Love is for suckers

I was reflecting on how my taste in music has changed dramatically. Not just recently, at many stages in my life. I think that in some ways, the music you listen to, or rather the change in your taste, is a reflection of your life. For example, I've been listening to music that is a lot more 'soul-full' lately. A reflection of a need to chill more and keep the blood pressure low. So for sake of nostalgia, here is my life's journey via music.

Early high school - Pop

Like most kids, I was into whatever was popular at the time. In the 80's, I was into INXS, The Cure and Samantha Fox (hehe). I even saw an Uncanny X-Men concert once. My first cassette tape was INXS The Swing. As for Samantha Fox, Touch Me conjured up all sorts of images in my developing mind. Overall, a time of my musical past that while I can acknowledge, I'd still rather forget.

Mid high school - Heavy Metal

I began to get heavily influenced by the musical tastes of my year 10 girlfriend. Putting it bluntly, she was a head-banger. She was into Megadeath, Metallica and Iron Maiden. While at first Iron Maiden actually made me feel a bit physically ill (really!) I grew to like it and bought a few tapes (Seventh Son of a Seventh Son, The Number of the Beast, Fear of the Dark, and my favourite Live After Death. Scream for me Long Beach! Nice to see ya, to see ya - nice!). I also got into Twisted Sister. Yes well. I was only 15. Play it loud mutha! I used to have one of those canvas backpacks you'd get from the Army disposals stores. I had the Twisted Sister logo all over it. In black Artline, green spray paint and Liquid Paper. I was all class. Speaking of class, in my year 9 music class, we were asked to choose a love song, play it to the rest of the class and then describe what the lyrics were all about. I chose Twisted Sister Love is for Suckers from the album of the same name. I remember the looks of astonishment on everyone's faces (except my best mate who did Twisted Sister's version of Leader of the Pack). I actually got a good mark though. The classic lines from this song are at the end (and I think this is why I got a good mark).

I'm a sucker, you're a sucker
He's a sucker, she's a sucker (love is for suckers)
Would you like to be a sucker too, be a sucker?
Love is for suckers, yeah, yeah
Sucker

Uni days - Rock

So the days are full of half days at lectures and half days drinking at the uni bar. Thursday nights usually began with Nachos around 5:30. Then beer and stay to see the band. I was into The Violent Femmes, Soundgarden, Jimmy Hendrix, Superjesus, The Screaming Jets, Live, Chili Peppers, Hoodoo Gurus, Morphine, Tool. I remember seeing Caligula play there one night (remember Tears of a Clown??). Our crazy Russian friend stage diving. And going to see The Femmes (let's party at Waves!) at the height of their popularity was awesome. Gordon Gano is so small. One of my favourite things to do on a Friday night (at the POT) was to bounce to Blister in the Sun. Pity for everyone's toes I stomped on. Lemme go on!

There's a common thread that joins high school to uni to even today. Underworld. I was a fan back when Underneath the Radar was first released and have faithfully bought every album since. Transition from pop to techno. This introduced me to techno and a whole new world of music. None other compare though to the genius of Karl Hyde and Rick Smith. I've just found out on dirty.org that they are finally releasing a new album in October. Bring it!

Graduate days - More rock and electronica

My rock tastes refine somewhat. The White Stripes and Evanescence. Techno expands a bit. More Underworld, but also Armand Van Helden and a bunch of Ministry of Sound stuff. A bit of ambient. Generic. I start to get interested in creating my own sounds too, see here. If you want to download the 5.7Mb, let me know what you think. This track is one I put together about five years ago.

Present day - Soul

My latest trend is for things that chill me out. I'm into great vocals and smooth sounds. John Legend is my number one at the moment. Do your self a Molly Meldrum and get onto this. Also, Corinne Bailey Rae, Joss Stone, Amel Larrieux, India Arie, Lina and Heather Headley.

How pissed was I this week when I found out John Legend was in Australia in May - and I didn't know! Bah! Now having read this post, let's go and Get Lifted!

!