1992...A musical perspective from the fringe...

The question of musical taste, or rather how one establishes their's, has long plagued my mind.  I think it's easy to say, "we like what we know," but I've long felt a kinship and attraction to many things I wasn't exposed to over time; but felt an instant and profound attraction when I heard it.  Even more than this, my confirmation that there is something innate, even instinctual in our tastes, was confirmed when years later I would be exposed to online sites that suggested, "If you liked this, then you'd like this so," and invariably they were correct...but they were also late joining the party.  They didn't expose me to new things, but rather confirmed that my tastes might have a more subtle, organic connection.  I've always blazed my own path when it comes to what I like.  I've never followed trends, only me ear.  I have a tendency to like things after they're popular, not because I want to be "cool" counter culture, but because I tend to be behind the curve for whatever reason.  Anyone that's known me for any length of time or ridden in my car knows all too well my propensity to go off the deep end and completely immerse myself in something I truly enjoy.

My guess is someone reading this was present when I latched obsessively onto the sounds of Edie Brickell and the New Bohemians, which ushered in a new era of self-awareness and musical exploitation, and truly set the stage for me early 90's complete immersion in 10,000 Maniacs which would dominate my mind for several years and leave many of my friends loathing them from overexposure.  10,000 Maniacs symbolized artistically a lot of my values and beliefs as a high school graduate, and the only thing that punctuated that period in my life more significantly than socially conscious lyrics was the beautiful ensemble they represented in their performances as musicians.  I've aged and my world view has changed, with it so have my politics, but my love for 10,000 Manics has endured largely because their music still resonates even if their lyrics have become somewhat polarizing.

At their heart, Edie Brickell and 10,000 Maniacs were both alternative bands from a bygone era.  It pains me to say that, mostly because it is both accurate, and near enough in time to seem impossible.  I've considered the possibility that perhaps I'm simply getting old and that every generation feels their own tastes are indeed "THE last of it's kind."  But as I scan the radio listening to anything modern that still reaches into my past, I see cold marble tombstones for things such as Alternative Music, Grunge Music, Top 40 Music, and the list goes on and on.  What plays now on the airwaves feels like an endless parade of soulless, meaningless noise with no continuity, life, or meaning.  Yeah, I'm officially a crotchety old man.        

So I give my former class, my own retrospective impression of the music that carried me through my high school years, much of my college years, and all too frequently, 20 years later, my rides into work.  I don't presume to say any of this is "typical," it's strictly my perspective, my recollection, my memories, and hopefully...YOUR smiles as you recall fondly something I enjoyed, no matter how obscure...

Edie Brickell and the New Bohemians:  "What I Am"

I'd be hard pressed to find any performer more influential to my high school experience then Edie Brickell and Co.  More than that, I was always struck by the melodies, unique sound, and compelling lyrics.  What I didn't know then, and I know now, is that the sound I was really drawn to was rock with a strong folk foundation.  Folk would later reveal itself in a passion for blue grass, and a new found passion for Irish Folk music...but in 1992 Edie Brickell was the first to help me realize my musical identity.  "Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars" was the first CD I ever purchased...months before I ever owned a CD Player I might add.  I still buy every album that comes out associated with her.  She's also the only artist I wrote a fan letter too...but to some who read this, that won't be a surprise...I'm notorious in some circles for my letter writing..

10,000 Manaics:  "These Are Days"

Edie Brickell might have been my first musical passion, but hands down the most substantial was 10,000 Maniacs.  There was probably a good two year stretch immediately after high school where if you sampled what I listened to for those  two years at any given time there was a 92% chance it was 10,000 Maniacs.  When something sticks, it REALLY sticks with me and I was really caught up in their overall sound, Natalie Merchant's vocals, and their thoughtful and thought inspiring lyrics.  Politically and socially a bit heavy handed, they none the less set the tone for the foundation of my adulthood and bridged the gap between high school and college nicely.  It was years later that I learned they too were a heavily folk influenced rock band.  They are also the first band I ever saw in concert.  Natalie Merchant is the last person I saw in concert as well, that was 10 years ago and I have fond memories of that concert I attended with fellow classmate, Denise Pearson, who was such a wonderful influence on my musical growth.      

Chris Isaak:  "Wicked Game"

Chris Isaak is sort of unique in my paradigm, I gravitate towards female vocals historically.  What first drew me to this was the haunting guitar and his powerful vocals.  Over time, Isaak's lyrical depictions of love, passion, and heart break really resonated with me as I faced my own substantial break up.  Some of you might know her too...I won't get into that, but suffice it to say Isaak resonated because I felt he was singing about me.  Over the years, he's still churned out one album after another, largely about suffering, anguish, and the trade off for time, no matter how brief, of deep love, obsession, commitment, and the remarkable power a woman can have over a man.  He's a pretty decent guitar player and in many respects he echoes another forgotten era in music where Roy Orbison, Elvis Presley,and Johnny Cash were kings.  Interestingly, he headlined the last concert I saw (Natalie Merchant was the opening act).  That was about the same time as the 10 Year Reunion...just some trivia for everyone.

R.E.M.:  "Losing My Religion"  

R.E.M. continued in the vein of socially conscious, folk-based bands that grabbed my attention...it also introduced me to the mandolin and would foreshadow my interest in bluegrass.  I had an "Out of Time" T-Shirt that I bought at Mike's Records and Tapes...hows that for a blast from the past?  There's a pretty significant landmark for me personally not far from there, again, I'll keep that one to myself I think.  R.E.M., saw them in concert too, but that was a few years after high school.  This song was hot and got a lot of play on MTV about the same time we got cable at the Bradford household.  R.E.M. sort of stand as a monument to a different era in music where college stations could still make an impact and "popular" music was usually an extension of what had been popular for ages on campuses around the country.  Another interesting connection was about this time R.E.M. was touring and had 10,000 Maniacs opening for them.  

I suppose I could go on and on...perhaps more later is the best route to go.  I don't want to bore anyone with my ramblings about decades old tunes.  Suffice it to say, the advent of cable in the Bradford home was significant, particularly in a time when the M in MTV still meant MUSIC.  I remember videos from far flung groups as The B-52s, Suzanne Vega, Midnight Oil, the Cure, Concrete Blonde, Depeche Mode and many others.  I forged a musical identity through this period and in many respects set the tone for my musical tastes that follow me to this day.  For me, the pleasure (this will sound real corny) comes from passing on my taste to my children.  My oldest, Ariana, has developed a fond appreciation for some of what I hold dear...and while she forges her own identity, I'm proud to say that she's become the musician I only wish I had become.  Thanks everyone for hanging with me while I unleashed this meandering diatribe about music and my inability to embrace the radio in 2012...(incidentally, I listen to talk radio...so yeah, I'm really, really getting old...)