Music Reminiscing

I found a new podcast about a month ago.  It's called 'This part's the best'.  The host, John Frusciante, has a guest over to discuss one of their (the guest's) favorite albums.  There have been eight episodes so far.  All of them have been fantastic.  The very first episode was weird because the guest brought over a Swedish metal album.  The nice thing is that I have little to no knowledge of any of the music that has been played on the show, so it's cool to hear new stuff.  It's not all about the music, it's more about how you feel about the music.  Memories, stories, feelings.  Favorite parts of songs whether it is an instrumental part or a certain lyric.  And what is great is that music has this affect on most people.  I'm sure everyone has that one song or that one particular album that they can play and it brings back just a rush of memories.

The reason I bring this up is because a few weeks ago, I found an old CD under one of the seats in my Jeep.  It was Less Than Jake's 'Pezcore'.  The reason it made me just so happy is that it brought me back to high school and my introduction to ska and the new era of punk music.  I always looked at this type of music as 'skateboarding is not a crime' punk as opposed to 'fuck authority' punk.  Think of the Sex Pistols when it comes to that type of punk music.  This new punk/ska era, at least the stuff I was listening to, was mostly coming out of California.  Bands like Buck-O-Nine, No Doubt, Reel Big Fish, Sublime.  They all have connections to California and they all at one point had a very similar sound.  Each band evolved and changed their sound and style.  It had a laid back feeling to it.  Just a bunch of people getting together to make music.  I have fond memories of riding around my hometown with my friends blasting some of this music.  Just being high school kids.  You know, driving poorly and being obnoxious to those that drove past.  But it was all in good fun.  We weren't dangerous to the public.  We weren't drinking at a friend's house while their parents were away, having sex, or getting arrested (you're welcome Mom and Dad).  We were just being teenagers.  

Another memory about these bands and CDs is that they were my first 'parental advisory' type CDs.  Crazy, I know.  I was living on the edge.  During middle school and high school, I mainly listened to country music, so this was a big step for me.  Having music where the word 'fuck' was used without a care was awesome.  A favorite Reel Big Fish song (Nothin') ends with them screaming 'I don't fucking care, no I don't fucking care, no I don't fucking care anymore!'  Repeatedly.  If that isn't a great motto for a high school kid about to go off to college, I don't know what is.  Most of my other music at the time, the worst word was mayyyyyybe 'ass' and that would be pushing it.  Looking back at it all, it's pretty hilarious.  These CDs were only played in my car or portable CD player (remember those?), never within earshot of my parents (again, you're welcome Mom and Dad).  And if they did hear it, they never really said anything (thanks Mom and Dad). 

One thing that is funny is that some of the music and lyrics are more profound as I listen to it now than when I was listening to them back in high school.  Buck-O-Nine has some songs on their 'Twenty Eight Teeth' album that are just amazing.  It's weird how a song like 'Steve Was Dead' is just a funny song when you're seventeen, but now it's eerie when listening to it.  The song is about how a rumor gets spread so quickly.  Especially now in the social media fixated world we live in now, it's both hilarious and insightful.  Just one of the few things that you can find when listening to music from your younger days is new meaning in the lyrics.  Some songs aren't meant to be profound.  Some songs are just meant to be fun.  At different points in your life, a song can mean something to you but later on it might not mean anything to you.  It's all about your interpretation.

Music is great.  Everyone needs a soundtrack to their life.  Whether it is country, thrash metal, folk, or rock n roll, it's all about you.   


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