Don’t Be So Sure You Like What You Like and Know What You Don’t

By Mike McGovern

Radiohead. Ryan Adams. Fleet Foxes. Counting Crows—all examples of first-rate music acts, right? Of course they are, except that in my ignorance I had either

A) Written them off (Radiohead, Counting Crows) or

B) Didn’t know who they were (Adams, Fleet Foxes).

Photo courtesy of Pete Rahn

It wasn’t until about 5 years ago, around the time I met my future wife, that the dark cave that was my musical world finally had some light shed onto it.

By age 27, I knew what I liked and what I didn’t like. Radiohead? Too weird (Kid A probably wasn’t the right album to start off that relationship). Counting Crows? Mr. Jones was alright—but it was 1993, I was a freshman in high school and probably didn’t know any better. Bryan Adams sucks. Oh, Ryan Adams you say. Who’s that? You get the picture.

Now it’s almost surreal, especially in the case of Ryan Adams, that I’d gone for years without knowing his music. The Love Is Hell album was one of those “Where have you been hiding?” type albums. I have Michelle, my wife, and Felicity to thank. She first heard his cover of Oasis’ “Wonderwall,” (while in a miserable and heartbroken state herself) and loved it, was further intrigued by “La Cienega Just Smiled” from Adams’ 2001 Gold, which was featured on Felicity. Later, she looked him up and was hooked.

Soon after we met she burned a legally downloaded/purchased copy* of Love is Hell for me, which I grudgingly accepted. Rarely do I like an album on its first listen through—this was an exception. The lyrics conjured vivid memories tied to significant events in my life up to that point (heartbreak, new found love, regrets). I too was hooked and he quickly became my favorite musician. What he does so brilliantly is he manages to combine his perpetually lonely, regretful state with incredibly melodic, straightforward, infinitely singable songs (eg, Anybody Want To Take Me Home, Love Is Hell, Avalanche). His music will never bore you; I guarantee it.

But I’m not a music critic and this isn’t an album review. Just remember the next time someone offers to burn a legally downloaded and purchased copy* of a CD for you don’t decline it, because you might be missing an opportunity to discover your favorite musician.

*Lawyers: ProLong Magazine does not condone the use or act of illegally downloading music via the Internet or other technological gadgets and gizmo’s.

When he’s not busy shooting birds at the airport, Mike enjoys pointing out the surprisingly prevalent misuse of “it’s” and “its,” taunting children, and spending time at the park with his wife Michelle and his dog Sam. After 3+ years of marriage Michelle says, “I don’t use the word ‘perfect’ much, but he really is.” Mike, Michelle, and Sam live in Leola, PA, a town in Lancaster county that just recently began providing running water to its residents. Mike’s day basically involves helping save lives as the Managing Editor of a peer-reviewed wound care journal. Contact Mike: psudeke1@gmail.com.