Stranded In Stereo: My Formative Years: Adam & Eve by The Catherine Wheel, 1997

Friday, May 30, 2008

My Formative Years: Adam & Eve by The Catherine Wheel, 1997

This is it: the moment none have been waiting for, though maybe some have questioned. What is Rusty's favorite album of all-time? The title of this post gives it all away, yes, but wouldn't you rather know the tale of how it came to be . . .
Today is my 24th birthday. Over the last 16 years, music has taken over my life: from the moment I remember sitting in my grandparent's house seeing the video for "100%"; that moment Bill Hanson played "Stars & Sons"; the night I met Bob Pollard; that time I went deaf seeing Yo La Tengo.

You would like to think that I would remember the first time I heard Adam & Eve, but I don't. Ok, I remember it vaguely but it's not the time. I'm listening to it right now and it doesn't take me back to that place because it's just .. not on my brain. The first time was not the moment when the world stopped to twirl on its axis. I wasn't really in to it. Hell, I don't even know how old I was but I know it was a Monday and it was March. The cousin was home on spring break, and we hopped in his beat to hell Chevrolet Corsica and headed down to the Owings Mills mall for some reason or another. He was all "Oh, Rusty - you need to hear this!" and he put it on and if it was 1998 and I was 13, it didn't do shit for me. The hidden opening was so-so, "Future Boy" did not appeal to me in the least. He also had a copy of Ultra by Depeche Mode in the car. I think I was more interested in listening to that at the time.

The moment when the world stopped spinning and it blew me away . . . I don't remember that either, but I do have a better memory of when it was. Summer, 2001 - I had just purchased my second car, my 1992 Acura Integra. There was this girl who was a few years my senior from work that I was totally in to but she was totally in love with someone else. I don't know why, but I borrowed Adam & Eve from my cousin. That and maybe another Catherine Wheel album. I was on the path of becoming Rob Gordon, the hero of High Fidelity, when it struck me. I was rather obsessed with that movie, wanting to become him, or John Cusack, or both. I owned the movie, I read the book. I compared the two every which way up and down. And then one night, I was casually paging through the liner notes to A&E when the first "mind=blown" moment of my life occurred. Page 2, left column, center, all alone, its own paragraph:

"Thanks to Nick Hornby for writing High Fidelity"

From every listen then on, I was pay real close attention to the music. "Broken Nose" became an early fave: when Rob Dickinson sang 'No one gives a crap for you' was he singing to Rob Gordon? Was the broken nose metaphor for a broken heart or a bruised ego? "Phantom Of The American Mother" spoke of 'Superman and Sonic Youth and fairy tales / it's time to face the truth". I loved (I still love) Sonic Youth. Was Dickinson again crying out to Gordon, telling him that maybe it was time to shape up, get a real job so your lawyer lady Laura would not leave you for I. Raymond.

One thing is for sure. Like the beginning, the end lays in hiding. That's one of my favorite things about this album. Looking at the back cover it just lists songs two through eleven - not the number one or twelve appear on the traycard. But, as "For Dreaming" explodes and fades away through the fog across the sea, a guitar starts to strum. Dickinson begins to sing, nearly word-for-word verbatim from the text-version of High Fidelity, page 158:

It's a song about a boy, who phones this girl
But she left town years before
And he's pissed off, that he didn't know
Cause he wanted to say goodbye
Tell her how he missed her
Wish her good luck
Put it to rest
All that unfinished business

I'm gonna phone, everyone that I've known
Through the downs and the ups
ANd who I suspect have written me off
As an insensitive fuck
And say good luck and goodbye

They'd feel good
I'd feel good
We'd all feel good
That would be so good . . .

I could've cried. Hornby's words didn't radiate that way off the pages, but when Dickinson put it in retrospect, in that state of mourning combined with false hopes, I could.

I listened more diligently, fall in love with each and every song on that album. I did some research. I think my cousin said it was their make or break album, or I found that out on my own. It sounded so different compared to their earlier records I would later acquire. The final section, from the building and building and its there and it's finally realized moments of "Here Comes The Fat Controller"; to the tape stopping on the "Controller" in to "Goodbye" where our hero excalims "Goodbye, I've finally arrived!"; to the end "For Dreaming" where we go in to the aforementioned outro. It all clicked it just hit me. I felt like Rob Dickinson was singing to me, singing for me. It came out in 1997, the most important year, My Formative Year, and it took me four years to discover it. I finally felt like I had arrived. Thank. God.

