And the Music Moved Through Me…

Suicidal Tendencies, Sex Pistols, and Minor Threat’s first albums. These were the beginnings of my great musical loves.  Teenage angst is a funny thing; all you want to do is be crazy, while saying you’re not.  Or be an anarchist who just knows the words from the Sex Pistols’ song “Anarchy in the UK,” while not knowing the meaning of true anarchy.  And of course, who wasn’t a minor threat, at least one time or another, to someone walking on the street while screaming the words to “Out of Step” (Minor Threat).  Teenage years are rough times for anyone and these bands definitely helped to scream out what I think I wanted to say--while pissing off my mother at the same time.

Then I found Nirvana. The albums Bleach and the enormously successful  Nevermind… Oh tell me Kurt Cobain, why did you end our love so sadly?  Oddly enough, after Kurt’s death,  I really got into Tool.  My faves: Undertow as well as their 1^st LP Opiate.  There was something about the lyrics from “Sober” that I always related to.  Remember, any Tool album is a musical journey that takes you up and slams you back to the ground with haunting fervor.  During this time, I discovered rave music as well.  Drum & Bass got me going.  Not to mention “Smack My Bitch Up” by Prodigy and the whole rave scene itself--with all its party favors (wink) and club kids.

It’s been about 7 years since I discovered Interpol.  From the moment I heard “New York Cares” and “PDA” off of the LP Turn on the Bright Lights I was hooked.  When you here a song by Interpol you know with certainty that it’s Interpol.   In my opinion, Interpol is in a league all their own.

Any music on the radio for the most part sucks.  There are exceptions,  but very few.  Pop stars are commodities and are exactly alike. Like crackers, they ‘re basically water, flour and a dash of some flavor-- but nothing you would want all the time,  or that would help you survive on a desert island.  For real thrills, pick up something new to you, or get out there and support your local music scene and take a risk.  My suggestions are as follows:  Pinback’s  “Autumn of the Seraphs” or “Blue Screen Life; ” Will Odom’s “Lost Blues,” or Kill Kenada’s “Pink Album”(hard to find but so worth it).  Check these artists out; you may hate them all or you may just fall in love.

Text and photo by Jenny PezDeSpencer