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Top 10 Most Important Albums To You
Basically post/write something on the top 10 albums that are most important to the musical shaping of your taste. Please be legit about this, if you list like 10 obscure albums from the past year we all know you're full of shit. Get it? So yeah, rank them in order of impact and go.
10. Blink-182 "Enema of the State" This was probably the first album I ever really got into. The lyrics were funny, the music simple pop songs I have many fond memories of this album. It got me through my first crush and all sorts of things an Elementary Schooler deals with. 9. Cursive "The Ugly Organ" This album was single-handedly responsible for pulling me out of the musical hellhole I was in during my freshman year. I was listening to crap like The Used around this time and when I heard the Ugly Organ I had left all that behind and started obsessing over Cursive for awhile instead which led me to get into indie/emo. 8. The Smiths "Louder Than Bombs" This album was the first Smiths album I really got into. It opened me up to 80s music like Joy Division and such, stuff I had never really bothered with before. It also really helped removed this old music bias I had towards certain eras. 7. Circle Takes the Square "As the Roots Undo" This album opened up emo for me, because it was much more accessible than most emo albums yet it was much more intelligent than most too and probably one of the greatest emo albums ever recorded even if most people would deny that now because they're "overrated." 6. Sigur Ros "Takk..." This album led me into post-rock and ambient music which still do dominate most of my taste. I don't care what people say, Sigur Ros is a great band and no one disagreed until they signed to a major label and got popular, figures. 5. Elliott Smith "Either/Or" This is probably the album that got me into folk most I think. It's not the first album I really clicked with by him, but I kind of clicked with this and XO at the same time anyway but I think overall this one did more for me. 4. The Ramones "The Ramones" It was either this or the Misfits that really got me into punk but I'm fairly sure I heard this album first. I don't remember where I even heard of them before I'd just somehow gotten the album and I'd love it. 3. Patrick Wolf "Lycanthropy" I think I got this sometime after wind in the wires came out. This girl kept talking about him and I found this album online, this was around the time I was heavily into Cursive and Bright Eyes this had just clicked with me too though I didn't get Wind in the Wires till a few months later. This album helped get me into the more electronic side of music (though I'm still not heavy into most of it) and also into british folk like Drake and Bunyan. 2. The Blood Brothers "March on Electric Children" This was the album that got me out of pop-rock and more into punk. The Ramones were the foundation but the Blood Brothers were definitely the house. I could never find a band (until much later) that was as chaotic as them so I wore them down very quick. 1. Bright Eyes "Fevers and Mirrors" My best friend got me this album and I really should thank her for it sometime. This album basically single-handedly got me into Indie, though I was never heavy on it until about a yearish ago I still loved a few artists (all mentioned in here except for a few) alot it was mainly emo that dominated my taste at the time but this album is probably mostly responsible for all the stuff I like now. go go go |
1 being most important:
10: Green Day: American Idiot This album kinda dissapointed me, making me realize that punk has now turned into crap over the years, and got me to move on from that phase to other better music. 9: Soft Machine: Third This album completely redefined my tasts in music, and made me question what bands were good, and which ones werent. It also led me to a greater appreciation of wierd stuff like this. It should acutally be higher up on my list. 8: Avenged Sevenfold: Waking the Fallen Featured the first great guitarists I had ever heard at the time, and got me interested in more complex music. 7: Soundgarden: Superunknown This got me interested in lighter rock, as opposed to the heavy stuff that I had primarily listened to earlier(system of a down, avenged sevenfold, etc) 6: Tool: Aenima This got me interested in Tool/like music, and is still one of my favorite albums. It also contains the first rock song I think I ever heard, which is stinkfist. 5: Tool: 10,000 days: Through this album, I found out about Tool(I had head parts of Aenima before I started listening to rock, but I didnt know it was Tool then), and introduced me to odd meter, and got me interested in bass, my main intrument. 4: Soft Machine: The Soft Machine albums 1 and 2 This combined album introduced me to jazz fusion/like stuff, and led me to become interested in jazz and 60's stuff. 3: Led Zeppelin: IV This CD got me interested in classic rock, and music before the 90's. 2: System of a down: Toxicity this album pretty much introduced me to hard rock, and led me to find most of my favorite bands now. 1: Green Day: Dookie this was the sole album that got me into music. before dookie, I didnt really have any big interest in music. |
10. Jimmy Eat World: Chase This Light
9. Sublime: Sublime 8. Jack Johnson: On and On 7.The Offspring: Smash 6. Tool: Lateralus 5. Dave Matthews Band: Before These Crowded Streets 4. Of A Revolution: Between Now and Then 3. Coldplay: A Rush of Blood o the Head 2. Dave Matthews Band: Listener Supported 1. Red Hot Chili Peppers: By the Way |
10: iv - zepplin : there were a few albums i stole from my dad back in 5th grade,.....this was one of them,.............i can remember it being one of the first times i really let the music 'sink in' and not just bounce off of me
9: war - u2 : i think its undeniable the impact us has man on the music industry and on me,... 8: live - roxy music 7: eat a peach - the allman brothers 6: great gonzos - jerry jeff walker : living in texas, country music is all around you,....jerry jeff walker has always been played at my house (my mom's a big fan) and it started my love for the texas singer/songwritter 5: american beauty - the grateful dead 4: shake your moneymaker - the black crowes 3: singles - the soundtrack : opened my world up the grunge 2: self titled - jimmy cliff : everyone needs alittle jimmy cliff 1: harvest - neil young : still the most listened to album in my collection |
GOdm this is so incrediably hard. at the moment....
10. Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness - Smashing Pumpkins. The name says it all, best album to listen to when your depressed or whatnot. I dunno, i just really love it 9. The Jimi Hendrix Experinece Greates Hits. No, it's not an actuall album, but it has all their best songs, and it blows me aways every time, amazing guitar. 8.Viva Hate - Morrisey. First I ever heard of Morrissey, even before I heard of the Smiths, and it's still my favorite Morrissey album. 7.Bob Dylan Greatest Hits. No, not a real album again, but it still had all his greatest song, so I'll count it. 6.Ramomes - Ramones. First Ramones album I ever bought, and defiantly their best ever. Really got me into punk rock and all. 5.Wind In The Wires - Patrick Wolf. I belive this was the first album I heard from him, although I sadly have yet to buy the actuall CD. It killed all my predjuces against electronica/pop music, and opened my mind up a bit (I would have never dreamed of listeing to electronica before that album) and then I fell in love with Patrick Wolf as well:) 4.London Calling - The Clash. Greatest punk rock album ever. Period. Inspired me sooo much, it never ever seems to get old or boring, Absolutly amazing 3.Dookie - Green Day. I fell in love with this band after I got this album (years after it came out) First album I ever bought with my own, and was the first band I actually liked on my own, even though i absolutly despise them now. and tied for first are.... Up The Bracket - The Libertines. One of my all-time favorite albums from one of my favorite bands. I loved the lyrics and the guitar melodies, and simplisticness of it, and then I fell in love with Pete Doherty:) or Im Wide Awake, It's morning - Bright Eyes. Simply for the songs Lua, Land Locked Blues, and Poison oak, which are all so simple, and yet beautiful, and lyrically amazing and inspriring. |
1 is the best:
10. The Living End - State Of Emergency It's a close call for me - the order above would change depending on my mood. THeres also a lot of albums that I havent heard in full - mostly classic stuff like Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin. But its so hard to narrow it down to 10! |
10. Live At Leeds: The Who. The ultimate version of Substitute, a perfect opener in Heaven & Hell, and, most importantly, John Entwistle. For once, I'm glad the album is in stereo; ignore the right channel (Townshend's guitar, ugh) and listen to the left speaker. This is the album that helped me understand why I've never been impressed by "guitar heroes." Give me a great bass player anyday.
