A few weeks back some guy at a party started talking to me because he noticed I was wearing a Dag Nasty T-shirt. I was pretty excited because it’s not often I get the opportunity to talk about the impact melodic hardcore albums like Can I Say made on my life. Turns out, all this guy wanted to do was spurt out a self-congratulatory soliloquy about his 7″ collection. Oh well, I guess it’s better than trying to wing my way through a conversation about NFL statistics. Once in awhile, though — I come in contact with someone that shares a similar agenda: talk about the music we dig because it makes us feel good. The other day I had one of those convo’s with a friend I work with. We were having a serious conversation about the impact of data on instruction when suddenly our focus shifted, and we slipped into an ongoing debate we’ve been having for months about the greatness of the early Afghan Whigs versus their post Congregation material. I lean towards the early days, while my pal feels Dulli’s greatest output started with the release of Gentlemen. Don’t get me wrong — I dig the boozy soul romps found on albums like 1965 and Black Love. And what about when they turn up in the bar scene in Beautiful Girls when Rappaport tries to suck face with Uma hot lips Thurman? They were the first band to convince me that dudes with slick looking suits could rock.

But at the end of the day the battle is a no brainer, and I always come back to my early year’s staple, Up In It. Now, these conversations with my pal aren’t so much debates as they are a chance to get dirty in the sandbox, and allow our minds a short water break. In keeping with the spirit of the debate, I think my pal has yet to hear the blast of punk dynamite provided by the Whigs on their early releases. So, here’s one for ya’, pal. Be prepared to discuss tomorrow morning.

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