I think this is the first album post I've done from this century. Everything else has been pre-1980, aka the better years for just about everything I like. Today is my birthday and life sucks so I am listening to albums I love to try to stay afloat. My favorite feel better album is The Gold Record by the Bouncing Souls and since I just heard it, I figured it'd be perfect to make a post about.
I didn't actively listen to the Bouncing Souls til my late 20s. I had been hearing them since I started listening to my own music when I was 10 or 11, but never really delved into their stuff specifically. I saw them at Riot Fest in 2013 or 2014 because I had a LiveJournal friend who loved them. It was a good show but I still didn't dig into their stuff; my life was rarely spent at home at that time, so I really only listened to music while driving and didn't think much about it. When I was getting one of my tattoos worked on a few years later, "Sarah Saturday" came on whatever Pandora mix they were listening to, and I was like whoa. I loved it the first time I heard it, and that's what finally got me to actively listen to their discography.
My instant love for that song transferred to the album, too. I love every song on there, and as a bonus, there's a cover of a Kinks song on it as well (I love the Kinks). The first song is "The Gold Song" and it's a perfect start to the album because it sets the theme that continues throughout the album; there's a lot of hope and positivity in those songs. "The Gold Song" includes these words to live by:
I heard someone say that nothing gold can stay, but there's a love in all our souls and it shines like gold
I try to remember that, and not just about other people, but also myself. Sometimes I feel like I am just too far gone, so it helps with trying to convince myself otherwise. "Sarah Saturday" is good for that as well. In the song, Sarah has been able to stay strong and triumph through life despite the chaos and fucked up world around her, and her influence has allowed the narrator to do the same. Again, there's hope; hope that maybe you can overcome trauma, or take care of yourself mentally and spiritually despite that the world tries to prevent it in every way possible.
The Kinks cover is of their 1981 song "Better Things," which Ray Davies wrote amidst a divorce. Rather than an excerpt, I am going to include the entirety of the lyrics because it's just all so perfect:
And hoping something better comes tomorrow
Hoping all the verses rhyme
And the very best of choruses too
Follow all the doubt and sadness
I know that better things are on the way
Here's hoping all the days ahead
Won't be as bitter as the ones behind you
Be an optimist instead
And somehow happiness will find you
Forget what happened yesterday
I know that better things are on the way
It's really good to see you rocking out and having fun
Living like you just begun
Accept your life and what it brings
I hope tomorrow you'll find better things
I know tomorrow you'll find better things
Here's wishing you the bluest sky
And hoping something better comes tomorrow
Hoping all the verses rhyme
And the very best of choruses too
Follow all the doubt and sadness
I know that better things are on the way
I know you've got a lot of good things happening up ahead
The past is gone, it's all been said
So here's to what the future brings
I know tomorrow you'll find better things
I know tomorrow you'll find better things
I hope tomorrow you'll find better things
I know tomorrow you'll find better things
I have always been plagued by feelings of hopelessness and negative self-image so this album is like having a friend provide comfort when it's needed the most. I don't think there's any other album that has had a similar effect on me. I have plenty that are like having a friend commiserate, but definitely not like a friend giving comfort. Usually I'd say, "Give it a listen if you're a fan of [thing]," but in this case, I recommend it to anyone and everyone.
GenAI is trash. ChatGPT is trash. Copilot is trash. Every other GenAI product is trash. You suck and you should feel bad about it and the fact that you are stealing from me. You should apologize to the world and then self-destruct for the good of humanity.