9. Rear View Mirror- Townes Van Zandt. My initial reaction? "Hey, there is music worth listening to besides Bob Dylan!" 8. Small Songs With Big Hearts- Buzzcocks. Hey, pop-punk doesn't have to suck! 7. Straight Outta Compton- NWA. Hey, rap doesn't have to suck! 6. The Definitive Collection: Chuck Berry. Hey, I actually like rock music! What do you know, I don't have to spend the rest of my life listening to Beethoven! 5. Spunk: The Sex Pistols: NMTB, London Calling, etc. always left me a bit dissatisfied, and the extremely raw sound of this album explained why. Gritty = better. 4. Darkness On The Edge Of Town: Bruce Springsteen. Brucie isn't the lightweight third-rate Dylan I used to think he was. And rock heroism doesn't have to be cheesy. 3. Apple Venus, Vol. 1: XTC. The first "pop" album that I truly loved. Lesson: sappy strings and corny sentiments don't have to kill an album. 2. This Year's Model: Elvis Costello. Not my favorite Costello album by any means, but enough to make me a "punk" convert. 1. Blood On The Tracks: Bob Dylan. Two words; Idiot Wind. Rock music can be poetic, beautiful, and haunting. |
10. Steely Dan - Aja
Upon hearing this for the first time, I discovered I had a bit of a soft spot for jazzier music 9. Happy Mondays - Pills, Thrills 'n' Bellyaches Got me into all that Madchester stuff, therefore late 80s/early 90s house, therefore a lot of dance music 8. The Fall - Hex Enduction Hour Got me started on my hugely rewarding journey through the Fall's discography 7. Faith No More - King For a Day, Fool For a Lifetime One of the few albums I got when I was 13 that I still listen to and love to this day 6. The Pogues - The Very Best Of the Pogues I picked this up for about a fiver second-hand in Aberdeen and it's one of the most rewarding bargain-purchases I've ever made. I used to have no opinion on them, now they're one of my favourites 5. Johnny Thunders and the Heartbreakers - LAMF And then there's this. I'd heard punk before (Sex Pistols and the Clash basically) but this album encouraged me to really get into punk music 4. Steel Pulse - Handsworth Revolution If it weren't for this album I wouldn't be into reggae. 'nuff said 3. New Order - Substance Before I bought this album I basically listened to Limp Bizkit, Linkin Park, Papa Roach - all sorts of stuff your average white 14 year-old would listen to back in the day and all the stuff I can't stand to hear now. Of all people it was my history teacher who recommended it to me 2. The Doors - The Doors Another one of the first non nu-metal albums I ever bought, and one which therefore had a massive impact on my taste in music 1. David Bowie - Low And I always mention this album whenever someone asks what got me into music. I was into music before, but not into music if you know what I mean There are a couple I've missed out. Nick Cave's 'No More Shall We Part' and Elvis Costello's 'Armed Forces' for example, but I'll leave it there |
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Nice selection. I would'nt mind an up of the Steel Pulse album ;) |
5. television - marquee moon
it led me into the post-punk scene, and this was really the first album i remember that i let grow on me. i'm out of time. maybe i'll finish this later. 4. olivia tremor control - dusk at cubist castle i liked this, and a friend recommended that i listen to some neutral milk hotel. the rest is magical lovefest history. 3. elliott smith - elliott smith it's the album that got me digging elliott. the white lady loves you more was the first of his records that i couldn't stop listening to. i enjoy either/or quite a bit more, but this was the one that got me going. 2. tom waits - rain dogs i heard this album for the first time when i was 12 years old or so, and it was really the first time i realized that there was music out there that i enjoyed a lot more than nelly and linkin park. 1. neutral milk hotel - in the aeroplane over the sea it's the album that has pretty much shaped who i am. i've listened to it probably three times as much as any other, yet it still leaves me in like, temporary paralysis each time. |
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Not mine exactly, but I love your taste. |
10 - jane's addiciton 'kettle whistle' - yeah it's a compilation but it was also my first taste of JA's music and unlike most comps, it wasn't just a collection of singles pulled directly from the albums. the live version of 'three days' is incredible.
9 - the jimi hendrix experience 'ultimate experience' - yes, another comp. but it was my first real taste of hendrix and it covers pretty much all the highlights from the 3 experience discs. 8 - soundgarden 'superunknown' - it's the album that really pulled me into my generation's music. 7 - fear factory 'demanufacture' - my first taste of metal with a singer who could go from growling to singing with ease and a full album that didn't have any guitar solos. 6 - the chemical brothers 'dig your own hole' - up until i heard the singles for this disc (setting sun / block rocking beats) i thought all electronic music was garbage. then again all the electronic music i had heard prior actually WAS garbage. 5 - monster magnet 'dopes to infinity' - sludgy psychedelic goodness that opened up doors for all sorts of other stoner rock. 4 - tomahawk 'anonymous' - a traditional 4 piece rock band that ends up sounding like the soundtrack for a native american period piece. they also accomplished it without having bus loads of guest musicians or each person playing 20 different instruments. 3 - SIANspheric 'there's always someplace you'd rather be' - i'd always liked whatever shoegaze i'd heard in the past but this was the first full album i was able to listen to. the closer 'puff, analogue, intelligent jungle' is massive. 2 - eric dolphy 'last date' - a fantastic live performance 3 weeks prior to his death, his playing on 'you don't know what love is' is sublime. 1 - red hot chili peppers 'blood sugar sex magik' - i wore out the cassette then i wore out the cd, that's how much i listened to it. i learned how to play the album on guitar and bass. i even went to a haloween party wearing a sock on my ****. i don't really care for the chili peppers anymore but i'd be a fool to deny their impact on my development. |
10. Van Morrison - Greatest Hits
This was the first CD I bought, when I was in 6th grade and wanted the song Brown Eyed Girl. Since I spent my hard earned money on it, I listened to every song hundreds of times and learned that there was more to music than what was played on the oldies station. 9. Modest Mouse - This Is A Long Drive For Someone With Nothing To Think About Modest Mouse were my first obsession in music, and this album started it. I HATED this album the first time hearing it, it was the rawest and ugliest thing I'd ever heard. Now I adore it. 8. Comus - First Utterance So nasty for acoustic instruments! This is ones of the best (albeit darkest and most terrifying) of folk albums. It's weird, demented, complex, and untouchable. 7. Donovan - Sunshine Superman The album that got me into psychelic folk, which has long since become my favorite genre. He's my favorite solo musician. 6. Led Zeppelin - III Just one of my favorite records ever, I have never tired of a single song off it and its one of the only albums I continue to play regularly years later. 5. Gráda- The Landing Step Grada are a semi-traditional Irish/Celtic band, it is my favorite genre of world music and this is the best example of it from my collection. It's beautiful. 4. Love - Forever Changes I think this album has my favorite lyrics of the 1960s, along with some of the most beautifully crafted arrangements. 3. Jefferson Airplane - Crown of Creation I am a psychedelic rock junkie, and these songs are just engraved in me by now. Jefferson Airplane played a rooftop concert even before the Beatles did, and they played my favorite song off this album ("House at Pooneil Corners") 2. The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band - Uncle Charlie & His Dog Teddy Listened to this and realized....country can be amazing. Not to mention the vocals are like smooth southern butter. 1. King Crimson - In the Court of the Crimson King This isn't my favorite KC album (I can't choose), but it was my first KC album and my first prog album. It takes me where nothing else in the world can, such a brooding, magical atmopshere. |
