Music and how I got here
 

Music has always been a part of my life to some extent. From the time I was born, whether it is from my parents or friends at school, I have been listening to music. It is no secret that once someone begins delving into music past what shows up on the radio, they are struck with a seemingly infinite number of genres and subgenres, music that can be louder than loud and softer than soft, music that creates atmospheres and sounds that that person probably didn’t even know could exist. It is these aspects of music that have inspired an obsession in me (while at the same time it is the reason many are overwhelmed and shy away from a deep musical exploration). However, just the fact that such variety and confusion can exist in music begs the question, “How does someone develop the taste in music that they have?” I have met many people with an obsession for music equal to (if not more) than my own, yet their preference in music could not be further from mine. I like to feel as if I have a very open mind to all forms of music, but at times even I find it difficult to completely relate to why someone likes something that they do. What led them to this music? What do they hear that I don’t? It is all of these questions that have led me to write about what led me to what I like. As chronologically as I can, I will trace the key albums and artists that have shaped me to like what I like today. Some of which, I am sorry to say, inspire embarrassment. Some people will laugh. Just remember that we all came from somewhere and none of us started as the well educated music elitists that we consider ourselves today. So if you are interested, read on. Who knows, maybe you will find a direction to take with music that you never thought of before.

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The first album I am going to write about, thankfully, is not one of those albums that will provoke laughs. Of course, this is not to my credit as I was very young and had no say as to what I was listening to at most times. Yes, this first entry goes to the credit of my parents. Age: my earliest childhood years. Band: Talking Heads. Album: Stop Making Sense.

For those who don’t know, the Talking Heads were a prominent band in the New York punk scene during the 70’s. I never really thought they fit in with the “punk” moniker, but I guess they were victims like so many bands before and since that get lumped in with a certain movement simply thru timing and circumstance. This happened to Talking Heads, I believe, for the simple fact that they started to make a name for themselves thru performing at CBGB’s. Talking Head’s music is quirky and whimsical while maintaining a subtle political edge. In their formative years, frontman David Byrne purposefully created music that was very trebly and light. At one point, he mentioned how everyone those days was trying to make their guitars as loud and beefy as possible so he tried to do the exact opposite by making his guitar sound light and wimpy. Soon after, the band cultivated a creative relationship with Brian Eno and produced some their best albums. The album I will be talking about, Stop Making Sense, is a concert movie released in 1983 shot over 3 nights at Hollywood’s Pantages Theater during their tour to promote Speaking in Tongues. The performance itself is truly amazing and a testament to the talent and influence that the Talking Heads have on music today. For anyone interested, the DVD is worth checking out. However, I will be talking strictly about the soundtrack to the film.

Just thinking about this album, I am taken back to my childhood home in Memphis, Tennessee. My mother would put this on in the record player and dance around with me as a small toddler. The song that always stood out – and the song that is always playing when I think on this memory – is Burning Down the House. It had that really simple line that even in my tiny state, I could sing with a certain amount of passion and conviction. “Burning down the house!” This is one of those memories that are so ingrained in my head that it is probably one of the first that occurs to me when someone asks, “So what is your earliest memory?” I loved it. One thing that always stuck with me was how David Byrne had such a great voice, but was still willing to use it in a very quirky and abstract way. In a sense, he was using his voice as an instrument and not just as something that is done while the instruments are playing. I remember loving Psycho Killer and Take Me to the River as well

So, how has this album shaped what I listen to now? For one, it inspired a kind of subconscious love for jangly clean guitars that a lot of indie bands use these days. The list of these is quite intense, but one that comes to mind from recent times is Girls. It also inspired a hunger for more Talking Heads. When I was a bit older, I hunted down all of their albums and they were one of the first bands I can safely say I was a diehard fan of. Considering how incredibly diverse the Talking Head’s music is, it is no surprise that I started to come at music with a very open mind beginning from my childhood. It also imprinted a high standard as far as live shows go. The production quality and work put into Stop Making Sense was apparent even when I was tiny, so from then on it always surprised me when a band did anything less than what they achieved. That also means that when I do find a band that puts on a show comparable to this, I will go straight out and buy their album. This has happened with a lot of jam bands like Phish or Umphrey’s McGee. The fact that these guys can improvise music of that quality and play for the lengths of time that they do impresses me to no end. I’m sure this album has done more than I can possibly put into words as far as my love of music goes, but those aspects will have to remain tucked away in my subconscious.

