Albums that impacted you the most?

[rmcrae]

I'm sure I'm not the only person out there who considers music to be the soundtrack to my life. It's amazing how songs can move us and take us right back to particular parts of our lives, good and bad. So I'm curious. What album or albums have impacted you the most and why?

I have quite a few, but one that stands out the most for me is Christina Aguilera's Stripped record. I was a casual fan of her music before that, but Stripped came along at a time in my life when I needed it the most. I was in high school and, like most kids that age, struggled with self-esteem and feeling like I didn't fit in and not having a single clue as to who the hell I was. I didn't pay too much attention to the Dirrty video/controversy, but the second I saw the video for Beautiful I knew I had to hear more. That album got me through many painful moments not only through high school, but my adulthood as well and I still turn to it when I'm in need of comfort and plain ole venting.



Share your picks.

 

[Charon]

These two gems that I bought--along with a Walkman--at a garage sale.

(GI) by The Germs

Damaged by Black Flag

They introduced me to punk, and made me realize that over-produced, radio-friendly songs are shite.

 

[rmcrae]

^Heard of Black Flag, but don't know much about punk music. Thanks for sharing.

 

[ClubLevelVegan]

The Get Up Kids - Something to Write Home About

It was in a phase where I was discovering a new music when I was 16-17, but it also help me deal with a lot of shit in that time period. That was around the time and before I came out, the album doesn't touch on any of that but for some reason the mood, music, lyrics still resonated with me in a way that helped me. It's easily one of my favorite records of all time.

Elliott Smith - XO

I have always liked Elliott Smith but in recent years, especially this record has impacted me immensely. When I am feeling down I turn to his music but especially this album. He is easily my favorite singer/song writer of all time, guy was extremely talented in both singing, writing and playing the instruments he could play. When I am feeling low, I turn to his music and even though he sings about a lot of sad shit, it helps. "Watlz #2" is one of his bigger songs but easily my favorite because the song is about him and his Mother. The lyric "I'm never going to know you now but I'm going to love you anyhow" I find both beautiful and sad at the same time, about not knowing his Mom anymore because of abuse changing her but still loving her anyway. Right now, I don't have a relationship with my Mom but that lyric means much more to me now than ever before.

 

[rmcrae]

^Thanks for sharing, Club! I relate to what you said about sad songs helping you through the tough times. I'm generally an upbeat and positive person, but like everyone else I can feel down and "happy" music doesn't do anything but make me feel worse. Listening to the "depressing" stuff (Portishead and early Mary J. Blige are my go-tos for that) helps me release it. I'll have to check out Elliott Smith.

 

[TickTockMan]

Paul Simon's Graceland

Blue October's History for Sale and I Hope You're Happy

 

[taoisfabugly]

The albums that spoke to me the most are Fiona Apple's Tidal and When The Pawn...

I know that Tidal came out 3 years before When The Pawn... but I bought both albums in cassettes at the same time around the year 2000. I was about 16 years old. I love how clever her lyrics and songs are.

I know most people consider Fiona and her works as Indie music but to me her debut and sophomore albums are pretty Pop to me. It's so catchy and I can relate to what she says. I remember spending times listening to both albums from beginning to the end repeatedly. She also introduces me to Maya Angelou. I think she mentions and thanks Maya in her album credits.

You have no ideas how liberated I feel the first time I read the Poem "Still I Rise" by Maya Angelou in my Freshmen year at my University Computer Center back when I was still in the closet. At that time, I can access to the internet through the computer at my University and the internet cafe near my house only. I came out two years later though lol.

Back to the albums, I listened to Tidal and When The Pawn...relentlessly. I loved Fiona's sultry, soothing voice, the lyrics are so sad and deep yet so expressive. I still know every word to every song. I love all the album cuts like Sleep to Dream, Shadowboxer, Criminal, Never Is a Promise, Limp, Paper Bag, Fast As You Can. Other highlights include Pale September, The Child Is Gone, Sullen Girl, Love Ridden, I Know, Get Gone, The Way Things Are or literally every songs on both albums. I will purchase anything and everything Fiona releases.

Sadly, I don't relate to Extraordinary Machine, The Idler Wheel and Fetch the Bolt Cutters like her first two records but I still admire her works. I know the critics are falling all over themselves praising her latter works eventhough for me they are unlistenable. It's hard to sing a long or listening time and time again. I cannot even find melodies in The Idler Wheel and Fetch The Bolt Cutters. They're replaced by jarring percussive beats and endless stream of consciousness blather and it often repeats phrases over and over again.That being said, it's admirable to push boundaries I guess lol.

