Go away, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers - Into the Great Wide Open

Released July, 2nd 1991 on MCA

I don't like Tom Petty.  There, I said it.  I've always found him and his stupid hat* annoying. (And that's coming from a guy with a pretty ridiculous hat of his own)  I don't know if I can really pinpoint what it is about Petty that I dislike, but I'll try.

I feel like he's always complaining in his songs and when he sings it's like he's whining about having been served a sandwich with soggy lettuce.  And then, in his videos, he's always got that blank, emotionless expression as if to say "I'm too cool to let loose.  Besides, you should be focusing more on the impressive art design and clever concept of my video than my annoying face."  Well, Tom, I'd like to, but what's not being blocked by your stringy blonde hair is being obstructed by that damn hat. (p.s. I hate his stupid sunglasses, too)

The guy still has four more Heartbreaker releases, so Petty fans shouldn't have to panic just yet. 


*According to Wikipedia, his top hat expired in 1987 when his house burned to the ground. 

**Having never bought or owned a single Petty album, I can only base my opinion on the radio singles that get overplayed and the videos I remember from Mtv.   

Toodles, Green Day - 1,039/Smoothed Out Slappy Hours

Released on Lookout! July 1, 1991

I discovered Green Day, along with most of the world, in 1994 when the band released their third studio album "Dookie." (Exp. '14)  After seeing the video for "Longview" a million times in the first week on Mtv, I bought the CD.

As I mentioned in my NOFX post, say what you will about punk rock but this record played a big part in introducing me to the genre.  The band took a lot of heat from the rest of the East Bay bands for leaving Lookout! and signing with a major label.  Some might say they've made a career out of pissing off fans, steadily becoming more and more mainstream and never really appealing to anyone over the age of 16. 

I remember being in my Sunday School class, (yes, at the age of 15...) and talking to a friend of mine about "Dookie."  He scoffed and said "They suck now."  I hadn't realized they'd already released two albums "1,039" & "Kerplunk." (Exp. '12)  It was pretty clear to me that I'd never be as cool as my friend, but I could certainly try.  A couple days later I went to the record store and picked up the other two albums.

Of the three, "Kerplunk" was and remains my favorite, though they all received significant airplay in my bedroom.  You know, I never bought another Green Day album and it's probably because my friend's voice is still in the back of my head saying "they suck now." 

If you're a fan of Green Day, there's still 7 studio albums to enjoy.  As well as a stage adaptation of American Idiot on Broadway.  According to Wikipedia, Billie Joe Armstrong did a 50 performance run as the main character earlier this year.  I wonder if he still has time to jerk it.