21 for 21: #16—Enormous Richard "Answers All Your Questions"

I'll be shocked if anyone has even heard of the band and the album at #16 on my list of top 21 CDs in my collection. Enormous Richard was a local St. Louis band who achieved the peak of their local notoriety in the early 1990s. The album "Answers All Your Questions" was bought at one of their many live performances that I attended in the summer and fall of 1992.

I graduated with my Master's degree from the University of Missouri in May of 1992 and got a job doing graphic design work for the United Way of Greater St. Louis. The woman who did video production in my department is the sister of Chris Bess, who sang and played accordion in the band. She invited me out to see one of their shows, and I was instantly hooked.

The genre of music they played is hard to describe—they called it "skuntry," supposedly a mix of ska and country, but in reality, it was a style all its own. The songs are a mix of St. Louis area experiences ("Planet Granite," "The Hill," "Been to the Fair"), relationship songs ("Support System," "People in Pairs," "Freezer Full of Meat," "Hole in My Record Collection"), and strange personal confessions ("My Morbid Self-Absorption," "The Chemistry Song," "I Feel Crummy").

What was best about Enormous Richard (other than the dirty joke worthy of Shakespeare himself) was their live performances. I probably saw them most often at the Hi-Pointe Café near Forest Park, and it was always a great show. The places they played were mainly cramped bars, so they were just a few feet away from the audience.

There's just something about a local band that hasn't made it big and moved on from neighborhood gigs; whether you know the band personally or not, it's like they're your friends. I should add that the last night I went out for a few (read: many, many, many) drinks, it was to the Hi-Pointe to see the band. I saw them sober a few times after that monumental night, and was thrilled to discover they were just as much fun as before—no alcohol required!

I couldn't find any decent quality videos on the intertubes, but I'm including a link to a webpage (CLICK HERE!) that provides audio tracks for the whole album. I recommend the whole album, of course, but if you only listen to one song, choose the subtly hilarious "The Chemistry Song." Anyone who has ever suffered through a college level chemistry class (college bud Bill Williams used to regularly question his existence after Organic Chem) should be able to relate to this little gem. Enjoy!

21 for 21: #17—Sara McLachlan, "Surfacing"

Just skip track #7.

Number 17 on my top 21 favorite CDs from my collection is "Surfacing" by Sara McLachlan. Before she became fodder for comedians and responsible for the music used in the most emotionally manipulative advertising campaign ever ("Angel" used for the ASPCA, set behind video footage of the most pathetic dogs and cats ever filmed), she won a Grammy from this album for the song "Sweet Surrender" and saw the album rise all the way to #2 on the Billboard Hot 200 chart.

Like her fellow Canadian chanteuse at #18 (k.d. lang), McLachlan has the kind of voice that sounds like melted caramel tastes. My reaction to listening to her sing is similar to the reaction Prince Eric had when he first heard Ariel sing in "The Little Mermaid." However, since I'm already happily married, I'll just stick with the CD, thanks.

This album contains three absolute masterpieces singles—"Building a Mystery," "Sweet Surrender," and perhaps one of the best songs of all time, "Adia." The last of these three is so transcendent I often have doubts as to whether a human voice actually recorded this; it may very well be the work of angels. If this were the only song on the album worth listening to, it would still be part of my list. However, the whole work is well worth your time—even the poor doggy and kitty song.

It's also worth noting that Sara McLachlan also sings the song "When She Loved Me" on the Toy Story 2 soundtrack. It's the song playing when Jessie the Cowgirl remembers the days when her child Emily still loved her, before she forgot her and tossed her out like an old shoe. That was that moment in the theater when you realized that a cartoon was making you cry like a toddler. Her voice has the power to do that (except when urging you to give now to the ASPCA).

If the trend of Canadian female singers continues, it's statistically likely that Shania Twain and Anne Murray will show up somewhere in the next 16 discs. But you'll have to keep checking in to find out just what is next. In the meantime, here's the voice of an angel:

21 for 21: #18—k.d. lang, "Ingénue"

Not Brent Spiner

I don't even really remember how I came to possess this CD; I may have bought it myself, but it may have ended up in my stuff after my last romantic breakup before I met my wife. In either case, my #18 favorite CD in my collection is k.d. lang's "Ingénue" from 1992.

Her biggest single from the album, "Constant Craving," won her a Grammy Award in 1993. The album itself was her biggest commercial hit, making it as high as #18 (how ironic!) on the Billboard Hot 200 charts. "Constant Craving" was also in high rotation on MTV, which is how I first came across it.

While the single is my favorite song from the album (it's an amazing bit of pop music craft), the entire disc is an absolute masterpiece. The title reveals exactly what you would expect to find inside—an intimate set of subdued yet passionate songs accompanied an eclectic mix of instruments—piano, guitar, violin, accordion, vibraphone—but at no time detracting from her silky, sultry voice.

lang was always a pioneer, and like yesterday's band Toad the Wet Sprocket, about a decade ahead of her time. She was first associated with country music because pop didn't know what to do with her, but she was also one of the first musical artists to be honest and open about her sexuality—she's (spoiler alert!) lesbian—and unapologetically androgynous in her appearance. I always thought she should have appeared on Star Trek: The Next Generation as Data's twin sister.

