One thing I enjoy about Random iTunes Weekends is they allow me to dive into the back stories of songs and bands about which I don’t know much.
I own Tears for Fears’ greatest hits album, 1982’s Tears Roll Down, but I had no idea it was released a year after the band broke up. Or, more specifically, a year after founding member Curt Smith left and co-founder Roland Orzabal continued recording under the Tears for Fears moniker in his absence.
Ben Folds released a trio of EPs during 2003-04 featuring a mix of cover songs, throwaway tracks and a few very good original songs. ‘There’s Always Someone Cooler Than You,’ from the Sunny 16 EP, is one of the the good ones.
This track is a cross between a pep talk and a fuck you. Folds sings about how little the opinions of others matter and extols the virtues of self-confidence and security with your own shortcomings.
It’s a bit of a cheat to list Tori Amos’ debut album Little Earthquakes this week, because the album isn’t new to me. In fact, when it came out I was convinced it was close to a masterpiece.
But Amos lost me somewhere down the line… perhaps on her sophomore album, Under the Pink. Not only did I never own another of her records, but I haven’t listened to this one since the year it came out.
Another celebrated 1992 debut album, Pavement’s Slanted and Enchanted is considered one of the most influential alternative rock records of the decade.
I actually own this album — having downloaded it for free somewhere along the way — but I’ve never played it. I’ve always had a bit of a struggle getting into early alt-rockers. R.E.M. is the notable exception.
One of rap’s most influential albums was released in late 1992 — on my birthday, December 15, in fact.
Dr. Dre’s The Chronic was his first solo album after leaving NWA. It’s also the album that introduced Snoop Doggy Dogg to the world, rocketing him to superstar status before he’d even released a single of his own.
