Over the years there have been certain albums where I had to stop all activity and just listen to. I have found this profound in its own right, the power of music to just captivate. These have definitely been albums that struck me at the time and, generally, remain some of my favorite albums. I'm not saying they're my all time favorites, or anything, there's music for all occasions and different ways to enjoy it. For example, right now I'm rockin' some Bryan Adams and while this is some fun good stuff, I'm not gonna stop everything and just listen to it. It's great for what it is. It makes me feel good and want to do house chores... or something. I don't know. Anyway, you get the point... stuff like that.
1. Led Zeppelin - IV: I first heard Zep early in my high school years. Up to that point I'd never listened to anything that heavy. Also, Robert Plant's voice struck something deep inside that I haven't heard since. The band played with reckless abandon, an untamed sense that I admired. I had a friend at the time that told me, first you'll get into Hendrix, Zeppelin, Sabbath, then metal. Well, that's pretty much what happened. The point is, when I got that Led Zeppelin album for Christmas I played it and my jaw dropped. I could not be bothered. It was there to be absorbed and took everything I had just to listen to it. What a killer album.
2. Beck - Odelay: I first heard Odelay around the same time I heard Led Zeppelin IV. I heard it in a friend's car and can remember thinking that I'd like to hear some more of that, but didn't really have a chance to listen to it closely. I saved up, purchased the CD, and played it in my living room. The first thought I had was that I'd just wasted my money. The music was all over the place and too disorganized. It was only a short time before I changed my mind on that and decided that it was one of the most creative and intelligent, and wonderful pieces of music ever made. I listened to every note. I played that album over and over. P.S. I also got to see Beck at the Salem Armory in '97 and what a great show.
3. Wintersun - Time 1: Yea, yea... everybody knows that Time wasn't as good as Wintersun's debut album. But, what about the hype? What about the multitude of tracks? The processor needed to make the album in the first place? Wintersun is an undeniable talent. When Time finally came out, I took it home and immediately played it, laid on my bed, and didn't move for the duration of the listen through. It's a solid album, no doubt. I got to see Wintersun perform live around this time, they put on a good show, but I could have listened to them for about 10 more hours.
4.The Beatles - Revolver: When I was too small to remember I was listening to the Beatles. It was the music of choice on long family car rides and in a lot of other situations too. However, I was still not quite prepared when in my teens my dad brought out his vinyl collection. Among the piles was every Beatles album, worn out from lots of play, yet sounding great on our stereo. I put on Revolver one day. My vision of the Beatles was still of the British pop invasion brand, I did not know what they morphed into by the end of their decade of dominance. In my opinion, Revolver was the middle, the crossover. The riffs are heavier, the songwriting a little more out there. It's my favorite Beatles album to this day. It blew my mind.
5. The Dandy Warhols - Come Down: Hearing this album led to a big expansion in my musical tastes. The sound and drone of the album could put one in a trance and make time pass quickly. The songs are catchy at the same time. After hearing this, I think I was more open minded to what I heard through my radio station music director college days. Before this time, I was zoned into a dozen (or so) albums and the style they conveyed as my definition of good music. After hearing the Dandy Warhols, I thought... what if other stuff is good, too? And, now I'm into so much music, so many different styles, genres, sub genres, etc etc and I'm always looking for more.
6. Johnny Cash - American IV: The Man Comes Around: Johnny Cash taught me so much. I'm not religious in the sense that he was, but I respected his religious songs. He has so much feeling and meaning behind his music, and such a presence that he can't be ignored. His voice is timeless. By the time I heard American IV I was already into the American Recordings, but I think he saved the best for this one. It was a culmination of so much of his life and career. He seemed to be leaving his audience with a parting message of hope, but also a warning if we couldn't get our act together. The album stops you in your tracks. It's powerful in a way only music can be, yet rarely is.
7. The Eagles - Hell Freezes Over: If you remember when this album came out, I'm certain you remember what a big deal it was. My dad couldn't stop talking about it. The Eagles got back together! And, wow, arguably they sounded better than ever. I can remember sitting at the desk top computer (the only CD player in the house at the time) and listening to this repeatedly and not being able to believe how crisp and good it sounded, how tasty the solos were, and how perfect the singing was. It's still a favorite album.
8. Ryan Adams - Heartbreaker: This album sounded so good to me when I heard it that I actually got jealous and couldn't listen to it for a while. I got over that quick enough, but it resonated because it sounded the way I wanted to sound when I play music. I can't really do it like Ryan, but dang it if I don't try sometimes. I was fortunate enough to be in New York city for the CMJ festival shortly after this album was released and see him twice. His solo acoustic show is still one of my all time favorite live shows that I've seen. He's captivating and you will not find a finer example of songwriting, finger picking, and song delivery than Heartbreaker.
9. Mastodon - Crack The Skye: When they made Crack the Skye, Mastodon made their album for me. I was already into their music when they came out with the album, but I couldn't have predicted that they'd make such a great piece of music. Of the three times I've seen Mastodon live, seeing them perform Crack The Skye in its entirety (on tour with Dethklok) was by far the best. Sitting up stairs in the Roseland, they were mesmerizing. The album has that effect on the listener.
10. Neil Diamond - Hot August Night. There is this certain "thing" that comes to mind whenever Neil Diamond is brought up in conversation. While I think most people who pay attention to his music eventually wind up being big fans, he can sometimes get criticized for being cheesy or hokey. Whatever. Hot August Night is not cheesy or anything, except awesome. Even for Neil, he was having a spectacular night. He put on an amazing show for that crowd and showcased what a good songwriting he really is. He also played some songs that are rarely presented, especially on his hits lists, because he hadn't written that much back then. Put this album on, people will be blown away if they haven't heard it before... they'll be saying, "who's this guy who sounds kinda like Neil Diamond?" and you'll respond, "that is Neil Diamond. See how $%@#ing good he is?"
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