Middle schooler me wanted to be a rapper. I was really into the Beastie Boys, DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince, and Run DMC. I wrote a couple of rap song, and my rap name was M&M. I spelt it a little different than Eminem, but it was essentially the same. Like Marshall Mathers, my initials are also MM, plus it’s my favorite candy. My brother and I recorded the couple songs I wrote onto a cassette tape using his little Casio keyboard as the only musical instrument to make some noise that we called music. I made artwork and everything for our album titled Too Much Hype. It would be cool to hear how awful it was, but I sure it’s in a landfill somewhere. But anyhow, I am the original slim shady.*

*after writing that I looked up Eminem and he is actually older than me. We were probably both rapping as M&M at the same time, so I guess I’m not the original M&M, I’m just the M&M that sucked.

I love Frosting on the Beater, but I always seem to forget about The Posies. I have a few other Posies albums, but haven’t really given them much of a listen. I’m not really sure how this album made this list, but then when I think about it, there was a period in 1993 when I listened the hell out of this album in my dorm room. I think it’s a highly underrated album. You’ve probably never even heard of it in fact, but it’s great.

I picked up Exile In Guyville on a whim. I saw Kurt Loder talk about her in a piece for MTV News. Nobody that I knew was really listening to women fronted groups, but I loved them. From Juliana Hatfield Three, Veruca Salt, That Dog, The Breeders, Poe, Jennifer Trynin, Letters to Cleo… I could go on for ever. Loved them all. I had a feeling I would like Liz Phair, and boy did I.

Soon after I got the album they started to play the “Never Said” video on MTV. I don’t know if they ever played it on the radio in our area. Our radio stations always sucked. I honestly don’t really know how big this album went nationally. In my little bubble it was one of the best albums of the year.

Liz is apparently working on new material to be released this year. I can’t wait, and I hope she tours. I saw her once at First Ave, and she is great. It would be great to see her again.

I mentioned Juliana Hatfield back when I was talking about The Lemonheads. I’m a huge fan of her. Become What You Are wasn’t her first solo album, but it her first as Juliana Hatfield Three. My college roommate first bought this album. I wanted it too, but I just listened to his copy that first fall. We both loved the album and Juliana in general. Once Christmas break came around I had to go buy my own copy. I couldn’t go a couple weeks without hearing my Juliana. It’s crazy to think to back to the times before you can hear music online. You had to own the album, or you couldn’t hear it. Now I can watch the “My Sister” video, and listen to the album whenever I want. They are just a couple clicks away.

I should be on the road right now to see Green Day. I was late to the ball and didn’t get tickets right away. Only nosebleeds were left, so I didn’t buy them. I’m kicking myself now. Although, I could get tickets from Stubhub right now. It’s so tempting. Green Day is probably the best band I have ever seen live. It’s amazing how many great songs they have. Most 90s bands now are either broken up, or they are making crap music. Green Day’s newest album is one of their best. Having such a vast catalog is also a bad thing. They just don’t have time to play much of their older stuff, plus people probably don’t know it as well. I don’t know when they last played “Christie Road” live. So even though they are great, I’m always leaving sad that they didn’t play a handful of my favorites.

So instead of seeing Green Day again, I’m just going to hang out at home and get a few projects done and enjoy the nice spring day outside. It’s always great when it finally gets nice enough to enjoy some time outside. I may be a great indoorsman, but I do like the outdoors in the spring.