I’ve been asked to start posting on tumblr again. Not sure why I stopped. Just started focusing more on writing music rather than poetry or blogs I guess. However, since apparently a few people actually read this, I will try to start blogging again. I don’t really have much to say tonight, but recently a lot of people have been asking me for opinions about music and what inspires me, etc, so I figured I’d re-post an old note I wrote for facebook last year about 15 of my favorite albums that have a had a profound influence on me in some way. This list is nowhere near complete, but it’s a tip of the iceberg so to speak. If any fellow music lovers read this I would LOVE to hear your own lists, even if you don’t bother with long-winded descriptions like I do. Music is meant to be shared, so let’s all see if we can inspire each other with those special albums that have inspired us! Now, without further ado, here are 15 of my favorite albums!
ZAO - LIBERATE TE EX INFERIS (Save Yourself From Hell)
This heavy music masterpiece, which I purchased at the age of 15 from my cousin Ted for the princely sum of 10$, is the album that introduced me to the world of hardcore/metalcore/dark scary sounding music my wife always tells me to turn off when she’s around. And what an album for a metal virgin to pop their cherry to! It begins with a dark ominous intro track that slowly builds into the blood curdling cacaphony of the first song “Savannah”; a chilling number that showcases the Zao trademarks of dischordant, yet memorable guitars, brutal but off-kilter rythms, as well as vocalist Dan Weyand’ts trademark Carcass-like scream style and obscure, poetic lyrics. I was hooked upon first listen. Combine the aformentioned elements with a creepy Dante’s Inferno style album art theme which divided the tracks into various circles of hell as well as song titles such as “If These Scars Could Speak”, “Desire The End and “Autopsy”, and you might have just about the coolest thing that a pair of fifteen year old adolescent male ears could hope to hear. Still one of my all-time favorite albums from one of my all time favorite bands who are still going strong and do not have a single bad record in their discography.
ATMOSPHERE - WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU LEMONS, PAINT THAT SHIT GOLD
One of the most creative and envelope pushing hip-hop albums I have ever had the pleasure of hearing. The instrumentation ranges from mellow jazz samples to dirty sounding synth to bouncy funk, and MC Slug delivers some of his best work, telling real-llife narratives of hardships, hangovers, struggles, triumphs and hard learned truths. Gave me a new appreciation for the hip-hop art form.
JOY DIVISION - UNKNOWN PLEASURES
I’m not quite sure what it is that continually draws me to this album. I have a feeling that most Joy Division fans feel this way. It is not particularly easy music to listen to (in fact if I’m not in the right mood I find it fairly impossible to make it through the whole album), but there is something intangible about this music that reaches into the depths of the darkest parts of my psyche and draws me to it. The moods, the melodies and Ian Curtis’ brilliant lyricism and delivery come together seamlessly to create a genuinely brilliantl, disturbing album (though not as bleak and disturbing it’s follow up Closer, Ian Curtis’ musical suicide note). I love this record to death but I have no idea why.
MXPX - LIFE IN GENERAL
My first punk album. Breakneck speed, singable tunes about girls, parents, not wanting to grow up, and just about evey other aspect of teenage life. Plus, as a bonus, once the cool skater kids saw me listening to this album on my generic brand walkman (yeah that’s right, WALKMAN) they would actually talk to me like a real human being rather than the shy kid who barely spoke and was obsessed with MAD magazine. My first real rock show was an MXPX tour stop in Montreal, which featured a completely unknown opening band called Good…something or other. The second part of the name escapes me, except that it rhymed with “harlot”
JOHNNY CASH - THE LEGEND OF JOHNNY CASH
My introduction to the Man in Black was through the video for his cover of the Nine Inch Nails song “Hurt”. I was floored by the raw emotional power that resonated from Cash’s simple guitar and stark vocal delivery. This “best of” collection seemed to be the best way to introduce myself to Cash’s music, and a result he has become one of my all time favorite artists of any genre. All the classics are here “Folsom Prison Blues”, “Man In Black”, “Get Rythm”, “Sunday Morning Comin’ Down”, (which still hits me as hard in the gut as it did the first time I heard it) “A Boy Named Sue”. An amazing retrospective of one of the truly great musical artists of the 20th century.
THRICE - VHEISSU
I had a read a lot about this album before it was released. In an Alternative Press interview, the band described the album as being a departure from their current punk-metal hybrid sound, and said it would feature a much greater variety of tones, moods, and instruments. Having been a huge fan of their previous release “The Artist In The Ambulance”, I must admit I was skeptical. In fact the first time I heard the album was when I was chatting on msn with an acquaintance, who started complaining about how the new Thrice album sucked and sent me one of the tracks (I can’t remember which one) to demonstrate this. Needless to say he didn’t make his point, because what I heard intruiged me and I asked him to send me the rest of the album. After one listen through I instantly knew that this was a work of genius and ran out to buy it at the first opportunity. Truly a work of art, the record seamlessly shifts back and forth from balls to the wall rock to dreamy soundscapes to raging hardcore to epic balladry, often all within the same song. Ever since this groundbreaking album, Thrice have been on a collision course with greatness and keep on pumping out brilliant and innovative releases
DEFTONES - WHITE PONY
When one thinks of commercial hard music of the late ‘90’s, early 2000’s most of what comes to mind is subrban gangta wannabes rapping over chunky guitar riffs, or tortured souls a-la Jonathan Davis raging over a bass-heavy funk-metal groove. While some of this was “nu metal” stuff was pretty great, the field got crowded with imitators after a while and it was tough to sort out the good from the bad. Thankfully, with this brilliant album, the Deftones created a niche of their own, while still sounding relevant to the current hard music scene. Dark, moody, angsty and absolutely brilliant. This album has gotten me through a lot of tough times.
