I'm in the process of trying to reacquire much of the music I've sold, lost, or given away over the years, mainly stuff from my middle school and high school experiences: Sugar's "Copper Blue" (a must), The Judybats, Ride, Soundgarden, etc.
Purchase number one was made a few days ago, and I am now swimming in the audio ecstasy of Pearl Jam. Yes, Pearl Jam. I grew up during the grunge era, and three things have been on my mind lately in reference to this subject: a) the apparent ignorance on the part of some of the younger generations of the enormous impact grunge had on not only its primary audience, but anyone with a radio, in its early moments, and b) how, after a few years of radio overkill, any and all bands who suffered this constant spotlight were subsequently shunned - justifiably or not - by their originally relatively small fan bases, and c) how, once the radio stations laid off those bands a bit (most notably after Kurt Cobain's suicide, but with the exception of Nirvana, which seemed to - somehow - be played even more frequently as some kind of sick corporate eulogy/apology?/flogging of the dead horse, rest his poor soul), some of we fans of old have gone back to that music, tentatively pressing the play button to hear once again even the likes of "Nevermind."
Having done so myself, I urge you to do the same. Try it. Remember when Eddie Vedder was a round face among a much smaller crowd? Remember when you didn't have to pay $35 a pop to see your musical heroes in an arena full of all the people you hated in high school? Give it another listen. Try it. Just don't tell your friends.
"restless soul, enjoy your youth
like Muhammad hits the truth
can't escape from the common rule
if you hate something, don't you do it too
small my table, sits just two
got so crowded, i can't make room
where did they come from? stormed my room
and you dare say it belongs to you
this is not for you"