Rediscovering a band I used to like but forgot about; plus, a track entitled "The Popularization of 'Alternative' Music"

I'm rather behind the scene when it comes to digitizing my music. Only about a year ago did I first amass any real music "library" on my computer. Dave started me out with a bunch of songs from his "90s" playlist. Since then I've added to it, reworked it a little, and now I'm trying to flesh it out a bit.

Of course, the hard part is remembering the names of songs and groups that were all the rage 10-15 years ago. I've never really been able to remember music trivia as well as Dave, James, Jerry and even Pete – for some reason, band names and song titles just seep into my mind, and extracting them from the silt that's built up over top of them is quite a chore.

Like today, for example, I heard a song on the radio at the pizza shop Hil, Katie and I went to for dinner (Abby was at a friend's house). I had recognized the tune, and I even remembered most of the lyrics, which in turn led me to the song title. But for the life of me I could not remember the name of the band who sang it. Here, let me write a few stanzas to see if you remember.

It's easier not to be wise
And measure these things by your brains
I sank into eden with you
Alone in the church by and by

I'll read to you here, save your eyes
You'll need them, your boat is at sea
Your anchor is up, you've been swept away
And the greatest of teachers won't hesitate
To leave you there, by yourself, chained to fate

I alone love you
I alone tempt you
I alone love you
Fear is not the end of this!

The band is called Live and this song is from their second album, Throwing Copper. Don't be impressed – I had to google the lyrics to get that info. But back in the mid-90s, I would've been able to tell you that without batting an eye, plus quote the entire song to you and tell you which track it was on the album (track 3, by the way) as well as the names of other songs I liked that didn't make the airwaves ("Shit Towne" or "Iris" anyone?). I remember listening to the album over and over with James and Dave at camp, which puts it at about the summer of '95 or '96. In fact, I might even have the album still somewhere in my attic. Which means I need to be digging it out and adding some of the tracks to my library.

Anyway, about the term "Alt-Pop." At first it seems a bit oxymoronic – alternative music is supposed to be completely the opposite of pop. But let's face it, by the time I really started figuring out what type of music I liked, "alternative" was popular. It was mainstream, man. I hate to admit it at this point, but I think it was even somewhat trendy. It was cool to listen to alternative. Not that I listened to alternative music because of what others thought, but by '95 when I was heading to college, there already were several radio stations branding themselves as alternative stations. The sad truth is, when Upstate NY has multiple stations playing a similar format, that format is pop, no matter how you break it down.

That's not to diminish the value of "alternative" music. It had it's place and time, and for awhile it was exactly what was needed. But there really is no such thing as alternative music anymore, and there hasn't been for a long time. Nevertheless, marketers and bands continue to brand certain music as alternative, and since I can't really think of a better word, I've chosen just to tweak it and call the music I like "Alt-Pop."

And besides, "90s Mix" didn't quite fit, since I have a few (and growing) tracks from the new millennium.