Trollheart

Okay then. There have been some complaints about music threads where people just post pictures or a one-line description of an album they like. You can't do that here. Well, you can, but you shouldn't. That's not what this thread is meant to be about.

I run a section kind of like this in my journal which I call "Albums that changed my life". It's a chance to talk --- at length if you want --- about an album or albums and what it or they mean to you. Maybe what drew you to the album in the first place, your initial impression --- was it as good as you had expected? Did you have to work to like it? --- or what it meant to your musical evolution. Did it get you into the artiste? Did it change your outlook on any specific genre, or push you in any direction?

Spill, people! Spill! Oh, if you want to YouTube sure, but it's probably better if you don't. It's really more WHY you like an album I'm interested in hearing here than what it's like, though of course you can mini-review it if you want. And of course, we all have more than one favourite album, so post more than once certainly, but I'd ask that everyone limit themselves to one album per post.

So, one of mine then:



Bat out of Hell --- Meat Loaf

(Warning: this post comes with unasked-for information about Trollheart's youth. You have been warned. No small animals were hurt in the making of this post.)

I remember back when I was sixteen and on my way home from my part-time after-school job in a department store, my friend (sadly now passed away) and I would stare through the shuttered window of the local record shop, which proudly displayed among others this album. We were both fans of Moorcock, 2000AD, science-fiction and fantasy of all kinds, so it was the artwork that spoke to us. We would stare at the almost Boris Vallejo style of art on the album cover and remark how great it was, while scoffing that of course we wouldn't ever listen to that sort of music! But the cover was cool.

Then by whatever chain of circumstances I bought the album. I had heard just about nothing from it prior, not even the title track, not even on the radio. The closest I got was the closer, "For crying out loud", and when it was over I misheard the DJ and thought he said Meeglo, and wondered who that was? Hey, give me a break! All I had back then to listen on was a tiny tranny --- and no, I don't mean a miniscule person who liked to wear women's clothes! A tranny was a transistor, kids, a small mono radio that buzzed and crackled and spat at you, and as time went on the tuning dial stuck and crackled too, but it was all we had --- so it was hard to pick up what was said. Anyway, once I put on the album and heard that explosive intro to the title track I was, almost literally, blown away. I'd never heard a piano solo and guitar solo mesh like that, and never heard one that went on for so long that for a while I thought "Bat out of Hell", the track, was an instrumental!

To be fair, after that I found some of the other tracks a bit lacking, and the play-by-play on "Paradise by the dashboard light" always bugged me, but the great ballads like "Heaven can wait" and of course "Two out of three ain't bad" made up for that, and in time I got to love all the tracks. "Heaven can wait" is I think now one of the underrated tracks on the album. "All revved up with no place to go" was, I think, better served when it was sort of rewritten for "Dead ringer for love", but that's another story.

The album closes on the beautiful ballad "For crying out loud", and really, it couldn't be more different to the opener, which just punches your face in from the beginning, while this gently holds you and cradles you. Or, to use another analogy, if "Bat" kicks you over the cliff then "Crying" catches you just before you hit and lowers you gently to the ground. This is still an album I can play from start to finish, and even now I consider it one of Meat Loaf's best. It is in fact one of those albums you can find in the collection of a variety of music fans, from rockers to poppers and jazz fans to blues, electronica or metallers. It's just one of those albums that crosses genres --- not itself, not in its music but in its appeal --- and speaks to so many different types of music lovers.

And to think, it all began with two kids peering into the darkness as if into a candy store, marvelling at an album sleeve. Could I suppose be a metaphor for how many of us got into music in the first place. In recent years Meat Loaf has tried to duplicate the success of this album, with not one but two "followups", but though those albums are good, they're not a patch on the original. A true classic, and one which I think it's likely will never be superceded. Certainly formed a big part of my musical coming of age. And that shot on the back! Hot hot hot! Well, to a 16-year-old boy it was!