Since the point of these entries is to discuss how these albums influenced me at the age I first listened to them, I will refrain from reviewing the album from today’s perspective. Just know that this is an album that I definitely still listen to and I would recommend it to absolutely anyone. If you are already a Talking Heads fan and have never heard Stop Making Sense, what are you waiting for?! This is required listening. The version of Psycho Killer found on this is, in my opinion, even better than the version found on Talking Heads: 77. I hope you enjoyed my trip down Nostalgia Lane, listening to this album still takes me straight back to those formative years where all I had to worry about was if my little brother was messing with my toys. This album truly holds a special place in my heart. Till next time!

You're a great writer, duga. :3
Well done.
I love that you're open to new music but openly admit that you've shyed away from it in the past.
The confusion is certainly something that will always be a wonder to me as well, and you worded it perfectly when you said "such variety and confusion" can exist.
Congratulations on your journal. I will most definitely be keeping up.

thanks so much! i'm glad you enjoyed it. i hope to be getting a little deeper as i start to post albums that i listened to as a teenager. those were the years where music started to really matter to me...like, "what would i do without this music?" kind of thing.

i also hope people reading this wouldn't mind posting similar stories...i'm so fascinated about how people have the preference that they do. learning how someone can love something so deeply might get me to think about their music in that way and maybe appreciate it that much more.

another entry will be up in a couple days...depending on when the writing urge hits me.

I'm so glad you're tracing your whole taste's evolution in music. That is also something that have always fascinated me, and that myself am trying to figure out a year at a time. Though I guess, as you're older than me, you'll find it even harder to recall all the changes in your taste, I hope it won't be. Anyway, good start for your journal, and great start with Talking Heads in your journey through music.
I remember the first time I heard about the Talking Heads, it was in the summer of 2006, watching a talent show, when one of the contestants sings Psycho Killer. I was so thrilled hearing the amateurish cover, you can imagine how great it was hearing the original version. Talking Heads became one of my favourite bands ever since.

Looking forward for your next entry.
Cheers.

thanks so much!

luckily, i have a pretty good memory and appreciation for what has inspired me. it is also hard to not hear similarities in bands these days with new music i am hearing, so i try to trace it that way. i'm glad others like the talking heads, too!

next entry will be up in a few minutes!

The Youngest Years 2 - Jean Michel Jarre - Oxygene


The next album I am going to review is another that I still listen to even today. In fact, aside from the personal impact this album has had on me, the influence this album has had on the world of music can be heard in nearly any electronic song since. From the sweeping synth to almost sensual melodies played out in this ambient/electronic album, it is easy to forget this album was made in 1976. It is one of those rare occurrences where the music is truly ahead of its time. The artist is Jean Michel Jarre and the album is Oxygene.

First, a bit of background information. Jean Michel Jarre is a French composer who pioneered electronic and ambient music with this album. There were artists before him, but Oxygene was one of the key releases in the genre as it went on to sell more than twelve million copies. If that weren’t enough Jean Michel Jarre holds the record for the largest audience ever to attend an outdoor event (three and a half million people attended his show in 1997 for Moscow’s 850th anniversary – and this was after he broke his own record twice before). If that isn’t enough credibility to give the album a listen, I don’t know what is!

Another album to my parents’ credit, it is piece of music that I listened to in my youngest years. A contrast to the upbeat “get on your feet and move” feeling of the Talking Heads, Oxygene was the album my parents would stick on if they just wanted to chill out and read (or put me to sleep). Being such a small child and listening to an album with such alien sounds, I was truly in awe. The music of the Talking Heads had been so down to Earth and familiar. How is this music being made? This was the first music I had ever heard where listening to it had moved beyond a simple aural fix. I was feeling the music. Perhaps because I couldn’t place the sounds I was hearing to any one instrument, I was able to move beyond it and perceive the emotions this person was trying to convey through sound. Never before had music actually put me through feeling relief and paranoia or happiness and fear one right after the other. I was intrigued, and in hindsight I am actually uncertain why I never took up keyboards. Maybe to me the music was so complex sounding that I did not even want to attempt it.

As if the music was not enough, the album artwork for this album is haunting. Just look at it! Earth’s crust peeling away to reveal a human skull – I loved the artwork! Obviously being a tiny little kid, I couldn’t make many abstract interpretations of the artwork, but I sure thought it looked cool. Looking at it now, it holds such a deep meaning that it takes a place in my top five pieces of album artwork ever. I will hold back from how I feel about it now, as I am trying to relate the feelings I had when I was young. However, feel free to discuss it! I’m sure a good conversation could come out of the artwork alone.

