Salida, Selena - Entre a Mi Mundo

Released May 6th, 1992 on EMI Latin

With the unfortunate recent deaths of Adam Yauch and Whitney Houston, the world is left wondering what could have been?  How many more records could the Beastie Boys* have released if cancer hadn't have been so cruel?  And was Whitney's final release "I look to you" (exp. '29) the beginning of a comeback?**

Similarly, seventeen years ago, the world lost Selena.  Murdered at the age of 23 by the president of her fan club, Selena's discography was cut short at only five studio albums.  The third, "Entre a Mi Mundo," expires today.  I sometimes feel a little guilty when I'm expiring the music of people who died young, but in this case, we'll just have to blame it on Yolanda Saldivar***

For those of you still celebrating the "Queen of Tejano Music", you've got three more years to enjoy the rest of her catalog.  Her final release "Dreaming of You" won't expire until July of 2015.  The good news is, you will always be able to watch Selena, the movie based on her life starring Jennifer Lopez.****  The film will never expire.  The soundtrack will in March of 2017.



*Check Your Head expired last month.
**Probably not.
***Her sentence of life imprisonment expires in 2025 when she will gain the chance of parole.
****J. Lo has seven studio albums.  All of which are in play.

Party off, Wayne's World Sound Track

Released Feb 18th, 1992 on Reprise

"Wait up, guys!  I fell on my keys!"

Okay, first off I'd like to congratulate myself on making it a full year without *voluntarily* listening to music produced more than twenty years ago.  For the most part, it's been pretty easy.  The only negative thing is not being able to hit shuffle on my iPod.  I'll be honest, I haven't pulled the trigger and actually deleted ALL the expired albums off my iPod, so I have to actually choose what music I listen to each time I use it.  Maybe by the two year mark I'll have everything straightened out.

Now, with today's featured album, we're entering into unchartered territory: motion picture soundtracks.  Usually when I talk to people about this experiment, the question of how to deal with soundtracks comes up.  When it does, I'll be honest, I get stumped.  It's a bit of a tricky situation and as a result, I've kind of been avoiding them entirely.  Not that I typically listen to soundtracks.  The only two I've ever owned are the "Dumb and Dumber" (Exp. '14) and "Angus" (Exp. '15) discs.  Neither of which I currently have in my possession.

The reason it's tricky is because though I'm quick to toss out old music, I'm not expiring movies, TV's or books.  So, if I'm watching The Goonies and Cyndi Lauper's "the Goonies are Good Enough" (Exp. '05) starts playing, I'm not going to panic and mute the television.  (It's one of a few loopholes in this whole thing.)

I've discovered that the best thing about twenty year old soundtracks is it highlights a significant amount of expired music all at once!  With this one, I'm reminded that I'll never enjoy/be subjected to: Black Sabbath's "Dehumanizer" (Exp. '12) , Alice Cooper's "Hey Stoopid" (Exp. '12) or Queen's "A Night at the Opera" (Exp. '95).  

Wayne's World registered pretty high with me as a kid and was one of my favorite comedies for a very long time.  I haven't actually seen it in several years, but a colleague of mine told me it doesn't hold up.  I suppose I'll have to check for myself one of these days.  When I do, I may actually mute Tia Carrere's performance...  Just to be safe.

There is one soundtrack that I've been dying to buy for a while now, but can't due to the fact it was released in 1977.  It's the soundtrack to Dario Argento's horror classic "Suspiria" (Exp. '97).  The entire record consists of music from the Italian progressive rock band Goblin and let me tell you, it is bad ass.  It's basically horror rock and all I want to do is bathe myself in it.  Too bad I'll only get to listen to it if and when I watch the movie again.

Finally, it should be noted that "The Bodyguard" soundtrack will expire in November of this year.  Just ten months after Whitney Houston's passing.

The ball's dropped on Live - "Mental Jewelry"

Released December 31st, 1991 on Radioactive

Today is the last day of 2011.  Starting tomorrow, when I tell people about Expired Music, I'll be saying how I no longer listen to music produced prior to 1992!  I find this extremely exciting.  Don't you?

Twenty years ago today, the band Live released their debut album "Mental Jewelry", a twelve-track record with two singles including "Operation Spirit"* which made it all the way to 9 on the Billboard charts.