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Hmmmmm....in no particular order:
10. U2-The Joshua Tree-Argueably THE greatest U2 album ever. It definitely sold a ****load of records. I liked War, but this one was simply amazing, as I honestly cannot find a stinker on the entire record(and thats hard to do in music). 9. KISS-Double Platinum/Destroyer/Alive-Turned me into a giant KISS fan. I saw then @ age's: 6/7/8, and went as a different member every year(except in '79 when I broke my ankle, then i couldn't go). With KISS, it's never been about their musicianship, it's always about the show/experience. As I doubt ANY band today could outwork or out "show" them. 8. Depeche Mode-Speak & Spell-One of the best DM records ever & a huge reason why I became such a huge DM/80s fan. 7. Journey-Infinity-I was introduced to Steve Perry, aka "The Voice", and became a fan immediately after. I still, to this day, listen to this record on a weekly basis. Maybe not every day, but at least 4-5 times a week. 6. Van Halen- Women & Children First-I was a fan immediately afterwards. I totally dug Eddie's shredding gitars, and "Diamond Dave's" enormous stage presence, and voice. Just about everyone I knew wanted to be like him, he was cool, and got all the girls, what more could you want? 5. AC/DC-Back in Black-again, became a huge fan, immediately afterwards, Brian Johnson's voice was cool, and this is an amazing album. "Back in Black" is probably my favorite off this album. And, as i said earlier about a different album, I can't find one single clunker on it. Tops from head to toe. 4. Morrissey-Viva Hate-I was going through some rough **** when I first heard this disc, for some reason, I just took to it, and Im glad i did, I was a fan almost immediately afterwards(even though, I had already knew of Morrissey, when I heard the Smiths). IMO< his best solo disc(next to Vauxhall & I:)). 3. The Cure-Boys Dont Cry-It was hear I think I garnered an instant love affair w/"new wave", they were just so brilliant when I first heard them, and still are. Not a clunker on the disc. 2. A Flock Of Seagulls-there's soooooooooooooooo much more to them that just "I ran", they were a true "new wave" Pioneer, IMHO, they(Much like DM and Gary Numan and others)relied heavily on Synths throughout their music. If you can get past the whole "I Ran" thing(which isn't a bad song, I actually like it), they put out some good music. "Nightmares", "Telecommunication", and "Messages" have to be a few of my favorites. 1. The Smiths-The Queen is Dead- No album touyched me more than this masterpiece. Morrissey's voice and lyrics throughout, made you wish you were in the front row dancing away @ the music. One of the greatest albums ever made. |
Top 10 Most Important Albums To Me.
10. Meatloaf - Bat Out of Hell
During the summer of '00 I would listen to this album constantly on the way to the public pool. I remember memorizing the lyrics of paradise by the dashboard lights and singing it constantly freaking everyone out good fun:laughing:! 9. Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath During a period of time I stayed isolated. I listened to this album all day. 8. Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream Whenever I'm in a bad mood I put this album on and it always manages to relax me. 7. Marilyn Manson - Antichrist Superstar An album full of hate and self loathing. What's not to like !? After getting into a debate about religion with friends or family afterwards I'd usually blare this album to my hearts content. 6. AC/DC - Back in Black It was the first real "rock" album I've ever listened to. It got me into bands such as Guns and Roses and Van Hallen. 5. Guns and Roses - Apatite For Destruction This was the frist group I was really obsessed about and it helped that I loved the album. 4. Pink Floyd - Atom Heart Mother Suite My favorite Pink Floyd album. 3. Electric Light Orchestra - Time My favorite ELO album, and is an awesome concept album. 2. Slayer - Reign In Blood One of the best metal albums of all time and is my favorite Slayer album. 1. Metallica - Master of Puppets My favorite album of all time. And is in my opinion the best metal album. |
10. Buckethead - COLMA
The first all instrumental album I ever listened to (its been awhilz now). Although it stands out like a sore thumb in terms of style compared to what this incredible guitarist has done with his collaborators, COLMA was simply gorgeous to hear at times. Oh, and Big Sur Moon+Machete is kickass. 9. Comus - First Utterance Showed me that folk music was more than just acoustic pandering. Dense, dark/disturbing, beautiful and heavy all at once, there is nothing out there like First Utterance, even after over 30+ years. :D 8. Yes - Relayer Ah Relayer, where would we be without the freak-out jazzy "Sound Chaser" and your War-and-Peacey epic "The Gates of Delirium"? Not very well off I'd say. Although admittedly it was the track South Side of the Sky from Fragile which really got me into Yes, it was this album that made me love them (and got me into jazz-fusion too). 7. The Residents - Not Available Hmn. What to say about one of the weirdest albums of all time, even by the standards of The Residents? This was the album that got me into avant-garde. May not be the best experimental music of all time, but I recommend it anyway. 6. Radiohead - Amnesiac I could praise Radiohead all day and night for a billion different opiniated and biased reasons, but while Amnesiac was not a landmark work by any means, it was the album that introduced me to the more complex, "post-modern" side of music. Even now "Pyramid Song" and "Life in a Glasshouse" give me chills when I hear them, and I just think "Christ, these guys are in a league of their own". But that's just my opinion. 5. Faith No More - The Real Thing Although more radio-friendly than Angel Dust and perhaps less "F-U" than his pet project Mr. Bungle, this album was my introduction to a rediculously talented individual named Mike Patton, who was FNM's vocalist from this album to the band's breakup in 1998. While I don't revere him as a god like people in some circles do, I will say he's pretty darn close. :) 4. Led Zeppelin - Houses of the Holy It's Led Zeppelin for God's sake, what can I say? It has "No Quarter", "Over The Hills...", and six other incredibly kickass tracks. Nuff' said. 3. Opeth - Blackwater Park People can spout off whatever bull**** they want about whether or not Opeth is overrated (they really aren't), but ultimately this was, atleast for me, the record that DEFINED death-metal's possibilities as a genre. Sorry kids, but there's more to the world of music than "WE HATE MELODY" and thrash guitar. XD 2. Tool - Aenima An album that defined the 90's (cliche phrase, but who cares). I'm not doing a damn review though; go to ALLMUSIC for that junk. 1. Pink Floyd - The Dark Side of the Moon Okay, while I don't listen to that much of it anymore ("Time" and "Us and Them" withstanding), TDSOTM was the album that truly made me interested in music. My dad listened to this back when 8-tracks were the bomb in his army days, and he told me it changed his entire view on music too. But, although Pink Floyd went on to do plenty of great stuff down the line, I suppose it was this album (along with Meddle) that defined my spacy tastes in music. Strangely enough, its also the 3rd highest selling album on the planet...go figure eh? |
not necessarily favourites, but important:
1. Sonic Youth - Daydream Nation 2. Black Flag - Damaged 3. Beefheart - Trout Mask Replica 4. Can - Tago Mago 5. Unwound - Leaves Turn Inside YOu 6. Bad Religion - Suffer 7. MBV - Loveless 8. Fugazi - 13 Songs 9. The Fall - Hex Enduction Hour 10. Boredoms - Super AE lots i've left out but these have all been significant in shaping my taste through the years. |
This is in no particular order.