I still use this album as my standard comparison when listening to any electronic music, despite its age. The influence this has had on me goes beyond description. It is this album that planted the roots of my love of music that combines melody and atmosphere to create a very emotional “world”. In fact, these are the first songs I ever heard where I felt as if I was entering another world and as a result, I have been on a constant hunt for music that makes me feel the same way. I would say ninety percent of all the music I listen to now reflects this. If I had to make one comparison, however, it is with Boards of Canada. The album Campfire Headphase is probably the only albums I have heard in recent years that can hold a candle to Oxygene. I do not think I would have been so readily accepting of Boards of Canada had it not been for Jean Michel Jarre.

So, another album another day. I hope this inspired some people to check the album out, it is worth it! There are a few more albums I am going to review before I hit my naïve preteen years, so thankfully I can stave off the embarrassment for a while longer. Until then, comments are welcome. What are some of the key albums of your life? Till next time!

^^^^

I was around 13 when I first heard this and was intrigued by it but I have since found much more conducive to my tastes. It's a good opener to Electronica though. Great post.

Never heard that before...that's such a cool sound.

This site really frustrates me sometimes, cause it's so easy to get incredibly backed up with albums that you haven't heard and want to check out. I've told myself that I'm gonna relax on the downloads, but I really do wanna check this out I think.

Good stuff. :thumb:

I love your introduction and the fact that you used a band and an artist I never listened to before. :)

First off, I completely agree that it's interesting to learn why certain people like certain genres. I'm usually very open to music, but there are a couple I try to get into, but to no avail, I go nowhere. Most in particular is the, I'm guessing, sub-genre Screamo and the whole of Country. I've also learned that I'd actually prefer listening to instrumentals as opposed to music with singers, since I usually listened to "classical" music without singers as a child.

Also, being openminded makes you bored of pop radio. Yeah, the structure of the songs is always going to be the same, but the same songs are played. I remember listening to the radio and hearing Britney's "3" once an hour when all of the songs were played less frequency. But the constant playing of the same songs always made me wonder how the rest of an artist's album would sound like. This is when I started listening to the artist as a whole. It gave me the ability to compare other artists and see a sort of inspiration that came from listening to more famous artists such as Michael Jackson and the like.

Anyway, I'm going to try and be a regular reader of your journal :) I'm liking the two reviews you wrote

i really appreciate the positive comments, guys! it really motivates me to know people are actually checking my journal out....i'll be writing here as often as i can. it is actually quite relaxing to write about this stuff.

Before I get too ahead of myself with albums, I thought this would be an appropriate time to pay homage to something that has probably instilled more musical appreciation in me than any one album. As I sit and listen to the relaxing sounds of B.B. King, I am compelled to write of where my life began. That place is Memphis, Tennessee.

I’m sure as most of you read those words you immediately knew how this entry would go. The legend of Memphis is forever ingrained into the history of Rock n’ Roll. It continues to be a haven for all things blues and is a Mecca of sorts for anyone who count themselves as a rock enthusiast. It also played a large part during the Civil Rights Movement, and is the site of Martin Luther King Jr’s assassination. Yes, on March 1st, 1986, I entered the world through the gateway of Memphis. Was it even possible that I not be into music?

Before I get into the glamorous side of Memphis, I think it is important to describe exactly how it was to grow up there. Memphis has some incredible places to explore as a tourist, but step outside of known “tourist” areas and you are met with nothing more than your stereotypical inner city projects. I have done no specific research on the political side of the city, but whatever they are doing it is definitely not 100% effective. The city is run poorly and in quite a corrupt manner. Money is continuously pumped into said tourist spots and the “projects” of the city are continually neglected. It also keeps getting worse. Areas known to be prosperous and safe are eventually overrun with crime and turn into projects themselves. Racism is still a very real problem. For a place with such a vibrant history, these aspects truly break my heart.

Of course, in my youth I was blissfully unaware of anything I mentioned in the previous paragraph. Race and religion were nothing to a small child, and experiencing it as I got older gave me true insight into the problem of racism. It is truly a product of one’s parents. All of my friends didn’t care if I was white or black. However, these issues slowly crept into my peers’ minds and as I entered the 5th grade, comments like, “You can’t be on my team, whitey” were commonplace. In the classes where white children were in the majority, the black children were blatantly ostracized. The teachers were paid a pittance and could care less what happened. These tensions continue into adulthood, and you can feel the way people think while walking in some parts of the city. My neighborhood slowly degenerated into a crime filled haven for drug addicts, and at one point had a known brothel. That is when my parents felt it best to move away.