Download: "Broken Nose" [mp3] // "Here Comes The Fat Controller" [mp3] /// [Buy Here]

25 comments:

Geoff said...

Excellent post, and a fantastic album. My experience was somewhat similar--I first heard it in 2002 when I was 15. I had a love-hate relationship with the band at that point, and didn't like the album at first, but then something clicked and love won out. Like you, I don't remember how all this happened, exactly, but there you have it.

www.mueblesensevilla.com said...

Quite effective info, thank you for the post.

Anonymous said...

best for you [URL=http://jacket-dresses.net/]moncler cheap[/URL] and check coupon code available CdhIquBj [URL=http://jacket-dresses.net/ ] http://jacket-dresses.net/ [/URL]

Anonymous said...

There has been no mass marketing campaign to explain [url=http://www.genuinecanadagoosevest.com]canada goose freestyle vest[/url] the explosion of these coats . The well-known outerwear manufacturer alleged International Clothiers of intentionally designing a logo and positioning it on jackets to mimic the Canada Goose Arctic Program trademark . Try not to [url=http://www.canadagooseparkaclearances.com]trillium canada goose parka[/url] keep the cage in a draughty Canada Goose Parka Born area.[/p]
[p]¡°An idealistic utopia . The only method to see and experience how Fissler¡¯s 2-pan philosophy work is to try cooking Canada Goose Jakker in it . Such as playing it up or to rebound very slow and very low, indicating poor quality filler, such as the fundamental resilience, the filler is likely to be [url=http://www.authenticcanadagoosecoats.com]canada goose coat price[/url] a feather or other long-haired piece of crushed hair, rather than down . We were thrilled [url=http://www.cheapcanadagoosejakke.com]men canada goose jakke[/url] to get this note from Sandra B . The prints were hand-colored [url=http://www.canadagoosejacketoutletdk.com]canada goose sale[/url] by Reece's family and sold for $75 . "
At the Queen [url=http://www.cheapcanadagoosejakke.com]cheap canada goose jakke sale[/url] St . "

[url=http://www.nissenren-aomori.or.jp/cgi-bin/bbs/bbs.cgi/++++++++++++Result:+chosen+nickname+%22Robjdj34%22;+success;]we are beautiful sh[/url]
[url=http://komt-dat-zien-in.nl/interactief/ucp.php?mode=confirm&id=102b7436d5bda4610ad5679bc17a594f&type=3&sid=e00ba5bd0d8f0718c05c1002ab6c3823]we are beautiful shop online statement made canada goose3a[/url]
[url=http://www.heeen.de/blame/posting.php?mode=quote&f=8&p=18780++++++Result:+used+self-learning+system+data;+chosen+nickname+%22Robtyw98%22;+captcha+decoded+%282+attempts%29;+success;+BB-code+not+working;]we are beautiful shop online statement made canada goose3u[/url]

Anonymous said...

oFwh GHD Hair Straightener
vNhz nfl jerseys wholesale
eCtz ugg españa
1kEsc ghd nz sale
8pRif ghd pink

Anonymous said...

8vBqh ghd
dLvd ugg boots sale
cWgo michael kors sale
0qYoy GHD Hair Straightener
1aLlk burberry usa
3tLtm ugg france
3fUno ghd
1sGor louis vuitton shoes
7lIqf michael kors purses
1vDnr cheap ghd
3tFtl cheap uggs
8oQhs nike nfl jerseys
2zCtg michael kors
1fDut GHD Pas Cher
0bAxk cheap uggs

Anonymous said...

nJqj ghd hair straighteners
nLqk cheap uggs
dJdc michael kors sale
0nBhi GHD Hair Straightener
9pKyo burberry outlet
0rLgs bottes ugg pas cher
6uNkg ghd hair straighteners
9uIqm louis vuitton handbags
8rOdx michael kors outlet
2vDiv ghd cheap
1tMxv ugg boots uk
8jYyl discount nfl jerseys
3gWfc michael kors outlet online
0sVta ghd france
1aEsm discount uggs

Anonymous said...

kHlw coach usa
eKig ugg boots uk
sPii michael kors bags
4dLge ugg boots uk
4xZlo chi straighteners
3aLdt michael kors handbags
6rLci wholesale nfl jerseys
9oUpb coach outlet store
7dKmu north face sale
8mMaf ugg australia
1oRmm red ghd
2zAlq michael kors outlet
1qSwf nfl shop
5xSvj ghd planchas
6uVpb cheap ugg boots

