Ode to 120 Minutes

Back when MTV actually played music videos. They were also kind of desperate for programming. They really ran the gamut as far a "genres" go. Yo MTV Raps, Headbangers Ball, and 120 minutes. In my early teens, I NEVER missed my beloved 120 minutes. This was a "college radio" show (long before the "alternative" title was attached) I watched it religiously. Hoping, praying that I would see videos of artist I like and would normally never see videos of during regular MTV programming. Host Dave Kendall did a good job. Lewis Largent tried way to hard and he just ended up looking like an ass. But Matt Pinfield he was the man!!! I think what I loved most about him was that he was genuinely nervous and excited to be speaking with each artist he interviewed. BUT, he was always armed with information that seemed to even throw the artist through a loop. I LOVED it. I loved that I never knew who I was going to catch a glimpse of, PJ Harvey, Afghan Whigs,Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Blind Melon, Matthew Sweet, Liz Phair, The Verve, Swervedriver, Dinosaur Jr, Sebadoh, The Lemonheads, Julianna Hatfield, Betty Seveert, Shall I go on?

Lately I've been really nostalgic for that show. Thinking about the piles of VHS tapes I had with 120..240...360 minutes. Keep in mind this was before the Internet and MP3's and myspace. Finding these kinds of artist outside the medium of college radio was next to impossible for a girl like me from the sticks. I will always be grateful that there was a show like that accessible to me and millions of other kids. There were many alternate versions of the show that were created over the years. But it's innovation could never be duplicated. It was one of kind as was the music. (Hey I told you I was a music geek)

With that said... I said to my self, I said "self why not compile your favorite songs from the show on your blog!" and then my self said "BRILLIANT!" Anyway. This will be one of those ongoing, singular, updated posts. I'll share some of my thoughts on certain artist and share with you my FAVORITE videos (that are of course available on youtube) I hope you'll enjoy the music as much as I did (and still do)


Liz Phair was and still is this balls to the wall woman. I just adored her. I can remember learning about her intense stage fright on 120 min. That when she first started performing she barely faced the crowd. (Thanks Matt Pinfield!) Exhile in Guyville is a great album but my favorite has to be whip-smart. It's just raucous, dirty RAWK. "Supernova" is a prime example.




The Verve's Urban Hymns is one of my top 10 desert island albums. Through and Through this was some stellar stuff. Richard Ashcroft's solo stuff is quite good as well. Eventhough I loved Bittersweet Symphony (another 120 minute discovery). There were so many other good songs on that CD like Lucky Man





Sigh... Jeff Buckley. There's a whole post reserved for that man. I will say this much. My daughters middle name is Grace (after his first major album) That's how beautiful and wonderful he was. I mourned his loss a million times more than Kurt Cobain. I still mourn it. My heart aches for what could have been even now (almost 11 years later).





I still remember vividly the first time I heard the beginning riff of this song. That image of the wave. I remember having to sit down and wait for the world to stop spinning. Behold my beloved Pearl Jam.



I still remember the feelings PJ Harvey incited in me upon first catching the video for Man-Size. It was love at first listen. What's not to love about "catch my iron knickers down" or "I measure time, I measure height, I calculate my birthright" Freakin hot! She is one kick ass feminista even if she never intended to be.



One slice of Greg Dulli comin' up. There was just something so very very bad about him that made him just irresistable. Even now that all the years of drinking have caught up with him he still gets me all bothered. His latest band "The Twilight Singers" are just as awesome and sexy as the Afghan Whigs.



Up first...

Oh I loved Matthew Sweet, infact I think I saw him a total of 5 times during my teens. The first time he rocked my world? Why It was on a episode of 120 minutes thank you for asking.