Though the ugly side of Memphis is there (and quite obvious to those who visit and venture out deep into the city), there is a reason I and countless others still feel so connected to it. I’ve been to many big cities in the U.S., but one thing about Memphis that sets it apart from the others is the presence of a true culture. Most places I see within the country seem very neutral and quite void of a personality, to me. Memphis, however, feels like Memphis. It is unlike any other city in the country. What is the culture? The music, of course. That is why I am writing this, after all. You can feel the blues walking down the street. Even if there were no blues playing, you wouldn’t be able to help but imagine it playing (but there is always blues playing, so imagining is not necessary). The Cajun influence is also incredibly apparent from the catfish to the accent some people adorn. And the BBQ ribs. Words can’t describe how amazing Memphis ribs are. If anyone reads this and takes a trip to Memphis, go to the B.B. King Blues Club and get a full rack of ribs and a pint of B.B. King’s Blues Ale. Trust me on this. I have never seen a place since where music pervades the atmosphere so deeply.

I doubt Memphis’s contribution to the world of music needs to be stated, but for the sake of completeness, I think it is important to mention. Blues, heavily inspired by the songs sung by slave laborers got its roots in the Mississippi delta in the early 1900s. Harsh economic and race related conditions led those early blues artists directly the Memphis. Blues may have not started "in" Memphis, but it definitely evolved and gained it first piece of recognition there. Beale Street became a haven for every blues artist in the south. And who doesn’t know Sun Studios? Many a famous artist got their start in that tiny studio (Elvis being the most known). Countless others (some still going strong) started in Memphis. B.B. King, Johnny Cash, Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Robert Johnson…the list could go on. Anytime I put on some blues it takes me back there. I can’t help but to think of Memphis and walking down Beale Street. Memphis even has its own brand of blues, rightfully dubbed "Memphis Blues". It emphasizes a more danceable rhythm and is more heavily influenced by jazz than other forms. It is hard to find genuine blues these days. In fact, I find myself going back to the classics more than trying to discover a new blues artist. However, visiting Memphis reminds me the blues is alive and well. The blues, regardless of how popular it is anywhere else, will forever be a part of Memphis. It is the soul of the city, and anyone needing to hear some new blues need look no further than there.

So, would I recommend visiting? Most definitely. Every city has an ugly side. It just so happens that the history, culture, and atmosphere of many of the places in Memphis make it worth seeing. If you are feeling really touristy go check out Graceland. Growing up in a place like that ingrained music as a vital need in my life, not just a pleasure. I still visit Memphis a lot, as I still have family there and each time I go, I take a day to walk around Beale Street and do nothing but sip some beer, eat some ribs, and get lost in the blues.

EDIT: I revised a bit above, changed the BB King vid to what I originally thought it was and added a classic example of pure Memphis Blues (yep..all the way back to 1928). Enjoy!

Ok this thing has been neglected for long enough. Time to get it rolling again, I have plenty of albums to cover.

Early Childhood
The Cranberries - No Need To Argue


This particular album marks the first bit of music that I can truly say was my own. Yep, I was around 6 or 7 years old, I had just received a Sony Walkman (the cassette kind – for you kids out there, we used strips of magnetic tape in the 80's/early 90's to listen to music...especially when traveling since the affordable CD players skipped like a mofo), and I was set to go with my first ever album. The first notes to grace my ears through those headphones were from the Cranberries and their album No Need To Argue.

Obviously, I had to get this recommendation from somewhere. What 6 year old is going to grab the Cranberries off the shelf? At this time, I started taking all my musical queues from my much older half sister. Basically, anything she had I had to have, too. I would only see her on very sporadic weekends, so she always seemed like some sort of enigmatic sage of coolness (especially since she was so much older than me). She started raving about the Cranberries and how they were her favorite band, so they automatically became my favorite band as well.

Thankfully, the music was actually pretty good! This particular album has actually been lost in time to me for quite a while. In fact, I hadn't listened to it for years and years until I decided to write this. As I listen to it, it is bringing back so many childhood memories. I can't even describe the level of nostalgia this album is putting me through right now. This is why I freaking LOVE music. For those unfamiliar with their music, they are an Irish pop rock/alternative band formed in 1989. They broke up in 2003, but reformed last year. Honestly, I haven't kept up with them at all. Their first hit came from their debut “Everyone Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We?” with the song Linger. What I love about the band is they manage to maintain a decent balance of pop, rock, and alternative. There are even subtle moments of dreampop and shoegaze in some of their songs. No Need To Argue is an incredibly balanced album. I can't say there is a bad song on the entire thing. It also has its fair share of eclecticism, running the gambit from subdued (Ode To My Family, Disappointment) to in your face rock (Zombie). For the longest time, I felt Zombie was the most bad ass song in existence. In true 90's style, the album is rife with jangly guitars and nary a keyboard. Another thing I loved was how distinctly Irish Dolores O'Riordan's vocals are. I'm not sure how it would sound to someone from Ireland, but to me she has a truly unique voice. I was wondering how all of this would sound after being away from it for so long, and I am quite pleased. This album still holds up, and is worth a listen if anything I just described strikes your fancy.