 

[mcbrion]

Aretha Franklin "I Ain't Never Loved A Man (the Way I Love You)"
Marvin Gaye "What's Goin' On?"
Eddie Kendricks "People...Hold On"

 

[cabinfever]

Stevie Wonder - Songs in the Key of Life - truly a masterpiece
Quincy Jones - The Dude
Led Zepplin - Led Zepplin IV
Diana Ross - The Boss
Diana Ross - To Love Again
Ashford and Simpson - Send It

So many more - long list

 

[MARMITE]

The Get Up Kids - Something to Write Home About

It was in a phase where I was discovering a new music when I was 16-17, but it also help me deal with a lot of shit in that time period. That was around the time and before I came out, the album doesn't touch on any of that but for some reason the mood, music, lyrics still resonated with me in a way that helped me. It's easily one of my favorite records of all time.

Elliott Smith - XO

I have always liked Elliott Smith but in recent years, especially this record has impacted me immensely. When I am feeling down I turn to his music but especially this album. He is easily my favorite singer/song writer of all time, guy was extremely talented in both singing, writing and playing the instruments he could play. When I am feeling low, I turn to his music and even though he sings about a lot of sad shit, it helps. "Watlz #2" is one of his bigger songs but easily my favorite because the song is about him and his Mother. The lyric "I'm never going to know you now but I'm going to love you anyhow" I find both beautiful and sad at the same time, about not knowing his Mom anymore because of abuse changing her but still loving her anyway. Right now, I don't have a relationship with my Mom but that lyric means much more to me now than ever before.

I like both albums. May I suggest a band you might like? Sense Field. Their lead singer/song writer often dealt with depression and it is often reflected in his lyrics. He sadly lost his battle with depression, but I still find comfort in his songs. Different Times is explicitly about his battle with mental illness. What Never Dies has definite schizophrenic elements in it.

 

[Royotian]

Not necessarily the best ones (even though they're amazing!) but some of the albums that impacted me hard were:

Current 93 - All The Pretty Little Horses
Garth Brooks - Sevens
Nico - The Marble Index
Coil - The Ape Of Naples
Tori Amos - Strange Little Girls
Duncan Sheik - Phantom Moon

 

[Drugstore Cowboy]

Tori Amos - from the choirgirl hotel
Alanis morissette - jagged little pill
Bjork - vespertine
Poe - Haunted
Robyn - body talk
Marilyn Manson - mechanical Animals
Mandonna - confessions on the dance floor

I’m sure there’s more but these were all albums that have impacted in someway or form from the very first time that I have listened to them

 

[DepravedMuscleFTL]

 

[m1thousand]

Tori Amos - from the choirgirl hotel
Alanis morissette - jagged little pill
Bjork - vespertine
Poe - Haunted
Robyn - body talk
Marilyn Manson - mechanical Animals
Mandonna - confessions on the dance floor

I’m sure there’s more but these were all albums that have impacted in someway or form from the very first time that I have listened to them

I remember buying 'Madonna' by Madonna on cassette (1983)

1. "Lucky Star"
2. "Borderline"
3. "Burning Up"
4. "I Know It"
5. "Holiday"
6. "Think of Me"
7. "Physical Attraction"
8. "Everybody"

 

[rmcrae]

Great picks, everybody! I've got a few more myself:

Mary J. Blige - My Life



Janet Jackson - The Velvet Rope



Erykah Badu - Mama's Gun



Sade - Love Deluxe



Esthero - Breath from Another

 

[ChristianGianni]

Although it came out a few years before I was born Glittering Prize by Simple Minds is the biggie for me, the best friend I've had came into my life when I was three and left at fifteen after succumbing to Cancer. After hours spent listening to music together we soon run out of our music so we started listening to his Mom & Dads CDs and Glittering Prize just struck a chord with us both, See The Lights in particular. He was/is the bravest person I've encountered in my life and his unwavering spirit still lives with and quides me today, eleven years later. It's because of what he went through and dealt with that steered me into nursing. I talk to him daily as if he were still here, especially when I'm out on my surfboard on the ocean, and that gives me a feeling of peace and calmness like nothing else does. I love and miss you my friend.