Anonymous said...

sSiu coach factory
uZyh oPrj michael kors purses
5mYca ugg uk
9jNus chi iron
8iWbg michael kors outlet
4iFhc wholesale nfl jerseys
9wFzd coach outlet store
7jUdz 1lLcp ugg
1hMel 2mMom michael kors purse
3jWka nfl shop canada
5gMhg ghd planchas
9pKub cheap uggs

Anonymous said...

check atFGpkFx [URL=http://www.louis--vuitton--online--shop.org/]authentic louis vuitton online[/URL] for more detail EvpSFdAA [URL=http://www.louis--vuitton--online--shop.org/ ] http://www.louis--vuitton--online--shop.org/ [/URL]

Anonymous said...

What i don't understood is if truth be told how you're no longer actually a lot mоге well-favοred than you mіght
be now. You arе very intelligent. You realize thuѕ considerаbly οn thе subϳect of
this subject, produced me in my opinion bеlieve it from a lot of varied angleѕ.
Its like men and wοmen arе not intеrested
unleѕs іt's something to accomplish with Lady gaga! Your individual stuffs great. All the time take care of it up!

Also visit my homepage - kredyty office

Anonymous said...

That i totally accept Your view. People Herbal legal smoking buds talked to believe the similar; -).

---
[url=http://seksblog.wordpressy.pl/brak-kategorii/ja-i-moje-drugie-oblicze]seks pozycje more info[/url]]

Anonymous said...

chi flat iron ppgtjslg chi hair products einkowhb chi hair straightener tkufnmde chi iron zviqbwcl chi straightener koihdpht chi straighteners yskeussy chi oqchdntz

Anonymous said...

As one would promise in dealing with a stiff particular date for quittance before applying and don't get to wander aside in today's time exactly arrival of Guaranteed Payday Loans. http://paydayloans909.co.uk guaranteed payday loans the Loanword amount of money. The total is deposited -- the commencement few years onward of applying makes us regular friendly for those who have got ignored to go on up.

Anonymous said...

QiH mcZS l gbEN MCM リュック 韓国 http://kangeimcma.com/ Vi KiO FqA qtYG [url=http://kangeimcma.com/]MCM アウトレット[/url] KhP hdDT i fkER ルイヴィトン 店舗 大阪 http://vitonjapwaribiki.com/ TvPhu lfOl ppEu klLm [url=http://vitonjapwaribiki.com/#281463]ヴィトン キーケース エピ[/url] ReT ctAJ m ocBJ ルイヴィトン コピー iphone5 http://vitonjapmanzoku.com/ KpZgb uxDg ewAv meAg [url=http://vitonjapmanzoku.com/]ヴィトン 財布[/url] KrE ljEM y nbDU ルイヴィトン 店舗 http://vitonjaebaggu.com/ EzZcx okEh ylPx miRf [url=http://vitonjaebaggu.com/#445275]ルイヴィトン 店舗[/url] SyG jkLC x axDU クロエ キーケース http://kouhyouchloe.com/ XdYel bdSe arWi nmFv [url=http://kouhyouchloe.com/]シーバイクロエ コート[/url] VqM pgYX e vdCM MCM 店舗 http://situyamcma.com/ Au FoA LbZ zgZY [url=http://situyamcma.com/]MCM バッグ[/url] DiR uiNA r ugNB coach 財布 http://kochisinsaku.com/ IwNpb npRf nkEs tlIs [url=http://kochisinsaku.com/#071618]コーチ アウトレット[/url] CsU exLE r qdWP coach 財布 http://kochihannbai.com/ Zf BhP GoL zuPO [url=http://kochihannbai.com/]コーチ公式ファクトリー[/url]

Anonymous said...

JcV hrGD m peRP http://www.chloebestsale.com/ MpH gcVG h doCB [url=http://www.chloebestsale.com/]クロエ バッグ[/url LfI d aqMM http://www.chloejapan2013.com/ RdR w yyVP [url=http://www.chloejapan2013.com/]クロエ バッグ[/url] BbR emET d jwXK http://www.celinehonmono.com/ JrE juXQ q jlVU [url=http://www.celinehonmono.com/]セリーヌ アウトレット[/url] NjM s zlXA http://www.celineshinsaku.com/ NdZ v oeOZ [url=http://www.celineshinsaku.com/]セリーヌ バッグ[/url] DrV i oiVG http://www.celinesekihin.com/ JpS c liFI [url=http://www.celinesekihin.com/]セリーヌ 財布[/url] TmO uwSZ g yfXD http://www.celinegekiyasu.com/ GuH kkMO b lwEJ [url=http://www.celinegekiyasu.com/]セリーヌ[/url] FtI guDV m ujTX http://www.chloeninkimise.com LpK lkPG m drUN [url=http://www.chloeninkimise.com]セリーヌ ナノ[/url] AfN poXW k idRA http://www.celinesaihu.com NnF omRK u nbHD [url=http://www.celinesaihu.com]クロエ バッグ[/url]

Anonymous said...

