Albums of Note

I decided to start a "Tuesday Tunes" weekly update - basically it will be a post about music. This way I have at least one new post a week.

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A few weeks ago while at work, I was browsing people.com (what, don't pretend like you don't look every once in awhile!). The top story of the day was that Ryan Reynolds and Scarlett Johansson were divorcing. I made a comment to my officemate Ashley that had it been Alanis Morissette, we would have been treated to a lovely (aka angry) breakup song. That got me thinking... I don't remember Alanis writing a song after she and Ryan split up - did I just miss it?

This led to a conversation on the sheer brilliance of the Jagged Little Pill album. I told Ashley that this album might be one of my all-time favorites. The next week (so about 2 weeks ago), I went out to my storage closet and pulled out the CD to accompany me on my drive to Dallas to visit Julia. While stuck in traffic, I decided to pop in the CD and sing my heart out. Why I don't have these songs in my ipod, I don't know.

I started thinking about some of my other favorite albums and what they meant to me back in the day.

*****

Alanis Morissette

Jagged Little Pill 
(released June 1995)

This album came out the summer between 6th and 7th grade. I don't remember buying it then, but I do remember that this was the first CD I bought for my own non-existent at the time CD collection. I loved blaring this CD and screaming out the lyrics. Why, I don't know - it's not like I was some scorned girl. Back then I couldn't really relate to any of the songs, but I didn't care. I felt empowered singing along with Alanis. Oh, and I had no idea what "would she go down on you in a theatre" meant. I thought, "hrm, why does she care if some other girl is going down on him." I'm much more knowledgeable now!

Now, many of these tracks hit a little too close. While driving to Dallas, I might have screamed a bit too loud during "You Oughta Know" - particularly the following lyrics: "I want you to know that I'm happy for you ~ I wish nothing but the best for you both ~ An older version of me..." And there might have been a snippy snappy comment during the line "I'm sure she'd make a really excellent mother."

Favorite song: "You Learn"

 

*****

Third Eye Blind

Third Eye Blind

(released April 1997)

This album came out towards the end of 8th grade. This was my first foray into more "dark" music (I didn't consider Alanis dark - I thought her music was just angry venting). My mom wasn't too thrilled as I sang along to lyrics that contained the words "narcolepsy" and "crystal meth" and "she goes down on me." I was innocent - I didn't know what any of that meant.

The CD became a bit more personal at the end of 8th grade. Stephanie and I weren't the best of friends, but I was one of the few people who didn't make fun of her. She was always so funny. One day she noticed I was wearing a pair of Lucky jeans; we were pretty much the same size, so she asked if she could borrow them sometime. I let her, and the day she was wearing them, you could tell how happy she was. The popular girls were all asking her "are those Lucky jeans?" When she gave them back to me - washed and neatly folded - she thanked me for letting her borrow them. I told her anytime. Unfortunately, that time never came. Shortly after that, Stephanie committed suicide. For awhile after that, I found myself singing along to "Jumper" - wishing that I had known what Stephanie was going through and that I could have someway, somehow helped her.

Favorite song: "Semi Charmed Life"

 

*****

Dixie Chicks

Wide Open Spaces

(released January 1998)

 

I vividly remember being on the J.V. basketball team during the 10th grade and riding on the bus to away games. We were hooked on the Dixie Chicks. There we were, country girls singing at the top of our lungs to a "girl band." After years of males dominating the country chats, along came three feisty blondes with their twangy vocals and banjos. My mom didn't care much for them - their songs weren't a traditional two-steppin' tempo. But for me, I was getting tired of country music. The Dixie Chicks gave country music a face lift. I secretly think the reason my mom didn't like them was because of my favorite song off the album, which I would sing with all my heart while in the car with her.

