I am a product of 90s post-grunge, and this is one of my many anthems. Though The Verve Pipe is best known for “The Freshman” also known as the song that makes me want to claw my eyes out because I’m still troubled by how much it was overplayed a decade ago, “Photograph” was their first single off their album Villains. It peaked in Billboard’s Modern Rock Top 10 but obviously didn’t get that played-at-every-middle-school-dance success that “The Freshman” did. Whatever, it rocks way harder.
The other day this song popped into my head while I was in the shower bringing with it a distinctive memory. I recalled blaring this track on repeat while I was showering at my aunt’s house in Virginia circa 1996. It made me feel melancholy, which was totally appropriate as my ‘tween self was getting ready to go to the Spotsylvania Mall with my younger, brattier cousin. Whereas a few years ago we had been jumping on the bed to Kris Kross, I was now on my way to becoming a full-fledged alt rock connoisseur.
For me, I think it’s the keyboards + bass followed by grunge guitar combo that reeled me in. I was too young to truly enjoy Brian Vander Ark’s use of hair product. Enjoy!