This is the album to which I suffered under the toil of writing my senior project, a year-long hell inflicted on senior undergrads at liberal arts colleges like Beaudacious Bard College, back in 1992 when the album was new.

Really, it’s the only thing that kept me sane. And I’m not the only one. My best pal Buzzmo was in the same situation and sought a remedy in the same music.

Now it’s a rite of spring. On the first truly beautiful spring day I bust out this disc, open up my windows, and blast it for all my stereo is worth. Their soaring harmonies and unbelievable guitar work rain down in my neighbors and I’m glad again that I’ve made it through another hard, sad winter.

Spring officially and orbitally starts on March 22. For me it doesn’t start until King’s X by King’s X, followed over the next few days by all their other albums, sounds out in my dwelling.

That day is today, April 20. A Sunday.

Which I’m sure Doug, Ty and Jerry would dig if they knew.

Side note: Buzzmo and I saw them in concert in a little club in Boston a few years after we graduated from Bard, and he told them before I could that “I couldn’t have made it through college without you.”

Amen.