In college, I listened to a wide variety of music. I watched the new wave 80s fade into the 90s alternative rock/grunge era. While I listened to lot of new music and artists, only a few of them stuck. CDs became the preferred choice for music delivery and soon mix tapes were a thing of the past. The main criteria I used for my list during this time period was longevity. Not how long the band stayed relevant, but how long could I listen to a CD by this band while driving in my car.

The college/post-college years

Quite a few distinguished band almost made the list, most notably the Violent Femmes, but again I whittled the list down to four. I still listen to these four bands today. To me, they have stood the test of time.

4. Squeeze – My fourth place band seems to have a renaissance every few years with Tempted. The song originally recorded in 1980, was included in the 1994 movie Reality Bites and reached a brand new audience. In addition to Tempted, Black Coffee in Bed is also a favorite of mine. Squeeze has as an unmistakable, easily recognizable sound trademarked with distinct vocal harmonies.

“At my bedside empty pocket
A foot without a sock
Your body gets much closer
I fumble for the clock
Alarmed by the seduction
I wish that it would stop

Tempted by the fruit of another
Tempted but the truth is discovered
What’s been going on
Now that you have gone”

3. Counting Crows – There’s something about an Adam Duritz lyric, that I love…so well crafted. He really sets the scene and I can picture the song in my mind. A Long December always takes me back to an uncertain time in my life, when I questioned so much, but reminded me that “this year will be better than the last.” While I love the more well known songs like Mr. Jones and Round Here, I really love some of the lesser known gems: Omaha and Hard Candy.

“On certain Sundays in November 
When the weather bothers me 
I empty drawers of other summer’s 
Where my shadows used to be 
She is standing by the water 
As her smile begins to curl 
In this or any other summer 
She is something all together different 
Never just an ordinary girl”

2. Smashing Pumpkins – My number two choice was a difficult one to make. These last two bands are pretty evenly matching in my mind. Siamese Dream is still one of my go to CDs even today. I was drawn to the odd sound of Billy Corgan’s voice and the heavy guitar sound. Although Siamese Dream is my favorite album, Bullet with Butterfly Wings would have to be my favorite song. I saw them live for the first time at Lollapalooza 94 and several times since, most recently at Forecastle a few years ago.

“Disarm you with a smile
And leave you like they left me here
To wither in denial
The bitterness of one who’s left alone
Ooh, the years burn”

1. REM – This is the band that I fell in love with at IU. I has listened to them a little in high school, but once I got to college I really became a fan. I can’t remember being at a college party and not hearing at least one REM song. Radio Free Europe and Superman were party staples. How much time did people waste trying to figure out all of the word to It’s the End of the World As We Know It?  I was definitely sad when I heard they broke up. Michael Stipe’s voice is difficult to duplicate, I cannot think of another band that even sounds remotely like them. As much as I love their classics, I think Nightswimming is my favorite song. The piano part of this song is what I love, it rolls up and down like waves.

“Nightswimming deserves a quiet night.
The photograph on the dashboard, taken years ago,
Turned around backwards so the windshield shows.
Every streetlight reveals the picture in reverse.
Still, it’s so much clearer.
I forgot my shirt at the water’s edge.
The moon is low tonight.

Nightswimming deserves a quiet night.
I’m not sure all these people understand.
It’s not like years ago,
The fear of getting caught,
Of recklessness and water.
They cannot see me naked.
These things, they go away,
Replaced by everyday”