I have seen a recent music movement on Facebook music, which tugged at my heart strings. I am doing the 10 day challenge of albums that impacted my life, but of course I had to change all the rules. I am doing 9 albums, because that is what fits in the college template. I am doing them all in one post because I don’t want to commit to 9 days of posting when I can all at once and instead of choosing someone to nominate for the challenge, I nominate you all!
Led Zeppelin, “Going To California” reminds me of my childhood. The windows in the car rolled down while staring out of the backseat window as my hair tangles in the wind and the warm air and cold AC collide. Long road trips and excitement for adventure while music blasts in car meant it was Summertime. I loved our summer road trips
Smashing Pumpkins was not only a favorite in my early teens but a favorite long into my 20s. Billy Corgan almost felt like a long lost cousin or best friend who gets me. My bedroom walls were purple and I had a glitter cord phone, my own phone line. I was artsy fartsy and wore strange clothes.
Sia, 1000 Forms of Fear. Fast forward to a few years ago when I moved away and came right back thinking my world fell apart and that I was a failure. One day, I woke up and decided I was done being so hard on myself and miserable and wanted to change my perspective. I was finally open to being open. I listened to this album a 1000 times and each song was meant for this chapter in my life and I felt so empowered and had so much growth in my life. The hopelessness in the past turned into appreciation and rolling with the punches with a smile on my face. I got this!
Bjork. She is my queen. This weird creature with lyrics so piercing and a voice so different started my rebirth into a new musical era. I remember some of my first few albums such as Brandy, Toni Braxton and TLC. I loved them. I always loved a strong female voice and women in music. Bjork was different. Kind of like Tori Amos, the way she expressed herself was much deeper than what everyone else was doing. I felt like I just discovered a new world where I could belong.
Garbage. Shirley Manson was a badass. Again, I always admired women in music. Teenage angst meets punk rock princess. She was a real musician, not a pretty girl who stood in front of a microphone in heels, singing someone else’s songs. I also was obsessed with the band Orgy. 98 Degrees and Backstreet Boys were not my cup of tea.
Radiohead. I love, LOVE Radiohead. I remember getting on their street team when I was 15 and in the mail I received a ton of Kid A stickers with the bear design to pass out. I have listened to every single album, every song, a million times. Thom Yorke is a genius. Some people meditate. I listened to Radiohead.
Alabama Shakes. This album makes me think about my stomach engulfing millions of butterflies that fly into my chest and flutter into my head. My husband introduced me to Alabama Shakes and every kiss was and still melts my soul. I felt (and still feel) so overwhelmed with happiness and love. The way he looks into my eyes, laughing all night and nervously hoping this isn’t a dream. I fell in love while this album (and The Pixies, Glass Animals and Shakey Graves as well) filled my ears and heart. I was with my future husband and everything was perfect. I love this man so much and how much our love has grown since the silly beginning of our time. It’s like time froze but we learn more each day.
Nirvana was first introduced to my because my brother listened to them. I think his first CD was Pearl Jam. Is that silly that I can even remember my brother’s first album? He was a skater and had a skater haircut and we were transplants from Southern California to the Midwest. We actually even lived in Portland in 1994, prime music era for Elliott Smith and the birth of grunge, but I was only 10 at the time and listening to Red Hot Chili Peppers Under The Bridge, missing California instead. Later we discovered our love for Kurt Cobain…. but still! We were right there!
No Doubt is a classic. Gwen was my idol. I wanted to be her. She was so cool but still this wholesome and humble young chick with spunk and style. I also loved Jewel and bought her book. I was a total fan girl for her writing. Anyway, No Doubt’s Tragic Kingdom made me want more and when I discovered their earlier albums I learned about Ska and that opened a door to discover The Slackers and a whole new subculture. Random, but I listed to a lot of Coolio on the days I skipped school at Nixa Junior High.
Music has always been a huge part of my life, gracing many moments with a soundtrack. Now, it is your turn! What music impacted your life?
Honorable Mentions: Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Cursive, Ramones, Avett Brothers, The Shins, Velvet Underground, Salt-N-Pepa, The Coral, Fugees, Fugazi, Metric, Tegan and Sara, Weezer, David Bowie
