After hearing my good buddy AndyR front the Narband this weekend, making his way through two sets of really fun covers from the ’80s (and a few of the ’90s) I started thinking about the musician who, if I had to set down a musical marker, would be the one who defined my formative musical years. To me, that time was from late high school into early college. And I’m wondering who you guys would name.

Now as a bit of ground rules — I’m talking about an artist that came up (or down) in your time. So, while many might go to the Beatles, Stones, Beach Boys, etc as their musicians of enlightenment… I would guess these pre-date most of us. (I’m guessing at our typical demographic’s ages, of course.)

For me, that marker would have to Elvis Costello.

Of course I did listen to music before and after Elvis. But (as I was driving home in nice glow) Costello helped me become “alternative” in my high school without having to be really punk, was the first guy my high school friends really agreed on, and bonded me in college to my closest friends to this day. He had such a great string of albums that I could enjoy his output for a good long run. I remember walking around school with My Aim Is True as sort of a badge of honor.

I don’t listen to Costello as much as I should today. But he always brings me back in a way other artists of my Formative Years don’t quite match.

So, as a way to get to know you guys better, who would you point to as the artist that best sums up your time? It might be an artist that you don’t think is particularly good now.

Maybe it’s the weather that’s put me in a reminiscing mood…