Totally Natural

I've been wanting to play this album for a long time, but due to certain circumstances, I hesitated.  My one hundred twelfth pick.

Artist - ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead
Album - Madonna
Released - 1999
Label - Merge
Genre - Progressive Rock, Indie Rock, Post-Hardcore, Noise Rock

Tracks:
Side One
And You Will Know Them...
Mistakes & Regrets
Totally Natural
Blight Takes ALl
Clair de Lune
Flood of Red
Children of the Hydra's Teeth
Side Two
Mark David Chapman
Up From Redemption
Aged Dolls
The Day the Air Turned Blue
A Perfect Teenhood
Sigh You Children

I kid you not when I tell you that this album AND band changed my life in so many ways.  I met a lot of friends, traveled to a new city, MOVED to a new city and even live with one of these dudes BECAUSE of this band (not ENTIRELY because of the band, but many factors played in my decision).  Eleven years ago ,  I first heard this band and I was sure glad I did.  I rarely ever think about the paths I've chosen in life, but I honestly don't know where I would be if I didn't hear of this band and Austin, Texas.  I would probably be living in Seattle right now, since that was the first choice where I wanted to live in once I left Miami, but once I came to Austin, I was in love.  The scene here (even though I feel like it has changed a lot) was like love at first sight for me.  I was destined to be here and when I finally moved here, I was happy.  Austin is such a great, active city and that's what I love the most about it.

Back to ...Trail of Dead.  This four piece (at the time this record was released) from Austin, Texas are Kevin Allen, Neil Bush, Conrad Keely and Jason Reese.  I first saw them in concert in Atlanta, Georgia, 2002 when they toured with Queens of the Stone Age and Peaches.  What a f**king show!!  I knew they were notorious for destroying their equipment and tossing it into the crowd and I was so close to getting a snare drum....if only.  Madonna is their second debut album and it is, by far, their best album EVER.  I would have to say that their self-titled would be second.  But this one is definitely a TOP 10 on my list.  Songs like Mistakes & Regrets, Totally Natural, A Perfect Teenhood...shoot, this whole record is pretty amazing.  You cannot go wrong with this record because it has a mix of noise, progressive, loud sounds and then you have your few low, soft sounding songs.  Ending this record with Sigh Your Children is perfect, like the icing on the cake.

Enjoy!