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Blarobbarg · 06-08-2011, 08:56 PM

In no order...

Black Sabbath, We Sold Our Soul For Rock n Roll
This album introduced me to one of the single greatest metal bands of all time, and threw me into a new world of music. Highly, highly influential to me.

The Beatles, Abbey Road
Really, what is there to say? The side A is simply sublime, all ending in the insanely addicting, trance-inducing, "I Want You (She's So Heavy)." Side B is mind blowing, filled with fun, psychedelic songs, every single one merging into one another. An early influence on my listening, I have my mother to thank for this fantastic album.

Metallica, Metallica
Yeah yeah. They sold out. Whatever. This is by far NOT my favorite Metallica album, nor does it even have that many great songs on it... but before I heard it I hated all metal, after I listened to it, I just wasn't sure. Right after hearing it front-to-back for the first time, I was literally confused. My musical world was changed. Right after this I heard "Ride The Lightning" for the first time, and nothing was ever the same.

Alice Cooper, A Fistful Of Alice
Well. Now we're getting serious. I bought this on a whim because I knew his famous song, "School's Out." That was one of the best whims I ever had. This album is simply essential for anyone new to Alice. It has all of his hits, performed fantastically. My mind was seriously blown the first time I listened. Alice is now one of my all time favorite artists/bands (depending on the era), and if you haven't given him a serious listen I highly recommend this album.

Big & Rich, Horse Of A Different Color
Quite honestly, this is not a favorite album of mine, nor is it one that I listen to often. But when I was a kid, my dad was spinning this at a near-constant rate after he bought it. It was incredibly important growing up, and is incredibly important to me. So yeah. If you like really fun, rowdy, upbeat country, give it a listen. Just don't expect much substance.

Gorillaz, Demon Days
Love love love this album. It introduced me to rap (non-gangsta) and showed me that modern pop could have real substance. It has a very dark feel to it, but is still bouncy and fun. Always throw it on when on trips with my brother. Lots of good memories with this album.

The Clash, London Calling
Well. Didn't even get into this album until right before I joined this site, but I can honestly say that it has changed my life. I had heard a lot of different punk before The Clash... Sex Pistols, Green Day, Misfits, etc etc etc... I'd heard a lot of good stuff. But I kept hearing that this album was imperative to get. So I happened upon it for cheap at my local used book store and bought it, just to give it a shot. Second best whim of my life. Has changed the way I view all music, even the genres themselves... it made me ask the question, "Genres are so clear cut... but do they have to be? Why can't they be mixed, matched, and messed with at random? Why CAN'T a punk band play reggae or jazz songs?" I had already been contemplating these things, but this album made it serious.

Creed, Human Clay
Once again, not something I would necessarily recommend as a very serious musical achievement... very standard, catchy, post-grunge. Typical, boring, modern rock. But I listened to it a ton when my father bought it back in the day. Basically introduced me to all harder rock, considering the heaviest thing I had heard up to that point was some of Beethoven's crazier, faster pieces. Very inspiring for a sheltered boy such as I.

Santana, Shaman AND Supernatural
Okay, so I lied up in the Gorillaz section. Technically, Carlos Santana showed me hip hop for the first time, before I truly knew what it was. Once again, childhood albums from my father. Unlike the others, I highly recommend both of these. The songs are incredibly varied in style, but most are enjoyable, and all show off Santana love of music. Also, yes, I am cheating by putting these together. I couldn't decide which was more important.

Megadeth, Greatest Hits: Back To The Start
Another greatest hits. This album came after my initial introduction to metal, but I was still listening to mostly Metallica, Sabbath, Judas Priest, and Iron Maiden. My brothers listened to Megadeth, but I just couldn't stand them, because of Dave Mustaine's awful, awful singing. So my brother gave me this and told me to listen. I did. Afterwards, I realized that not only was his terrible singing not hurting the fast, angry thrash, it was ENHANCING it. This album basically opened my ears to all terrible singers (hahaha), and let me listen to the likes of Motorhead, The Sex Pistols, and eventually The Clash without clenching my fists in annoyance.

So there we go. I have loads of other albums that I like more than these, or listen to more often, or aren't rock at all (heck, I didn't even touch jazz)... but these are definitely some of the most influential. I hope my random, write-as-I-think style made any sense at all.

