Saturday, April 23, 2011

Spin Doctors - Pocket Full Of Kryptonite

Man, oh man! Whatever happened to The Spin Doctors? Their debut record, Pocket Full Of Kryptonite, is chock full of intense and incredible songs and yet after their initial release, this band went into obscurity. The Spin Doctors have released four studio albums since their iconic debut, yet most of those albums get no recognition. I’ll admit that I don’t own, nor have I listened to, any of them. However, Pocket Full Of Kryptonite is a record that stands the test of time. If you only own one Spin Doctors record, this is the one to have.

Opening with the amazing “Jimmy Olsen Blues,” Pocket Full Of Kryptonite kicks off with a fantastic song and doesn’t let up. Three massive singles are contained on this record. The aforementioned “Jimmy Olsen Blues,” “Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong,” and “Two Princes.” “Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong” is one of the most well known songs of the 90s. With a great hook and a fantastic vibe, it’s not hard to understand why.

Pocket Full Of Kryptonite is an album that was recorded in a funk blues, slap bass style reminiscent of The Red Hot Chili Peppers. While most of the songs are short, radio ready hits, the jam band influence can be felt throughout the album. For the last song, “Shinbone Alley/Hard To Exist” the band really cuts loose and jams throughout the ten minute epic.

Other forgotten gems on this album include “How Could You Want Him (When You Know You Could Have Me?),” and “Refrigerator Car.” These are some timeless classics that I haven’t played in years. I recently pulled this record out for the Every Album Challenge and I’m glad that I did. Having not listened to the Spin Doctors in many years, it was nice to give this album a spin and reminisce on the greatness that is contained within.

When this album was first released, I was just out of high school and taking a year off before I would enter college. Pocket Full Of Kryptonite was played a lot during that year. It was (and still is) a fantastic record that led me to a whole world of new music, as I slowly drifted away from hair metal and discovered new styles and sounds.

I’m surprised that I didn’t keep up with this band more after Pocket Full Of Kryptonite. Perhaps they hit the sophomore jinx, or perhaps I delved into different sounds and styles (most notable grunge rock) and just forgot about The Spin Doctors. Whatever the case, I should have given Pocket Full Of Kryptonite more attention over the last ten years. Hearing “Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong” after so much time really brought a smile to my face. And yes, I sang along at the top of my lungs. The people in the car next to me at the traffic light may have got a chuckle, but that’s all right. I was enjoying a nostalgic trip down memory lane.

Albums Listened To: 22
Albums Remaining: 2,031

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