kim |
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February 4, 2007 |
(no guest) |
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January 28, 2007 |
The Shins |
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January 21, 2007 |
(no guest) |
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January 14, 2007 |
The Black Keys |
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January 7, 2007 |
The Thermals |
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December 17, 2006 |
Best of 2006 |
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December 10, 2006 |
Robert Smith of The Cure |
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December 3, 2006 |
Dirty on Purpose |
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November 26, 2006 |
The Horrors |
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November 19, 2006 |
Noel Gallagher |
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November 12, 2006 |
The Rapture |
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November 5, 2006 |
Beck |
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October 29, 2006 |
Imogen Heap |
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October 22, 2006 |
Sean Lennon |
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October 15, 2006 |
Silversun Pickups |
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October 1, 2006 |
Regina Spektor |
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September 24, 2006 |
TV on the Radio |
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September 17, 2006 |
Gothic Box special |
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September 10, 2006 |
Scissor Sisters |
| September 3,
2006 |
The New Pornographers |
| August 27, 2006 |
VMA winners special |
| August 20, 2006 |
Dirty Pretty Things |
| August 13, 2006 |
Sonic Youth |
| August 6, 2006 |
Muse |
| July 30, 2006 |
Be Your Own Pet |
| July 23, 2006 |
Murs |
| July 16, 2006 |
Sound Team |
| July 9, 2006 |
The Streets |
| July 2, 2006 |
Islands |
| June 25, 2006 |
Band of Horses |
| June 18, 2006 |
Jamie Lidell |
| June 11, 2006 |
(no guest) |
| June 4, 2006 |
Gnarls Barkley |
| May 28, 2006 |
Secret Machines |
| May 21, 2006 |
Irving |
| May 14, 2006 |
Phoenix |
| May 7, 2006 |
Eagles of Death Metal |
| April 30, 2006 |
The Gossip |
| April 23, 2006 |
Mates of State |
| April 16, 2006 |
Death Cab For Cutie |
| April 9, 2006 |
The Flaming Lips |
| April 2, 2006 |
Editors |
| March 26,
2006 |
SXSW 2006 |
| March 19,
2006 |
Hot Chip |
| March 12,
2006 |
Silver Jews |
| March 5,
2006 |
Yeah Yeah Yeahs |
| February 26,
2006 |
David Cross |
| February 19,
2006 |
The Honorary Title |
| February 12,
2006 |
Feist |
| February 5,
2006 |
Chad VanGaalen |
| January 29, 2006 |
Tom Vek |
| January 22, 2006 |
Cat Power |
| January 14, 2006 |
We Are Scientists |
| January 8, 2006 |
Morningwood |
| December 18,
2005 |
Pinback |
| December 11,
2005 |
World Leader Pretend |
| December 4,
2005 |
The Magic Numbers |
| November 27,
2005 |
(no guest) |
| November 20,
2005 |
The Black Keys |
| November 13,
2005 |
The Sun |
| November 6,
2005 |
Stellastarr* |
| October 30, 2005 |
Nada Surf |
| October 23, 2005 |
Longwave |
| October 16, 2005 |
The New Pornographers |
| October 9, 2005 |
Sons and Daughters |
| October 2, 2005 |
The Cloud Room |
| September 25,
2005 |
LCD Soundsystem |
| September 18,
2005 |
Of Montreal |
| September 11,
2005 |
Fred Armisen |
| August 28, 2005 |
Death Cab For Cutie |
| August 21, 2005 |
The National |
| August 14, 2005 |
Saul Williams |
| August 7, 2005 |
Ben Lee |
| July 31, 2005 |
Mike Doughty |
| July 24, 2005 |
Siren Music Festival |
| July 17, 2005 |
Brendan Benson |
| July 10, 2005 |
Regina Spektor |
| June 26, 2005 |
Sleater-Kinney |
| June 19, 2005 |
The Helio Sequence |
| June 12, 2005 |
Shout Out Louds |
| June 5, 2005 |
Gorillaz |
| May 29, 2005 |
M.I.A. |
| May 22, 2005 |