Let's talk about Live for a second.  Everyone who listens to rock music on the radio is familiar with their second album "Throwing Copper" (Exp. April of '14).  It's by far their most successful album selling over 8 million copies in the US alone.  We've all heard "Lightning Crashes" a billion times by now and most of us are familiar with the tracks "I Alone" and "Selling the Drama." The fact that "Lightning Crashes" and "I Alone" are their only songs that continue to get regular airplay says one thing: Mainstream radio blows.

Live has released 7 records!  Can you name any of their follow up albums?  Can you hum even one track off their most recent release "Songs from the Black Mountain?" (exp. '26)  How do bands like Live continue to build a fan base when nobody knows what any of their music sounds like post 1994?  I suppose you have to really like "Throwing Copper" in order to wanna buy/download their follow up music.  That's a lot to ask.  I think the majority of all people wanna be familiar with at least ONE song before buying a new record.  Only die hard Live fans are gonna pick up their records on name alone.

I'm not saying Live's catalog is a must have, I was never really a fan of theirs in the first place, but let's at least give 'em a shot.  Play a bunch of their newer songs every so often and continue to do so for a significant amount of time. (20 years?)  Over time we might really like what we hear.  And think about all the other bands like Live that continue to produce music decades after their "big hit" hit the airwaves.  You know how much content that is?  We could probably go YEARS before "Lightning Crashes" climbed back to the top of the queue.

One last note re: Live.  ATW, they've disbanded.  Something about lead singer Ed Kowalczyk being a douche and demanding more money than the rest of his bandmates.  Legal action was taken, not sure of the outcome.

*I couldn't remember having ever heard "Operation Spirit" so I listened to it on YouTube for the first and last time before it expires for good. 

NEW MUSIC: Hanni El Khatib - "Will The Guns Come Out?"

Have you discovered this guy yet?  I first heard his music on 88.9 KXLU.  His first full length album hit stores in September and it's pretty bad ass.  "Will The Guns Come Out" is a rockin', crunchy, kill-or-be-killed record from Hanni El Khatib.  Part Filipino and part Palestinian, El Khatib comes from the San Francisco area with roots planted deep within the skateboarding community.

He's taking from blues, doo-wop, and mixing it all with a thick garage rock sound.  It's clear he's influenced by people like Elvis and Louis Armstrong both of whom have songs reimagined by El Khatib on this record.*

I know what you're thinking.  You're thinking: "That last paragraph disproves your entire theory of a need for music expiration." I'm also certain that if Hanni El Khatib ever came across this blog, he'd probably stick a switchblade through his computer screen.  All I can say is, yes, it's true that artists influence artists and new sound comes from old sound.  But you know what?  New sound can also rise from nothing.  It's possible to create music with limited to zero influence from other sources.  Isn't it?  And what if it's THIS MUSIC that really changes things?  Is it so crazy to think that older music, in a way, restricts significant growth?  Is it impossible to make huge strides toward new and interesting sounds without having Billboards top 50 of the past century on your iPod?**  I don't know, but I sure as hell would like to find out.

And yeah, if I could get the whole world on my side, records like "Will The Guns Come Out?" probably wouldn't exist, and that'd be a shame.  But El Khatib would still be a person with things to say and I'm sure he'd find a way to express himself.  Whether via music or some other medium.

Regardless, this record is excellent, and I highly suggest you spend some time (albeit no more than twenty years) checking out his music.  Might I suggest the tracks "Loved One" and "Dead Wrong"?

*Both of whom have expired physically and musically.  Presley ('77/'97ish) & Armstrong ('71/'91ish)

**I have no idea how long Billboard's been keeping stats, i just went with a nice round number.

Now leaving Neverland, Michael Jackson - Dangerous

Released November 26, 1991 on Epic

Once again, I'm late to the game with Michael Jackson's eighth studio album "Dangerous."  It expired on Saturday.  I was too busy playing in a poker tournament to notice.

I've got a handful of memories tied to this record.  The first are the mind blowingly awesome spfx at the end of the Black or White video.  People morphing into other people seamlessly!  Super awesome.  Additionally, the mcaulay culkin (sp?) cameo is pretty great.

The second, is from high school when my best friend and I "performed" in a student-produced "music video" to the song "Jam."  Though, now that I think of it, I might not have actually appeared in the video at all.  I just remember my friend The Beetle saying "Jam" over and over and my other friend doing the rap.  It exists somewhere on VHS, I'll have to track it down.  Or not.

With the loss of "Dangerous" you're pretty much looking at two more studio albums, if you include HIStory, Which I think is a best-of album.

