Every 4th of July that I’m back in Iowa, my mom and I take a trip over to Okoboji to peruse the flea markets. This year was no different with my mom and I making the annual trip over to the lakes to walk past table after table of rusted signs, antique china, and baseball cards (a Texas flea market is much different in content, usually featuring used clothing, black market DVDs, and economy-sized boxes of Chiclets).
As a toddler I went with because I had to, as did my brothers, but as we got older, my siblings quit going while I continued tagging along with my mom. While my mom has always gone in search of what ever rusty gold she can find, I’ve went over the years for different reasons. In middle school I searched for David Robinson cards to add to my collection (today, my 150 Robinson card collection is probably worth a buck fifty). After college I still willingly went along, now searching for old pint glasses (Schlitz, PBR, Hamm’s, etc), but this collection petered out when I realized that pint glasses aren’t much fun without beer inside them. The past few years I’ve gone with my mom just for tradition’s sake, but this year I had a new collection in the works: vinyl.
Writing this blog made me curious and I was pleasantly surprised to see that a Robinson rookie card goes for around 20 dollars.
You would think being a music enthusiast I would have jumped on the vinyl train long ago, but I always found myself blindly satisfied with CDs. This of course all changed with the dawning of the i-Pod. I found myself buying CDs that I’d rip to my computer and never touch again. As much as it pained me, I realized I needed to move to MP3s. They’re more eco-friendly and don’t fill up shelves at the house. Despite this realization, I couldn’t make the switch. The idea of paying money for something you can’t tangibly hold in your hands didn’t set well with me. Plus, I couldn’t part with the experience of reading the liner notes, analyzing the lyrics, and exploring the artwork.
When I discovered many labels now include download codes with their vinyl, I found a solution: not only was I still getting the MP3s, but I got the added bonus of having a bigger package to adore. Plus, when listening to the music at home, I always opt to hear it on the record player because it just sounds so much more better.
This shift to vinyl soon became an obsession, and now I’ve slipped into the role of record collector. Despite the lack of free MP3 downloads with used LPs by Charlie Parker, Run DMC, and Willie Nelson, I couldn’t help myself but to hear the classics in the form that they were meant to be heard. Being a new hobby, this was my first year searching out old records at the flea market, and I left with 20 albums including Black Sabbath’s “Sabotage,” Stevie Wonder’s “Songs in the Key of Life,” and Jimi Hendrix’s “Smash Hits,” the album that changed my life as a 14-year-old kid.
The album my mom found at the flea market
While scouring the tables of boxes, my mom looked around to pass the time. At one point she walked over to me with an album in hand. “I remember this Kitty Wells album from when I was a kid. I used to love the song ‘Honky Tonk Angels.’ My brother used to play it all the time.” The mention of her brother Gary caught me off guard. Gary drowned 13 days after his 21st birthday back in 1962. My mom witnessed it. As you can imagine, this was pretty hard on her. As always with music, that record brought memories back to the surface.
I encouraged my mom to buy the album, and she did. As we walked on through the tables of antiques, mom continued discussing my uncle’s love of music. It seemed the sight of that old record had dusted off memories she’d not visited for a while. She talked about the huge collection of records he bought over the years with the money he earned as a barber. She remembered all the concerts he used to head into town to see: Johnny Cash, Conway Twitty, Patsy Cline.
My mom still has some of the signed photos he bring home for her as a kid including this Patsy Cline. Unfortunately, they got water damaged in a basement.
Something about it all seemed eerily similar, and I knew why. The pile of records, the concerts, the love of music – it all added up. Driving home, one question haunted me: how could my Uncle Gary, a man I never knew, be so much like me? Yes, his love of music rubbed off on my mom who raised my brothers and I on a steady diet of Joni Mitchell and Buffalo Springfield, but to the level that Uncle Gary did? The level that I do?
I began to question my thoughts. How could I possibly even get my uncle’s music-obsession gene? Where did he even get it? My grandpa, who took over the farm at age 14, never seemed to be a music fanatic, and my grandma listened exclusively to the Statler Brothers (“Mama Sang Bass” will forever bring me back to riding in my grandma’s car). Maybe the music-obsession gene skips generations and somewhere 100 years back one of my ancestors was as obsessed with John Phillip Sousa as I am with Sonic Youth.
Sonic Youth with Sousa on the drums.
Back at home, I continued thinking about Gary with my questions moving away from “Why?” to “What if?”. What would he be like today? How would my life be different if I had known him? Would he have regaled me with stories of meeting Johnny Cash and Patsy Cline? What would he have thought of Bob Dylan? Neil Young? Iggy Pop? All unanswered questions.
