I just couldn't help myself (Part 1)

THIS IS GONNA BE A LONG ONE, people...and if you don't like music or don't have the time, don't even bother. But if you do have the time, feel free to reminisce with me.

So, on to the good stuff. SPIN Magazine released their list of the 125 Best Albums of the Past 25 Years.

Going through the list and listening to some of my favorite songs along the way, I realized that for every song I listened to, each of them reminded me of a very specific moment in my life. That happens to me a TON, and I'm sure to many other people too, so I've decided to do a little run down of songs from their list that I LOVE, and some of the moments in my life that they remind me of...some are serious, some hilarious, and some sad, but all are moments I wouldn't change.

Without further ado:

122.) LCD Soundsystem, Sound of Silver

"North American Scum" was basically the theme song for 2007. I'm fairly certain I danced to it every Friday night for months. The scene I was into that point...only one term comes to mind: social incest. How fitting. Watch out for the scene kids.


"you see i love this place that i have grown to know
alright, north america.
and yeah, I know you wouldn’t touch us with a ten-foot pole
‘cause we’re north americans"

120.) Lil Wayne, Tha Carter III

I'm not a huge fan, but "A Milli" reminds me of my former personal trainer back in Phoenix. Her name was Emily....get it? E-MILL-Y. This song would ALWAYS come on while I was working out...I still smirk when I hear it.

Best line of the whole song:
"you pop em cuz we pop em like Orville Redenbacher"

119.) Green Day, American Idiot

"Boulevard of Broken Dreams" haunts me to this day. I literally can't stand the song. I remember hearing it nonstop when I was on my drive....all alone...for 25 hours....moving out to Arizona....right after my grandma had had a stroke. It really brings northern Texas to mind. The part of the drive where you see absolutely no scenery for miles and miles. Ugh.

118.) Yeah Yeah Yeahs, It's Blitz!

"Heads Will Roll" is so current. One of my favorite songs of last year. If you live in Seattle and adore people watching, go to Cha Cha in Capitol Hill...I completely remember listening to this song there and digging all of the hipsters running around.

"glitter on the wet streets
silver over everything"

115.) OutKast, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below

"The Way You Move" brings two things to mind: pre-partying while getting ready at my apartment in college, and TOGA PARTIES. My junior year roommate and I had a little "pre-game toga" ritual. It mostly consisted of blasting this album while drinking enormous Den pops (Google Discount Den and Purdue if you are curious) laced with Captain Morgan and strapping on teeny togas. Great visual I know. We were creative with our toga material though, I must say. I think I was a fan of blue leopard print at one point! And I definitely remember my roommate wearing a toga made out of Barbie-doll printed material.

114.) Animal Collective, Merriweather Post Pavilion

I totally blasted "Brother Sport" when I drove out of Corning, California (olive capital of CA, or so they advertise) whilst moving here to Seattle last April. I remember it vividly because it's where I spent my first night on the road...and there were olive signs....EVERYWHERE. Olives haunted my sleep.



108.) Fugees, The Score

Oh, my high school days! I VIVIDLY remember cruising through town in my '94 Camaro blasting "FU-GEE-LA"...and yes, I had a system in my car, with really DARK windows. I was a badass bitch back in those days...pfffft, riggghhhht.

107.) Coldplay, A Rush Of Blood To The Head

"In My Place" was one of my favorite songs at the time I turned 21. I recall hearing someone play "Clocks" at the Neon Cactus Piano Bar not too long after my birthday and being completely taken aback..."What?? Since when do they know about this kind of music HERE?! SWEET!"

105.) Massive Attack, Mezzanine

This was bound to happen...."Teardrop" actually reminds me of one of my more unconventional ex-boyfriends in Arizona. I won't go too deep on that one, but I'll just say that I definitely smirk anytime I hear this song. Sometimes you just never know what to expect...

"water is my eye
most faithful mirror
fearless on my breath
teardrop on the fire of a confession"

97.) Arcade Fire, Neon Bible

"No Cars Go" reminds me of the day that I found out I got the job I wanted here in Seattle. I had been waiting (and waiting and waiting..since I'd been through about 8 interviews, it seems) and was starting to get stressed about how tired I was of living in Arizona, and how I was just frustrated with the way things were with my company at the time. So, I decided to take some stress out hiking up Squaw Peak. I plugged in the iPod and pushed up that damn staircase of a mountain as fast as I could. I remember listening to "No Cars Go" when I was on the way back down. When I got back to my truck, there was a voice-mail from my now-boss with a job offer.


As they say...

"Between the click of the light and the start of the dream"

91.) The Smiths, Strangeways, Here We Come

"Girlfriend In A Coma" reminds me of my 25th birthday...mostly because I went to see Morrissey that day all the way out in BFE (aka Sun City West, AZ). This song also strongly brings back memories of my favorite bar in Phoenix, Shady's...and one of my best friends there, who, when she gets WASSSTTEEDD, yells at anyone and everyone to play The Smiths on the jukebox =).

"there were times when I could have strangled her,
but you know I would hate anything to happen to her.
would you please let me see her?"

88.) Jeff Buckley, Grace

"Hallelujah," funny enough, reminds me of watching the show The O.C. in college. It was part of a huge dramatic part of that show! I had so many friends at school that would stop whatever they were doing Thursday nights to partake in this guilty pleasure...some of us even had little parties to watch it together. It couldn't be helped. Those damn brooding teenagers get me every time. And yes...I had an ENORMOUS crush on Seth.



87.) The White Stripes, White Blood Cells

I got to listen to this entire album, front-to-back, while I was getting my second tattoo. I was 20...and stupid...but it was pretty memorable. My second tattoo is the one that's on my lower back (a "tramp stamp" if you will...but I ain't no tramp!). The artist got after me because I was singing all of the lyrics to "Hotel Yorba," which is a pretty perky song, thus making it hard for him to work. Oops!

"well it's 1 2 3 4
take the elevator
at the Hotel Yorba
I'll be glad to see you later
all they got inside is vacancy!"

86.) TV on the Radio, Return to Cookie Mountain

"Wolf Like Me" = one word....GLAM. This gem of a bar was my home for a good year back in Phoenix. I miss it...and it's flashdance floor.


76.) OutKast, Aquemini

"Rosa Parks" reminds me distinctly of high school house parties, playing some of the most ridiculous drinking games I've ever heard of (doh! I forgot...I was supposed to be an ANGEL in high school!). I also remember some of the whitest white boy friends of mine trying to dance to this....you can only imagine ;).

(TO BE CONTINUED.....)

A little playlist for you to enjoy: