5: shit soup-- sebadoh

i know i have gone on about how many times i have listened to certain songs on this list. but, to put an end to all speculation, this is, officially, the song i have listened to the most times in my life. and im serious. i went through phases where, even though i am more of an 'album person' than a 'song person', i would put this song on repeat and listen to it over and over and over again. in high school. in college. two weeks ago. and it's not like this is mozart or brainbending music or whatever. but it fits me well. and it has fascinated me.

i first heard of sebadoh through their lo-fi brethren, pavement. pavement had already solidified its place as one of my favorite bands, so i decided anyone that fit into their 'genre' would be worth checking out. problem was, i couldnt find any of their albums anywhere. after some time of searching, i found the album 'bakesale' and its naked baby playing in a toilet on the cover at a border's in pentagon city. and i don't think my life has been the same since. i remember running to a friend's room and making him listen to the album immediately because i had been so blown away. i knew then that this was another band i could obsess over (and i am fond of obsessing). the whole album was pretty much a revelation. it rocks just enough. it is just angular enough. it is just poppy/intelligent/bouncy enough. and it has the kind of smart confessional lyrics that i love. but the song that really sold me was 'shit soup,' a beauty written by jason lowenstein. this song reminds me of spinning. and the truth. (good things). and i dig any song about crazy people and smoking cigarettes. it is a lot like hazy-eyed longing and frustration and i thought it was incredible.

i have not stopped listening to sebadoh since i first heard 'bakesale.' and i have been fortunate enough to see them play live a couple times and they were awesome. what i really appreciate about them is how diverse their music can be, from a tape player recording of a guy with a guitar to full-band loud rock (that i can jump around to). and everything seems to work well. this song made an immediate impact on what i wanted to listen to. it made me get realize how much i liked music that was personal and also rocked a bit. i remember laying on my bed in high school listening to 'shit soup' and just thinking how much i liked this song, how this song just works for me so well. even today, not much has changed. and it is indeed true-- crazy people are so off they're on.