A week later, these thoughts would still circle my brain like a needle on a record. It didn’t help that my mom left the Kitty Wells record sitting on the kitchen counter, and each time I saw Kitty’s face looking back at me, I couldn’t help but think of Gary. I finally decided to listen to the album that had raised so many memories for my mom and so many questions for me.
I put the needle on the vinyl like I’ve done so many times before, and listened to the crackling of the record. I wonder if he enjoyed that sound as much as me – the anticipation that comes with it. And then Kitty Wells appeared. Her voice wasn’t beautiful by any means. Nasally, a tad flat, yet it didn’t bother me. In fact, I liked it; there was substance to it. It had soul. And soon, that emotive voice filled the rooms and halls of my parents’ house while filling the void of uncertainty in my mind. No, I never knew Uncle Gary; but in that moment, I knew that he still somehow lived within that music and within me – my honky-tonk guardian angel.
Uncle Gary with my mom and Aunt Sally up above on the rocks.
The song that everyone associates with Desmond is of course Mama Cass Elliot’s “Make Your Own Kind of Music.” This is due to the fact that when we first met him he was blaring this song in The Hatch. Now, I understand that Desmond’s music choices were limited to only the stack of records kept in his little bunker, but to play this corn-ball garbage in the morning while doing dishes and sit-ups is a bit suspect. Even when not stuck in the hatch his taste blows. While lying in bed in another life (brotha!) he is listening to Sarah McLachlan’s “Building a Mystery”. What a romantic hack! Desmond doesn’t make this list because he has the tenth best taste in music, rather his taste is the worst.
John always meant well. No one can deny this. He was a romantic at heart and was foolish enough to think things happen for a reason. Hence, his music choice while eating breakfast with Helen is George Jone’s “I’ll Share My World With You”, when we all know that he won’t (unless it’s an alternate future of course). George Jones fits the classic country mold, although he seems a bit forced at times. John redeems himself in another episode with a song that seems more fitting for the perpetual loser. While driving in his old rusty truck, John listens to Muddy Water’s “I Feel Like Going Home”. Not only do the blues perfectly portray the turmoil that Locke must endure, but throughout the show he truly is looking to go home. Unfortunately, not even the island is John’s home sweet home. Poor fella.
Kate is a one trick pony when it comes to her music choices, or I should say music choice. Patsy Cline, Patsy Cline, Patsy Cline: that’s all Kate is ever listening to in any flashback or flash-forward, regardless of what alternate future or past is taking place. We get the connection writers, you don’t need to shove it into our earholes. Yes, Kate often goes “Walking After Midnight” like a scavenger, and “She’s Got You”, whether that you is in reference to Jack or Sawyer. I never understood Kate’s attraction to Sawyer and his snake-skin salesman ways, but then again, this is the same girl who tried stealing a New Kids On the Block lunch box. Fortunately for Kate, I’ll forgive her bad choices in life due to her good ones. Jack Shepherd is the man, and I have to admit that I’ve got a soft spot for old Patsy and her heart-wrenching tales. I just wish the girl would give Mrs. Cline a break once in a while (even If that means a quick listen to “Hangin’ Tough”).
Sawyer is known for his wise-cracks and pop-culture references, and this of course means a few music based comments like calling Frank “Kenny Rogers” or mentioning Jimmy Buffet’s “Coconut Telegraph”. But none of his comments seem to delve deep into the music world like his allusions to old TV shows and movies. We didn’t get much of a sense of Sawyer’s music taste until this final season when we find him hiding in one of the old Dharma cabins listening to Iggy and the Stooge’s “Search and Destroy”. What better song to listen to when you’re seeking revenge for the death of your girlfriend? But then of course, ol’ Sawyer lost huge points, at least in my book. When the smoke monster first flies by the house Sawyer is listening to “Search and Dstroy” inside. Old Smokey continues on his way, talks with Richard for 10 minutes, and then finally decides to return to visit Sawyer. When he returns, the same song is playing. This would mean that James “Sawyer” Ford listened to the song, got up, moved the needle on the LP back to the same song, and listened to it several more times. Don’t get me wrong, “Search and Destroy” is a great pop-punk song, but the album it’s featured on, “Raw Power”, is even more incredible. I’ll give Sawyer credit for listening to The Stooges, but no one should ever start “Raw Power” and not listen to it straight through. It’s sacrilege. (I do have to point out that “Search and Destroy” is actually about the Smoke Monster/John Locke, both quintessentially being the “forgotten boy”).