Auf Wiedersehen, U2 - Achtung, Baby

Released November 19th, 1991 on Island Records

I'm a couple days late, but U2's "Achtung, Baby" is officially in the Expired pile.  One of their most successful albums, "Achtung, Baby" has gone 8 times platinum as of 2009, selling over 5.5 million copies in the States alone.

ATW, they won a crapload of awards, including "Comeback of the Year" by Rolling Stone Magazine.  Was "Rattle and Hum" (exp. '08) really that bad?

I owned this on cassette.  I remember the booklet being really long and particularly difficult to refold.  The last U2 record I bought was "Zooropa" (exp. '13) which I wasn't crazy about.  I will admit, however, I've always enjoyed the songs "lemon" and "numb."

This may or may not also mark the beginning of Bono's sunglasses.  I seem to remember him wearing them in all (and there were a lot) of the videos that came out following the release of this record. Apparently he's got some sort of sensitivity to light.* 

Is it wrong to say that U2 has really only put out two amazing records: "Achtung, Baby" and "Joshua Tree" (exp. '07)?  Is that a wildly inaccurate statement?  I know "Boy" ('00) and "War" ('03) have sort of a cool factor, giving some cred to the early fans, but....   

*I do, too!  And yet, I never wear sunglasses.  Instead, I prefer doing as much as possible in the dark, including working and showering.

Need you no more, INXS - Live Baby Live

Released November 11th, 1991 on Atlantic, Mercury Records

I've always wanted to be on the cover of a live album.  I'd say there are about ten people in this image that could properly identify themselves.  How cool is that?

"Live Baby Live" is one of only a few live albums I've ever owned.  "A Show of Hands" (Exp. '09) and a couple of Fat Wreck Chord releases come to mind.

From beginning to end, it's a solid record.  The perfect collection of singles to represent the Australian band.*  I think the only studio album of theirs I owned was "Kick" (Exp. '07).

In college, some friends of mine and I did a fun hidden camera prank using the song "Suicide Blonde".**  I'll have to find it and put it on YouTube one of these days.

INXS has created some amazing music in the past, but unfortunately the thing they'll probably be known most for is their front man's, Michael Hutchence, suicide.  (Exp. '97)  Everything that's followed, IMO, seems to be a bit of a clusterf*ck.  The decision to find a new front man via reality show never really set well with me.

Additional: I think my favorite song on this album is "The Stairs."  Something weird about that tune that appeals to me.

*Another favorite Australian band of mine, Midnight Oil, still has four albums left, though I stopped with "Blue Sky Mine" which expired last February.

**We had a friend set up a stereo system in the Boston Common and take requests from passer-bys.  No matter what song the people would ask to hear, our friend would play "Suicide Blonde."

It's over, Matthew Sweet - Girlfriend

Released October 22, 1991 on Zoo Entertainment

Another artist I found thanks to my sister.  I seem to remember her just giving me this CD straight up one day.*  Or maybe I stole it, I'm not sure.

This disc got a ridiculous amount of air time in my room during high school.  From beginning to end, a true classic album in my opinion.  Tracks like "I thought I knew you" and "I wanted to tell you" seem to carry a ton of emotion and are somewhere near the top of my favorite Sweet songs.

I bought the next three albums of his, stopping with "100% Fun" (exp. '15).  I sort of seesawed on "Altered Beast" (exp. '13 ) and Son of Altered Beast" (exp. '14) never really embracing them in the same way as "Girlfriend."

In 2006 he released a Legacy Edition called "Goodfriend" with all remastered tracks from his 1991 album.  Feeling reminiscent, I picked it up.  Unfortunately, I don't acknowledge remastered tracks of expired music so I have to let them go as well.  For some reason none of his other albums ever made it to my iTunes, so my iPod is officially free of Matthew Sweet.

Additionally, Del tha Funky Homosapien's 1991 release "I Wish My Brother George Was Here" has also expired as of Oct. 22nd.  I will be deleting this album from my iPod after publishing this article.


* I know that's how I got Bad Religion's "Stranger Than Fiction" exp. '14

Nirvana, Tribe, Chili Peppers, oh my!

Released Sept. 24th, 1991 on DGC

Twenty years ago, a number of albums hit record stores for the first time, including Nirvana's "Nevermind", RHCP's "Blood Sugar Sex Magic" and Tribe's "Low End Theory."

Today they've expired.

