I definitely recall hearing stuff about Matchbox and Hootie, but then once I got to college Hootie and Counting Crows seemed to be really cool again. Third Eye Blind, to me always kind of went under the radar until I went to college. Every college band was covering their songs and then some of the scene folks always stuck with them (the Bedlight For Blue Eyes cover comes to mind). But, I've always liked most of those '90s bands and thought their records aged pretty well despite a more fratty college crowd getting into it. Hootie is my least favorite in the group you listed and I really only return to the hits.
Yeah, some Third Eye Blind, but also Counting Crows and Hootie. Hootie probably the most when I was in college because Rucker's country thing was taking off and country is very popular with the college crowd, along with house style EDM, dance pop, and some of the hip hop hits.
THIRD EYE BLIND: 20th ANNIVERSARY EDITION DISC ONE: "Losing A Whole Year" "Narcolepsy" "Semi-Charmed Life" "Jumper" "Graduate" "How's It Going To Be" "Thanks A Lot" "Burning Man" "Good For You" "London" "I Want You" "The Background" "Motorcycle Drive By" "God Of Wine" DISC TWO: "Alright Caroline"* "Scattered"* "Slow Motion" - Demo* "Semi-Charmed Life" - Demo* "Kiss Goodnight" - Demo* "Scattered" - Demo* "Heroin" - Demo* "Tattoo Of The Sun" * Previously Unreleased
I had the same experience with this album. For years I only really acknowledged those first six tracks. I'd heard the back half of the album in passing, but never really took it in. I finally took a look at it after I saw someone post a live video of Motorcycle Drive By back on AP.net. I remember being instantly blown away. Such a great, classic album.