10. Nofx - Whitetrash, Two Heebs and a Bean 9. Greenday - Dookie 8. Lagwagon - Hoss 7. Pink Floyd - The Darkside of the Moon 6. Bob Marley - Legends 5. At the Drive-In - Relationship of Command 4. Nirvana - Nevermind 3. Pennywise - Full Circle 2. Pearl Jam - Ten 1. Daft Punk - ALIVE 2007 There you go! |
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These aren't in any specific order.
Colors (2006) by Between the Buried and Me Where to begin. The album is an 65 minute epic that covers so many genres it isn't even funny. BTBAM could be best be described as progressive metalcore before this album came out, but now it's hard to know what to call them. This album opened my mind to harsh vocals and how they can be used quite effectively, and that it is in fact possible to have a perfect album. If there is no part of this album that you like, than we can't relate to each other and you should probably go get help for your condition. Get Out of My Yard (2006) by Paul Gilbert Another album I find perfect. Paul Gilbert is one of the great guitar virtuosos, but he's not respected for his speed; he's known to write great songs, and he didn't disappoint me here. I seriously have no idea how one person can effuse this much awesome in their lifetime, let alone one 6 month recording period. Black Holes and Revelations (2006) by Muse Ha, 2006 is becoming a trend for me. It won't stay that way. Anyway, Muse really left their Radiohead-ish-ness with this album. Matt Bellamy's vocals are beautiful (a lot better than Thom Yorke in my opinion, but I know some people would kill me if they read that) and his guitar work is great. I guess the best way to put it is that he knows when he's reached the perfect balance of sounding catchy and still technically appealing. Chris Wolstenholme fingers are pounding away at those bass strings (I don't know how his hand can take it <.<) and Dominic Howard is a extremely creative drummer. I sometimes listen to the whole song just to pay attention to the percussion. This was the album that introduced me to Muse. Cowboys from Hell (1990) by Pantera This album has some of the best chugs and riffs I know, and some of the best solos (listening to Domination's pinch harmonics WILL make your balls retract into your body for a second or two). And this album was one of those that created a huge growth of metal fans, and eventually metal bands. The Bends (1995) by Radiohead I know the Muse review may have given you the wrong idea, but I really do like this band. Unfortunately the move to synthesized music they've made in recent years hasn't appealed to me. But The Bends, now there's an album that has songs with a full band ensemble, all of them beautiful in their own way. 2112 (1976) by Rush I love this one because not only does Geddy Lee apply his vocals perfectly, all of the instruments blend perfectly together, and most important for me, the common theme pervades throughout the entire compostion! And the lyrics are great too, Neil Peart never fails to impress. Toxicity (2001) by System of a Down Before I knew any good music, before I knew anything about the world, there was Toxicity. I first heard the songs blaring in my brother's room, and I would sit in the hallway outside and just soak up the sounds. At 9 years old, it never occured to me to look into music more, because I didn't have the initiative. I feel like if it hadn't been for my brother blaring System, you might be reading a very different person's thoughts. Hypnotize (2005) by System of a Down Strangely enough, I only really came to embrace SOAD after they were on hiatus, which was a drag :\ But not to worry, because their albums, especially this one, will keep me through those long, cold, hiatus-filled nights. Metallica (1990) by Metallica Not only a influential album on metal in general, but on all of music, with there combination of softer melodies with thrash. A lot of people say ...And Justice For All was their last good album, but those are just thrash fans. Rust in Peace (1990) by Megadeth Now there's 3 1990's, yaaaaaaaay! Well, this album is definitive thrash. The vocals, the speed, the solos, they all mesh perfectly with my perception of thrash. Also, Mustaine is better than Hammett *hides* I hope you appreciate my first post, I've been on and off typing it for a few hours o.o |
Green Day - American Idiot
Laugh all you want, but this is the album that got me interested in music for the first time. I was 15 when I heard it. Before then I literally didn't listen to music. I never listened to the radio, I never listened to CD's, and when I did hear any music, It was never by my choice and I always ignored it. I just found it uninteresting and irrelevant to my life. I was really into film, books, and videogames, but I just didn't like music. Then I heard this because of a cousin of mine, and I instantly fell in love with music from then on. In the two years or so since then, my musical taste has vastly improved. I've liked some pretty sh*t bands in that time (Nickelback, Bon Jovi, Linkin Park, etc.), but I'd say that my taste now is pretty good. I will always hold a special place in my heart for American Idiot, no matter how bad people may consider it to be. Ennio Morricone - The Good, the Bad, and Bad and the Ugly This was my first favorite soundtrack, and the starting point for an obsession of mine (film scores). I now own many film scores. It's still one of my favorite scores, with only the score to Koyaanisqatsi ahead in my mind. The music is beautiful. Magnetic Fields - 69 Love Songs This album pulled me out of the classic rock stage I was in for a year or so. It was the first non-classic rock/film score/occasional radio friendly album album I heard, and it helped to expand my musical taste in new directions. I still love it, and I always will. Kanye West - Late Registration I don't like Kanye West anymore, but it opened me up to rap. It was the first rap album I heard, and before then I was one of those idiots who completely discounted rap/hip-hop as a musical genre because I had only heard sh*t radio/ringtone/mtv rap artists. Johnny Cash - At Folsom Prison I also used to be one of those idiots who completely discounted country as a interesting genre. Then I heard this. Now I love country, and it is one of my favorite genres. Antonin Dvorak - New World Symphony It got me interested in classical. Before hearing this, the only classical I listened to was Ride of the Valkyries, a few Beethoven pieces, and the 1812 Overture. Jerry Lee Lewis - Live at the Star Club I really love this album. Other than the fact that it's one of my all time favorites, it was the first album where I actually began paying attention to bit rate. The first time I heard it, it was a crappy rip under 100 kbps. I loved it, but I noticed it was pretty low sound quality, but I assumed that was due to an inferior recording. I looke dit up, and found out what bit rate meant. I listened to a 320 kbps version, and immediately noticed a difference. Since then , I've tried to get a high quality bit rate whenever I obtain an album. I can't tell the difference between FLAC and 320 kbps, so I don't bother with that, but I notice it if it's lower than 192 kbps. Carl Stalling - The Carl Stalling Project: Music From Warner Bros. Cartoons 1936-1958 Probably the most obscure album that I own. It's the first album that I spent a long time searching for, and I see it as a defining point in my musical evolution. This is first time that I realized how important was too me. It was the first time I put a serious effort into obtaining music, as opposed to just searching for it and finding it a few seconds later. Also, I really like it. Fela Kuti - Expensive **** This album was the first foreign language album I listened to, and it opened a whole world of music up to me that I never had even given a second thought of before. Before this, I only listened to english-language music. I did listen to classical albums and film scores made by people who spoke foreign languages, but that's not really the same thing. Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures My first album based on a recommendation from Musicbanter. I have heard and loved a lot of music that I wouldn't even know about based on threads on this site. |
1. Beach Boys - Greatest Hits Vol. 1
This is not my favorite album. Not by a long shot. That being said, it is the most important. Little Deuce Coupe is not only my first memory of rock and roll, its my first memory of ANY music. So, this holds a special place in my heart. Favorite Track: Little Deuce Coupe 2. Bad Religion - The Empire Strikes First This was my first Bad Religion album, and it completely changed me. Opened my eyes politically and emotionally. "All There Is" is absolutely astonishing. Bad Religion got me into punk, at least the punk that isn't radio crap. Favorite Track: All There Is 3. Bad Religion - Recipe For Hate One of Bad Religion's best efforts. The lyrical brilliance of "Skyscraper" and "Kerosene" floor me. Favorite Track: Kerosene. 4. Arturo Sandoval - Live At The Blue Note My first jazz album. I bought this after my dad took me to see him live. Amazing musician. Favorite Track: Eso Es Lo Que Hay 5. Bill Evans and Jim Hall - Intermodulation I got this shortly after Live At The Blue Note and fell in love. This is by far my favorite jazz album of all time. Amazing, amazing music here. Mellows me out. Favorite Track: All Across The City 6. Emcee Lynx - Living In The Shadow This guy taught me that not all rap is complete **** with nothing but overinflated egos and sex drives and a complete lack of morality. He is a very, very interesting person to listen to. 7. The Germs - G.I. (The Rough Mixes) I just love the insanity in their music. Crash was a psychopathic genius. Favorite Track: What We Do Is Secret 8. Counting Crows - August And Everything After This album just...affects me. It is quite beautiful. There is no dim spot on this album. 9. Rise Against - Siren Song Of The Counter Culture One of my first forays into good punk. I love the compassion in McIlrath's voice. Rumors Of My Demise Have Been Greatly Exaggerated is an amazing track. 10. The Beatles - 1967-1970 Another one of my first forays into rock and roll. One of my earlier memories of rock and roll and music in general. Plus...its the Beatles. C'mon. |
These are not my ten favorite albums by any stretch. Just ten albums that were milestones in my 20 years of music listening.