ZdY zrUR k snZA プラダ ポーチ レオパード http://puradajaenihon.com/ KjIhf mzMi lkJl tdIy [url=http://puradajaenihon.com/]プラダ トート キャンバス[/url] LaO muGF k qvWH TUMI 26141 DH alpha http://toumijaesenmon.com/ Yf BkQ PpN naXR [url=http://toumijaesenmon.com/#711839]TUMI 26141[/url] ByW geTB a zwPB ディオール バッグ http://diorutennpo.com/ KzVoc kdYy czDn uzJi [url=http://diorutennpo.com/]ディオール[/url] AvP rnGV b tvBO トゥミ http://toumijaesaihu.com/ AhYgn bcWc pqIi bsAz [url=http://toumijaesaihu.com/#627428]TUMI 店舗[/url] EaB hmHL l ulXW プラダ 店舗 http://puradajapkouhyou.com/ Bm GcG TdW mhIW [url=http://puradajapkouhyou.com/]prada バッグ[/url] QvG jqPM y auEJ Raban http://reibanninnki.com/ Pv DhY KzT jfXS [url=http://reibanninnki.com/]Raban メガネ[/url] FpS dtSQ a urQC TUMI 店舗 http://toumijaehannbai.com/ GzQet rjBf bvDy hzAi [url=http://toumijaehannbai.com/]ビジネスバッグ TUMI[/url] QvC ysCS g qhDQ プラダ トート ピンク http://puradajaehannbai.com/ WpAtr rnXb yuPk hzKd [url=http://puradajaehannbai.com/]プラダ バッグ リボン[/url] MnC guNE g acGC prada バッグ http://puradajaesaihu.com/ Zw QhJ SeF mcGP [url=http://puradajaesaihu.com/#327965]プラダ 財布[/url]

Anonymous said...

CmE xjZB w dmNS http://www.topguccija.com/ wrLF g wcON wsPF [url=http://www.topguccija.com/]GUCCI バック[/url] TbS awKC r qkUS http://www.onlineguccijp.com/ egNI p khFI feXS [url=http://www.onlineguccijp.com/]グッチ バック[/url] XcA vmPL y ceYN http://www.coachbuymajp.com/ dnVX x gwTD meAD [url=http://www.coachbuymajp.com/]コーチ アウトレット[/url] DnA jwTN g spNI http://www.guccilikejp.com/ uwZI d dlBQ gcSB [url=http://www.guccilikejp.com/]GUCCI 財布[/url] XkV yqDY c ekVC http://www.bestguccija.com/ lnXT q ykBT vkAE [url=http://www.bestguccija.com/]GUCCI 財布[/url] JiJ hbBQ l qbWN http://www.coachcojp.com/ gwKS i yjJR uvZF [url=http://www.coachcojp.com/]コーチ アウトレット[/url] RcQ giQK o meGG http://www.2013coachjp.com/ nrJU f sjFA tjEY [url=http://www.2013coachjp.com/]コーチ バッグ[/url] GrC uaIT a fdBT http://www.eguccijp.com/ ieDN z zsMY dfRW [url=http://www.eguccijp.com/]グッチ アウトレット[/url]

Anonymous said...

Hi, [url=http://britpoppedia.com/homework.html]homework help center [/url] - summer homework - summer school homework http://britpoppedia.com/homework.html. [url=http://www.ranqichina.net/]cost of strattera [/url] - strattera online pharmacy - strattera medication http://www.ranqichina.net/.

Anonymous said...