__________________
Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

Astronomer

Great idea for a thread, Trollheart, I love your journal where you delve into the music that has made up various parts of your life so it'll be kinda cool to get other MB members involved in the process



Muse, 'Absolution.'

I thought I'd start with this one, which is weird, because it's not one of my absolute (ha, pun) favourite albums but it is an album that I guess means a lot to me and takes me back to a moment in my life where music became quite pivotal.

This album was released 10 years ago and I was 15 years old. I'd just started working at my very first job - which was also one of the most awesome jobs I'd ever had - at a (chain) record store. My job description pretty much encompassed stocking CDs and DVDs in alphabetical order, putting price stickers on CDs, selling stuff and consulting customers, and putting up promotional displays. At the time, being a 15 year old teenage girl, my taste in music was pretty appalling. I had just gone to my very first concert (Blink-182) and pre-ordered The Ataris album even though noone else in the world was probably buying it. It's beyond embarrassing.

I started getting a lot of customers coming up to me to pre-order Absolution and asking about when the next Muse album was coming out, which intrigued me. It was one day when I was putting up this Muse promotional display that my boss said to me, "So, are you looking forward to the new Muse album?" I told him that I hadn't really heard much of them to which he replied that he thought I would really appreciate Matt Bellamy's musicianship, considering I played piano and was classically trained. He then, being the coolest boss ever, gave me a copy of the album to take home to listen to before the release date. Being just a kid, I felt as though I'd won the lottery. How cool!

I did love the album and I think that is the moment where my musical tastes began their final turn of taking a more mature approach. I started collecting music based on what I liked, rather than following the crowd, and I opened myself up to a whole range of new genres. I loved the album so much that I convinced some of my muso friends to do a cover of 'Time is Running Out' with me for our senior 'Battle of the Bands' and we came in first place. That was the first time I'd sung in front of a crowd, too!

Ahhh, good memories.

__________________

Soulflower

Sly and The Family Stone- "Sly and The Family Stone Greatest Hits"

I thought I'd start off with this one because I have talked alot about my other favorite artists and their albums here. This is one of my all time favorite bands and albums. This album means alot to me because it was one of the first albums that I was introduced to growing up. I have so many fun memories of my father blasting this in the car on summer mornings while he took me to my summer recitals, camps etc. Summertime was always a special period for me growing up because my father exposed me to so many amazing artists while I was little which is why I am so crazy in love with them today.

This album has more meaning for me today because now that I am an adult I have a better understanding of the messages in this album. The lyrics are powerful and have actually helped me in understanding life and the world around me today. It has given me the power to have my own voice and to stand up for my beliefs and injustice. Also, it aided me in seeing how special everyone is in their own way and how we should embrace our uniqueness. I think this album really helped me to become more socially conscious as well as music conscious while I was growing up.

It also was a great introduction to the amazing catalogue of Sly and the Family Stone. Ironically, my favorite song on the album is a added bonus song that can only be found on this greatest hits album, "Hot Fun In The Summetime" its such a funky fun song. Sly's adlibs were very influential on this track because it later influenced alot of other pop singers and funk singers. The production was very creative and artistic. It was suppose to be on a future album but they never got around to making it. "Everybody is a Star" and "Thankyou" are also songs that never made it on any of the albums but were included on this greatest hits album. The ENTIRE production and arrangements was AMAZING, innovative and creative on all the songs. Its crazy knowing that Sly Stone play most of the instruments along with his kick a ss band.

I loved "Everybody Is a Star" because it discusses how everyone is appreciated because everyone has their own individuality that makes the world the way it is. It talks about acceptance and loving who you are.

I loved "Thankyou" as well which is another song that discusses similiar issues but in this song we actually get a chance to thank society for allowing us to be who we are

"Life" love love this song. Very empowering song that encourages you to stay motivated and determine despite the struggles life brings you.