Nirvana- "Unplugged In N.Y." The first album I ever really loved. I remember being 6 or 7 at family parties, my drunk parents putting on stale boring 70's tunes, and begging my dad who owned this album to put it on. Those days it was just Nirvana and Green Day 24/7. Smashing Pumpkins- "Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness" A friend of mine sold me this for 10 bucks in 8th grade because he bought it for 'Bullet With Butterfly Wings' and didn't like the rest. I loved this because every song was solid, and because it was so massive, there was so much to get into. And at the time, I only really listened to the alternative FM station, so the variety on this album was very refreshing. Led Zeppelin- "Led Zeppelin Remasters Boxset" While 'Dark Side of the Moon' was the first classic rock album I ever owned, it was this that began my classic rock obsession from 9th to 10th grade. 4 CD's of Zeppelin, discovering not only great songs I'd never heard before (like 'Stairway'-I had actually never heard Stairway before getting this, believe it or not. SInce it was never overplayed for me, it was my favorite song for a time) but great songs that I recognized but never knew was Zeppelin. Lots of variety again, as it covered their ten year span. Meat Puppets- "Meat Puppets II" The first indie album I ever owned, in the depths of a Nirvana nostalgia phase I went out and picked it up. Reading all those old Cobain interviews and his diary really started to open me up to the wonders of 80's indie, as he consistently would name-drop great bands. One of the reasons why I hate when people bitch about him-Nirvana is a great gateway to the 80's underground for alot of kids. The Beach Boys- "Smile" This album fascinated me. Brian Wilson, going insane, trying to follow up one of my favorite albums, Pet Sounds, making this incredible record nobody ever heard. A secret album, one that was personal to me, that I could enjoy and not worry about anyone overplaying. Probably the first reletively obscure album I ever got into. My Bloody Valentine- "Loveless" Neutral Milk Hotel- "In The Aeroplane Over the Sea" Sonic Youth- "Daydream Nation" Coming off an 11th grade Beach Boys phase, and after having exhausted any classic rock or mainstream 90's alternative albums that would be up to the same quality as the ones I already owned, I turned to allmusic to reccomend me albums. Somehow I came upon these three, most likely for my love of The Smashing Pumpkins, "Smile" era Beach Boys, and give Sonic Youth another chance after being iffy on "Dirty". I was sold. These three I bought the same day, and they continue to be in my top 10-15 favorite albums. From here on in, I was no longer frightened of the strange dark ocean that was underground music, and I dived right in. Various Artists- "No Thanks! The 70's Punk Rebellion" Various Artists- "Left of the Dial: Transmissions from the 80's Underground" These I got on the same day as well, around when I graduated high school. I had a slight affinity for punk-owned 'London Calling' and 'Bollocks'-but I never expected it to be this good. Every song on the punk compilation was gold, reminding me that a simple guitar bass and drum outfit using simple chords can have as much power and emotion as a full orchestra. The 80's box took a bit longer to get into, but showed me alot of great 80's bands to get into. These came to be the reason why 1977-1983 is my favorite era of rock and roll. Art Brut- "Bang Bang Rock and Roll" There were a few indie albums before this that showed me that modern music had alot to offer (The Arcade Fire, of Montreal, Peter Bjorn and John), but this one was the best. Solid throughout, catchy, fun, thick british accent, attitude, relistenable, hilarious, this album has it all, and is at the moment my favorite album released in the last 8 years. This is what turned my head from looking at the past, into the future. |
Ok, these are in somewhat of an order....I guess.
10. Blink-182 - Enema of the State This was the first album I really ever got into. I just fell in love with it and the band. Granted I did get this album in middle school and I am 21 now but I still love Blink even though I dont listen to it much anymore. 9. UnderOath - The Changing of Times Until I heard this I never was listened to hardcore at all. This album got me listening to this genre which I have started to kinda grow out of. But I can still go back to this album and really enjoy it. 8. Pedro The Lion - Achilles Heel My friend Joey used to talk about Pedro The Lion all the time and I had never heard of them. Well, my friend Joey has a very good taste in music so I decided to get some Pedro The Lion. I simply fell in love with the sounds of David Bazan. 7. Dashboard Confessional - MTV Unplugged Ya, I know...Dashboard hahah...but this album just meant so much to me in high school. I would put it in when I was feeling down over a girl and for some reason it seemed to cheer me up. It was kinda one of those hey someone else feels the same way I do things....haha I dunno. But I still tend to listen to this album quite a bit for some reason. I just love it. 6. Cursive - The Ugly Organ A couple of my friends are HUUUGE Tim Kasher fanboys and so because of that I heard Cursive being played in their bedrooms, houses, and cars. So it was only a matter of time before I fell in love. This album just had such a different sound than anything I had ever heard before and it just does it for me. Plus falling in love with one Saddle Creek band normally means that you fall in love with Saddle Creek in general. So listening to Cursive introduced me to bands like Bright Eyes, The Good Life, Desaparecidos, etc. and I haven't found a Saddle Creek band that I dont enjoy. 5. Mineral - The Power of Failing One of my buddies played this for me and I fell in love the first time I heard it. Later that week I went to CD Warehouse and found this album used and got it for like 8 bucks. It just totally blows me away and has made me fall in love with Post-emo or emo or however you want to classify it. It has made me start to look back at all the bands that influenced the bands of today that I listen to. 4. Brand New - The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me I just absolutely love this album. There is nothing bad I can say about this album. I just love it. 3. Showbread - Anorexia and Nervosa Now, I realize that if you are not a hardcore Showbread fan then you probably won't enjoy these albums. However, I fell in love with Showbread after that first time I saw them play live. These albums just blew me away when I first heard them. They touched me in a way that no music ever has. I cried my eyes out after I listened to both of them. And I still do even if I listen to them again. 2. The Postal Service - Give Up This is by far my favorite album. Its that album that no matter what mood I'm in or what the weather is like, I can put it in and listen and enjoy. It just seems to always hit the spot no matter what. 1. Taking Back Sunday - Tell All Your Friends This album pretty much sums up high school for me. It just reminds me of all the good times I had with my friends back in school. This album also just got me into indie music. Now, I know some of you will say that TBS is not indie they are mainstream. And I will agree with you there. But it was at least a step in the right direction when I used to listen to the radio pretty much exclusively. |
@kelton - Good pick with Achilles Heel, its a fantastic album.