Now that I'm thinking about it, I really think this album sits a lot higher on its level of influence than I previously thought. I absolutely love dreamy guitars, but I still love when a band is able to kick it up a notch. A vital draw to many bands for me is a unique singer, and the Cranberries definitely had that. I also want to be able to listen to an album the entire way through. No Need To Argue is solid from beginning to end. If I had to point to any one album responsible for my current overall taste in music, it is this one. It is safe to say I can definitely still recommend this album to just about anyone. I continued to listen to the Cranberries well into middle school, but lost them at some point after that. I'm glad I rediscovered them.

I finally got time to read your excellent journal with a fantastic title. We have two things in common: I love Memphis Tennessee and I love the Talking Heads. I've been to Memphis and visited Graceland, Beale Street, Sun Records and Stax Records which was the greatest independently owned R&B label in the history of American music. Memphis is one of the great world class music cities and hometown of musical greats like W.C. Handy, Al Green, BB King and Alex Chilton.

I'm old enough to have seen the Talking Heads live on a few occasions. I first saw them at club in Central Square in Cambridge MA at the corner of River St. and Massachusetts Avenue right near the campus of MIT when I was a college freshman in Boston in the fall of 1976. The club was one of those places that kept changing it's ownership and it's name about once a year. I think it was just called The Club when I saw the Talking Heads there. The Club was always a dump, no matter what name the new owner called the joint. The first time I saw the Talking Heads I thought they were amatuerish and pretty awful musically but I liked David Byrne's quirky stage personnae and was impressed by their ambitous musical vision.

At the time I first saw the Talking Heads, most of the bands on the East Coast punk scene were playing three chord anthems like the Clash and the Ramones but the Talking Heads were playing complex tunes using minor chords, with odd time signatures that had a sparse minimalist sound. From around 1977 until 1980 the Talking Heads improved dramtically primarily because Chris Franz (the drummer) and Tina Weymouth (the bass player) improved dramatically as players.

I saw the Talking Heads for the last time in 1980 as the headliner at the Orpheum, Boston's premier mid-size concert hall venue. They were touring in support of Remain in Light and had added a group of former P-Funk players like Bernie Worrell and Busta Jones. The ensemble of of nearly a dozen musicians played one of the most high voltage sets of funk I've ever heard.

The Talking Heads held together for years after Remain in Light but David Byrne lost interest in touring and only reconvened the group to record an album every few years. I'm pretty certain that the 1980-81 Remain in Light tour was the last Talking Head's last tour because in the decade from 1981 until 1991 when the breakup became official, David Byrne was only touring with his Brazilian ensemble and Chris & Tina were only touring with the Tom Tom Club.

There's quite a few folks who diss the Talking Heads but their first two self produced albums Talking Heads 77 and More Songs About Buildings & Food, and their 3rd and 4th Eno produced albums Fear of Music and Remain In Light contained some of the most forward thinking and visionary music of that era.

David Byrne never apologized the commerical success of the band, I don't think he cared one way or another if the Talking Heads sold millions of records or remained a cult band. Those who call Byrne a sell out are at a loss to explain why he walked away from the Talking Heads at the peak of their success to spend the next 20 years making albums of obscure Brazilian music and a string of experimental albums that tanked in the marketplace. By the same token, Byrne feels no need to apologize for his lack of commerical success with his solo career and has resisted all overtures to "cash in" with one last Talking Heads reunion tour.

Yeah, that's why I love the Talking Heads...they always did whatever they wanted. They are definitely one of the most unique bands to ever make music. You are so lucky to have been able to see them! I was, unfortunately, much to young to have ever been able to see them. I was lucky enough to have parents with decent enough music taste to introduce them to me.

And I'm glad you like my journal! Keep reading and keep posting!

[QUOTE=duga;846295]
The Cranberries - No Need To Argue


Yup, love this album, definitely their best and always seems to be overlooked. Has some lovely songs on their and not just the singles.

Great journal duga..... your reviews manage to keep me interested while still being very informing. I think I'll be checking out that electronica album soon enough.