You would think the rock star on the island would be the shoe-in for best music taste. Not so fast my friend. Charlie’s Brit-band Drive Shaft was simply a one-hit-wonder, and “You All Everybody” is the type of musical fare you would hear at the beginning of a Peter Engel Saturday morning TV show like “Saved by the Bell” or “California Dreams”. Anytime Charlie’s meal-ticket began playing, I’d cringe. I would like to blame the utter shitt-iness of the song on his brother Liam, but Charlie was the “talent” of the band, writing all the songs. So why is Charlie ranked sixth if his songwriting was so lacking? He gave glimpses into his music taste on occasion, whether it be singing a Kinks song to pass the time on the island or his “Strawberry Fields Forever” tattoo. Sure, no one can forgive Charlie/Merry for playing Oasis on a street corner, but here at BDWPS we can’t hate on a guy who is also seen at one point wearing a Bob Dylan “Highway 61 Revisited” t-shirt. Bob Dylan Loves Drive Shaft. You heard it here first.
I think this is just a sympathy pick. Mr. Ecko was easily my favorite addition to the show, yet the writers had to kill him off before we really got to explore the psyche of this profound character. In one scene you can hear Ecko listening to Femi Kuti’s “Eko Lagos”, a great choice simply due to the song title. Who is Femi Kuti? The son of the great Feli Kuti! Who’s Feli Kuti? Watch your mouth! Basically, Femi Kuti is Nigeria’s version of Sean Lennon if Sean Lennon had talent. Over the years, Femi has explored afro-beat music, pushing his father’s legacy into new directions. The fact that Ecko is listening to this song at a bar may make his placement at number five a bit suspect, but I’d like to believe Mr. Ecko sauntered over to the jukebox to pick this song prior to the start of the scene. Call me a dreamer.
You would think of a scientist as being uptight and not having interest in pop music, but Pierre Chang proves that even a scientist can make a little time for Willie Nelson. On a beautiful morning in Dharma-ville, Dr. Chang wakes up and decides that the best way to start the day for his wife and son is to listen to Willie Nelson’s “Shotgun Willie”. This moment is the only glimpse we really get into the minor character Chang’s personal life, but it’s enough for me to deem him a lover of music. At the moment, I can’t think of a better way to start a day than to listen to Willie Nelson.
We actually only hear Juliet listening to one song, and if I based my decision on this choice alone she would rank near Desmond. While prepping for her book club, she has Petula Clark’s “Downtown” playing loudly on the stereo. She’s listening to the same song when driving with Rachel up to the guardhouse. This song isn’t necessarily horrible, but it isn’t great either. Personally, I can’t hear “Downtown” without thinking of the “Seinfeld” episode where George Constanza tries to unlock the secret of the song. The secret to Juliet’s great taste in music lies in her CD collection. Before putting “Downtown” in the CD player, she fumbles with the Son Volt CD “Okemah and the Melody of Riot”. Not only does Juliet like classic 90s alterna-country, but she then picks up a CD case for the Talking Head’s “Speaking In Tongues”. Son Volt and Talking Heads? Now that’s my kind of girl! The fact that she chose Petula Clark over these two incredible albums is beyond the point. Could they have possibly been Goodwin’s CDs? I won’t entertain the question, God rest his soul.
Once stuck back in his normal life, Jack realizes he made a huge mistake by leaving the island. He goes through a major depression and is often seen listening to essential early 90s grunge like Nirvana’s “Scentless Apprentice” and The Pixies “Gouge Away”. I can’t imagine my doctor listening to these raw, vicarious grunge tunes, but Jack’s not your average doctor. He’s a perfectionist, and when things don’t go as expected, he lets things fall to pieces, one gouge at a time. I love the fact that the eventual hero of the show (I’m calling it now) is deep down, a broken, emotional wreck.
Hugo is the obvious pick here, as much as I tried convincing myself that Jack was the true music fanatic of the island. There are several details that I can’t deny. First off, Hugo is the only person who actually listens to a portable music device while on the island. The fact that a lottery winner is listening to a Disc-Man says a lot about Hugo’s hipster leanings. Instead of going the digital route with an MP3 player, Hugo still clings to his physical media. Heck, his first stop after winning the lottery is the record store! And while there, he asks the clerk to go to a Hold Steady show with him. Hurley’s taste in music runs the gamut, ranging from James Brown to Damien Rice. But the best insight into Hurley’s knowledge of music lies in his references. For example, when talking to Mrs. Trahn, his servent, he calls her “Lady Tron”, an obscure music reference to the Roxy Music song of the same title. This comment alone demonstrates a true grasp of music history (and music snobbery at that). Hugo may not have any Femi Kuti or Pixies in his record collection, but his consistent display of musical insight is unchallenged by any other castaway of Oceanic Flight 815. His ability to talk to dead people may come in useful after all; “Jimi, are you out there?”
Bob Dylan Wrote Propaganda Songs 