Thievery Corporation |
| May 15, 2005 |
The Dead 60s |
| May 8, 2005 |
Secret Machines |
| May 1, 2005 |
Louis XIV |
| April 24, 2005 |
M83 |
| April 17, 2005 |
Bloc Party |
| April 10, 2005 |
Phoenix |
| April 3, 2005 |
The Dears |
| March 27, 2005 |
Death From Above 1979 |
| March 20, 2005 |
Ian Brown |
| March 13, 2005 |
Futureheads |
| March 6, 2005 |
Kasabian |
| February 27,
2005 |
The Music |
| February 13,
2005 |
The Zutons |
| February 6,
2005 |
Radio 4 |
| January 30, 2005 |
The Kills |
| January 23, 2005 |
Tegan and Sara |
| January 16, 2005 |
Kings of Leon |
| January 9, 2005 |
(no guest) |
| January 2, 2005 |
(no guest) |
| December 26, 2004 |
Best of 2004 |
| December 19, 2004 |
Le Tigre |
| December 12, 2004 |
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists |
| December 5, 2004 |
Dogs Die In Hot Cars |
| November 28, 2004 |
Razorlight |
| November 21, 2004 |
Shortlist Music Prize finalists |
| November 14, 2004 |
French Kicks |
| November 7, 2004 |
The Dandy Warhols |
| October 31, 2004 |
Clinic |
| October 24, 2004 |
Rilo Kiley |
| October 17, 2004 |
Interpol |
| October 10, 2004 |
Keane |
| October 3, 2004 |
Shortlist Music Prize special #2 (finalists) |
| September 26, 2004 |
Sam Roberts |
| September 19, 2004 |
Snow Patrol |
| September 12, 2004 |
(no guest) |
| September 5, 2004 |
Shortlist Music Prize special |
| August 29, 2004 |
Secret Machines (repeat) |
| August 22, 2004 |
Jesse Malin |
| August 15, 2004 |
The Veils |
| August 8, 2004 |
TV On The Radio |
| August 1, 2004 |
Muse |
| July 25, 2004 |
The Hives |
| July 18, 2004 |
The Walkmen |
| July 11, 2004 |
The Streets |
| July 4, 2004 |
The Fire Theft |
| June 27, 2004 |
PJ Harvey |
| June 20, 2004 |
Ambulance Ltd. |
| June 13, 2004 |
Ben Kweller |
| June 6, 2004 |
Sonic Youth special |
| May 30, 2004 |
Bumblebeez 81 |
| May 23, 2004 |
The Features |
| May 16, 2004 |
Secret Machines |
| May 9, 2004 |
Peaches |
| May 2, 2004 |
Air |
| April 23, 2004 |
Franz Ferdinand, Snow Patrol |
| April 16, 2004 |
Sam Roberts, Modest Mouse |
| April 9, 2004 |
The Stills, Pretty Girls Make Graves |
| April 2, 2004 |
The Polyphonic Spree, British Sea Power |
| March 28, 2004 |
The Darkness (repeat) |
| March 21, 2004 |
Stellastarr* |
| March 14, 2004 |
The Strokes |
| March 7, 2004 |
The Von Bondies plus Subterranean UK |
| February 29, 2004 |
Beck |
| February 22, 2004 |
Dizzee Rascal |
| February 15, 2004 |
Death Cab For Cutie |
| February 8, 2004 |
Starsailor |
| February 1, 2004 |
The Crystal Method |
| January 25, 2004 |
(no guest) |
| January 18, 2004 |
(no guest) |
| January 11, 2004 |
Atmosphere |
| January 2, 2004 |
Blue October |
| December 19, 2003 |
Best of 2003 plus Subterranean UK |
| December 12, 2003 |
The Rapture |
| December 5, 2003 |
Elefant |
| November 28, 2003 |
Sofia Coppola |
| November 21, 2003 |
The Darkness |
| November 14, 2003 |
Radiohead plus Subterranean UK |
| November 7, 2003 |
The Thrills |
| October 31, 2003 |
Travis |
| October 24, 2003 |
The Shins |
| October 17, 2003 |
Ima Robot |
| October 10, 2003 |
Super Furry Animals plus Subterranean UK |
| October 3, 2003 |
Ben Lee |
| September 26, 2003 |
The Chemical Brothers |
| September 19, 2003 |
The Dandy Warhols |
| September 12, 2003 |
Kings of Leon |
| September 5, 2003 |
Kenna |
| August 29, 2003 |
Guster |
| August 15, 2003 |
(no guest) |
| August 8, 2003 |
"E" of Eels |
| August 1, 2003 |
Dave Gahan plus Subterranean UK |
| July 25, 2003 |
Siren Music Festival |
| July 18, 2003 |
The New Pornographers |
| July 11, 2003 |
(no guest) plus Subterranean UK |
| July 4, 2003 |
Ted Leo |
| June 27, 2003 |
Earlimart |
| June 20, 2003 |
EL-P |
| June 13, 2003 |
Bright Eyes |
| June 6, 2003 |
Nada Surf plus Subterranean UK |
| May 30, 2003 |
Longwave |
| May 23, 2003 |
The Sounds |
| May 16, 2003 |
Jesse Malin |
| May 9, 2003 |
Yeah Yeah Yeahs (premiere) |

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