Selections from Summer Pierre: The Box Set
The thing I love about music is that more than any other medium, it acts as an immediate reference for memories. If music were one of the senses, it would be smell. I love art and writing, but I never look at a Picasso and say, "Damn, that takes me back..." the way I do when I hear Psychadellic Furs sing "Pretty In Pink."
Since I am getting ready to move, and I am broke, I started going through CDs to sell. I found it a brutal, but necessary procedure--one that made me feel better after having done it. I decided to honor some of the CDs with a selection of their associations, and wish them luck in other people's collections.
Babes In Toyland, Fontanelle
I was living in Vermont and wanted to be a Riot Grrrl, with an angry feminist attitude and baby barrettes in my hair. It was my last year in college and I was doing my thesis on women in rock. I lived in a small apartment above a bread bakery. I wore combat boots and a polka dot dress. I've been holding on to it for sentimental reasons, but I tried listening to it a few months ago, and just couldn't. It was somewhere between metal and punk, ultimately outdated. Sorry ladies.
Breeders, Last Splash
From the same time period. I feel the guiltiest letting this go, because somehow I feel it still makes me cool to have this in my collection, but when was the last time I listened to it? 1998? I'll say thank you, and put it with the polka dot dress that's too short and worn thin anyway.
Bic Runga, Drive
I bought this after the Lillith fair compilation in 1999, which featured the song "Sway." It's one of the most perfectly produced pop rock songs ever. I STILL love that song and have put it on more mixed tapes and CDs than I can count. Turned out, it was the only song on the album I liked. Runga's voice is pretty, but the album is depressing and cold, like Boston in February.
Ellis Paul, Live
God bless the Boston Folk scene. No kidding, it's where I got my start. Ellis Paul is one of its reigning champions. The engineer for my album also engineered the recording of this double live CD. Ellis also produced my producer, Rob Laurens' CD, Honey on the Mountain. I wanted so to understand this lovely man's appeal, but beyond the song "Take Me Down," and his glorious hair, I cannot. Since I am now living on the West Coast, I thought it would be safe to unload this CD. Habit made me look over my shoulder, as I pushed its case to the crusty forty-ish recovering punk rocker behind the counter. He gave me five bucks for it!
Patti Rothberg, Between the 1 and the 9 and Tracy Bonham, The Burdens of Being Upright
I bought these two CDs on the very same day in the spring of 1996. I was living in Palo Alto, my first year out of college, wondering what the hell happened to my life plan. Hot off the high of discovering the voices of women in rock, I was deeply interested in who else was out there. I bought Rotheberg's CD for the song "Inside," and Bonham's for the song "Mother." It would take me another 4 years to find out that you don't buy CDs for just one song, and just because they are girls with a guitar. It would take me another 6 years to find out you don't hold on to them for almost 10 years, just because you feel guilty for not liking these women and their CDs.
By the way, they wouldn't buy the Rothberg. I think there is a conspiracy around Patti Rothberg. I've tried selling that CD 3 times, in 3 different states and no one would take it! Same with all my Indigo Girls CDs. They are all in good condition too--I mean, what gives?
Paul Westerberg, Suicaine Gratification
I actually like this album, but it reminds me of one of the lowest points in my life. I won't get too into the details, but it involves a long, cold drive in New Hampshire in February to a bridal shop. I would try on the wedding dress, look in the mirror and say to myself: This is never going to happen. Every time I think about that dress I think of Westerberg singing "It's a beautiful lie, I still get by on those..."
CDs not elaborated on: Rolling Stone Magazine's Women in Rock Collection, Paul Westerberg's Eventually, Rosie Thomas, Only With Laughter Can You Win, The Nields, Play, Alanis Morrisette, Jagged Little Pill, and one other that I won't mention, because it's a local band, and I know one of the members, and I just don't want to start any trouble. (For those of you who are worried, I will give you a hint: It is NOT Speed Not Steel. They aren't entirely local anyway.)
Since I am getting ready to move, and I am broke, I started going through CDs to sell. I found it a brutal, but necessary procedure--one that made me feel better after having done it. I decided to honor some of the CDs with a selection of their associations, and wish them luck in other people's collections.
Babes In Toyland, Fontanelle
I was living in Vermont and wanted to be a Riot Grrrl, with an angry feminist attitude and baby barrettes in my hair. It was my last year in college and I was doing my thesis on women in rock. I lived in a small apartment above a bread bakery. I wore combat boots and a polka dot dress. I've been holding on to it for sentimental reasons, but I tried listening to it a few months ago, and just couldn't. It was somewhere between metal and punk, ultimately outdated. Sorry ladies.
Breeders, Last Splash
From the same time period. I feel the guiltiest letting this go, because somehow I feel it still makes me cool to have this in my collection, but when was the last time I listened to it? 1998? I'll say thank you, and put it with the polka dot dress that's too short and worn thin anyway.
Bic Runga, Drive
I bought this after the Lillith fair compilation in 1999, which featured the song "Sway." It's one of the most perfectly produced pop rock songs ever. I STILL love that song and have put it on more mixed tapes and CDs than I can count. Turned out, it was the only song on the album I liked. Runga's voice is pretty, but the album is depressing and cold, like Boston in February.
Ellis Paul, Live
God bless the Boston Folk scene. No kidding, it's where I got my start. Ellis Paul is one of its reigning champions. The engineer for my album also engineered the recording of this double live CD. Ellis also produced my producer, Rob Laurens' CD, Honey on the Mountain. I wanted so to understand this lovely man's appeal, but beyond the song "Take Me Down," and his glorious hair, I cannot. Since I am now living on the West Coast, I thought it would be safe to unload this CD. Habit made me look over my shoulder, as I pushed its case to the crusty forty-ish recovering punk rocker behind the counter. He gave me five bucks for it!
Patti Rothberg, Between the 1 and the 9 and Tracy Bonham, The Burdens of Being Upright
I bought these two CDs on the very same day in the spring of 1996. I was living in Palo Alto, my first year out of college, wondering what the hell happened to my life plan. Hot off the high of discovering the voices of women in rock, I was deeply interested in who else was out there. I bought Rotheberg's CD for the song "Inside," and Bonham's for the song "Mother." It would take me another 4 years to find out that you don't buy CDs for just one song, and just because they are girls with a guitar. It would take me another 6 years to find out you don't hold on to them for almost 10 years, just because you feel guilty for not liking these women and their CDs.
By the way, they wouldn't buy the Rothberg. I think there is a conspiracy around Patti Rothberg. I've tried selling that CD 3 times, in 3 different states and no one would take it! Same with all my Indigo Girls CDs. They are all in good condition too--I mean, what gives?
Paul Westerberg, Suicaine Gratification
I actually like this album, but it reminds me of one of the lowest points in my life. I won't get too into the details, but it involves a long, cold drive in New Hampshire in February to a bridal shop. I would try on the wedding dress, look in the mirror and say to myself: This is never going to happen. Every time I think about that dress I think of Westerberg singing "It's a beautiful lie, I still get by on those..."
CDs not elaborated on: Rolling Stone Magazine's Women in Rock Collection, Paul Westerberg's Eventually, Rosie Thomas, Only With Laughter Can You Win, The Nields, Play, Alanis Morrisette, Jagged Little Pill, and one other that I won't mention, because it's a local band, and I know one of the members, and I just don't want to start any trouble. (For those of you who are worried, I will give you a hint: It is NOT Speed Not Steel. They aren't entirely local anyway.)
posted by Summer Pierre at
1:42 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home