Music
Like most everyone the music I listen to is because of the influences I have been around from my culture to groups I hung out with, down to individuals I got to know. I started with listening to popular music when young, whatever was on the radio. In later middle school I had a friend who was really into rap and so I started listening to rap beyond the popular at the time, RUN DMC. Later some of that would become more popular. Then in early H.S. I got exposed through my new stepbrother to bands like The Doors, and Pink Floyd among others. My sophomore year I started listening to music I found through friends I was making who were already into punk and what would become known as alternative music. As an adult I have mostly listened to music that comes from this background along with finding new music on places like YouTube. Below are some notable favorites or simply bands that have some significant importance to me.
I was once in elementary school and starting to become a person, kind of. And, I started to appreciate "the arts," kind of. Weird Al Yankovic was some of the first music I really liked that wasn't just popular music everyone my age liked. His songs to me were funny and silly and clever, and I loved them. My friends and I dressed up when we went to see him in our late 20s, it was fun and we weren't the only people dressed up.
Gn'R. The first BIG concert I ever went to. Didn't care for such a large venue, but it was cool to have done that. Appetite and, even more so Lies, were such amazing albums to me, both equally special at different times during early H.S.
Freshman & Sophomore year in H.S. Jim Morison's voice, the dark lyrics and moody music were a good match for some of the thoughts and feelings I was starting to explore about life: love and other existential stuff. The older I got the less profound I've found them. Now I don't really listen to the Doors at all.
It's worth noting that "License to Ill" was a young favorite of mine and along with "Raising Hell" by RUN DMC I started to appreciate some rap more and more. Later I keep with the Beastie Boys somewhat though they're greatest album was somewhat early and that's "Paul's Boutique." They are on this page as more a historical note of music I liked, rather than a current favorite.
Pink Floyd. My go to band for getting in a serious, reflective mood for doing school work, and it works every time. I find many of the songs still meaningful and deep and the music is so moving and ethereal. I really don't understand how they can still have such a unique effect on me with their unique music. I use to like "The Wall" the most when young, now I've come in line to like "Dark Side of the Moon" the best.
Jane's Addiction. The only band I can remember ever having a poster from. Perhaps, probably my all time favorite band...? Such an meaningful band for that time in my life. Their self-titled album along with "Nothing's Shocking" rocked my mind, heart, and soul. Then "Ritual" came out it was the first time I felt that angst of seeing people into something I like for what seemed to me all the wrong reasons and totally missing the depth of what there was. Of course, Jane's didn't help much with songs like "Been Caught Stealing," which caught me off guard... Did Perry Ferrell run out of things to say? But 1%, Ocean Size, Had a Dad, My Time, Mountain Song, Standing in the Shower...Thinking, along with the acoustic Jane Says, all are still very special meaningful songs to me. These and many of their songs simply take me to special places emotionally, cognitively and seemingly spiritually at times. Finally, saw them in concert in Nov. of 2022 at the Hollywood Bowl, it's was a pseudo religious experience at times
Soul Asylum. A formerly great band from Minneapolis. I started listening to them in my Jr. year in H.S. and still love their older/middle stuff. I don't know if they "sold out," just got old or followed a new trend, but after The Horse They Rode In On album, I really didn't like any of their stuff, at all.
Big Drill Car. Saw them at the Whisky A Go Go my Junior year of H.S. Still maybe my favorite concert of all time. This band has a clean, driving, rocking sound that I love. This is Sam Kochel music. To me, this rocks!
On of the greatest punk bands in history: that is not a contestable fact. They are great because of their music, their politics, their concerts, and their total commitment to all of those things. You don't act out at one of their concerts or they'll throw you out. They have songs full of anger and pointed issues, but humanity pours though them. These are people who make the world a much better place, while still rocking out and yelling out about politics ahead of their time. Finally, I think I've seen them 3-4 times in concert and wow, they are great. It's worth going just to hear Ian (the frontman) address the crowd.
Public Enemy and NWA. Public Enemy was always revolutionary people-positive music about the state of affairs especially for Blacks in America. They had some powerful and wordy songs that could be listened to for fun, but also as insight (for me) into deeper social issues. NWA is great music to listen to to imagine your a bad-ass. I think of this music as "ego music," and it can capture and focus frustration and anger into power: I get that. But I really also thought a lot about where the music for them came from. These guys weren't put together and marketed by the corporate machine, they lived and grew up with this life. My junior year at UCLA my amazing U.S. history professor played music to represent the decade at the beginning of each class. When we covered the 90s he played maybe the best rap song ever, Straight Outta Compton, and then eloquently talked about the strife of the inner city and the Rodney King riots. The struggle continues today with BLM. I found these bands both entertaining and meaningful.
Rocket from the Crypt. The only band to get it's own section and 3 different images. This and Jane's Addiction battle it out for being my favorite band (as much as a person with my age and experience can have favorites). At first I didn't like them much, but then the full sound, the rocking sound, the driving pushing rhythm took hold. This music rocks. The horns give them a full sound making their music richer and more moving to me than most other bands (any other?). I don't find their songs meaningful, I am not even sure about what most of their lyrics are and when I look them up there's not much there for me to really "get" it seems...but they rock! That driving rocket feeling...
Operation Ivy and their album Energy. One of my favorite albums. I only liked the song Knowledge at first, but would often enough forget to turn off the tape and let it run enough to start hearing the other songs and likening them...then loving them. These are rocking, meaningful songs pushing through social criticism toward social utopia. Great songs, great album, too bad they didn't produce more.
Tim Minchin. I don't love all his songs, but I really love quiet a few. The cheery beats, the funny pointed lyrics and a seemingly humble, self-aware guy make for some inspired fun. I suggest "The Fence" live off the net: https://vimeo.com/410679852 Another favorite is "Thank You God." You can find it on YouTube.