List 7 albums that have stayed with you for one reason or another. Don’t think about it too much.
I’ll be honest with you, I’m gonna fail before I’m even out of the blocks. You see, I have been thinking about it. A lot. I’d like to say it’s because I’m being rebellious but it’s actually just that thinking is what I do. A lot. Also, I’m not just gonna list them. I’m gonna talk about them too. Because talking about things is what I like to do. A lot.
Here they are:
- Spiders by Space – This gets to be top of the list for being the first album I ever bought (putting “The Smurfs Go Pop” on my birthday list doesn’t count). It came from WHSmiths (possibly the Staines branch. I can picture the CD rack on the first floor). I would have been about 14. I thought that hearing them on the radio a fortnight before anyone in my class talked about them meant that I was a music guru. I can no longer listen to the album on repeat (my tastes have changed too much) but it taught me that music can be about more than a good tune. It can be fun, dark and sincere with a comedy accent on the side.
- Enema Of The State by blink-182 – I may never know another album like I know this album. I can’t quite explain how much I believe this statement and I don’t really care how much of a loser that makes me sound. I know it is music for 14 year old boys. I don’t know why I identify with it so much but when those first few chords of Dumpweed strike up it’s like a different world comes alight. When I listen to it I am once again connected to a horizon of teenage possibility. Failing that I’m listening to awesome pop-punk music that I love. That could be it too.
- Plans by Death Cab For Cutie – This was probably one of the first “grown up” (i.e. mopey) albums I bought. Loud guitars still had (and continue to have) a solid place in my heart but I found I had ample room for the folk/alt/indie/even-a-little-electro contingent which is where Death Cab For Cutie comes in. Plans is an album that can break your heart and heal it all within the space of 45 minutes. Sometimes in life that is just what you need.
- The ’59 Sound by The Gaslight Anthem – Somewhere between the loud guitars of blink-182 and the glorious but whining vocals of Death Cab For Cutie you get The Gaslight Anthem. They take the pain of being human and kick it into next week. This album taught me that you can feel sad, creative, angry and alive all at the same time.
- The Muppet Christmas Carol Original Soundtrack by The Muppets – For the past few years I have made it my routine to watch The Muppet Christmas Carol during the days or even weeks leading up to Christmas, despite not being a fan of the season itself. Why? Because it’s a great film! It is funny, musical, dramatic, sweet and all round entertaining. I bought the soundtrack last year and having been able to listen more carefully it has become apparent to me just how clever the film and its music are. For a tale of morality set at Christmas there are surprisingly few religious references. The result of this is a powerful message about tolerance and inclusivity delivered with a subtle hand…if musical puppets could ever be described as subtle. There’s also something about Michael Caine singing to fluffy bunnies that melts my heart.
Sometime later…
I’ve just had my dinner and having had a while to reflect I have realised 2 things:
- a) I could continue this list forever
- b) I am in danger of straying from the brief
- Avril Lavigne – she needs a mention not just to redress the male to female ratio (though goodness knows it is needed – would you look at all that dudeage?) but because she and her music make me feel awesome. She’s great for sparking the imagination in all manner of moods and for doing your hair to.
- Joseph And The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat Soundtrack – I had the cassette of this when I was in junior school and I listened to it constantly. A couple of years ago I upgraded to CD and began listening again. I was amazed at all the different styles incorporated into one musical: country, rock and roll, funk, calypso, French (is that a style?). Genius.
- Graceland by Paul Simon – When I was little music was scarce. I don’t know why but it was. Because of this we got to know the albums my parents did have really well. Graceland was one of these albums. It reminds me of car journeys and family holidays and I love it. It transcends musical boundaries. This is a line that I stole from the album review podcast that Tom and I made. We in turn stole it from a music review we read.
- Guy Mitchell – Again, I blame the parents. A traffic jam on the A303 would have been a whole lot different if Dad hadn’t picked up a 50p cassette at a car boot sale beforehand. Not a bad introduction to American 1950s pop music.
- Write It On Your Skin by Newton Faulkner – This is the album that lifts my soul and tells me everything will be okay. I would recommend it when you are down but we are all different. It might make you feel worse.
- Frank Turner – I’m disappointed with myself that this fella didn’t make it into my initial 5. I’m not sure why I didn’t think of him in time. I wonder if it’s because his music fits so perfectly alongside the everyday that it merges into life itself. More of a sitcom than a blockbuster. Maybe I should stop making excuses and admit that I’m a dunce. The world would be a poorer place without him and his music. He is exceedingly talented, intelligent and downright nice even if you couldn’t take him home to your mother because of all his tattoos. His words and music provide inspiration when it is needed most. I couldn’t pick a single album but I can narrow it down to 3: Love, Ire and Song; England Keep My Bones; Positive Songs For Negative People. May I never be without them.
It pains me that the debut albums of Kylie and Jason have not had a look in here (they were “instrumental” during my early years, after all) but I have to stop somewhere. I really could go on forever.
I’m not sure I have completed the challenge in the way it was intended but I have had fun doing it. The enjoyment of music goes far beyond the listening. May you take pleasure in whatever music lands upon your ears and may its journey never stop there!