2012.08.08 Cave In - Jupiter

Color: Black

Released: 2000, August 8

Label: Hydra Head

Hands down my favorite band from 2001 to 2003. I was a bit late to the Jupiter-era Cave In party but I jumped on in late 2001 after finally giving a listen to this record that a vast majority of my friends were constantly talking about and catching a performance by the band at the legendary Fireside Bowl. In the midst of that show, where the band played material from this record in addition to new material that would eventually make its way to their RCA debut, I became transfixed by the their blend of metallic, spacey, prog-like rock and roll that gave knowing winks towards some of the classics. I’ll even go as far as crediting a lyric in “Innuendo And Out The Other” (possibly the best song title EVER) as inspiring me to pack up all my belongings and move to Nashville, TN to play in a new band - all in the name of never wondering ” what could have been.” Being a fan of both science fiction and space exploration - the idea of “space rock,” or an album themed around an celestial body in the deeper reaches of the Milky Way, very much appealed to me. So Cave In and this record in particular was scratching a lot of itches for me. As a result I spent a good 2 years obsessing over their music and catching them live at least 2 or 3 more times after that initial show and plastering guitar cases and car windows with stickers bearing the band’s name. The artwork on this record perfectly communicated the “space rock” theme which was sort of the band’s schtick at this time and combined photos from outer-space and astronauts coupled with fitting typography and line drawings of a satellite. It’s the stuff made of the best nerd dreams.