Influential Albums

[VICVALLIN]

Everybody has or at least should have that one song or album that helped them get through that time in their life where they felt things were out of their control or calmed them down or lifted their spirits when needed. For me it was the Incubus album Make Yourself. Around the time when that album came out i had just got into rock and I was getting alot of criticism from family and friends for embracing something other than hip-hop/r&b. Incubus' album is mostly about being your own person and not letting others make decisions for you. Obviously I related to the message of the album. Now whenever I feel a little down in the dumps I put on that album and everything seems better. What are some of the albums that you've heard that had a lasting affect on you??

[Copper Scroll]

Some stuff that always seems to change my mood:

1. There's A Riot Goin' On by Sly & the Family Stone. I think Sly tapped into a different form of the blues on this one. It has the same depth and emotionality raw blues has, even if it is a completely different kind of music.

2. A Love Supreme by the John Coltrane Quartet. The most genuine expression of devotion and spirituality that I've ever heard in music. Divinely inspired.

3. ESP, Miles Smiles, and Nefertiti by the Miles Davis Quintet. This kinda stuff changes my mood mainly because my focus shifts. The sheer musicianship here grips my attention, and I just listen in awe and wonder how it's even possible.

4. Anything by Parliament Funkadelic. It's just so fun. It has to lift your mood.

5. OK Computer, Kid A, and Amnesiac by Radiohead. The emotion in the music combined with how strongly the music and lyrics resonate with the times just re-orients my frame of mind whenever I listen. I walk away thinking just like the mind who wrote these songs--like I'm looking at the world through their eyes.

6. Aquemini by Outkast. I don't usually remember "firsts" and other major events. I don't remember what I was doing when I heard that either Tupac or Biggie died. And I don't usually remember my "first time" listening to an album I love, but I remember my first time listening to this album. Everytime I put it on, I go back there for a moment.

7. Best of the Wailers: The Upsetter Years produced by Lee Perry. I'm convinced Bob Marley meant every word he ever sang. Such conviction and sincerity backed by illest producer ever always refreshes my whole vibe.

[edit]
8. Anything by Andrew Hill. Some of the most emotion-laden music I've ever heard. Hill's music just connects with me, and it sounds like it even empathizes with me. It reflects feelings and memories for me in a way I can't really explain. A lot of it is really sad and dark... and some of it is happy... and much of it is angry... but most of it is some special combination of various feelings--just like they are felt in real life. And the music takes me through its moods and seems to respond to mine. Anyways...

[Mic Soloist]

beatles - sgt. pepper
beach boys - pet sounds (maybe most influential ever)
frank sinatra - in the wee small hours (set the stage for "concept albums")
anything produced by phil spector.

[Zayus]

beatles - sgt. pepper
beach boys - pet sounds (maybe most influential ever)
frank sinatra - in the wee small hours (set the stage for "concept albums")
anything produced by phil spector.

He's talking about albums that influenced you personally, not music that influenced music.

For me, there are a few albums from different parts of my life, when I was growing up and sh!t. One song that I actually can't listen to anymore is 'Umi Says', because it was my favourite song when I was involved with this chick and I can't stand to listen to it anymore because it's become associated with that period. I guess you could say that's influential. As for albums though..

1. The Clash - London Calling/Sandinista - I was pretty burnt out and apathetic on politics and world issues by the time I'd finished high school - no matter what happened, nobody seemed to care about anything but who they were going out with and how many parties they could fit into a week. Once my friend lent me these albums I bought them and sh!t changed fast. Now whenever I listen to either album I get angry again and start talking immense amounts of 'uni-student-knows-best' sh!t to anyone in range.

2. Bjork - Homogenic - Ultimate breakup album. It always gets pulled out when I'm depressed.

3. Wu-Tang Clan - Wu-Tang Forever/Xzibit - Restless - First 2 hip-hop albums I ever heard/bought. Xzibit got pulled out whenever I was about to go out with friends in high school and Wu-Tang got unimaginably constant spins in the discman at school.

4. Beck - Mutations - Perfect album to chill and smoke to. This isn't the best Beck album in terms of catchy tunes or whatever, but it's my favourite because of the feeling I get whenever I hear it. I can say the same for Macca's first album after he left the Beatles, McCartney.

5. Blur - Parklife, The Great Escape, Modern Life Is Rubbish & Think Tank - I can't really seperate these albums because they're all so good and personal. Albarn has this perfect way of making a good time seem depressing, like on Parklife and Modern Life. The Great Escape is another depressed listening album, and Think Tank is another joint album.. all of them have had hundreds of spins by now, so they'll have to go in here.

There are many more albums that affect me, but those to me are the most important.