Released Sept. 24th, 1991 on Warner Bros.

Released Sept. 24th, 1991 on Jive/RCA

Sorry, Charlie. Ween - The Pod

Released on Shimmy Disc, Sept. 20, 1991

As indicated on the Ween Facebook page, today is the 20th anniversary of the band's second album, "The Pod."  It's also the first record to expire since starting this project that I listen to on a regular basis.  As I've mentioned before, Ween is my all time favorite band and getting rid of any of their music is a painful yet necessary thing to do.

I knew last night that I'd be expiring this album, so I grabbed my iPod and listened to thePod one last time before falling asleep.*

You could classify their entire catalogue of music as "weird", but "The Pod" may be the weirdest of the bunch.  

I've still got plenty of Ween left to enjoy.  "Pure Guava" doesn't expire until next November.  Yay!

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to delete these songs from my iPod and iTunes.**

*Unfortunately, I fell asleep about halfway through.  
**The music is backed up on my hard drive.  I'm not deleting it for good.  I just can't risk these songs popping up while on shuffle. 

Back in the holster, Guns N' Roses - Use Your Illusion I, II

Released on Geffen Sept. 17th, 1991

Once again, I'm a couple days late in updating, but as of Saturday Gn'R's "Use Your Illusion I & II" have expired.  I don't have a lot to say in the record's defense.*  I've never been a Guns N' Roses fan.

If you've read any of my previous posts, you'll know I wasn't listening to much "hard rock" from the 80's and early 90's.  So when my friend showed me this CD in 1991 and began talking about its music and lyrics my eyes sort of glazed over.

I just remember repeating the title over and over in my head trying to wrap my brain around it.  It didn't (and still doesn't)  make much sense to me.  Maybe if I'd listen to the records or did any type of research, it would.  The album cover is the only thing that's really stuck with me.  I only now realized it's a small segment of a larger painting by Raphael.  I always thought it was a person bending over after having ben set on fire.  I was clearly wrong.

Anyhoo, all you GNR fans playing along are running low on available content.  "Appetite for Destruction" expired four years ago.  "GNR Lies," three years ago.  I haven't heard "Chinese Democracy" (Exp. '28) but from the few reviews I read after its release I can't imagine I'm missing out.  I suggest you consider this a prime opportunity to replace GNR with a new, relevant band/record from the past twenty years.

*I'm starting to realize how truly uninformative my blog can be at times.

You've crapped out, Rush - Roll The Bones

Released September 3, 1991 on Anthem/Atlantic

I'm a few days late, but as of Saturday Rush's 14th studio album "Roll the Bones" has expired.  My uncle introduced my cousin and I to this band when we were kids.  I spent the next several years collecting their music.  Every time I'd walk into a music store I'd head straight for the "R" section.  I still remember being in the New Orleans Riverwalk Mall and coming across "Caress of Steel" on CD*.  I'd never heard of it and felt like I'd unearthed a secret bootleg recording.

I've probably got more memories tied to this band than any other.  19 studio albums makes that an easy title to hold.  One of my favorites is when the local classic rock station announced they'd be playing the yet-to-be-released "Counterparts" album in its entirety beginning at midnight.  I stayed up super late, sat in the corner of my room and recorded the whole thing on cassette.

I'll also never forget the summer my cousin and I (with the help of my aunt) painted two large murals in their church's game room.  James did an amazing job recreating the "Grace Under Pressure" cover while I painted the "Signals" cover.**  Both were badass, both have been painted over since.  Why did it happen?  Because it happened.

I'll be honest, though I do love "Roll the Bones" it's not in my top five Rush albums.  It hasn't gotten a lot of play in recent years, so it will most likely be a while before I really start to miss it.  In the meantime I'll be listening to their last five albums...  Well, I'll at least be listening to "Counterparts."

*"Lakeside Park" is one of my favorite tunes of theirs.

**I hid my initials on the face of the hydrant.

Even Superman gets old, Spin Doctors - Pocket Full of Kryptonite

Released August 20, 1991 on Epic

I'm a little late getting to this, but as of a week and a half ago, Spin Doctor's "Pocket Full of Kryptonite" has expired.

I have two small memories surrounding this album.  The first is listening to "Two Princes" while riding my bike in circles on my friend's driveway, waiting for him to come out and play.  The second is less of a memory and more of a stupid habit.  To this day, if someone asks me what time it is, I'm 40% likely to respond with "4:30.  It's not late, it's early."*  This is a lyric from, I believe, "What Time is It?"  Track 2 on "PFoK." 