Separated at birth?

The whole album feels like it was recorded in an obscure French café, and it's another one of the CDs I've used on many occasions as background music for fiction writing (which is going to be a common theme on this countdown). There are few voices in music to this day that can compete with k.d. lang's. If you're not already a fan, give this album a listen. Here's a sample:

21 for 21—#19: Toad the Wet Sprocket, "Fear"

Name chosen by Eric Idle

Number 19 on my "Countdown to June 21" list of my 21 favorite CDs in my collection is by a group that made a big splash in the early nineties thanks to a strange name and a collection of folk-inspired pop tunes: "Fear" by Toad the Wet Sprocket.

Inspired by a Monty Python skit, the band's name attracted as much attention as their music. "Fear" was their third studio album, released in 1991, and the album that made them nationally famous for the requisite 15 minutes. The biggest hit was "All I Want," which made it as high as #15 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.

Their music was really out of time for the era of their fame. It's certainly not grunge, and it's definitely not late-eighties hair metal. You could call it college alternative, but it doesn't really fit the bill there, either. They were ideally suited for a decade later with radio-friendly bands like Matchbox 20 or the Goo Goo Dolls.

"Fear" was one of my most-played discs back in the era before MP3s and satellite radio. Favorite tracks include "All I Want," (of course!), "Walk on the Ocean," and "Is It For Me." They really remind me the most of the contemporary Christian band Jars of Clay, and their music has a similar feel to it.

The band played several shows in Columbia, MO, at the Blue Note on their way to the commercial success of "Fear." Unfortunately for me, their live shows in my college town were before I had heard any of their music, so their concert posters stapled around campus made no more impression on me than causing me to think, "That's a strange name for a band." I'm still sorry I missed them.

Here's their biggest hit—enjoy!

21 for 21—#20: Queensryche, "Operation: Mindcrime"

I had never heard of the band Queensryche until their huge hit "Silent Lucidity" from their album "Empire" was a ubiquitous presence on rock radio and MTV. You see, kids, the terrible cable channel MTV used to play just music videos. This was in the fall of 1990, and on the strength of that one single, I bought the CD. It's a fantastic blend of hard rock and sharply intelligent lyrics, and I was instantly hooked.

One of my best friends, Mike Tucker, was already a big fan of the group, and he turned me on to the band's epic 1988 rock opera, "Operation: Mindcrime," which comes in at number 20 on my countdown of my top 21 favorite CDs in my collection.

Rock concept albums are a tricky business. You have the great (The Who, "Tommy") and the not-so-great (Styx, "Kilroy Was Here"). "O:M" definitely falls into the first category. It tells the story of a disaffected drug addict who falls into the clutches of a manipulative revolutionary who turns the man into an assassin who thinks he's going to change the world for the better. (Spoiler alert: he doesn't.)

The album has all the proper elements of a successful concept recording: each song clearly advances the story forward, yet each song stands alone on its own merits of quality. Listening to the album today, the best aspects of late eighties metal-rock stand the test of time, most particularly Geoff Tate's sinister, soaring vocals and Chris DeGarmo's guitar virtuosity.

Even better, Tuck and I saw the band live in St. Louis during their "Empire" tour in which they performed the entire "O:M" album live on stage, with live characters and a full-stage concept video screen behind them. To say it was amazing really doesn't do the show justice. To top it all off, I caught DeGarmo's guitar pick at the end of their encore.

The band eventually broke apart, with DeGarmo leaving and the remaining members eventually firing Tate, who sued "Queensryche" for the rights to use the name "Queensryche." As a result of the lawsuit, the original members kept the name, but Tate still has the rights to perform "O:M" live. I can't imagine another singer telling this story. All of the tracks are worth listening to individually, but to truly experience the album, you should listen to the whole album from beginning to end. Thanks to YouTube, all you have to do is click below!

21 for 21—#21: John Barry, "Dances With Wolves"

Today is June 1, and in 21 days, I'll be 47 years old. To commemorate yet another year of living without dying, I'll be sharing with you my top 21 CDs from my music collection. Just as I did with my top 25 albums from a couple of years ago, I'll be explaining why each CD is significant and what the music means to me.

#21: Tatonka...Buffalo

First up tonight at #21 is an unusual pick—a fully instrumental movie soundtrack score, John Barry's "Dances With Wolves." I was in my first year of graduate school at the University of Missouri when the movie came out. The young lady I was dating at the time, Amy Katz, wanted to see the movie. A three-hour western? No thanks! She persisted and I relented. That was the fastest three hours I had ever experienced. The following Spring, "Dances With Wolves" won a ton of Oscars, including one for Best Original Score for Mr. Barry.

This soundtrack was a staple on the stereo at my college apartment, a regular background score to hours of studying, reading, and writing. Over the years, it's been in regular rotation during fiction writing sessions, and it's playing on my stereo now as I write.

Of course, Barry is most famous for creating the signature "James Bond" theme, created for the first Bond film, "Dr. No," and still one of the most recognizable musical themes in cinema. He scored 11 Bond films and won five Oscars, as well as numerous other awards during his career.