CnN zcQI r cjFQ http://www.chloebestsale.com/ CpS jlWN h rxXZ [url=http://www.chloebestsale.com/]chloe 財布[/url PpV b xqAT http://www.chloejapan2013.com/ IuV m ftEM [url=http://www.chloejapan2013.com/]クロエ 財布[/url] NvM tyYJ v yaUH http://www.celinehonmono.com/ XtW wpBZ u kgQT [url=http://www.celinehonmono.com/]セリーヌ バッグ[/url] HjT i toXR http://www.celineshinsaku.com/ GpB w jlYO [url=http://www.celineshinsaku.com/]セリーヌ 財布[/url] ZdU e gmTC http://www.celinesekihin.com/ AfV t taDF [url=http://www.celinesekihin.com/]セリーヌ アウトレット[/url] DwB wsAV c noOR http://www.celinegekiyasu.com/ OoI duSU u vsBH [url=http://www.celinegekiyasu.com/]セリーヌ バッグ[/url] ZeI cwXE s ibOE http://www.chloeninkimise.com BkZ xsEA r mdCD [url=http://www.chloeninkimise.com]セリーヌ ラゲージ[/url] LeP eeED v wtQH http://www.celinesaihu.com HfG zbNJ c aqDY [url=http://www.celinesaihu.com]クロエ バッグ[/url]

Anonymous said...

1, [url=http://www.benefitsofisotretinoin.net/]buy generic accutane [/url] - buy generic accutane online - order accutane http://www.benefitsofisotretinoin.net/.

Anonymous said...

1, Maxalt Without Prescription - maxalt for sale http://www.maxaltrxonline.net/, [url=http://www.maxaltrxonline.net/]Maxalt Online [/url]

Anonymous said...

DeD dyBW d ycVC http://www.chloebestsale.com/ VmK zpNM x fvFC [url=http://www.chloebestsale.com/]クロエ 財布[/url AjI h jwDS http://www.chloejapan2013.com/ GuR i sjIV [url=http://www.chloejapan2013.com/]chloe バッグ[/url] QwB saPM f maBQ http://www.celinehonmono.com/ LeP lkYK d nuZI [url=http://www.celinehonmono.com/]セリーヌ ラゲージ[/url] NcY h kdDA http://www.celineshinsaku.com/ UxF j gfNE [url=http://www.celineshinsaku.com/]セリーヌ アウトレット[/url] YfV h ckPX http://www.celinesekihin.com/ NbP q fiUH [url=http://www.celinesekihin.com/]セリーヌ アウトレット[/url] ZoX ycOI j zhBS http://www.celinegekiyasu.com/ QyI ajAK c gcQW [url=http://www.celinegekiyasu.com/]セリーヌ バッグ[/url] LcJ fjJZ u bxRQ http://www.chloeninkimise.com LgM xaDN p htAO [url=http://www.chloeninkimise.com]セリーヌ バッグ[/url] AlR pqUC s lgQT http://www.celinesaihu.com WzU luXV m lhBD [url=http://www.celinesaihu.com]クロエ 財布[/url]

Anonymous said...

DwD yiQP d ifAP http://www.chloebestsale.com/ VxY fyZE j ftTT [url=http://www.chloebestsale.com/]クロエ 財布[/url EyB s iyOW http://www.chloejapan2013.com/ CkT o wrNU [url=http://www.chloejapan2013.com/]chloe 財布[/url] QtD jyQK n btUK http://www.celinehonmono.com/ AvD ukXS b myCA [url=http://www.celinehonmono.com/]セリーヌ 財布[/url] HbX m ucBP http://www.celineshinsaku.com/ AqW i eiIK [url=http://www.celineshinsaku.com/]セリーヌ 財布[/url] SpG d vpWT http://www.celinesekihin.com/ FfS b xoMG [url=http://www.celinesekihin.com/]セリーヌ ラゲージ[/url] WvD gpIB r tjLV http://www.celinegekiyasu.com/ PxR rpOP v upXT [url=http://www.celinegekiyasu.com/]セリーヌ[/url] YcZ pbPR q ruGU http://www.chloeninkimise.com GkL jzQS j qrUG [url=http://www.chloeninkimise.com]セリーヌ バッグ[/url] HzT tnSK g rqVY http://www.celinesaihu.com OmQ daEN t fbIW [url=http://www.celinesaihu.com]クロエ 財布[/url]

Anonymous said...

Don't hesitate of self-advertising by yourself website. Nobody is gonna advertise your opportunity for you, in the event you don't marketplace it initially. Select a region in your homepage that can act as a signal publish for upcoming offers and offers for your personal consumers. Doing this, they may constantly know the best places to find out what is the up coming large option out of your company. [url=http://www.ss12w12ws.info]Matrimo5656[/url]