... or, alternatively, I explain in long-winded detail my music tastes.

Music is a funny thing. It's almost like politics, in the way that so many people are so deeply passionate about it. And like politics, which I do my very best to avoid in this here blog, music strikes a nerve because it really is an extension of a persona. Here, let me try to demonstrate, using my musical timeline as an example:

Ah, them 80's. Hey, remember them? Because I sure as fuck do. Well, most of them anyway. Starting when I was the tender age of zero, my dad played album rock stuff wherever he could. If it was on the freeform KQRS, it got played. This probably played a large factor in later listening habits. Anyhoo, as I grew up, I started listening to the top-40 radio stations (at that time, WLOL and KDWB) and all these weird-ass trends started to take place, like new wave and Prince. Back then, I listened to it all but like most kids at that age was pretty unaware and/or oblivious to who actually made music. Nevertheless, all these nameless dudes and in some cases chicks helped to provide a soundtrack to my childhood (thanks, Roxette and Timmy T.!). Once I hit them awkward preteen years though, it started to matter more: I remember agonizing over what to put on a mixtape for the first girl I crushed on, even though I don't remember her name. Um, Mr. Big made it on there. (cough)

For Christmas in 1993 I got two things that probably had some effect on my life: I got my first CD boom box and Aerosmith's Get a Grip to play on it. I remember asking for the latter, because of Alicia Silverstone in the videos, but I soon wore out that CD and had to buy a second one to replace it. In short order, Aerosmith had officially become my favorite band. I started with their then-recent stuff, but as I dived into their back catalog I heard all these songs that I first heard on KQ back in the day, which in turn led me into exploring classic rock. I slowly abandoned top-40 music, leaving it almost completely behind me by 1996 or so, when I found my new favorite band, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. These guys jumpstarted my affinity for classic rock, and by the time I graduated from high school I listened to classic rock almost exclusively, leaving me oblivious to ridiculous trends like boy bands and Christina Aguilera. So, I guess it wasn't all bad...

I wasn't always stuck on the old-skool, though: I definitely bought everything the Dave Matthews Band released, but I still listened to mostly pre-1990 stuff. But then in the fall of 2001, I discovered John Mayer purely by happenstance, and he quickly became me new favorite artist. Also, because of the influence of his music on me, I began listening to current mainstream music again. Mostly Cities 97 fare at first, I started to branch out and listen to different genres of music entirely, exploring at various times bluegrass and folk, modern classical, and the not-really-a-genre "indie" scene. Now though, I think I have learned to appreciate almost anything of value out there. No, I won't be actively listening to the Pussycat Dolls anytime soon, but I can now enjoy a finely-crafted pop song, underground rap, and even the occasional Rascal Flatts.

Now, what does this say as an extension of my persona, as I alluded to earlier? I'll be honest with you, I'm not exactly sure. But I think the fact that I am able to take most everything in while rejecting a minimal amount says something good about me. At least I hope it does.