His music is always recognizable, with soaring strings, powerful low brass fanfares, driving percussion, and an ever-present dramatic intensity. Listening to the soundtrack is almost like watching a silent version of the film; the music tells the story without any images or dialogue. Watch this clip from the beginning of the movie and you'll see just how integral Mr. Barry's music is in telling the story. As long as I'm still writing, I'll still be listening to this soundtrack.

Give Us Your Top Ten List

http://mentalfloss.com/article/58771/27-offbeat-college-essay-topics
Essay #8 of 27

In recognition of the winter storm that is just getting started outside tonight, here are my top ten most memorable winter weather experiences.

1. Ice Storm of 2009
Two days of freezing rain. No power. Tree branches falling all around the house. Trying to ride out the storm by cooking in and sleeping by our fireplace. Leaving home after the water ran out, leaving our pets in a freezing house and taking 45 minutes to traverse 10 miles of city roads to get to Amy's mom's house. Spending two days at my mother-in-law's house, who still had electricity. Two weeks off of work and an entire semester of school disrupted. Hands down, the most epic winter storm I've even been involved in.

2. Winter of 1979
Eighteen inches of snow with drifts up to three feet. I built snow tunnels in my front yard and fell into drifts along the drainage ditch in Bacon Park that were over my head. Still the most snowfall at one time that I've experienced.

3. March 1988
I had tickets to see Def Leppard live for the first time in St. Louis while I was a sophomore at Mizzou. One problem: eight inches of snow on I-70. Actually, no problem. I just drove 25 mph until I got ahead of the weather. Great concert, but now, another problem. The storm moved through St. Louis, and now I can't find my car. Or the road. We rolled safely back into Columbia around 3:30 a.m. Totally worth it.

4. Christmas, some time in the late 1970s
I don't remember what year this was, but I think I was around 7 or 8 years old, which would have been 1975-76. We were driving to St. Louis to spend Christmas with my mom's parents, and the snow started falling around Greenville. By the time we got near I-55, the roads were covered, we couldn't see more than 50 feet ahead of the car, and when Mom told me and my sister to be quiet and let my dad drive, we actually believed her. It was a scary trip, but we made it safely, and it was a fun White Christmas at Grandma & Grandpa's.

5. Winter of 1984
We missed about a month of school due to snow, which led to the infamous "Saturday School" experiment at PBHS. Attendance was less than 20 percent, and they gave up after two weeks. Summer vacation didn't start until June that year. In the meantime, my best friend and I spent most of January sledding down Big Davis hill.

6. Thanksgiving, somewhere around 1978-1980
Another trip to St. Louis, and another year I can't remember for sure, but I do remember that we arrived on the day before Thanksgiving at my aunt and uncle's house in heavy snowfall, and by the next day, more than 10 inches of snow were on the ground. This was one of the earliest heavy snows and definitely a fun Thanksgiving playing in the snow with my cousins.

7. Christmas 1993 in Iowa
I had been dating a young woman for about a year at this time, and we spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at her parents' house in northern Iowa. That Christmas Eve was the coldest night I've ever experienced—the temperature was 20 below zero with wind chills exceeding 40 below. I bundled up in four layers and went outside around midnight. I felt a lot like an astronaut.

8. March 2014
Last year, we experienced an unusual amount of snow for southeast Missouri, but the biggest storm started with about 4-6 inches of sleet with another foot of snow on top of that. We spent the entire week out of school, and we constructed an epic snow slide on the east side of our house. In excess of 200 feet, it went from our front yard and ended deep in the woods on the south side of our house. We sledded day and night, and even had a bonfire in the snow. (This is the video in my Facebook post announcing this blog!)

9. Winter 1979-1983
This isn't one particular memory but a collection of days and nights spent on "Big Davis," the steep hill on Davis St. next to what is now Hendrickson Park in Poplar Bluff. When I was a kid, the city street department closed that road when it snowed and allowed kids to sled down it. I lived about a mile away from Big Davis, and I spent entire days and a good part of some nights sledding down and hiking back up. Best memory: my dad and I rode down the hill tandem on one sled—when we reached the bottom of the hill, an Irish Setter was crossing right in our path. My dad expertly steered us between the dog's legs, and we slid right under it's belly. The dog was startled, but no one was hurt!

10. Ice Storm 1993
Same girlfriend in Iowa as #7, and I was on my way to visit her for the weekend. I lived in St. Louis at that time, and she was still in school at University of Iowa. By the time I crossed the Missouri-Iowa border, the sleet was coming down so hard I could only see 30-40 feet ahead of me, and my windshield only had a porthole-sized opening to see through. It took me more than two hours to travel a stretch of highway that usually only took 30 minutes.

In the midst of writing this, I had to go pick up my son from his job at Steak 'n Shake; we didn't let him take his own car because of the winter weather forecast. The roads were already ice-covered, and the sleet and freezing rain poured down on my car, freezing my windshield up almost at once. The college is already closed for tomorrow, and if the snow falls as forecast (up to 12 inches predicted), this week may end up cracking my top ten as well.