From these Cranberries videos, their singer sounds a lot like Alanis Morissette to me, though I like this music more than Alanis. Anyone else see the resemblance..?

Thanks again for the comments, guys! You keep reading, I'll keep writing.

Early Childhood
Pulp Fiction Soundtrack


Remember how I said when I was little I wanted to listen to everything my older sister listened to? Well, this is another one of those. She came over one day raving about the movie and had the soundtrack in tow. Now, I was much too young for my parents to actually let me see Pulp Fiction, but they seemed to be fine with the soundtrack. It would be about another 8 years before I actually did see the movie, but I was an expert on the music in it, to be sure. I also felt like a total badass having an album with curse words in it (they weren't in the songs, they were in the little bits of movie dialogue sprinkled throughout the soundtrack).

Unlike my Cranberries cassette, I actually still have this thing. I'm not sure if it plays since it has been years since I've listened to it, but I always thought it was interesting it lasted this long. This was also the first CD I ever owned. Ah, technology!

Years later, and several Quentin Tarantino movies later, I realized the guy has consistently excellent taste in music. I tend to really enjoy the songs he puts in his films, Pulp Fiction included. I always felt his choices gave his movies a “You may not like this music, but I do and if you make fun of it I'm going to rip your ****ing head off” kind of vibe. When I was little and listening to this album, though, I was always really confused as to how an action movie could fit in music like this. The songs I would play over and over back then were **** Dale's Misirlou (even then I loved killer guitar work), Kool and the Gang's Jungle Boogie (which I love to this day), Urge Overkill's Girl You'll Be a Woman Soon, and Dusty Springfield's Son of a Preacher Man. In fact, Son of a Preacher Man used to be my favorite song on the entire album. Don't ask me why, I was a weird kid. This is definitely another nostalgia inducing album. As I listen to it again, I'm going right back to age 9 while I rock out to **** Dale. Trippy.

I think the biggest thing this album did for me was that after listening to it, I really didn't care what everyone thought of my taste in music. I like what I like, and if you don't then you are really just missing out. I think it also helped broaden my taste a bit as I rarely stick to one genre of music for too long. There are definitely unifying elements in what I listen to, but if you were to look through my collection you would see that I go all over the place. This album also set me up to love just about every Quentin Tarantino movie. I guess I was just raised to have impeccable taste.

Not a bad choice, but any points gained are deducted for not even mentioning Al Green, who tramples all over the rest of the tracks. :p:

Dude I've had this album for a while and still haven't seen the movie (:() But yeah it's pretty good... I also really like Son of A Preacher Man for some reason :/

Whoa damn...have I really not updated this journal for 3 years? Well, seeing as I now have some time on my hands since I just graduated and am currently sans job I'll try to throw an album in here occasionally.

However, now that I'm remembering the purpose of this thread I realize why I have avoided updating it. I wanted to present people with an accurate and as-complete-as-possible account of how my music tastes have developed and the key albums along the way. That included the the alums that - if I stay true to this - may make me look really bad. This era lasted until high school and it is rife with embarrassing albums, but it also represents a time when I just didn't give a **** what people thought of the music I was listening to. If I liked it, I liked it. So while it is embarrassing, it is also one of the most honest points in my life. That honesty won't return until much later when I realize I can actually consider myself an audiophile and that I know way more about music than your average joe.

So now that you have been warned, I present you with...

The Preteen Years
Savage Garden - Savage Garden (1997)

http://image.lyricspond.com/image/s/...n/cd-cover.jpg

As embarrassing as it may be to admit, this album still goes down as a guilty pleasure. Now, I haven't listened to it since 1997 but if I hear "I Want You" on the radio, I still enjoy it. In fact...I know all the freakin words. Yes, it's true. In fact, I will karaoke the **** out of it, not look at the monitor, and not be the least bit ashamed. I was completely ready for a nostalgia trip with this one. I clicked "private session" on Spotify, hit play, and let the shame wash over me...

First impressions after 16 years...I'm reminded of just how well the 90's did pop. Comparing it to today's top 40 sludge, "To the Moon and Back" sounds organic on top of all its hooks. Then we get to "I Want You". To you guys born in the 90's and possibly haven't heard/don't remember this song should go listen to it just for historical value. It's damn catchy. My 11 year old self freaking loved the fast verses. Plus it's complete with a completely 90's hip hop breakdown. It's pure cheese...but you know what, damn it sometimes I like cheese whiz on my Triscuits. As I'm listening to "Truly Madly Deeply", I remember that I totally used this song to get laid in high school. I think it would still hold up for that purpose today. Another thing I'm impressed with is just how solid this album is the whole way through. It's amazing to me the difference between then and now. In the 90's, people were still buying whole albums as opposed to downloading singles off iTunes. Some effort to provide full album experience was even seen in pop albums of the time. On the same note, while a lot of these songs would hold up today, some are VERY of their time. "Universe" is straight up 90's smooth R&B. While it could still be used as a panty dropper, it was definitely recorded in the 90's.