Favorite song: "Wide Open Space"

*****

Blink-182

Enema of the State

(released June 1999)

The summer between 10th and 11th grade, I changed. Maybe it was my month-long stay in Germany - I dunno. I stopped caring about volleyball. I quit the basketball team. I felt like I was acting out a bit - oh yeah, quitting sports teams was as rebellious as I got! I figured what better way to continue my "rebellious ways" than by buying this album. When I bought the CD, my mom gave me a very strange look. I guess the cover would worry any parent. While I bought the album based off liking one song (isn't that what always happened - it's not like we could just pick and choose songs like today), I found myself liking all 12 tracks. I knew the word to every song and was proud of myself when I could make it through all the songs without messing up a lyric. Yes, I was a dork. But c'mon - most of the songs were pretty fast! It was at this time that I started thinking "hey, this music isn't just for the skater boys at school. I like it, too." 

About a month ago, for shits and giggles I popped in the CD while driving (again, why these songs aren't in my ipod, I don't know) to see if I remembered all the songs. I was a bit rusty on some lyrics, but for the most part I still knew them. And like the nerd I was at the age of 16, I was proud of myself for making it through a couple of the songs without messing up.

Favorite song: "What's My Age Again"

  

*****

Elvis Presley

50 Years 50 Hits

(released December 2001)

Growing up, I listened to a great deal of oldies music. I feel as though I'm living in the wrong era. I long for the days of being a teenager in the 50s, wearing poodle skirts and saddle shoes. My most favorite "oldies" artist is without a doubt Elvis. I can't tell you why. I have no clue. While in Florida two years ago, I was ecstatic to find that my rental car had an Elvis station on XM radio!

Wanna hear a cheesy confession on the backstory of my favorite Elvis song? I was always reading books, and I admit to reading the stupid Sweet Valley High series (but it was no Babysitters Club!). In one book - I believe once the series moved on to the college years - one of the twins was dating a guy and was about to have sex for the first time. She was super nervous... hell, I was nervous for her. But the guy was sweet and made sure everything was perfect. The candles were lit, Elvis was playing. It was just how I imagined my first time. Boy, was I disillusioned. Oh wait, I did get candles. You know the tall glass ones with images of Jesus... yeah, those illuminated the room. Romantic, don't you think?

Favorite song: "Love Me Tender"

*****

George Strait

50 Number Ones

(released October 2004)

I cannot mention any album without paying homage to the king of country music. You can't be from Texas without liking at least ONE George Strait song! George was straight up classic country - Wrangler jeans, long-sleeved button-down shirt, cowboy hat and boots, and guitar in hand. That's what country music is all about. And while my music tastes have expanded, I still always go back to this album to remember my roots.

Out in the country, there were many nights boot scootin' around the dance floor at the Hoot Owl, 534 Club, and some other local bar I can't remember. A few weeks after I bought this CD, it was TANK Party. It didn't take much prodding to get Andrei to play it. What better way to party than out in an open field, a keg for the guys, Smirnoff for the girls (damn byob TANK Party!), veteran TANKs tossing newly inducted TANKS into a river then chugging Jack - all while the best of George is playing in the background! That, my friends, was a party!

And it is impossible to pick just one song.

Favorite song: "The Chair"

 

Favorite song: "I Cross My Heart"

 

Favorite Song: "Easy Come Easy Go"

 

*****

Dixie Chicks

Taking the Long Way

(released May 2006)

Once again, the Dixie Chicks make the list. But this time the album hit a different chord with me than their first. This album came out after the whole Bush fiasco - you know, when Natalie Maines said she was embarrassed that the president was from Texas. I swear, the country folk went nuts! The Dixie Chicks were shunned by the country community. True fans waited for them to come out with another album and go on tour. And when they did, I was there - along with Caitlin, Staci and Terri. And what a great show it was, save for the protesters outside the Erwin Center. They sang with such energy and emotion, it was like they were finally free.

My favorite track off the album is still one that I sing at the top of my lungs. I believe that it sums up my thoughts on how I live my life. I especially relate to these lyrics: "My friends from high school ~ Married their high school boyfriends ~ Moved into houses in the same zip codes ~ Where their parents live ~ But I, I could never follow" and "Wouldn't kiss all the asses that they told me to."

And of course, the chorus: "I've been a long time gone now ~ Maybe someday, someday I'm gonna settle down ~ But I've always found my way somehow ~ By taking the long way ~ Taking the long way around."

Favorite song: "The Long Way Around"

 

*All album cover images are my own. Yes, I still own the covers... just not the jewel cases.*