But the first truly alternative record I loved was by an American alt-rock act called Pavement. I thank her profusely via their main man in the clip below...

Given the relatively timid collection of records I owned around 1995 (in short - 50% REM, 50% Britpop), it's weird I loved Wowee Zowee so much. But I think I fell in love with every single song. I just looked it up on wikipedia (to double check the year it was released) and it says the album is generally regarded as Pavement at their most experimental. But to me, it's one of the poppiest guitar records I know of.

The hooks, the choruses - even the little guitar riffs - every daft lyric and unexpected scream - every moment is just perfect. We Dance is properly sweet and subtly anthemic, 'Rattled by The Rush' is impossible to listen to while driving. AT & T is possibly the most underrated indie song of all time (seriously, it should have been a hit) while Grave Architecture is just gloriously silly. It's also the only album I allow to have over 12 songs - in fact, Wowee Zowee has an indulgent 18. But it doesn't drag - if you blink, you miss something good. In short - even the band songs are really, really good.

I like other Pavement records - Brighten the Corners was rammed full of hits and finally got them a little attention, Terror Twilight is nice and dark. But it's Wowee Zowee for me every time. Maybe my reasons are a little romantic - it was the first album I had that no one else in school had heard of. Or maybe it's because I associate it with a sweet, sisterly influence. But do me a favour - check this album out and try and prove to me it's not as awesome as I'm making out.

Oh, I almost forgot - Pavement are apparantly reforming.

So far, today has been great.