My fiancée has an encyclopedic knowledge of 90's R&B. She would pull out these obscure albums and I would strangely enjoy them. I've also been really enjoying the nu-R&B that's been coming out like The Weeknd and Miguel. This also may be where I picked up some of my love for a really smooth and atmospheric sound. Now I can see where those roots were planted. Will this album re-enter my list of classic albums? Hell no...in fact, I wouldn't be surprised if it was another 16 years before I attempt listening to it again. I do have a new appreciation for it, though.

I would provide more videos, but trust me when I say this is the only thing you need to hear off this album:



There. My first truly embarrassing album...done. And you know what? It feels good. I still can't believe I posted this here, but you know what? SHUT UP.

Just be glad that you're not saying the same thing about The Lighthouse Family and leave it at that.

Are you serious? Savage Garden are awesome! They are one of my major favourite 90's pop groups. I agree with what you've said about how smooth they are, it's insatiable. I would quite happily put that record on and relax, it was a really moving experience from my youth listening to it. Those were the days when I owned cassette tapes!

This is a great idea and I wish I still wrote often enough to rip it off of you. :)

This actually makes me feel a bit better about this haha.

I've never listened to anything by them past this album (and I don't necessarily intend to) but this album is definitely ingrained into my memory. It's really crazy listening to album that I used to listen to so many years later. I know the music but it sounds new somehow...it's a pretty interesting experience. I wish I could listen to all music like that.

I hope you do sometime...I love learning about how people ended up with their particular taste.

Funfact: Savage Garden was a rung in my ladder too.

That's because Savage Garden was fantastic. ;)

Ok, so I have a bit of a reprieve from the really embarrassing stuff for now. Realizing the likes of Savage Garden weren't going to win me any cool points at school, I knew I had to go in a different direction. As a result, I went straight for the band that had the number one video on MTV...

THE PRETEEN YEARS
The Offspring - Americana (1998)

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I'm sure the first song you thought of when you saw the album title was "Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)". Yep...not only was it a huge hit and popular with everyone at school, but I actually liked it a lot, too. Couldn't miss, right? Well, this actually represents the first album in this journal that I actually didn't like.

Dexter's voice annoyed me. At the time, my exposure to punk was Green Day and while Americana most certainly had pop punk elements, it was still edgier than Green Day which I just didn't get. There was nothing really bad per say...it just didn't click with me. Still, I figured there must be something to it if it was so popular so I force fed myself the Offspring for months. As a result, I absolutely can't stand the Offspring to this day. In fact, Dexter's backing vocals on the AFI album Black Sails in the Sunset pull an otherwise great album down a notch. Jesus, man...just sing in key.

So, I still wanted to listen to the album again for this entry. It's basically exactly how I remember it...the singles are admittedly pretty good. "Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)" is still as ridiculously catchy as ever. "The Kids Aren't Alright" actually has a pretty intense chorus and I'm surprised I didn't like it more when I was first listening to the album. "Why Don't You Get a Job?" is straightforward but it's pretty clear why it was popular. The only single I didn't enjoy on some level was "She's Got Issues"...mostly because of the incredibly grating off-key singing. The rest of the album is pretty forgettable, if you ask me.

This album created a false impression of punk that lasted for years. It wasn't until I learned about "real punk" and heard the classics (The Clash, the Ramones, the Sex Pistols, etc.) and subsequently other bands that obviously knew what punk was about better than Green Day and the Offspring (Black Flag, Dead Kennedys, etc) that I could actually start to say I liked punk. While I can say that I like those bands on some level, punk will never be as big as other genres will be for me and it may all be the Offspring's fault.

You probably know these songs, but if you were living under a rock here are a couple:

I agree with you, I can't stand that guys voice, terrible! I didn't like Offspring back in the 90's and I can't stand it now.

If I was to talk about my embarrassing band past it would definitely be Korn. I still listen to them today. I had another listen of their Issues album, played it over and over a month ago and now I'm sick of them again. Next!

I'm a bit naive when it comes to punk but isn't it perfectly fine to sing off key in punk. Isn't that one of the staples?