This was their debut and most successful release going five times platinum.  If you absolutely must listen to the Spin Doctors, they've still got four studio albums that will remain accessible until 2014 when "Turn it Upside Down" gets the axe.  Or, you can just catch their contribution to the opening credits of Spin City in reruns.

A couple interesting facts I learned about tSD's from Wikipedia is that they are good friends with the band Blues Traveler, even sharing members in the beginning.  Also, singer Chris Barron lost his voice due to a rare acute form of vocal cord paralysis that severely affected his ability to talk.  He was told he had a 50-50 chance of ever talking or singing normally again.  Spoiler alert, he can talk and sing normally.


*100% if you ask me at 4:30

Time's run out, Pearl Jam - Ten



Released August 27, 1991 on Epic

Most of the records I've blogged about prior to today remind me of my time in the fifth grade.  Pearl Jam's "Ten", however, has sixth grade written all over it.

I remember standing at the bus stop one morning with a girl who had just recently purchased Pearl Jam's debut album.  She yapped and yapped about it with such passion, convinced that it was the greatest music ever recorded.  I was a bit skeptical, but this girl was way cooler than I was and the fact that she was speaking to me about anything was a pretty big deal, so I listened.

Eventually I did buy the tape.*  And in no time I was totally on board with the rest of the world.  In the beginning, there was some question within the music community about whether or not PJ should be considered true "grunge."  I wasn't aware of any of this at the time, so it had no effect on me, but had I been, there's a good chance I'd have a different opinion about it today.** 

"Ten" eventually fell out of my regular rotation as I got more and more new music.  About three years ago I found a copy on CD in the dollar bin and picked it up to replace the one I'd lost fifteen years prior.  And you know what?  I couldn't tell you where that CD is today.  I think I bought it purely for sentimental reasons, but the reality is I'd moved on. 

The only other Pearl Jam record I ever owned was "Vs."  I listened to it once and hated it immediately.  The next day I gave it to my younger friend who lived down the street.  I regret my behavior that day.  I'm a lot better about giving music an honest, fair chance, ESPECIALLY music from an already established band/artist.  I know now that music can take hold and grow if given a shot.  And yet, I never did listen to "Vs." again.

* I say "bought", but odds are it was given to me as a birthday or Christmas gift.  Oh, and I'm 90% certain it was on cassette tape and not CD.

**Just to be clear, I think this is a fantastic record.

Exit Sandman, Metallica - Black Album

Released August 13, 1991 on Elektra

As of yesterday, Metallica's Black Album has expired.  Mourn if you must.

Bust a move, Young MC - Brainstorm

Released August 5, 1991 on Capitol Records

I remember being 10 years old (1990), sitting on the school bus and being asked by some kid to listen to a tape of his.  He wanted me to hear a new song, Young MC's "Fastest Rhyme."

Now, at 9 years old I liked rap.  Of course, "rap" for me was just one song: MC Hammer's "U Can't Touch This."  But by the time Vanilla Ice's To the Extreme (exp. '10) was released less than a year later, everything had changed.  I absolutely HATED "Ice Ice Baby."  I don't know who influenced me to feel that way, (probably my sister) but man did it upset me.

Something must've happened between the ages of 9 and 10 that caused me to turn my back on all mainstream music.  I think I now know what it was...  the New Kids on the Block.  NKOTB is the first band I can remember hating.  It's probably because girls liked it and I didn't want to like girly music, but somehow that feeling of having superior taste transposed to hatred for Vanilla Ice and as an unfortunate result, turned me away from the entire rap genre.  Such a shame.  It wasn't until 2001 that I straightened up and really began to explore hip hop music.  That's eleven years of ignorance!

Anyway, back to that fifth grade bus ride...  Even though I'd officially entered the stage of "I like everything but country and rap,"* I remember being thoroughly impressed by this dude's skill.  He was rapid-firing lyrics about who-knows-what and I liked it.  It was definitely the fastest rhyme I'd ever heard.  I'm not sure I've ever listened to that song a second time, but whenever I hear his name, I think of that day and "Fastest Rhyme."  I don't think of "Bust a Move."  Heck, I didn't even realize that that was his song until many years later.  And only after reading his Wiki page for this post, did I learn he'd helped write "Wild Thing" and Funky Cold Medina" for Tone Loc.  (p.s. ATW he's won two reality/game shows: Weakest Link rapper addition & Celebrity Weight Loss)

So in conclusion, today we lose the man's SECOND album "Brainstorm."  It was his first release on Capitol Records after releasing "Stone Cold Rhymin'" on Delicious Vinyl the year before.  He's still got five records to enjoy, however and I think I'll spend the next hour or so doing just that.

