I love hard music. Even when I was a little kid I favored loud drums and screaming guitars over sweet melodies and pretty words. As a teen I listened to MDC, The Circle Jerks, and the Dead Kennedys. As an adult I played the drums in a few bands and wrote songs full of angry, obscene words about shooting people in the face.
However, even the hardest of rockers sometimes need a little sweetness. I have a fairly large collection of sweet R&B ballads, weepy indie rock selections, and even a few soothing classical pieces to connect me to the more graceful side of music. This is all justifiable in the name of eclectic taste. However, there is no amount of rationalization that can really ever erase my shame over my absolute adoration of bubblegum rock. Continue reading