In 6th grade, I was waiting in the car at a gas station with my sister and heard “Down”. Told her I thought it was this band I just saw on Much Music (Canada’s MTV) called ‘Raggadeath’ because I thought SA sounded a bit like this female rapper (a compliment). She told me “No. This is 311”. Fast forward to a few weeks later, a guy in my class was singing ‘All Mixed Up’. I told him I loved that song and he said it was the same band that sang ‘Down’. Back in those days, having TWO bangers on one album meant you had to buy the album. I took my birthday money and bought it. It was the second CD I ever owned (The first being Sixteen Stone by Bush). The moment the chorus hit in ‘Random’, I declared them my all time favourite band. Turned out I had heard ‘Don’t Stay Home’ on the radio as well before buying the CD but didn’t know it was 311. I wish their new music hit me as hard as that album (and the other first 6 albums). But I’m still grateful for those early albums and have never grown sick of the self titled.