Favorite Albums- from START to FINISH
I feel like we all have a handful of go-to albums that we can listen to without skipping a single song. Not because we are lazy, but because we genuinely enjoy every track. Albums to me are special because they (should) tell some sort of story. I am going to list the ones that are on my go-to list. Would love to hear what yours are!
No particular order! (I am going to try to remember to link to each of the albums via Spotify, too, so feel free to give these a spin for yourselves!)
Switchfoot - ‘Hello Hurricane’
This one is special to me because even before hearing the first single, I got to hear the band play this album from start to finish live. Its symbolism is impressive and creative, as its meant to represent an actual HURRICANE. The way the songs build and flow, it sounds like a storm rolling in... you can tell when you have made it to the eye of the hurricane and when the storm starts to subside. If you haven’t given this one a listen, I suggest it. Start at 1... no shuffle. Go all the way to the end. Then give me a buzz and tell me you don’t love it. You won’t be able to. :)
Mumford & Sons - ‘Sigh No More’
This should come as no surprise to anyone who knows me... even if you just kind of know me. This band can really do no wrong in my book, but ‘Sigh No More’ is a perfect album from start to finish for me. The world would not be the same for me, personally, without each and every one of these songs. I can’t say that for many other albums, if any. It’s special and exciting when you discover an album that has that kind of impact on you.
Jessie Baylin - ‘Firesight’ & ‘Little Spark’
I have Matt Nathanson to thank for introducing me to the absolute gem that is Jessie Baylin. I love women singer songwriters and she is at the top of my list. ‘Firesight’ is a bit more “pop”, but I use that term quite loosely. I also do not think there is a single thing wrong with the term. You will see that later in my list when I go FULL ON BUBBLEGUM. The follow up (which I waited on with baited breath) was equally special and different, but in a way in which you can still listen to both albums shuffled together and its cohesive. Do yourself a favor. Listen to these two albums.
Matt Nathanson - ‘Beneath These Fireworks’, ‘Some Mad Hope’, ‘Modern Love’, ‘Last of the Great Pretenders’, ‘Show Me Your Fangs’
As you can see from the list here, this man can do no wrong in my book. Not only did he introduce me to Jessie Baylin by bringing her out to open on a tour of his many years ago, but I’ll be damned if he isn’t one of my all time favorite songwriters/story tellers. A live show from Matt is equal parts music and comedy show, and he does both parts with uncanny ability. Over the last decade+, Matt Nathanson has provided me with endless hours of listening. Some songs have pulled me out of myself for long enough that I can see things the way they should be instead of staying inside my own head and self destructing. If that isn’t talent, then I don’t know what is. Honorable mention: Live album, ‘At the Point (Live)’.
Tom Petty - ‘Full Moon Fever’
Here we have my first favorite album of all time. It will always be special to me, as long as I have ears to listen to music or a memory of how special music is to me. I was a whopping four years old when this album was released. I stole it-- like legit STOLE it-- from my dad. I still have it in my possession today. He never got it back. From the moment I heard it, it was like something inside me clicked ‘on’ and it never turned ‘off’. For that, I will forever be indebted to the one and only, Tom Petty (& the Heartbreakers, of course).
Billy Joel - ‘Storm Front’
Again, this one is sentimental to me because it happened when I was just really discovering music and picking out my own favorites. My parents were in one of those ridiculous “CD clubs” where they would send you those sheets of stamps that you would go through and pick the 10 albums or whatever the number was that you wanted and they supposedly would charge you a penny or some ridiculous nonsense. I was 4, so I didn’t understand what a pyramid scheme was, but I am sure there is someone out there searching for my parents to pay off their cd club debts to society. Now that we have the back story-- there was a day my parents were look through their little CD cover stamps and I begged to have them let me pick a few for myself. I was a spoiled brat, so of course they obliged. My first choice was Billy Joel’s ‘Storm Front’. Because of my obession with “We Didn’t Start the Fire”. I wore that album OUT. It also left me with a skill that not many others have (I have asked and literally no one I have met can beat me at this).... I can sing every. single. word to “We Didn’t Start the Fire”. I am still holding my breath for an update from the 90′s to present. Get on that, Bill. I know you’ve got it in you!
Taylor Swift - ‘Red’ and ‘1989′
When you think perfect pop music, if you don’t think Taylor Swift, then I am not sure what you are looking for you in your pop music. Love her or hate her (I know what I would say to the haters-- ‘Why you gotta be so mean’) you have to admit her songwriting talent is there. And it doesn’t seem to be going anywhere, as she seemingly is getting better and better with age and experiences. ‘Red’ was still when Taylor was in the country world but toeing into the wavy waters of full fledged POP. They are both in my ‘driving albums’ rotation. Perfect singalong at the top of your lungs material, especially if you are in a post break up, girl power mode (who isn’t always in that mode, though?)
One Direction - ‘Midnight Memories’, ‘FOUR’, ‘Made in the A.M.’
