1 post tagged “life changing”

this cd was introduced to me shortly after my parents divorce.  i was struggling with the fact that my dad didn't live with us anymore.  i felt as though i didn't know him anymore... i had even told my mom that he seemed like a uncle that we went to visit on the weekends, but we didn't know all that well.  but he wanted to be in our lives, and he tried so hard.  our bonding times were in the car.  my dad would test our brains make us name who sang every song that came on the radio.  this was the summer that 'mr. jones' came out.  it was love at first listen.  we would belt this song out at the top of our lungs, write our own 'backwards day' versions, and we were happy.  when we heard that song, we were a family again.  dad bought the cd and it was in constant rotation.  this cd has molded the relationship i have with my father today, and that's why when i get married, the song we will dance to for the father-daughter dance is 'mr. jones', complete with lip syncing and air guitar.




this cd also brings back warm, fuzzy, dad memories.  this is yet another one we rocked out to in the car.  this cd was the beginning of my love for rock and punk music.  they haven't released another cd that compares, in my opinion, and i will always, always, always, have this cd in my car.  the best driving cd in the WORLD, BY FAR.  we'd rock out to 'basketcase' to get my brother pumped up for football games, and 'f.o.d.' became the song i sang at the top of my lungs when i was angry.  i still giggle when i listen to 'all by myself'.




oh, what can i even begin to say about this album?  let it be known that from 1995-1999, i was probably one of the biggest no doubt fans that walked the planet.  i dyed my hair platinum blonde to be like gwen.  yes, that's right, i was a gwenabe, and a bad one at that.  i even ran an aol weekly newsletter called 'the beacon street journal', and spent my time surfing the internet looking for new and interesting facts to include when i was updating my fellow no doubt fans on gwen, tony, adrian and tom's every move.  did you know that eric stefani, gwen stefani's brother, was originally a keyboardist in the band but after years of the band struggling to make it, he got frustrated and quit the band to become a cartoonist for the simpsons, right before they hit it big?  did you know the original lead singer of the band was not gwen stefani, but in fact a young man named john spence who committed suicide?  did you know that gwen is actually a brunette and was chunky and dorky in high school?  i do, because i was obsessed with them and found out every little detail possible about them.  i'm pretty sure i even still have floppy disks full of pictures of the band and most every magazine appearance they made in those days stored away somewhere.  so anyways, still a big fan, love this album and 'the beacon street collection' with endless abandon, and i'm eagerly awaiting the release of the new cd that they're working on.




what can i say about the sounds?  they are amazing.  maja ivarsson just has the perfect voice and their music just gets me... right there.  i really can't explain it.  maybe it's the catchy synth lines or the addictive bass... all i know is it's probably the best cd i've heard in years!  i also purchased their newest cd, 'dying to say this to you', but i have to say that it is a sorry follow up to 'living in america'.  i listen to 'hit me!' every morning on the way to work, and dance and sing along at the top of my lungs.  it gets me all pepped up to face the day.  i do have to thank helen for posting the 'snakes on a plane' video on her myspace, or i might have never have learned to fully appreciated this band.  THANKS HELLY!




HELLO, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ALL MY LIFE?  i JUST bought this cd, because i heard the song 'rehab' and i instantly fell in love.  this song satisfies both the diana ross and the supreme's lover and the angsty woman inside of me.  it's edgy, and yet relaxing and smooth at the same time.  even though i've only recently discovered this cd, it's already one of my favorites and it's well earned it's place in my top 5.

so that's it!  it took me all day yesterday and today to narrow it down, but i think i've done a good job.