I was driving to Sears yesterday and was in need of some tunes. My cds were at home so I blindly dug into my center-armrest-console-compartment-thing and pulled out the first tape I felt. I shoved it in the tape player and, lo and behold, it was Nirvana’s Bleach, which I probably recorded from cd sometime in the early 90’s. Suddenly, a rush of pubescent memories flooded my brain as I coasted down the highway. I spent 1993-1995 living in Moscow, which was essentially two years of listening to Bleach, Nirvana's oddity of a record Incesticide, and other heavy records. Granted, I was 14, but Bleach has to be one of the most influential albums of my teen years and, likely, life. The northwest American sludge that gives the otherwise poppy melodies on Bleach their consistency will always have a soft spot in my heart.
As Cobain groans, moans, screeches, and grinds his way through the record, I am reminded of my less-than-thrilling time in Moscow. While this may seem like a downer, it’s actually refreshing, if simply because I reconnect with a previous iteration of my personality to which my current self is indebted. Call it reminiscing, call it sappy, but listening to those songs on a decade-old tape (that sounded terrible) resurrected within me that fiery sense of urgency young teens have. After a long day at work, it's amazing what a few songs can do to one's energy level. Maybe it's the same for you albeit with a different album. I think everyone has that "special cd" that dredges up those old, creaky memories from years passed.
As a plus, lyrics like “Big cheese / make me / make sense / go to the office” and “Won’t you believe it, it’s just my luck / No recess” put a smile on my face even when included on a cd with a song titled “Negative Creep.” In a way, it urges one to keep a positive outlook when faced with adversity. I mean hey, it could be worse, this guy over here just lost his recess privileges.
Cross-posted from this other website.
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