I do admit quite liking The Offspring in the late-90s/early-00's. My older sister had a copy of Americana which I would listen to quite often. Looking back it was the most commercial-sounding 'punk' you could get but to the ears of an oblivious 12 year-old kid it sounded badass. Come to think of it, 'Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)' sounds fucking ridiculous now! It also led me to listening to Blink 182 and Green Day. I do agree that Dexter's voice does sound horrendous, I know it's not 'punk' to be able to actually sing but Dexter just sounds way off. 'The Kids Aren't Alright' is probably the best song off the album and I do admit that's not actually that bad a song, feeling nostalgic just thinking about it.

Speaking of AFI you've just reminded me that a certain album is already ten years old, and I might even give it a relisten and a reassessment soon.

Korn will definitely make an appearance on this list. I don't count Americana as a necessarily embarrassing album...just one that has influenced me. More embarrassing albums to come!

That it is...but Dexter's voice just really grates me the wrong way. Which is funny because this is coming from a guy who loves weird sounding singers.

Would that be Sing the Sorrow? I still really like that album, actually. It doesn't sound nearly as deep as when I first listened to it, but it's definitely still very entertaining. I actually still enjoy Black Sails in the Sunset and The Art of Drowning as well. It kind of ends there, however.

I got into AFI with Sing the Sorrow so I liked it as much as DecemberUnderground. At the time, I never thought to go backwards and check out their earlier releases but I may do that one day soon. Constantly adding to my growing list of albums I need to listen to.

I take it you didn't like DU huh?

Yeah, DU was a little stale for me. I got the impression they were trying to recapture the magic from Sing the Sorrow but it just didn't work very well. Crash Love was even worse.

But yes...aside from Dexter's backing vocals Black Sails in the Sunset is a highly recommended album.

So after a failed attempt to get into what's popular, I decided not to just go off and buy the number one hit on MTV. Enter my older half sister from my Dad's first marriage.

I always looked up to this girl. She was a lot older than me and everything she did seemed incredibly cool. She also had a kick ass (and quite intimidating at the time) music collection...and since she moved in with us when I was 12 and I had access to it, I decided to start taking my music recommendations from her.

Despite my clear obliviousness to the good music of the world at this age, my sister said something to me I'll never forget. One day while asking her about music, she said to me "Here. You seem to have an appreciation of good music." And handed me this album...

The Preteen Years
Garbage - Garbage (1995)

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Not only did her saying that to me influence how I would approach this album, but it has influenced me in how I approach every album to this day. Such a passing comment, and I still think about it. What did she see in me? I didn't want to disappoint her.

I don't really need to listen to this album again to remember it...I still listen to it occasionally to this day. It's a classic. Sadly, I haven't really given any other Garbage album a fair shake. I don't even understand why - I'm sure they have some other good stuff...but this album is so good that it's really all I ever feel like listening to when I want to listen to Garbage. In my book, this is the definitive Garbage album...no musical statement by them had to be made after this.

Sound wise, this was the kind of music that I knew I should have been listening to. Coming down from Savage Garden, I had my pop sensibilities in check but I wanted something heavier. The Offspring clearly didn't work for me. Garbage is polished and dirty. Smooth and chunky. Hard and soft...it had layers to discover with every listen (all thanks to Butch Vig, no doubt). Just look at the cover art...it perfectly represents what this album sounds like. I didn't pay attention to producers at the time, but later in life when I did I wasn't surprised to find that Butch Vig was a member. He is one of my favorite producers of all time and if I see he has worked on an album, I will always give it a chance. Take his grunge-tinged production and Shirley Manson and you have a combination that can't lose. Oh, man...Shirley Manson. She was officially my first music crush. The way she sang and the things she sang about...what had this girl gone through? And damn it...I wanted to make her feel better...

I'm not going to bother going through any individual songs. This album is great top to bottom. This album deserves a listen from absolutely everyone. I'm happy to cut through some of the crappy albums I'll be talking about with this classic. It has undoubtedly influenced me more than any other early-years album I can think of. Thanks for the recommendation, Nicole.

What a great idea to chronologically organize your changing growth in music tastes. I can relate to listening to Garbage circa 1996 on a bus ride back home from a field trip. Some girl borrowed my walkman with Stupid Girl on it only to hand it back less than a minute later. I thought, WTH is wrong with her?.. o.O

Thanks, I'm glad you think so.

And I would have thought the same thing about that girl. Who can't at least kind of enjoy that album?

OMG this is like my favourite journal ever Duga. Garbage fecking rule! I have been listening to them more recently than when they were most popular. I love I'm Only Happy When It Rains, Drop Dead Gorgeous, and Special. Version 2.0 is definitely their best album.