Various Artists

Sub Pop Rock City

scum stats: this seems readily available

My recall is not perfect, but I think it was 22 years ago last night, hanging out at the Italy Records HQ in Detroit, where Dave Buick sold this copy of "Sub Pop Rock CIty" to Jack White, who then gave it to me for my 16th birthday.

There's better Sub Pop releases out there, shit, better ones that I bought in that same living room, but for sentimental purposes, this will always be my favorite.

A more svelte version of the label's bombastic "Sub Pop 200" compilation, there's no shortage of killer songs here. Mudhoney's cover of Middler's "The Rose" is Saturday afternoon teenage pop can return job mix tape glory. Breathe it in.