It Smelled Like Teen Spirit.......
I had the pleasure of playing quite an enjoyable game of "post a comment" ping pong with Herge over at Angry Chimp about favorite music yesterday. After mentioning a few influential bands of my youth I went on a bit of a nostalgia kick and spent a couple hours listening to some of the old dusty CD's of my angstful grungetastic teens...some of which I probably hadn't heard all the way through in years.
The most amazing thing happened... I started to remember the strangest, most obscure memories that I, for better or for worse, had conveniently tucked away in the darkest recesses of my mind. As each song played I would get a flash of a specific moment where the song must have been the most inspiring... not unlike some type of soundtrack of my life. It was quite a trip.
Anyhow, I was wondering if anyone out there has had that type of music-induced flashback.... What types of songs do that to you?.... Discuss amongst yourselves.
posted by Connie @ 11:25 AM
25 Comments:
I so want to form a retro rock band. I can see it now, a bunch of bloated 30 somethings taking our re-lived headcrash angst on a dark nostalgic road, gigging like the times when our albums still delivered a satisfyingly murky 12 plastic inches. People, I give you, The Grungetastic Flashbacks.
Seeing anything with smashing pumpkins also makes me think of you - I remember you giving me shit for not really listening to any music and you making me a tape - which I still have :) It always brings back fond memories of the times we had together.
blackbird singing in the dead of night, take these broken wings and learn to fly, all your life,
you were only waiting for this moment to be arise
that makes me think of you and my love of the ranger boys (justin and nigel) - nigel belted that out in a play and my heart went to butter... oh nigel - why couldn't you be straight for me :) ha - what a silly silly girl I was
Excellent idea, I shall think about this and get back to you.
Into the groove by Madonna is one of them (come on, in all fairness I was 15 with hormones and things).
Topaz by the B52s - reminds of when I was sitting my finals. I'd allow myself a break every hour in which I'd listen to a bit of music and have a (another) fag. Topaz was very special and relaxing.
Too many to mention. I have a habit of using music to associate with particular periods in my life, so all significant points (and all insignificant ones) have a soundtrack. My friends find this really annoying because I tend to be able to identify songs really quickly from their introductions and I can also tell you the month and year that they were in the charts (if they're chart songs).
Three most influential bands when I was growing up:
Smashing Pumpkins
Nirvana
Green Day
I still think they were all brilliant.
Pearl Jam's "10" album is the definitive for me. All of it.
The Grungetastic Flashbacks!
That is perfect! I can imagine all the bloated 30 somethings, in their sensible Doc Martens and still being able to fit into their baggy plaid clothing attempting a little retro crowd surfing.... ah good times indeed.
(BTW, welcome to the fray Spirit of Owl!)
My difinitive album is also Pearl Jam's Ten, as well as
Smashing Pumpkins - Gish and Simese Dream
Pixies - Doolittle and Trompe le monde
Nirvana - Nevermind
Dinosaur Jr. - where you been
The Breeders - Pod and Last Splash
Tool - undertow
Did any of you ever go to Lollapalooza? I went to 4 in a row...the best bands were always there.
Speaking of Music Festivals... Is there any of my nice English friends out there who have a ticket or two extra for Glastonbury??????? I would be on the next flight out...... plus I would be your best mate forever.....
Ape... I can't believe you still have that tape!
We had some good times back in the day didn't we. sometimes it seems like so long ago.
Metallica - Master of Puppets reminds me of you.... That pesky Damian and his wonder mullet. lol!
Good Tina... get back to me and leave a good long list. I find it very interesting to hear about peoples taste in music - it says a lot more about your personality than you would think...
And Karen, is there any specific songs of the bands you mentioned that remind you of a specific event - good or bad - everytime you hear it ?
When I was a teenager (now i'm 24...not so long time..)I used to write week by week a sort of "never forget" list at the end of my school diary about all the things done, peeps met, songs listened during that particular year. And sometimes I read all those lists, waking up my memories. There are so many songs, albums and concerts that get me flashes.. one of them is BULLET WITH BUTTERFLY WINGS...
..the world is a vampire......
=)
Ha! The thing about the bloated 30 somethings thing is that now I'm one of 'em! Argh! How did that happen? WTF???
