a stimulated memory

There are a good number of songs in my music library that come with a strong emotional connection / memory each time I listen to them. I've tried to make a compilation of those songs with the strongest, most specific memory locked into them.
Trapped In My Sense Memory Mix
Depeche Mode - Behind The Wheel
1989. I was 12 years old, my sister 15. We lived in our first house as a family. I had my own room with my own waterbed (I got to pick out my own bed!) My sister's room was across the hall and she LOVED Depeche Mode. She would play Music For The Masses and Black Celebration over and over. I remember falling to sleep hearing this song through the vents.
Dinosaur Jr - The Wagon
1990 - I was a teenager now and spent all my time skateboarding. An Alien Workshop Video ("Footage") had Rob Dyrdek skating to this song. I soon became obsessed with Dinosaur Jr and had to get everything they ever released... and I did. I remember practicing one-foot tail grabs at the Elementary school by my house (where I skated every day).
The Odd Numbers - It Makes No Difference To Me
1991 brought the New Deal skate video Useless Wooden Toys into my life, and with it - the Odd Numbers. I didn't find any actual cds of this band until 1998. Chris Hall's section of Useless Wooden Toys has this song in it. Me and my friends would study his part and became obsessed with this song. I taped it (on cassette) with my boom box held up to my TV's speaker. Ollie shifties, nose bumps and big spins a plenty!
Milk - Knife Song
That same year Blind came out with the amazing skate video "Video Days". Jason Lee skated to this song and it was impossible to find. I think it surfaced on the internet sometime in the early 2000's. Ogden Utah had a thursday night skatepark at the Classic Rollerskating rink. Video Days played there and I learned half-cab railslides on the slider bar while this song was playing.
the Dead Milkmen - Instant Club Hit
1992 I was 15 and interested in girls. I had seen the Dead Milkmen play live and was now a huge fan. I tried to get all my girlfriends to appreciate the Dead Milkmen. I remember Tara Julander enjoyed this song. She's the first girl I remember making out with. Ahhh young love.
Zoinks! - Carcinogen (not about smoking)
fast forward two years. 1994. I'm living in the south suburbs of Chicago and not enjoying life as much. I was a popular kid in Utah, now I'm going to a high school dominated by sports fans and the "alternative" scene hasn't hit yet, so me and my dyed hair and baggy clothes are the opposite of cool. Thank goodness for Drop In skatepark in New Lennox Illinois. I spent my entire summer there in 1994. Zoinks! was my soundtrack for that year.
Oblivion - We Had To Say It Again
1994 again. I finally found some friends at school and learned about the Chicago punk scene. If you were in Chicago in the early 90's and enjoyed local punk music, Oblivion was the best live band to see. I got this 7" and listened to it as often as I could. I miss shows at the Fireside Bowl... I must have seen oblivion 15 times that summer.
Sunny Day Real Estate - Seven
1995. I graduated High School and had to split up with my first serious girlfriend. Not really split up, but our first year of college we went to different schools. I listened to this album a lot that first year of college. I was young and emotional, and Sunny Day Real Estate are one of the godfathers of the emo scene. We stayed together for another few years, but this year was a little tough.
Cathrine - Songs About Girls
I will always remember my college roommate Joe when I listen to this song. He turned me onto Cathrine. This is such a great pop song. Thanks Joe. I hope you're doing well.
the Rentals - Friends of P
Again, first year of college. Joe and I had a ritual on Sunday nights. We would watch the Dukes of Hazzard, Batman and 120 minutes. We were both fans of Weezer, but when the video for Friends of P debuted we both went a little nuts and got obsessed with the simplicity of this stupid song. I have a videocamera taped recording of this video, so we could watch it whenever we wanted.
the Get Up Kids - Don't Hate Me
1998. I left college without graduating. I hated it. My girl stayed in school and I would make the three hour trek fairly regularly. This album (and particularly song) would play on every ride to and from. It's three hours from Chicago to Charleston Illinois, but it feels like 40.
Mates of State - Nice Things That Look Good
2000. Living in Chicago with the same girl. I remember standing on the Redline platform at Belmont, in the snow - watching it come down. Walkman on and this song on repeat. It's perfect for watching the snow fall in Chicago.