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The order isn't exact, but...
10. The Earth is not a Cold Dead Place - Explosions in the Sky It was my first post-rock album (if you don't consider Sigur Ros post-rock), and it was just a really great experience. I didn't really love it at first, but it grew on me quick, and now I thoroughly enjoy it every time I listen. The composition of it all is great, and there are some really beautiful melodies scattered throughout the album. I particularly loved First Breath After Coma and Your Hand in Mine. 9. Takk... - Sigur Ros I just really liked this album, I thought it was really beautiful and uplifting. I was going to put Ágætis Byrjun, because it was the first Sigur Ros album I got, and Svefn-g-englar for the first time was one of the most mind blowing experiences I've ever had, but overall I like Takk... more I think. I guess I like how their sound evolved over time, and they really captured an incredibly feeling with this album. It's so lush, yet simple and beautiful. The end of Sæglópur is incredible, and Andvari is one of my favorite Sigur Ros songs. 8. True Love Waits - Christopher O'Riley I really love listening to this record. I've always been a big fan of solo piano, and I love how he interprets the Radiohead tunes he does. He is great with the dynamics and overall feel of each piece. Listening to it also really makes me focus on the melody and harmony that make up the piece. When I listen to Radiohead, there's a lot more going on, and a lot more to focus on. When the music is simplified to more or less simple melody and harmony, it makes for an interesting listen. It helped me to realize that music generally just needs to have a good melody, set of chords, and a simple rhythm. That was an important thought as a musician myself. 7. Ambient 1: Music for Airports - Brian Eno This was the first ever ambient album I bought. I really dig ambient music, and this particular album got (and still gets) a whole lot of play. I listen to it a lot at night before bed, or throughout the night even. Even during the day, I find ambient music really beautiful. I just love the idea of music that seems to work with the atmosphere around you, and compliment it, which ambient music is really great for. 6. Hail to the Thief - Radiohead This was the first Radiohead I heard, and really, one of the first times I had a very deep connection with the music I was listening to. I was only just getting onto rock music at this point (coming from hip-hop before that), and though I'd had great connections with music before, this was different. This created some surreal connection. I'd never heard anything like it. I didn't even know that kind of music existed. It really opened my eyes to the possibilities of music. 5. Blue - Joni Mitchell This one probably stands out quite a bit from the rest on my list. A friend introduced this to me, and though it took a little warming up to (I listened to Little Green and Blue a couple times before listening to the album and "getting it"), once I put the album on in full, I liked it so much I listened to it 4 times in that first day. It was so different from what I was accustomed to, and there was this really raw beauty involved with it that I couldn't seem to get enough of. Lyrically it's one of the best albums I've ever heard too. Her words are so honest, and really relate so much a lot of things in my life. It's one of the most beautiful things I've ever heard. 3b. ( ) - Sigur Ros The first 3 tracks on this album make up some of the most beautiful 15 minutes or so of music I've ever heard. They're as good as anything else I've ever listened to. The whole melancholy, but beautiful tone that is involved really captures a lot of not only what I look for in music, but what I see in life. In fact, since I've heard it, I had the thought that I want Untitled #1 played at my funeral. 3a. Kid A - Radiohead This album really blew me away when I heard it, and along with ( ), it's the biggest non-Floyd influence I have. It's just so emotionally gripping. I've always been a big fan of lush, somewhat electronic, music too, which this definately is. It's without question my favorite Radiohead album. 2. The Dark Side of the Moon - Pink Floyd This album along with Wish You Were Here were probably the two biggest factors in me becoming a musician. I think they deserve the top two spots purely because they affected me the most. 1. Wish You Were Here - Pink Floyd This is unquestionably the most important album to me. It's what really got me onto music, seriously onto music I mean. To be honest, listening to this changed my life. I wouldn't be where I am without it. |
Nirvana - Nirvana
This album was the one that introduced me to rock back when I was into hardcore rap. Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP I like this album. I used to listen to some songs everyday. Tool - Aenima This record was the first one that I listened from the beginning to the end in one sitting. Joy Division - Closer By coming to this site, I got to know how good Joy Division was. I like the first record but the second one grows on me more. Faith No More - Angel Dust I like the variety of the songs and great topics as well. Death - Symbolic I used to not like Death Metal because I thought it is all about screaming and writing violent lyrics but I love this record. Although it's all screaming from the beginning to the end, still you know what he's saying and the lyrics are better than I thought. The riffs are great as well. The Doors - The Doors Upon hearing Light My Fire from somewhere, I bought the album and I thought it was quite nice. It made me listen more of their albums. Jeff Buckley - Grace Some of music l Listen to are from my sister's collection. This one's one of them. Opeth - Blackwater Park I find all their songs in this album epic. Megadeth - Rust In Peace I'm not really into thrash metal but this album is one of my favourite. It inspires me to learn to play the guitar. |
In no particular order, as i am lazy.
10. Iron Maiden - Number of the beast This album got me into music proper when I was twelve, and while I do not enjoy the clamour of heavy metal so much any more, I still love this album. 9. Daftpunk - Homework Opened up another world of music for me, that of dance. 8.The cure - Head on the door The first cure record I heard, instantly accessible with infinite pop value it led me to their discography and to be being one of my favourite bands. 7. Joy Division - unknown Pleasures I got into this album when I was in a really bad place, and (generic I know) made me realise it aint so bad as all that. 6. Cat Stevens - Tea for the tillerman I grew up with this record, my folks played it all the time. Gentle pop folk, probably gave me my taste for pop aesthetics. 5. Beck - Odelay Another album that opened up more for me, but this time more to sampling and sonic collage, ideas that i incorporated more thereafter. 4. The Birthday Party - Junkyard Anyone heard more brutal post-punk than the birthday party? and of course it led ot nick caves wealth of a discography 3. The doors - LA Woman One of the first albums i really got into, got me interested in poetry (even if Jim was a wanker) and more psychedelic sounds. 2. Lou Reed - Transformer Glam Nation? I own a hair straightener.... 1. Pixies - Surfer rosa The perfect antidote to schmaltz and an album that showed me the world outside of metal. |
I dont think I have 10 but here are the ones that come to mind.
