Sunday, April 15, 2007

Meme Above All Memes

What was the first recorded music you bought?





My mom took my brother and I to Turn-Style and we were each allowed to spend some of our gift money on an album. We were given the choice between The Beatles and The Beach Boys. Because they had a recent surge in popularity, I bought The Beach Boys Endless Summer. Hey, my choices were limited. My next purchase, I believe, was Boston. Rock!

What was the last music you bought?

The Ponys-Turn the Lights Out. They are a local group and I had seen them "simulcast" during Lollapalooza a couple of years ago and liked them. I haven't had time to listen to it yet. I'll let you know if it lives up to my expectations.

What was the first "professional" music show you ever went to?

The first show I was allowed to see was Rush. It was at the Chicago Amphitheater, which was in a gritty part of town. My parents really didn't want me to go, but they had promised and let me. They shouldn't have! My date (and our driver) dropped acid at the show and got lost in a bad place to get lost. The cops led us back to the highway, but I was still driven home by a tripping seventeen year old. Good Lord, how am I still alive?



I had the jersey version of this shirt. I wore a lot of tight jeans and eyeliner. I used to scare Lulu.

What was the last?

Big shock, I saw The Bomb a few weeks ago. It was one of their better shows and it was at The Abbey, which is an old favorite haunt of mine. Me, Lulu, beer and cute Irish boys we were crushing on. Ah, youth.

What's your "desert island" album?

David Bowie-Hunky Dory
The Thin White Duke reigns supreme and this particular album exposes a vulnerable side of him, I think, along with some serious rocking tunes as well. Variety is the spice of life.

What's your favorite album/song title? (the *title* , not the actual album or song).

Favorite song title might be Shoplifters of the World Unite by The Smiths. Favorite album title is one I recently saw and it kind of cracked me up, Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven by a band called godspeed you! black emperor. Don't ask. I just liked the visual it put in my head.

What's your favourite album art (include an image of it if you can)?




Technically, this is an EP, but it has the most psychedelic groovy illustrations ever. Plus, it always reminded me a bit of Monty Python, which is never a bad thing. It's the Dukes of Stratosphear-25 O'Clock

Ideal choice for a karaoke song?

Tempted-The Squeeze
I know all the words to this song and cannot resist belting it out badly EVERY time I hear it.

Song you don't like that WILL NOT LEAVE YOUR HEAD if you hear it.

I get shivers down my spine typing this because I know I will be stuck with the hell that is My Humps by The Black Eyed Peas for the next several hours. Honestly, lady lumps? I think that is the worst lyric EVER.

Which is cooler? -- Vinyl? CD? Cassette? 8-track?

Vinyl, duh. I get euphoric just thinking about it. The smell, the feel of the edge of an LP between my fingers as I cued it up at the radio station, the pop of the needle hitting the surface, the hiss between tracks, liner notes and lyrics, cover art that looked like art because it was big enough to notice the details and the rich sound that came from vinyl. Why, God, why did you take this gift from us?

I'd like to tag Echo (if he ever surfaces again) and his nemesis Grant Miller.

12 comments:

Dale said...

Ack, the Dukes of Stratosphere! Good old XTC, I haven't heard 25 O'Clock in years. I used to love it and I do like The Ponys too, the few songs I've heard anyway. Your karaoke song is perfect too.

Splotchy said...

That Rush acid-dropping story sounds like it would have been a better fit for Grindhouse than zombies eating the dead (it sounds definitely scarier).

Now that Squeeze "Tempted" song is stuck in my head, but not in a bad way.

Thanks for sharing.

Coaster Punchman said...

I love girls who loved Rush.

Tenacious S said...

Dale-Looking forward to listening to The Ponys in the car today.

Splotchy-Welcome! Don't remember seeing you here before, but that doesn't mean much. Acid and driving are indeed worthy of a horror movie.

CP-I saw them twice. Does that make me extra fabulous?

Joe said...

Rush...that would've been my second choice for you, after REO Speedwagon. And I'm glad I'm not the only one tormented by Fergie's infernal humps.

Excellent list!

lulu said...

Don't forget, I managed to walk out of the Abbey with 12 pint glasses for your birthday gift one year. I haven't been there in ages, anyone good playing soon?

Moderator said...

So by "gritty part of town" do you mean the south side? And what about the voice of Geddy Lee? How did it get so high? I wonder if he speaks like an ordinary guy.

Tenacious S said...

Grant, the part of town where people would offer to watch your car if you paid them. Tag.

Cup said...

I hope my desert island is next to yours ...

... and now I must go dig out my Dukes of Stratosphere.

Tenacious S said...

I hope so too, Beth. I'll turn it up real loud.

Coaster Punchman said...

You've been at the top of my fab list ever since I first laid eyes on those Laura Ingalls boots.

That photo of Turn Style sure brings back some memories. There should be a few burnout kids hanging out in front, just like after school.

Tenacious S said...

CP-I miss those boots. I have a similar pair now, but none have ever matched the glory of that particular pair. Sweetness now wears my old "waif" dress. Amazingly, it has managed to stand the test of time. That outfit was me. I feel somehow stripped of my identity now.