These are a list of some of my favorite tracks but overall I enjoy the entire album. Its really sad to see what happened to O Sly. Maybe he was just too funky for his own good. I think he was a genius! He was such an amazing writer, singer, musician and performer. Its ashame he doesnt own his catalogue and he lives in a trailer in LA. He is so underrated. He deserves some kind of legend or acheivement award. His sound and music made a significant impact on soul/funk and psychedelia.

Ninetales

Awesome topic. Im currently attempting to write about some of my absolute favorite albums which *might* be actually published so i dont want to put those ones here. But good thing I have many favs

Ill start with one of my fav black metal albums.



Autumn Aurora by Drudkh (2004)

I think a decent portion of the black metal I listen to gives me a sense of being lost. Some of them giving off a crushing and bleak darkness from which all hope is lost. I mean it's called "black" for a reason, right? But Autumn Aurora is a little different.

I guess Ill spoil everything by saying it has a wonderful autumn vibe to it (Sorry if you couldnt get that from the name and cover). The intro (Fading) is just a guitar and some birds chirping. It's as if you just woke up in a nice forest with plenty of rest. And unlike the feeling of most black metal albums of its ilk, there's no darkness. It's broad daylight. You're alone, but not frightened. The sun is shining! And as the album progresses it seems like it takes the form of a full day. But that sense of being lost is always there, even if it's hidden in the beginning. Birds may be chirping but you dont know where you are and you dont know how to get out. The daylight just provides the perfect ounce of hope that you'll get out eventually. But as the day (album) moves on that hope starts to slowly weaken. That fear that was not present when the sun was rising is slowly starting to creep in. Being alone and lost at night is only better than actually coming to realize that that is exactly what's going to happen to you. Hope breeds a worse kind of fear.

Ive become obsessed with albums that have strong ties to nature, which I think is how I fell in love with black metal to begin with. The atmosphere that surrounds Autumn Aurora is perfectly depicted in the album cover. I find Autumn Aurora to be pretty calm, but frightening at the same time. It's beautiful, but it also has this uneasiness to it. It doesnt barrage you with fast strumming or frenzied drums (infact the drumming is fairly tame comparitively which plays to the whole atmosphere of the album). It's very repetitive and why shouldnt it be? It gives off the affect of wandering through an unknown forest, seeing the same looking trees over and over.

My personal feelings towards an album very rarely has anything to with specific instruments or "technical ability" or whatever. I love atmospheres, interesting sounds, etherealness. I dont really have much nostalgia attached to the albums I love. This makes me think of forests, but not one specifically or any certain memories of one Ive been in. Maybe that's why I love it so much. It gives me very vivid images and themes. I love interpreting music in my own way, rarely taking literal lyrics into account but just focusing on the imagery of the entire piece.

So ya, that's what Autumn Aurora means to me. Black metal for the daytime.

Trollheart

Excellent review, Ninetales! You should start a journal. A band I feel might also interst you, if you don't already know about them, is Lake of Tears, particularly the album "Forever autumn." I may give this one of yours a try. Thanks for sharing.

And thanks to to Lateralus, sorry Astronomer (should be Hot Astronomer, but there ya go) and realtalk92 who have shared their feelings here about the albums they love.

Come on, the rest of yaz! What's keepin' yiz?

__________________
Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

Unknown Soldier

Great idea for a thread (the idea is hardly new) but what is new is getting people to express why they like an album and why they hold it dear, and the reason why they possibly have a nostalgia for it. BTW you're certainly a product of the late 70s and 80s, because it was fairly normal for people into music to go an buy an album on the strength of just its cover, despite often never having ever heard a song from the band.............. I know I did it numerous times and fell in love with so many bands doing this.

__________________
Metal Wars

Power Metal

Pounding Decibels- A Hard and Heavy History

Mondo Bungle

Ramshackle Glory - Live the Dream

So much music I listen to is relatable for me. I mean, I've never been a heroin junkie, and I've never been huffing paint behind buildings. But it's relatable in a sense that we've all seen hard times, and you can't dwell on it, we're all growing. It's relatable in a sense that no one wants to be tied down or held back by their fears or their demons. It's a suitable album title, it's about living the dream.

