So it’s 1992/1993. I’m a freshman in Clifton High School in NJ. Up until then I was all about classic rock. This was back in the days when NYC’s K-ROCK played “Howard Stern all morning, classic rock and roll all day.” Things like The Doors movie shaped my listening habits.
But then things changed for me. Seattle rocked the world, and the rest is history. Just look at these releases that came out when I was a young Bob Duffy in high school: Pearl Jam’s “Ten.” Nirvana’s “Nevermind.” REM’s “Out of Time.” U2’s “Achtung Baby.” Smashing Pumpkins’ “Siamese Dream.”
These are all important releases of the 90s, and some of the best work these bands ever put out. To this day, I consider all of those records among my all time favorites, and they all helped shape the music that I still love today.
Around that same time, though, there was another release that might have had a bigger impact than any of those records. It was the album that showed me that there’s more to rock than what you hear on the radio (though, during that time, things I heard on the radio I loved, so I dont mean to take away from that). That record was Sonic Youth’s “Dirty.”
It was “Dirty” that opened my ears to the indie world, when I fell in love with bands like Pavement, Space Needle, Varnaline, Archers of Loaf, too many to remember. It was a fun time for music. It still is.
The reason why I’m feeling all warm and fuzzy and nostalgic is because “Dirty” is getting the re-release treatment. Remastered, lots of extra goodies to be included on the album. Read about it here.
Some people don’t like “Dirty,” considering it the album where Sonic Youth started to suck. Not me. This is the record where I discovered them, fell in love, and started to learn to appreciate the beautiful sound of guitar feedback.
I can still remember the first time I saw the video for “100%” on 120 Minutes. Skateboards and rock, a perfect combination.
I can never forget you – the way you rock the girls
they move a world and love you – a blast in the underworld
I stick a knife in my head – thinking ’bout your eyes
but now that you been shot dead – I’ve got a new surprise