While I am on straight up POP, I have to discuss One Direction. I grew up the the world of the boyband. I was certain after the early 2000′s this fad would go away to return maybe never but certainly not with a group put together by Simon Cowell on a British competition show. But... alas... HERE THEY WERE, right in front of my eyes. Each of the 5 members of the band auditioned as solo artists. They did not make it, but the genius of Simon Cowell said ‘Wait just a bloody minute!!!’, at least thats how I imagine it going down backstage. And he pulled the 5 adorable youngsters together and said “SING AND DANCE AND MAKE THE WORLD LOVE YOU” and then they did just that. They did not win the X Factor but considering they are one of the top earning groups of all time and no one knows who came in first that season, I would say they fucking WON. In the process, they won my (much to old for this) heart and I have not been the same since. Luckily, I have friends my age who think the same thing, and they are all of age now, so I don’t have to feel creepy. Also, one of them knocked up one of the judges on the X Factor and she is older than me. So, I suppose its all in good fun. If you are ever in the mood for perfect pop, look up a One Direction album. NO SHAME! I promise.
Taking Back Sunday - ‘Tell All Your Friends’
Now, for the emo section. This album is high school for me. Senior year. It also reminds me of ex boyfriends from hell, which is not usually a welcome thing, but isn’t that what emo music is for? Open up all of the wounds you thought you’ve licked clean and healed just to remind you what it means to FEEL something. Anything. These songs aren’t all F YOU anthems to ghosts of girlfriends/boyfriends past, though. Some are genuinely fun, at least for me.
Brand New - ‘Your Favorite Weapon’
In another emo nod to high school memories, we have Brand New. Now, this band has beef with Taking Back Sunday and you can actually tell in their lyrics if you pay close attention. See if you can find it! Its fun!
Fall Out Boy - ‘Take This to Your Grave’, ‘From Under the Cork Tree’, ‘Infinity on High’, ‘Save Rock and Roll’
Here is another band that I have literally ZERO shame in admitting my love for. Emo? Whatever. Who cares? They have badass, long song titles that make nearly no sense with the song’s theme and it makes me love them even more. Plus, just google for some leaked photos of Pete Wentz and then you can have that visual to go along with the tracks and think happy thoughts. Dirty. I know. I am sorry. Its late and I am not sleeping until I finish this list.
Panic! at the Disco - ‘A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out’, Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die’
Another band with a flare for a killer, long, sometimes ridiculous song title. The first album from this band is ALL sophomore year of college for me. Just as wonderful and confusing as those days were, this album is all of that and more. Their 2013 release is just as special to me, and the songs are just so good. I don’t care what your preconceived ideas are on this band.... give these songs a whirl. Their other albums are great too, but I do tend to skip a song or two when playing the album from start to finish, so rules being rules... I had to keep them from the list. But some of those songs will land on a list of of some of my favorite songs. So keep that in mind and give the full catalog a spin around the block for good measure. Brendon Urie, while we don’t have access to cell phone photos of what is under his clothes, we do have the video for a song called “Girls/Girls/Boys” which is almost (maybe more?) satisfying in a nod to the D’Angelo video for “Untitled (How Does it Feel?)”. YOU’RE WELCOME.
Howie Day - ‘Australia’, ‘The Madrigals EP’, ‘Stop All The World Now’, 'Live From.... EP’
As far as singer-songwriters go, Howie Day can basically do no wrong in my book. I stumbled upon Howie in the beginning of my desire to learn everything I could about John Mayer circa 2001. Thanks to that, I found one of my favorite artists of all time with Howie (he opened for John on some key dates in the earlier days of his career). His debut, ‘Australia’ still gets regular play from me, as to his other albums. Howie had some radio success and VH1 love for a couple of singles, so you may recognize the tracks “She Says” and “Ghost”. Now, my love for Howie isn’t just his boyish charm and great songwriting. Its also that mother F’ing looping pedal. The first time I saw him live, so many years ago.... I about had a heart attack. I had never seen anything like it. He was a one man music machine and I couldn’t get enough. Now, if anyone performs with a looping pedal, I automatically compare them to Howie and they rarely stack up to his skills. But I still fall for a man with looping pedal skills & an acoustic guitar, it never fails.
John Mayer - ‘Inside Wants Out EP’, ‘Room For Squares’, ‘Any Given Thursday’, ‘Heavier Things’
Oh John Mayer. Where do I even start? Discovered just shortly before the blockbuster release of ‘Room For Squares’. He gave me one of the greatest moments of my teenage life when I won upgraded tickets (front row) and meet & greet to his first big headlining tour. THANKS FAN CLUB! That was also the beginning of the end for me and live music... spoiled rotten. There are not many songwriters alive today that I can say I believe have more raw, indisputable talent than that of this human being. Don’t even get me started on his guitar skills. If you haven’t already spent some time with his catalog, I suggest starting from the beginning with these 4 suggestions.
Not ALL of them made the list, but as artists before on this list it doesn’t mean that those unmentioned albums aren’t nearly perfect. So give those a listen to, if you like what you hear from these suggestions. They just might be YOUR perfect album. Who knows!?
okay.... I am not done. So stay tuned for more. I will just be editing this post, not making a new one.
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