Concrete Blonde‘s surprise 1990 hit “Joey” introduced this long-running LA band to the rest of the world. The song, from the album Bloodletting, was a dark, sad song dealing with watching a friend self-destruct. A gorgeous love song, in spite of its darkness.

Its b-side, “I Want You,” was much more upbeat from “Joey,” and it’s easy to understand why a label might want to temper such a morose, sad song. It’s also a love song, with lead singer Johnette Napolitano offering up some of her lighter, most ethereal singing and most vulnerable, heart-on-sleeve lyrics. 

Sure, it’s a wispy number, but it’s a lovely little song that has an addictive side; you’ll find yourself playing it again, and, if it were 1990, you’d be putting it on mixtapes for crushes. I know I did, but that’s another matter….