I was given an interesting challenge on Facebook awhile back that I am just now getting around to completing. I was asked to name 10 albums that stayed with me for some reason. They didn't have to be great albums, or even life-changing albums, but just albums that have stuck with you for some, maybe unknown, reason.
I struggled with this a little. Until about 10 years ago or so, I rarely listened to entire albums. Now I often listen to entire albums rather than a schizophrenic mix of singles. But for the sake of this challenge, I wanted to reach back farther than 10 years ago. Very little on this list is or was mainstream. For better or worse, these are 10 albums that have stuck with me:
1. Madonna - The Immaculate Collection - I didn't have any version of this album until just recently when I came across it at Goodwill and picked it up, but a friend had a VHS of all the music videos from this album and some great times were had watching and dancing along with it. It is where my love of Madonna began.
2. The Beatles - The Beatles (White Album) - I don't remember a point in life where The Beatles weren't a part of it, but after reading Helter Skelter (book about the Manson Family murders) I became obsessed with this album and listened to it a lot. I was in HS and going through a phase where I was fascinated in intense psychological issues. And Manson has some very interesting issues. But even without the Manson connection, I still love this album more than their others...the experimentalness of it appeals to me.
3. Phantom of the Opera - Short story...this recording kick started my love of theater. It is the only Andrew Lloyd Webber musical I like.
4. The Lone Bellow - The Lone Bellow- The newest album on the list, The Lone Bellow is some of the most authentic, heartfelt music I've ever heard. It is a rare album that sounds as good on CD as it did live. The musicians are fantastic and real and genuine. By far the best musical discovery I've ever made.
5. Grace Potter & the Nocturnals - Nothing But The Water - Until discovering The Lone Bellow last summer, this was the best musical discovery I'd ever made. I came across Grace Potter when she did a small spot on One Tree Hill in 2008. I'd never watched the show before, but while flipping channels, I heard Grace singing and stopped to listen. I ended up watching the rest of the episode to find out who she was. This was the CD that bought after tracking her down. I love all her stuff and really love how she's evolved since Nothing But The Water, but this album will always be my favorite.
6. Edwin McCain - Far From Over - I own every album this man has ever put out, but for some reason, this is the one I find myself playing over and over and over and over and over again. I just love it.
7. Steppin' In It - Simple Tunes for Troubled Times - This band used to play at a restaurant I used to work at back in 2002-2003. They opened me up to a style of music I had never really listened to before and was even a little disdainful of. I'm so glad they did. I now have a love of Americana/folk/bluegrass/etc. that I wouldn't have if I had never met Steppin' In It.
8. The Young Dubliners - Breath - This album combines my love of Ireland with my love of fondly remembering the past. I was introduced to The Young Dubliners by someone important to me while I was in college and every time I listen to it I get to think back on all the wonderful things brought to my life by that person. And of course, they're Irish.
9. Vanilla Ice - To The Extreme - The first album I remember buying. I was in 6th grade and so excited to be spending my own money to buy this cassette. I listened to it more than it should have been listened to. Even back then, I'm not sure if I bought it because I actually liked it or because everyone else had it. But I'd be lying if I said I haven't upgraded the cassette to a CD and still have it somewhere...
10. You've Got Mail Soundtrack - Another CD on the list for more than one reason...this soundtrack was the movie soundtrack that made me realize that music in movies is important and often good in its own right. I absolutely love the music on this soundtrack, not just because it enhances the movie in such a great way, but because it's just great music. And this CD was given to me along with a bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils by a person who is probably now more special to me than he ever was back then. I am happy to say, I still have the CD and at least some of the bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils.
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