I learned this week that the Mighty Mighty Bosstones are breaking up.
In my middle school years, they were a seminal band for me. I played saxophone in school, liked punk music and was teaching myself bass. At the time, the Bosstones were a perfect conglomerate for my musical development and their pop sensibilities helped me appreciate their music past my angsty punk middle school years.
"The Impression That I Get" was their one-hit wonder that got them international radio play but when I listen to it now in my mid-30s, I see it as a brilliant song. The narrator is a sheltered white man who's lived a life of relative ease and he's dealing with mixed feelings about whether or not he can handle real life pressures if/when faced with it. Just a genius narrative to explore in a pop song.