Plaid. My god. Plaid. I had 3 pairs of ripped jeans, about a jabazillion band branded t-shirts, a leather jacket... and two plaid shirts. One red, the other green. I wore one of them under my leather jacket at all times day and night whatever the weather. I was skinny and had hair down to my butt. Wow.
Now that I've got that out of my system I'm just going to lament the old days by maybe rolling about on my back in the rockery to pretend I'm crowding surfing.(Oh crap, now I've just realised that I've actually got a rockery - what's happened to me?? Argh... I've been body snatched..!!!)
oh..and how I could forget "everything about you" by UGLY KID JOE?
I always singed really fast "I know you know everybody knows The way it comes, the way it's gonna' go" with one of my best friend of that age...
bye now! ;-)
It would be a long list. Hmmmm REM reminds me of my days spent in Harrow on the Hill. Echo Beach - Rollerskaing (yes rollerskaing) in grade 7/8). Huge list. Huge. The Lady in Red reminds me of Northern Ireland....... Way too long.
Definative albums -
Pixies 'natch - Come on Pilgrim/ Surfer Rosa/ Doolittle
Breeders - Pod/ Last Splash
Hole - Pretty on the inside
Throwing Muses - Real Ramona
Mudhoney - Super fuzz big muff
Silverfish - Organ Fan
L7 - Smell the magic
Sonic Youth - Sister/ Goo
Suger - Cooper Blue...
I could go on....
and will...
Nirvana - Nevermind
Lunachicks - Babysitter on acid
Calamity Jane - Martha Jane Canery
Smashing Pumpkins - Gish
AND my absolute fav fav fave band at the time (excluding my always love of the pixies - kim deal - the breeders)
Babes in Toyland - To Mother (and Fontanelle)
Babes in Toyland were the absolute bestist best bester...
See, I was a right girlboy grunge kid - check out the number of girl bands in top whatever list.
Chicks in bands rock!!
Oh good ones Herge!
I forgot all about L7...bricks are heavy - YOU MADE MY... SHITLIST!
Sonic Youth... Goo and Dirty... Titanium Expose... yes yes it's all coming back to me now.
I don't know how I forgot about Polly Jean with "Rid of me" either.....
And you are right.. Chicks in Bands Rock!... Apart from maybe Le Tigre they don't make chick bands like they used too .
....Avril Lavingne is considered a Rock Chick for fuck sakes!
April, I dare you to give me more! List them! Go on......
And Hello again Barbara! Bullet with Butterfly wings reminds me of the time I worked a winter at a ski resort. Couldve been a great time but it was unseasonably warm so lots of rain and very little snow.
The World is Vampire indeed.....
Oi! Tina! we are all patiently waiting for the rest of yours too
I remember sitting around a hotel room with my internet chat friends (one had come from out of town with her parents on a business trip) and watching the video for Tonight, Tonight. Billy Corgan was wearing that awesome cream-coloured suit and top hat. I kissed a girl for the first time that night (in the middle of a crowded street, with our friends watching, with lots of tongue. She had humongous boobs.)
I think about that night (and my high school best friend, who loved SP) when I hear Tonight, Tonight.
OK, I've always liked fairly mainstream music, but here's a brief history of my tastes over the years:
Late 1970s: Blondie (Parallel Lines), Meatloaf (Bat out of hell), Bee Gees, Simon & Garfunkel (and Doris Day of course)
Early 80s: General UK pop music at the time, getting to like things like early Duran Duran, Teardrop Explodes, bit of Bowie (Ashes to ashes).
Up to 85: Shool disco shit (seriously), including Wham!, Duran Duran again (hated Spandau Ballet), Altered Images, Ultravox. Started to develop a taste of heavy metal, but mainly Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne, bit of Motorhead and Led Zeppelin too. Didn't think I liked Madonna, but looking back I did. Like I said, general pop shit.
85-88: More of the same, but rediscovered Blondie and Simon & Garfunkel. I remember really liking the Bangles album. Adored Suzanne Vega after Marlene on the Wall and then Left of Centre, Luka and all that shit. Have always liked Kate Bush, but the Dreaming and Hounds of Love are something special (actually didn't get into the Dreaming until early 90s). Much to my shame, I loved U2 at this time, but that was before they got up there own arses after the Joshua Tree was released (this is an excellent album).