Elliott Smith- Elliott Smith My first album by Elliott and in instant case of love at first listen, this album is the reason I started playing guitar, hell one of the first songs I learned to play was needle in the hay. I got it last winter so when ever I put it on it reminds me of winter and walking through my school's frozen parking lot with this album playing on my ipod. Radiohead- The Bends I had always thought Radiohead was some overrated band, god was I wrong. Up until I got this album the only song I knew by them was Creep which I hated. But then I got more curious about the band because a friend of mine really like them so I got The Bends (I believe it was Ethan who recommend it to me). I thought the first track was pretty good but there was something about the title track that just made me fall in love with the band. And now about 4 months later I have all their albums and theyre my most listened to artist on last fm. The Smiths- Hatful of Hollow My first album by these charming men. I remember my cousin and his friend were talking about the Smiths, and going to Morrissey concert and how awesome it would be if he just played Smiths songs. I didnt think much of it at the time. But later that week I got this postcard type thing offering me a chance to win some tickets to go to a Moz concert, so I thought 'could this mean something?' Well I got curious and got on itunes but Hatful of Hollow was the only album they had so I got it. And the first time I heard it I was just so amazed at the lyrics and Morrissey's voice, and Johnny's guitar riff's. I listened to that album all through the summer, and that's why it's my most listened to album on last fm. I also perfer it actually to any studio album. Gorillaz- Demon Days This is my favourite album ever. I had bought the Gorillaz's first album when I was younger but had lost it or thrown it away. But all these years later I really gotten into Blur and imagine my shock when I found out it was Damon Albarn behind the Gorillaz, so I got Demons Days (which was recommend to me by Luke) and I was just completely amazed. It really wasnt like anything I had ever heard before. This is the album that completely turned me onto other genre's such as hip hop and electronica. Every time I give it a listen to it I'm reminded off driving through the city on a muggy day, and looking at all the big buildings and pat them lied the ocean. And that's why the album always has this grey feeling for me, and a sense of loneliness but in a great way. Joy Division- Unknown Pleasures I was bored one night and going through Itunes and I thought the album cover was really cool looking so I just bought the album. Then I heard Disorder and I thought it was the greatest song ever, it took me a couple of listens later to enjoy the album as a whole because I thought Ian was really boring sounding. But I looked past all that and saw what amazing lyrics he had, and really got into the band. They were my top artist on last fm for the longest time until recently. But even though I think Closer is a better album, Unknown Pleasures will always hold a special place in my heart because to anyone who hasnt heard it that's exactly what it is an unknown pleasure. Sex Pistols- Nevermind the Bollocks This was probably one of the first albums I had ever bought. I remember hearing Anarchy in the UK on Tony Hawk's ProSkater 4 when I was in probably the 4th grade, and I thought it was the greatest song ever so I bought the album and it just completely changed my mind about music and what music could sound like, because the only thing at the time I had really heard was whatever was on the radio at the time like the Backstreet Boys and whatever, and this was just the complete opposite and I loved that. Pink Floyd- Dark Side of the Moon This was another one of my first albums I bought. I was looking through the classic album sections at Target when the cover caught my eye. I showed it to my mom and her response was 'NO, that's music for people on drugs'. But I eventually I got it anyway. I remember hearing for the first time and that screaming at the beginning of the album and thinking 'my god what is this?' and then that steel guitar comes in I thought it was the most beautiful music I had ever heard. |
Damned if I could think of 10 albums that are that important to me. In order of appearance though here are 3 that are.
Ziggy by Bowie. Love it to this day. It seemed so important to me back then. (I'm) Stranded by The Saints. Ditto. I was told by my peers that it was rubbish blah blah blah! I knew different. Beat by Chris Knox. An album with a personal resonance. He wrote songs about his fathers death as well as love and life and it all hit me to the core on release and still does now. There must be more that are "important" to me but I am not too sure that they hit the spot likes these three. |
10. All Killer No Filler - Sum 41
The first rock album I actually enjoyed. From start to finish. Before this album, I was listening to rap and pop. 9. Infest - Papa Roach This album was kind of cool when I first listened to it, now I don't think too highly of it. But, it was the next step "forward" for me. 8. St. Anger - Metallica Haha, yeah I know. But this was the first "metal" album I heard so its important. I don't like this album, but its important to me. 7. Ten Thousands Fists - Disturbed When I listened to this album, I thought this was the heaviest album ever. This was my gateway to harder and heavier music. 6. Hypnotize/Mezmerize - SOAD Some of the songs here were the fastest I had ever heard until then. Just fueled my desire to listen to faster music. 5. A Matter of Life and Death - Iron Maiden This was the first "real" metal album I got into, and this is the main reason why I became a "metalhead". I still love this album, holds so many fond memories 4. Rust In Peace - Megadeth Now THIS peice of art took me by storm. I'm still addicted to this album, and I think its the best album ever made. Sorry, I'm a lunatic and a Megadeth fanboy. 3. Darkness Descends - Dark Angel I thought Slayer was fast when I heard Reign In Blood, but this album makes Slayer seem like toilet fodder! Brilliant album, even though its kind of repetitive, but every song is pure gold. 2. None So Vile - Cryptopsy My introduction to the world of Death Metal and what an introduction! I regard this to be the finest death metal album ever made. 1. Clandestine - Entombed This album has it all. Brutality, technicality, great riffs, and headbangable music. Sort of a marriage of everything good I like. Its not my favorite album, but its a great blend of everything I like about metal. |
10- The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds
I didn't believe my friend that I would love this album, and here I am today, loving every minute. It always wraps me up and assures me that growing up doesn't have to mean growing old, though for many it's inevitable. I love it to death. Now if I can just get it in LP... 9- David Bowie- Low Anytime I have roughly half an hour in-between things, I pop the first side on my record player and let it spin. It's vibrant but not shallow, and powerful. Side Two is a completely different beast, but I love the record for all it is. 9- Jim Guthrie - Now, More than Ever As the first independent album I bought and still own, Now, More than Ever defines a landmark in my life. It's songs are grooving with folk and strings and strange lyrics. Eventually it all explodes in the title track and you can't help but think that some fantastic music is happening at the time. 7- Sufjan Stevens - Come on Feel the Illinoise! I've recently understood what this album does. It's 22 tracks and over an hour long, but there's something fantastic happening between the first and final tracks. If you pay attention and, eventually, when all the landmarks are second knowledge to you, the album will shoot by you everytime and you'll love the hell out of it. 6- Animal Collective - Strawberry Jam Definitely an acquired taste. These are pop songs wrapped up and spun about in mad, psychedelic electronica. It will rattle your brain as you try to come to grips with the fact that you've never heard anything like it. 5- The Flaming Lips - The Soft Bulletin Though Pet Sounds did all of this forty years earlier, The Soft Bulletin still feels fresh and relevant. There are anthems here, some are party songs, and some are definite tear jerkers. No matter the mood, The Soft Bulletin will pick you right up and tell you it knows as your day brightens to the sound of "Race for the Prize." 4- Guided by Voices - Bee Thousand Oh. My. God. If you get it, if you develop the ear for it, Bee Thousand will thrill you in ways you never hoped. I rocked out, I know I teared up, and in the end I sat on my chair and thought, "holy ****!" 3- Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot A classic of our generation and we don't even feel it yet. The triumphant story of its birth is subject enough for a book biography, but behind the story is some of the most wonderful music around. This is the record we'll be telling our kids about when we are god knows how old and complaining that the music in those days just isn't the same, but somehow our kids will love it the way we love Paul Simon's Graceland with our parents. It's just that powerful. 2- My Bloody Valentine - Loveless There are four stages to loving Loveless: #1: "Huh? It's just noise, **** it" #2: "Alright, song 6 is pretty catchy. Still not for me, though" #3: "That last track isn't bad. Guess I'll listen to the whole thing, then" And then it hits you. The moment you know exactly what's happening is the moment you feel the most confused, the most head-over-heels, the most... everything. You will love AND hate the hell out of Loveless, until you can't hate it no more and you are wrapped in its blanket. It's another one of those "you'll get used to it" kind of albums, but I can safely say your life will change somewhat if you get it. 1-Neutral Milk Hotel- In the Aeroplane Over the Sea All I can say is that this album changed my life: It changed the way I listen to music, watch movies, read books, write books, and overall the way I experience entertainment. |
