Each Friday I pick a song–new, old, borrowed, blue–that’s been on my mind and in my ears, and write a short post about it.

Here’s “History Lesson–Part II” by Minutemen:

Last week marked the anniversary of the death of D Boon, Minutemen guitarist; he died in a van accident in 1985. The thing about Minutemen is, their band could be your life, and it’s Bob Dylan to me, whether they’re fucking corndogs or not.  This song tells the story of the band, which, I remind you, could be Bob Dylan’s songs.  Double Nickels on the Dime is an album that should be issued with your birth certificate in the United States (imagine: Barack Obama just waves his vinyl copy of Minutemen in the air and tells the birthers to go to hell), and this gentle, pretty song, which is the twenty-third of forty-five songs, and finishes “Side Mike” of the record, tells you everything you need to know about what makes friends making and/or playing and/or listening to music together great.  Go drink and pogo; punk rock will change your life.