06-08-2011, 08:56 PM	#490 (permalink)
Blarobbarg Do good. Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota Posts: 2,065	In no order... Black Sabbath, We Sold Our Soul For Rock n Roll This album introduced me to one of the single greatest metal bands of all time, and threw me into a new world of music. Highly, highly influential to me. The Beatles, Abbey Road Really, what is there to say? The side A is simply sublime, all ending in the insanely addicting, trance-inducing, "I Want You (She's So Heavy)." Side B is mind blowing, filled with fun, psychedelic songs, every single one merging into one another. An early influence on my listening, I have my mother to thank for this fantastic album. Metallica, Metallica Yeah yeah. They sold out. Whatever. This is by far NOT my favorite Metallica album, nor does it even have that many great songs on it... but before I heard it I hated all metal, after I listened to it, I just wasn't sure. Right after hearing it front-to-back for the first time, I was literally confused. My musical world was changed. Right after this I heard "Ride The Lightning" for the first time, and nothing was ever the same. Alice Cooper, A Fistful Of Alice Well. Now we're getting serious. I bought this on a whim because I knew his famous song, "School's Out." That was one of the best whims I ever had. This album is simply essential for anyone new to Alice. It has all of his hits, performed fantastically. My mind was seriously blown the first time I listened. Alice is now one of my all time favorite artists/bands (depending on the era), and if you haven't given him a serious listen I highly recommend this album. Big & Rich, Horse Of A Different Color Quite honestly, this is not a favorite album of mine, nor is it one that I listen to often. But when I was a kid, my dad was spinning this at a near-constant rate after he bought it. It was incredibly important growing up, and is incredibly important to me. So yeah. If you like really fun, rowdy, upbeat country, give it a listen. Just don't expect much substance. Gorillaz, Demon Days Love love love this album. It introduced me to rap (non-gangsta) and showed me that modern pop could have real substance. It has a very dark feel to it, but is still bouncy and fun. Always throw it on when on trips with my brother. Lots of good memories with this album. The Clash, London Calling Well. Didn't even get into this album until right before I joined this site, but I can honestly say that it has changed my life. I had heard a lot of different punk before The Clash... Sex Pistols, Green Day, Misfits, etc etc etc... I'd heard a lot of good stuff. But I kept hearing that this album was imperative to get. So I happened upon it for cheap at my local used book store and bought it, just to give it a shot. Second best whim of my life. Has changed the way I view all music, even the genres themselves... it made me ask the question, "Genres are so clear cut... but do they have to be? Why can't they be mixed, matched, and messed with at random? Why CAN'T a punk band play reggae or jazz songs?" I had already been contemplating these things, but this album made it serious. Creed, Human Clay Once again, not something I would necessarily recommend as a very serious musical achievement... very standard, catchy, post-grunge. Typical, boring, modern rock. But I listened to it a ton when my father bought it back in the day. Basically introduced me to all harder rock, considering the heaviest thing I had heard up to that point was some of Beethoven's crazier, faster pieces. Very inspiring for a sheltered boy such as I. Santana, Shaman AND Supernatural Okay, so I lied up in the Gorillaz section. Technically, Carlos Santana showed me hip hop for the first time, before I truly knew what it was. Once again, childhood albums from my father. Unlike the others, I highly recommend both of these. The songs are incredibly varied in style, but most are enjoyable, and all show off Santana love of music. Also, yes, I am cheating by putting these together. I couldn't decide which was more important. Megadeth, Greatest Hits: Back To The Start Another greatest hits. This album came after my initial introduction to metal, but I was still listening to mostly Metallica, Sabbath, Judas Priest, and Iron Maiden. My brothers listened to Megadeth, but I just couldn't stand them, because of Dave Mustaine's awful, awful singing. So my brother gave me this and told me to listen. I did. Afterwards, I realized that not only was his terrible singing not hurting the fast, angry thrash, it was ENHANCING it. This album basically opened my ears to all terrible singers (hahaha), and let me listen to the likes of Motorhead, The Sex Pistols, and eventually The Clash without clenching my fists in annoyance. So there we go. I have loads of other albums that I like more than these, or listen to more often, or aren't rock at all (heck, I didn't even touch jazz)... but these are definitely some of the most influential. I hope my random, write-as-I-think style made any sense at all.