This is one of my favorite albums because it brings me nothing but joy to listen to. Living and loving and trying your best to be you even through rough waters. Sometimes I play this album when I'm feeling down, because it makes me feel like things can get better. I feel like I'd still be suffering through depression most everyday if I had never heard this album. It made me work to change things rather than sit there and bathe in it. Most of all, it helped me to realize that life is what you make it, and that mine has only just begun.

The music is wonderful too. There's something whimsical about it. I bought this album after going to a Ramshackle Glory show with a friend, now I don't go a day without listening to at least one song from their's.

__________________

Ninetales

Well thanks Ill probably start a journal at some point, I just thought Id get a feel for the site before I jump into all of it.

I have heard of Lake of Tears but havent heard any albums by them. Ill be sure to give that one a try thanks!

I really enjoy reading these and Im going to make an effort to hear most of the albums mentioned in this thread eventually. (Or atleast the ones that sound the most interesting to me haha)

14232949

Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

Moderator cut: image removed

I can remember the very details of the first time I listened to this album. It was the summer of 2011, a sunday. During that time period every sunday I'd get on a bus and travel to professional wrestling training. The walk from the bus station to the building on the out-of-town industrial estate was a good hour or so and since I had started journeying that route a couple months earlier, about the time I signed up for Music Banter I'd take the time to listen to an album or so.

Music Banter was my first music website, it for me was an introduction to a whole new world of music. I had never been one to read online reviews of music, nor was I one of those unbearable scenester fuckers with their critically acclaimed albums lists, I was for lack of a better word a music noob. I didn't know such a world existed.
I wasn't acquainted with sub genres of sub genres and I didn't have a wide spectrum of tracks on my mobile phone out of whatever was in the Top 40 or ChartShowTV.
At that time, believe it or not just over two years ago, I lacked any great basis of musical knowledge or depth. I couldn't have told you the difference between My Bloody Valentine and Bullet for My Valentine, between My Chemical Romance and The Chemical Brothers. Two of the four bands, I listened to regularly on my CD player as a younger teen, I'll let you guess which two.
(If that makes you take my opinions/views on music less seriously, whatever I'm not trying to put on the music veteran front.)

However, after being on Music Banter for a couple months and being broken in a little to the vast array of wonderful music I had yet discovered out there, I started to expand both as an active member here and a music lover. This brings me to that long trek to wrestling training on that sunny sunday.

Everytime I hit play, the album immediately commands my attention. I feel as if Kanye West is questioning himself, perhaps an unstable and insecure individual who desperately seeks the gratitude and praise his soul seems to deeply crave. Does this make him egomaniacal? That is for ones interpretation. I don't think Kanye is all that he portrays. I think in the wake of the larger than life character, is a man deprived of true self worth. A man whose antics and outlandish musical style speak more for a want of trying to convince others he is as good as his actions would imply. I believe deep down, he's trying to live up to his own expectations. The ludicrously high standards he sets for himself.

The powerful vocals asking whether or not 'we can get much higher' in my mind is Kanye asking himself if he is truly capable of building on his past efforts and creating work of an even higher quality. Whether he is capable of truly making a "classic" album (I fucking hate that term)
His albums introduction sets the tone for what's to come; grand sweeping music full of life and layered with flawless production, the ultimate utilization of guest spots and an undeniably unique charm. Not once does it let up throughout the rest of the record.

Track after track manages to seamlessly craft memorable and catchy hooks with instrumentals that compliment the vocals both in verses and in choruses. The production is able to be flexible and bend itself to playing to both Kanye's strengths as a performing artist, emphasizing on key lines and words as well as every artist who features in some capacity on MBDTF. From echoing Kid Cudi's laid back vocals to make them more emphatic in 'Gorgeous' to making Nicki Minaj sound less like a Weird Al Yankovic side-project and more like a legitimate hip-hop artist.