GNARLS BARCLAY - ST. ELSEWHERE and THE ODD COUPLE
Gotta give props to both albums from the talented duo of Dangermouse and Cee-Lo. You probably know them for that song “Crazy” that was all over the radio a couple years ago, but if that’s all you’ve heard you are severly missing out on some of the most inventive, eccectic, genre defying music made in the last ten years. Sheer brilliance.
LILLY ALLEN - ALRIGHT, STILL
Discovered this fab chick from the U.K. via myspace and as soon as I heard her single “LDN” was instantly hooked on her quirky brand of Ska-infused pop. Bouncy hip-hop beats coupled with off time reggae rythms make this an album you simply cannot help but move to. Add Allen’s knack for catchy melodies and lyrical whit and you have a truly great pop record that doesn’t sound anywhere close to generic. Lyrically, Lilly Allen is in attack mode, dumping shit on anyone who has crossed/fucked with/failed/annoyed/failed to please her sexually; deadbeat ex’s, bar skanks, lame-ass pickup artists, condescending old-timers, impotent lovers, coked out former BFF’s and even her pothead little brother get the treatment of Lilly’s poison pen. The lyrics alone give this album more balls than all of the whimpering emo-pop boy bands saturating the market these days combined. If this record has a message it is simply “Don’t fuck with Lilly Allen”!
THURSDAY - WAR ALL THE TIME
The year was 2002. The place, Montreal’s Park Jean Drapeau which on that particular day was hosting that summers Vans Warped Tour. My esteemed musical colleague Troy and myself had been enjoying a fun day of punk rock and mosh-pits, but found we were growing tired of the generic punk Blink-182 meets NOFX punk sound that had completely saturated the market by this point. As luck would have it, we happened to be walking by one of the main stages as a group of young skinny dudes in tight pants and most certainly did not look like punk rockers took the stage. They kicked off their set with a blistering scream as they launched into their set. Caught off guard, we instantly gravitated to the front of the stage and witnessed our first of many Thursday performances. Their combination of melody and agression was like nothing I had ever heard before, making me an instant fan. Rougly a year later, the band released this musical masterwork which simultaneously defined and challenged the “screamo” genre which was just beginning to manifest in public consciousness. Still one of my favorite records ever.
THE DRESDEN DOLLS - YES, VIRGINIA
With a sound they describe as “Cabaret Punk”, brilliant songwriting, and a massive sound despite the minimalist instrumentation of only piano and drums, this Boston theatre-rock duo are something every true fan of music and art needs to check out. On the group’s sophomore disc, vocalist/pianist Amanda Palmer lays down some of her most brilliant songwriting yet, while drummer Brian Viglione simply murders the beat, proving that he is one of the best drummers in the business today. Regardless of what kind of music you like, the Dresden Doll’s songs have that intangible timeless feel to them that makes me wonder if anyone could even NOT like this if they wanted to. In a music industry packed to death with carbon copies of trendy bands, it’s refreshing to hear a band as original as The Dresden Dolls, who, rather than worry about fitting in with a genre have simply created their own and in doing so has won them a massive fanbase.
ANBERLIN - NEVER TAKE FRIENDSHIP PERSONAL
Everyone probably has a story about how they were going through some hard times and there was one particular album or artist that really helped pull them through. Well for me, this is that record. When I first heard it I felt like the lyrics had been specifically written with me in mind and that every song on the album somehow described what I was going through or feeling. This and the fact that the music simply rocks beyond belief has made it personal favorite that shows no signs of getting stale as the years go by.
THE O.C. SUPERTONES - LOUD AND CLEAR
It’s tough to pick just one album from this Orange County Ska outfit, but this disc, (their fourth) stands out in my mind as one that got the most plays when I first got it and still makes a regular appearance in my ipod playlist. With a sound that combines elements of Ska, punk, hip-hop, reggae and hard rock, The Supertones pull no punches in creating music that you can dance, mosh, headbang, and sway to. Oh and just for a heads up…these guys are harsh evangelical Christians who are unashamed to preach the Gospel of their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ at every opportunity. But don’t let that deter you. With a sound this great, even the most die-hard of atheists won’t be able to help but want to bust a move!
PROJECT 86 - DRAWING BLACK LINES
Another album that helped cement my love for music of the heavy variety. Bone crushing rythms, blazing guitars, thumping bass and thought provoking lyrics. What more could one want. Another album that like the aformentioned “White Pony” came out when “Nu Metal” was at the peak of popularity and unleashed a sound that both fit in nicely with what was happening, but didn’t sound quite like anything else ever recorded. Another band from my high school days that still remains a favorite.
THE RAMONES - RAMONES
And last, but most certainly not least, the revolutionary first album from the inventors of the now saturated punk sound that has since been co-opted to sell mini vans. But back in ‘76, selling out was the last thing on the minds of these four Queens, New York natives. This album was instrumental in my becoming a musician, simply due to the fact that after playing guitar for only about a year I could learn and play every song on this record. Nothing’s quite as inspiring as finding out that your dream isn’t quite as far out of your reach as you thought. I’ve been a Ramones fan for close to ten years now and they always pick me up after a crappy day. If anyone is reading this and likes all those new pop-punk or emo-pop or whatever the hell it’s called these days, do yourself a favor and check out where all this music originated from. Hint: this album is it!
