Albums that Changed my Life

I think everyone has had albums that changed their lives. I was thinking the other day that there were many albums that made me the way I am. I also read an article that talked about how the music you hear in Junior High and High School is the music that shapes you. With that in mind, I wanted to write about five albums that changed my life. I did not cover classic albums that were made before I was born. I am focusing solely on music I heard in those formative years and Where they lead me.



1. Album that made me start listening to Oxford University's radio station
Violent Femmes/Violent Femmes
I know, that for me, hearing songs like "Add it Up", "Gone Baby Gone", and "Blister in the Sun" transport me back to 8th grade. This was the first album I bought that was truly alternative. The music was a little off. The singer had a nasal voice and almost atonal style. It wasn't like any rock music I had heard. It was almost a complete opposite of the music of Van Halen, Motley Crew, etc. The songs were about taboo topics like masturbation. This album is still an influence. Don't believe me? Get the new Gnarls Barkley CD, they cover "Gone Baby Gone".


2. Album that got me interested in classic soul music
Bell Biv Devoe/Poison
Listening to this CD now can be a little embarrassing. New Jack Swing, as a style, has dated badly. It sounds older and more alien than music from the 70's. But, this CD was always in my player. The songs were dirty and had a great beat. It was one of the first things I ever bought that was straight up R&B singing. Nowadays, I listen to classic soul like The Staples, Al Greene, et. al., and I love the modern divas like Mary J. and Mariah. A lot of my love of this music comes from the research I did after hearing Bell Biv Devoe, now you know.



3. Album that turned my onto Hip-Hop
Public Enemy/Fear of a Black Planet
I listened to rap for a long time. Mainly I listened to it to dance to it or bob my head. I never really listened to the lyrics. That all changed my freshman year. I was watching "Yo! MTV Raps!" and something very different came on. There was a rally, with a very angry dude, and soldiers, and a wacko in a big clock. You all know what it was. It was "Fight the Power". I had never heard anything like that. The music was layered. There were at least three levels to the sound. The lyrics weren't party time. They were revolution time. I become addicted. I bought all their CD's. I started to find other artists like them. I started to really understand hip-hop.

4. Album that Changed my opinion of Madonna and dance music
Madonna/Like a Prayer
So, I always enjoyed Madonna's music. It was fun, danceable, cute. But, this album changed my mind about her as an artist. This album was almost completely written by her. There were songs that discussed her life, duets with artists I admired, and "Like a Prayer" which is one of the best pop songs ever made. To me, the album was a huge step for her. After that, the level of her artistry was higher than before that album. She became more of an artist rather than a star. And, "Act of Contrition" is almost as scary as The Beatle's "Revolution #9".


5. Album that made me realize I will never truly rock out
Metallica/ The Black Album
Every person who likes metal always uses the same defenses. "Those guys have classical music style, listen to the progressions." "The lyrics are more personal and lyrical." "The content expresses the rage of the listener" Blah, blah, blah. To me, it has always sounded like noise. It's too much crunching and sound and yelling. If I wanted a bearded dude to yell at me, I would piss my dad off. I have realized over the years that music like AC/DC, The Who, and Led Zeppelin are probably as hard as it gets for me. And, to all fans let me throw some fire on the flame. Just playing loud and fast doesn't make you deeper or more talented.