The thing that is perhaps most apparent about this album is each tracks individual importance. Each song exudes an emotion and revels in it from the defiant blood pumping 'Power' to the defeated and passive aggressive nature of 'Blame Game'
Each track is unmistakeably unique and has enough pull to bring it to the forefront of your attention. An album so incredibly diverse with a wall of sound so audibly pleasing that you can't help but he brought into its world. Everything has its place and its purpose with Kanye the conductor swaying his stick (or whatever a conductor has in his hand) to and fro. I don't think this is evident more so than in the perfectly orchestrated intro to 'All of The Lights'. Kanye manages to fit every little aspect into his tracks perfectly, one can only imagine the amount of hours/days/months he spent mastering producing and mastering this record. The structure is undeniably genius in its execution.

When I read through the track list before I hit play on my Ipod that sunday, I was apprehensive, there were frequent features from artists I just don't like, and still don't. Nicki Minaj, Bon Iver and Rick Ross (ok, maybe I like him a little for novelty value) and I felt that their influence would make the album suck. However Kanye has an uncanny ability to bring the best out of those who he collaborates with, with each one of those artists I mentioned in fact not detracting to the product but adding their own styles to enhance it. Kanye is able to take the usually disgustingly irritating Minaj and squeeze what potential artist integrity she has deep down out of her and add that to the album, that takes something special to do.

Kanye may get a lot of flak from the music elitists regarding his lyrics. He rarely touches upon important issues nor uses pretentious multi-syllable and rhetoric language. In fact, Kanye more often than not keeps things so basic that at times they don't even make much sense due to their simplicity, but that's his style. His trademark. Whether or not you consider him to be a philanthropic words smith his lyrics are commonly quoted for their memorability and character. His lyrics are very much like the image West portrays for himself; outspoken, provocative and colourful. In this album, which appeals to no niche and rather a large spectrum of potential music lovers he manages to channel enough style, personality and substance lyrically, instrumentally and artistically to break down the walls modern music society has built between those who enjoy mainstream chart singles and those who enjoy obscure post-rock wankfests. Perhaps the albums broad horizons and appeal were the reason it resonated so much with me when I first heard it.


So, I've made the walk through both industry and nature to the Urban Disturbance Gym, where wrestling training was held. The guy who ran classes there had an issue with timekeeping, the issue being frequent lateness. It appears on that day that the other guys did to. I sat on an old tyre in the front yard of the mechanics the next unit over and thought to myself, "this is really good" with the sun beating down on my face. It didn't matter how long I was left locked out of the building waiting on someone arriving with a key because I found myself so engrossed in My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy that it didn't bother me. I was actually disappointed when they did eventually turn up because I was enjoying listening to the record that much.

Something about this record just speaks to me. The individuality and nature of this album which rolls around majestically in its own glory just makes me feel surreal. To many others it may not be as articulate as some other record they heard, but to me even though it isn't presented always in the most intelligent nor pretentious manner I fall for every track and what it is trying to convey. Blame Game is one of the few songs that sometimes brings a tear to my eye because I get so emotionally invested in it. However if one were to analyse Kanye's lyrics in it they could make a mockery of the tracks ridiculousness. I just get so involved with this album that I shut off those filters that care about lyrical depth and get transported into West's Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy and like him or not any artist who is capable to create such a vision through their music is entitled to the ego they may well possess. Not to mention Lost In The World is like one of the greatest tracks of all time. OF ALL TIME.

Sorry if this was an incoherent rambling mess that didn't explain anything, I worked from 8.30 to 7.30 with a 10 minute break today. I'm pretty tired. Peace.

14232949

What you said here reminds me of Orchid's Dance Now Revolution Tomorrow in that its repetitive and harrowing structure evoked images in my mind of a man waking up and living the same life every day. Getting up unhappy that he has to go to work where he's unhappy, he comes back to his unhappy home life and goes to sleep. Wakes up the next day unhappy. Rinse and repeat. And how likely and real this image is with many many people living out that exact formula. It's quite depressing.