*I've heard (and said) this statement a million times over the years.  I know now how ridiculous it is to eliminate an entire genre of ANYTHING...   Except country, I still hate country.   :)   

Fast like a bandaid, Ween - GodWeenSatan

Released in 1990 by Twin/Tone Records

Oooof.  This one's like taking a punch to the gut.

I came to the conclusion a few years ago that Ween is my all-time favorite band.  Higher on my list than Rush, higher than NoFX, higher than the 2 Skinnee J's...  They've taken over the #1 slot and I don't see them being replaced any time soon.

Ween is just two dudes: Gene and Dean (not their real names) who, ATW, met in 1984 during their 8th grade typing class.  (the only class to help me in my professional career!)  They've spent the last 27 years creating some of the most random, eclectic, experimental music around, and to date, have released 11 studio albums.*  Typically, when I recommend them to people, I make sure say that because they're constantly jumping from genre to genre, they shouldn't be judged on one album alone.**  It's possible that the only common thread linking their catalog together is the use of distorted vocals... and possibly extremely bizarre lyrics.

I can remember two instances where I first learned of Ween:  (though I'm not sure which happened first)

Years ago, there was a cable access show in New York called Squirt TV.  It was hosted by a 14 year old kid and shot out of his bedroom!  Living in Louisiana, I obviously didn't get Squirt but sometime later Mtv picked it up as a series.  I remember catching a clip of this cool little kid (he's only 10 days older than I am... what am I doing with my life?!) sitting on his bed next to Gene and Deen Ween.  

Second, their video for "Push th' little daisies" aired in part on the Mtv series "Beavis and Butthead."  If you haven't seen it, it's a WEIRD freakin video.  And a WEIRDER freakin' song.  This song was off their second album "Pure Guava" (exp. '12).

I imagine it's because I was still pretty young, but I didn't actually purchase a Ween album until 1994 when "Chocolate and Cheese"*** (exp. '14) was released. 

GodWeenSatan expired in 2010 and is the only Ween album I've had to delete from my itunes.

*One album, Craters in the Sac (exp. '19) was released as mp3 files only.  It's also the only studio album of theirs I don't currently own.


**I give the same advice when I recommend 88.9 FM KXLU -- the greatest radio station on Earth.  If you tune in and you don't like what you hear, check back in five minutes, it will surely be something entirely different.  (unless it's a weekend in which case it's salsa!)

***This album currently holds the top spot for favorite ALBUM of all time.

Watch "Push th' Little Daisies" HERE

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.

Lata, mon. Bob Marley and the Wailers - Legend

Released May of '84 on Tuff Gong/Island

If you asked me who comes to mind when I think of reggae, I'd say Bob Marley.  If you said "yeah, yeah, but besides Bob Marley, who comes to mind..." I'd say ".....er.....um...........Bobby McFeren?  He's reggae, right?"  And you'd say "Yeah, sure.  He counts.  Anyone else?"  Then, I'd probably frown and say "Nope.  That's all I got."

I got a crash course in Bob Marley my freshman year of college.  My roommate had a lot of Jazz and hip hop but the record that got the most play on his side of the room was "Legend."  Now, I had heard a handful of his songs over the years, but I'd never listened to an entire Bob Marley record.

It's great.  It's a really really good record.  He sings with soul and love, preaches equal rights...  I really can't think of a single bad thing to say about his music.  The fact of the matter is I don't need to listen to it anymore.  I know the songs, I can hear them in my head.  In less than a month, it will have been 30 years since he died of cancer at the age of 36.  The world has been able to enjoy his music for almost 50 years.  That's MORE than enough time.  I worry that Marley eclipses an entire genre of music.  For too many people, he is the end all be all of reggae music and that's a shame.

I wouldn't consider myself a big reggae fan.  I don't own any reggae music.  But, in the future, if I find myself in the mood for a little Rastafarian groove, I'd like it to come from new, rising Jamaican talent.  I want to hear the island nation voices of today.  I bet there's some pretty fantastic stuff.  If you know of some, please share!