Late 80s: Tina discovers dance music (S'Express and that sort of shit). Of course the late 80s were also famous for the Stock Aitken and Waterman sound (Kylie, Jason) and I didn't find this offensive. Fell in love with Kylie after Hand on your Heart and Better the Devil you Know. Listened to a lot of Deacon Blue, All about Eve and Prefab Sprout when I started university in 1988. Discovered my love of the B52s in 1989 when they released Cosmic Thing - this made me want to discover more and I soon got hold of all their stuff. The 1989-1991 period also signalled some great music in the UK from the Madchester Rave On stuff - Happy Mondays (Hallelujah), Pills Thrills and Bellyaches, Stone Roses were superb, Charlatains were also good.
1991-1994: I was doing my PhD in Warwick and I can't remember much of it except of course, Nirvana's fucking superb Nevermind and there was that equally excellent Pearl Jam album out around the same time. Fantastic stuff. I still really loved my dance music (K-Klass, Leftfield, Technotronic, Salt n Pepper and shit). Discovered Tori Amos with Little Earthquakes and then Under the Pink - this was a nice comparison with the stuff I listened to from Kate Bush.
1995-1998: Discovered I liked George Michael's stuff - Older is a geat album. During this time I also started listening to stuff from Echobelly, Everything but the girl, Kula Shaker, Jamiroquai. Can't remember much else because I was pissed.
1999-2001: My miserable phase that included Sneaker Pimps, Morcheeba, David Gray, Air. Absolutely loved Macey Gray's album (on how life is).
2002-present: I'll listen to anything. Still love Madonna and I just like the way her music evolves to suit me and my tastes. I found out about Mint Royale and Lemon Jelly and got hold of a load of their stuff, which I really enjoy. I quite like David Holmes and Free Association, Death in Vegas erm, that sort of thing. And I have no objections to most mainstream pop music - there's nothing wrong with a bit of Anastacia or Gwen Stefani. Love a bit of gay disco. Kaiser Chiefs are OK, but won't last more than one album. Same can be said for Kasabian (too similar to Oasis/Stone Roses).
Sorry, it wasn't at all brief, but I'm older than you and more time to fill.
Oh yeah, how could I forget Tracy Chapman in 1988?
And Soul II Soul in summer 1989
*laughs* thank you Tina.... that was awesome! I am so impressed by your crazy wonderful spectrum of music!
Some ones that I can relate too -
Kate Bush.... my last GF was a big fan, and I listened to quite a bit of her. It was a bit annoying to me at first but it grows on you. I never understood the Tori Amos comparisons at first, but once you listen to enough Kate Bush and then switch back to Tori you can really see. Its usually either a Kate bush sound or a joni mitchell sound.
I forgot all about Stone Roses! Obviously not as huge of an album here as across the pond but still, Fools Gold is one of my faves.
Lemon Jelly! Ha! I've listened to a bit of that myself... and Ive yet to
meet anyone else who has. Very strangely enticing music don't you think? great background tunes...
And Tracy Chapman... that albums been thru a lot with me. Pure chick music. She was never as raw again.
Karen! wow! Tonight Tonight indeed....
You say that was the "first time" you kissed a girl.....was it the last, or do you have more stories??????
I made out with the same girl at a later date. I was 16 and was all about the shock value.
Wait a minute... I'm *still* all about the shock value! Nevermind that last bit. ;)
I should have done something with that sexy lesbian in university... But truthfully, I worry about what my friends (and other people) will think of me, and I let that get in the way of doing things *I* think would be fun or interesting. (My friends already disapprove of all of my dating choices as it is!)
Sexy lesbian story:
http://karentertainment.blogspot.com/2005/05/sexiest-piece-of-ass-to-ever-want-some.html
Shoulda, woulda ,coulda Karen....I't's never too late! You only live once and to "check out a couple books" from a hot librarian should be something EVERY girl should experience. ;)
Yes I do actually! I not a big fan of saying "Lesbian"... It's such a harsh clinical sounding term... I usually say "lesbo" cause it's kinda cute sounding, and as you all know us lesbo's are soooo cute.
Librarian is cute and kind of a code word... Isn't that fun!
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