[StreetAngel95]

Hi friends!

If you've been on the Ledge for awhile you may recognize me, but I haven't been on here in close to 7 years. I was at Classic East and now that I've graduated college I have all the time in the world to dedicate to the Mac.

Now, I hear all of you and I respect your opinions deeply regarding the various iterations of our band and frustrations of the past years thinking we will never truly get new, full music. However, I did just want to offer some quick words on SYW from the perspective of someone who holds it in their heart dearly:

I was 8 years old when it came out. I saved up my allowance to buy it all on my own, and I remember bringing the CD to summer camp and listening on my walkman "back to front" as Stevie would say. I was obSESSED.

Laced with the ever innovative instrumental stylings of Lindsey, I enjoyed hearing the new raspiness in Stevie's voice that offered a different timbre to every album she recorded - like hearing the wealth of experience in her voice. I would revel in hearing Lindsey and Stevie sing my name in "Miranda" and pretend that it was about me (much to the protest of my mother who understood the lyrics better). I would listen to the stories of the characters in "Everybody Finds Out" and "Smile At You," close my eyes and imagine them in vignette-style film. I enjoyed the political nature of "Murrow" and "Red Rover," and I remember how deeply "Illume" touched the souls of my parents, remembering the emotions from that day, my dad driving back from NY.

This album was exciting. It made me think. It made me smile. It made me dance. I would mark up the lyrics booklet, phrases like "this coastline is glittering like a diamond snake in a black sky." Laying down on my bedroom floor, until the final heartbeat-like sounds of Goodbye Baby would end, I would press rewind and listen all over again. No, Christine isn't on it. Yes, perhaps some of the production is off. But this album is so special and I adore it with all my heart.