Ten exact years ago, Thursday released War All the Time. While Full Collapse is arguably the quintessential Thursday album, War All the Time holds a special place in my heart. I bought it at Target back when CD-buying at Target was pretty much all I did. I saw the music video on the screen in the music section, and, having already been a fan of a few songs, decided to buy it.

This album has carried me through every good and bad time in my life up to this point. Each song contains a memory and the ability to lift me up when I'm feeling low or rejoice with me when I am feeling good.

In my opinion, War All the Time is one of the most important socially conscious albums of the 2000s. It touches on a lot of important issues, including gay rights, homophobia, and war. I have always admired Thursday for writing songs about real things. Thanks a lot, Thursday.

 C + T = 4ever
2 Good 2 B 4Gotten

Have you ever had the worst week ever? If so, you should try listening to Thursday. They will make you feel better. Audiotree recorded Geoff Rickly playing one of his new solo songs "New Sympathies," and it is great. The mixtape that he put out a couple months ago was pretty poor quality, as he just recorded it in his bedroom. I am looking forward to more music from Geoff Rickly for the rest of my life.

I was really sad when Thursday broke up. I got a tattoo for them! But the singer and main songwriter of the band, Geoff Rickly, started doing solo stuff. In other news, Tucker Rule, the drummer, went on tour with a boy band called the Wanted. I guess boy bands didn't release all of his energy because he is now starting a hardcore band called Get Involved! with members of some of my past and present favorite bands including Glassjaw, From Autumn to Ashes, Death in the Park (which includes members of Hot Rod Circuit), and Judge.

In ninth grade, I read Andy Greenwald's Nothing Feels Good: Punk Rock, Teenagers, and Emo so much that it started to fall apart. It documented the beginnings of bands like Thursday and Saves the Day, as well The Promise Ring, Braid, Texas is the Reason, and Sunny Day Real Estate. I lugged this book around with me everywhere and joked that it was like my bible. At the ripe young age of 23, I missed out on many of these bands during their heydays. Nonetheless, I ate it all up. What a book. What music lover doesn't want to learn about the origin of their favorite music?

Sadly, I lent it to a friend back in high school, but I am ordering another copy as we speak (or, to be more accurate, as I type). I recommend it to every person in the universe.

Enjoy this Christina-created playlist in honor of my favorite book.