Confessions of a Fanboy

So this writing thing I do is part of my grand scheme to wield a little influence and change the face of the musical landscape forever for the better. It’s fair to say Confessions of a Fanboy was born in one of those rare-as-a-solar-flare megalomaniacal moments inside my head.

Sometimes the reverse happens, and I’m impacted by the suggestion of another writer/collaborator/co-worker/friend. It happened to me twice this week and I wanted to give credit where credit is due, because I know all writers sometimes wonder if we’re just talking to ourselves.

I like to razz fellow BC Magazine Assistant Music Editor A.L. Harper because through her Band of the Week feature she has turned me on to some awful music, but I must reluctantly admit for the second time one of her recommendations was right.

She appeared on a B-Sides Concept Album program some months ago talking about one of her Band Of The Week subjects, The Bittersweets. Her review of their debut record The Life You Always Wanted and the enthusiasm with which she spoke of them on the radio show made an impact. I didn’t go out and buy the record that day but I did listen to some soundclips on their web site and liked them enough to make a mental note to check them out. Later.

Yesterday, later finally came.

Part of the joy of the pilgrimage to Nashville to see Mark Knopfler was stopping at one of the great independent music stores in the country, Grimey’s. I love that place. I wonder if I can just have my paycheck direct deposited to them. I get lost in there, which is why I took time to make a list before heading north. They have a wonderful selection, but aren’t a conventional music store. This is not the place you go to buy a copy of the new Pussycat Dolls CD. They do carry major label and major artist records, but they are an indie store and specialize in indie records. With that in mind, I was again reminded of The Bittersweets and as my luck would have it, I found a copy of The Life You Always Wanted in the used (they call it pre-loved) bin. $6. Done.

I’ve now listened to the record twice and it continues to grow on me. We can now add The Bittersweets to A Fine Frenzy as artists about whom she’s been right. Thanks for the suggestion.

Filed under: Tags: Music of the Moment, The Bittersweets