Golden Oldies

Alright, since I have been a bit lazy on keeping up with this I figured I'll share with you a few of my favorite songs from back in the day when I was first exposed to the music I listen to today, and perhaps what got me hooked in the first place.

To start things off, I grew up in a small town with 1 radio station repeating the hottest Country hits over and over. I was exposed to some classic rock that my parents occasionally played but for the most part everyone I knew listened to country music, all my friends parents, pretty much it was the norm. Well, I can't say I was one of the "haters" of country music since it was really mostly all I was around as a small child and to this day when those classic 90's country songs are played my nostalgic senses are heightened. Entering into my early to late teens, I must have decided I would break out of the norm and start listening to some different stuff. Ironically right about the time I started breaking away from the rules of society and doing what teenage kids do, not listening to parents advice, giving into peer pressure, trying to 'be cool' and fit in, and all the other stereotypical traits of a lost teenager looking for a clear path through the jungle known as high school. Well, I did all those things and during the brunt of it all, not only was I exposed to alcohol, drugs, tobacco, and other stuff you aren't allowed to do under the age of 18, I found another thing perfectly legal and, like a dog, could be considered 'Mans other best friend' which was music. Rock music to be precise. I don't really feel the music had anything to do with my actions during those years, more it gave me companionship when friends weren't around and there was nothing more going on, as well as it gave us something to chug beers to and drive down the endless dirt roads.

That logic still holds true for me, perhaps more than ever. At a time when I am supporting a family, putting my wife through Nursing School, helping her raise our daughter and soon to be son, working full time, and really not having any more ambition left, music is still my outlet to just relax and let my mind rest. Although some might argue "doesn't that mean your mind is constantly at rest?" Well, yes and no. I am listening to music every free chance I get, but my mind is far from rested.

So hear are a few tracks/albums that, off the top of my head, I can remember really getting me started with my love of music, I'll throw a couple from different genres to get a true sense of what I listened to back then, and try and put them in some sort of chronological order somewhat of a timeline of how it all went down:

Album: Tom Petty "Into the Great Wide Open"
Track: Two Gunslingers



Album: Nirvana "MTV Unplugged in New York"
Track: Plateau




Album: The Offspring "Smash"
Track: Bad Habit




Album: Metallica "And Justice For All"
Track: The Shortest Straw



Album: Rage Against the Machine "Rage Against the Machine"
Track: Killing in the Name Of




Album: Megadeth "Countdown to Extinction"
Track: Psychotron




Album: White Zombie "La Sexorcisto : Devil Music Volume 1"
Track: Soul Crusher



Album: Slayer "Seasons in the Abyss"
Track: Skeletons of Society




As you can briefly see, there is somewhat of a progression (or digression, depending on the reader) going on hear. Although these are just a few of the tracks that jumped out to me without thinking too hard, this is where it all started. I can remember specific times listening to these songs as well as many others. This concludes todays music ramble. I had planned on doing my taxes tonight, but I am tired, and that was the last thing I felt like undertaking at 9:30 pm tonight. And by the way, 9:30 is late for me nowadays, I'm getting old, but I'm still young at heart, as evidenced possibly in the music I listen to. I don't ever see myself breaking away from rock and roll/metal. Say what you want, its hear to stay. Later.