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10. American Idiot - Green Day
Got me into music when I was a tv whore, so I saw a video of them on mtv and thinking 'wow this is awesome'...and then that got me into more music overall. 9. The Clash (US Version) - The Clash After getting Green Day and some Killers albums and any sh*t that was on mtv, my uncle got this for me when I was 13 because he heard I was listening to music more and I thought I was 'punk' because I was listening to Green Day. The album also pushed me into my punk phase where I listened to well known stuff like DK, The Sex Pistols, The Clash. It's still my favorite punk album and will always have a spot in my memory, even if I don't listen to that much punk anymore. 8. Eh finish this later. Feeling kind of lazy. |
10. Trans Am—"Trans Am"
This album is one of the only albums I've ever heard playing in a music store and just purchased right there and then. And it introduced me to the idea that vintage keyboards and cheesy-ish guitar solos could actually sound pretty awesome. 9. Tom Waits—"Bone Machine" This was the first Tom Waits album I ever bought. It stimulated my imagination and opened my mind to what could be done with lyrics and percussion and dirt. 8. Latin Playboys—"Dose" Not only is this an amazing, unique album, but it really redefined how I thought about music production. Definitely a huge influence on me. 7. Alien Sex Fiend—"Too Much Acid?" I owned this album for at least five years before it clicked with me, but when it did it was a revelation. This is how you make amazing, fun, high-energy music with cheap synthesizers and a crappy drum machine. This album taught me how beautiful trash can be. 6. Jesus Jones—"Already" Sometimes just the right album comes along at just the right time. I happened to get this one during a very rough time in my life and it really helped pull me up out of the depths. I'd imagine there's not a lot of Jesus Jones fans on this board but IMO they were actually a very good band and this album is among their best. 5. REM—"Document" This was the first album I bought with my own money. I suppose that alone means it deserves a place on this list. But beyond that, the fact that REM continue to be a band that I come back to time after time and band that seem to always influence my own music in unexpected ways means that this was a very important album for me indeed. 4. Pigface—"Gub" My introduction to this rotating "band" via this album was a huge springboard for my interest in all kinds of bands whose members had played with Pigface. Beyond that, this album introduced me to kinds of experimentalism that were unknown to me at the time. And beyond that it's just a fucking amazing album. 3. Ministry—"Land of Rape and Honey" I first heard this album when I was about 13 and it absolutely blew my mind more so than any album I can think of before or since. I had never heard anything like it before and it was just so amazing to me. I feel like it kind of set the bar as far the impact I want an album to have on me. 2. Foetus—"Gash" Foetus is probably my biggest musical influence and this was the first album I ever bought by him so it definitely holds a special place in my heart. This is guy who, through all of his albums, introduced me to using the studio as an instrument instead of trying to excel at any one thing or another. For me this was a huge step in creating my own music. 1. Pink Floyd—"The Wall" What can I say? I know people on this forum love to knock this album but I listened to my brother's tape of it constantly as a kid. It was the first non-children's album that I started listening to on a regular basis and as a result I guess you could say it's the foundation of my entire taste in music. |
'Document' is a great album and big up for the Alien Sex fiend album. Foetus is a new one on me though. Always nice to hear a brand new name thrown into the ring.
@ sweet nothing-your best post so far. Well written. |
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But it was the uncontrolled aggression, and the uncontrolled speed that made me love Darkness Descends. Before listening Darkness Descends, I was reluctant to check out faster music. I thought Reign In Blood was the fastest and most brutal album I would ever like, but after hearing Darkness Descends, I wanted to listen to the fastest, most brutal, most insane album ever made. And then I found None So Vile :) |
10. Nina Nastasia - Dogs (2000)
This album was such an astonishing accomplishment to hear for me. It grew on me over the last few months as a work so sonically beautiful. Her gorgeous voice draws out the layered feel of the haunting album. 9. Dog Fashion Disco - The Embryo's In Bloom (2000) Friends of mine from Baltimore introduced me to this band a few years ago. Despite having since broken up, their material was always so fresh and they commanded an enormous presence onstage. They never really completed an apocalyptic album, but this one just has all of my favorites and none of the filler. They represent to me an enormous contribution to metal. 8. Dälek - Absence (2004) Other than Liquid Swords, this was my first "great" rap album, and unlike others, this one drew me to listen to the fantastic emceeing skills. It remains one of my favorite hip-hop albums and a great listen. 7. Miles Davis - Sketches of Spain (1963) Do you remember the first album of a different genre that you really enjoyed? This was it for me -- Sketches of Spain was Miles Davis' Kid A, and was far beyond the realm of cool jazz. Though most of my collection of jazz is free jazz, this will always stand out as one of my favorites, despite how pedestrian its structure may be. 6. Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago (2007) One of the few good albums I discovered through Metacritic, it helped me through a hard time last year. It is simple and yet epic; the few instruments which Vernon used were performed admirably. A stunning album, for sure. 5. Funkadelic - One Nation Under a Groove (1977) Others might prefer an era when George Clinton wasn't as motivated by money, but to me, this album was his finest. At the height of their popularity, Funkadelic came out and made an impressive album, and really showed how versatile their skills were. 4. Queens of the Stone Age - Rated R (2000) "C-C-C-COCAINE!" In an era when all I ever listened to on the radio was alternative rock, this remains one of the gems that I discovered and love to this day. Ironically, the track which drove me to love QOTSA ("In the Fade") sounds nothing like the rest of the album. There are so many favorites of mine from this album that it's hard for me to put it down: Feel Good Hit, Auto Pilot, Better Living Through Chemistry, I Think I Lost My Headache... 3. Jimmy Smith and Wes Montgomery - Jimmy and Wes: The Dynamic Duo (1960) This may not be my favorite jazz album, but it sure opened me up to the sonic appeal of jazz collaborations. While Jimmy wails away on the keys, Wes just drives home an eclectic accompanient on his guitar. Jazz is hard to get right, and nearly impossible for more than one soloist to pull off, but when it's done well, it sounds fantastic, and that's just what the album represents to me. 2. Yu Miyake et al. - Katamari Fortissimo Damacy (2004) I laughed my ass off when I first saw the video game Katamari Damacy, which was probably a good thing. So when I discovered the soundtrack, I had get it, thinking I could make my roommate laugh or something. I never realized how fantastic the soundtrack really was: an amalgamtion of J-Pop, jazz, electronic and about fifty other genres, and all done very well. Yu Miyake really shows off his compositional abilities on this thing. 1. Pink Floyd - Meddle (1971) People may disagree with me, but I think this is hands-down the BEST Pink Floyd record ever. It opens with apocalyptic growls from Nick Mason and grows strongly. A handful of memorable licks from Dave Gilmour and some acoustic and folk elements integrated with superb keyboard lines by Rick Wright really show how beatiful Pink Floyd's music could be. Not to mention this is one of the only albums which showcased all their talents effectively, and concludes with a great progressive opus: Quote:
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