Albums that rocked your world.

[Billfred]

Alright, so there's the "Books that inspired you" thread in the general forum. I'm gonna ask the same question about albums, except that I don't know if I'll hold it to the inspiring standard--let's aim for albums that struck a chord with you deep inside you.

Personally, I can think of two...

1) "The Black Album" by Jay-Z: This is his last album, as far as we all know. I guess this one hit me because a lot of the album is spent talking about finishing up a career filled with ups and downs, just when I'm graduating high school. It's one of those albums that I kept playing over and over in my car, much to my brother's chagrin. (His recording career, oddly enough, goes back to 1992, when I was in kindergarden. And yes, that quote down in my signature is taken from the last cut, My 1st Song)

2) "Thriller" by New End Original: A side project of Jonah Matranga (formerly of Far, currently of Onelinedrawing), their lone album seems to contain the range of feelings I've had over my high school career--from taking my own path (Lukewarm) to falling for a girl (#1 Defender), to feigning happiness to the crowd, despite the truth (Leper Song). And besides that, the album rocks.

[Lisa Perez]

One by One by the Foo Fighters is pretty amazing. They know how to hit every single emotion in their songs, on this album especially. "Times like These" and "All My Life" are two of my favorites.


Bleed American by Jimmy Eat World is excellent as well. For the same reason as above. And because they have the ability to make anyone's day. :) Plus, the ballads aren't too sappy so that's always a plus.

[Eugenia Gabrielov]

I'd have to say that both Josh Groban cds struck a chord with me. He sings in Italian, which is my second language (english is 3rd, w00t) and it's really inspiring that he's made this career for himself.

The Beastie Boys newest album, the 5 boroughs one, is fabulous. They say a lot about their beliefs and their interests without compromising their unique artistic talent.

[Bill Gold]

There are many albums that have either influenced my life or made it more enjoyable for one reason or another. Music has been, and in all likelihood will continue to be very important to me.

When we were young my parents would put my brother and me to sleep with music. Some of my favorites that I remember were various pieces by Chopin and Beethoven, “On the Threshold of a Dream” by The Moody Blues (that robot voice in “In The Beginning” used to scare the crap out of me. Yes. I was a wuss.), “Stardust” by Willie Nelson, “Blue Skies” performed by Kiri Te Kanawa, a few different Ray Charles albums, and some assorted Steve Miller Band music. When we weren’t headed to bed we listened, primarily, to oldies like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Birds, Simon and Garfunkel, The Supremes, Janis Joplin, Crosby/Stills/Nash(/& Young), and others. When I was growing up in the late 1980’s and early 1990s I was pretty much totally isolated from modern music.

I didn’t start listening to modern music until about 1992 when my friends got me to listen to Salt ‘N Peppa, and then onto more modern rock like The Offspring, Green Day, Soundgarden, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and others. I noticed that bands like Pearl Jam were politically active and tried to engage their fans to become involved in issues that should matter to them, but it wasn’t the same type of movement like in the 1960’s and 1970’s (the music I had been used to).

When I started middle school in 1994 most of my elementary school friends went to another school and I felt alone for a long time. It was a good three-quarters of the year before I made any friends, and I became very depressed because I wasn’t fitting in. I retreated into music looking for something to do, or something to be a part of. As luck would have it, I ran across music by Social Distortion and Bad Religion. I can say, without any hesitation, that the music of these two bands (but Social Distortion in particular) saved my life. I was seriously considering committing suicide as an 11 year old, for reasons that (looking back on my life with 20/20 vision) were ridiculous. Social Distortion’s stories of drug addicted friends, being doomed to a life of prison sentences and poor education, gang violence, working dead end jobs, and persecution for many different reasons showed me that my problems were absolutely nothing compared to the plight of so many people in the world. It showed me that someone with this kind of background was determined to get out of it and lead a productive life, and that I shouldn’t just give up and leave this world silently. I was lucky enough to be born into a great family that’s very supportive, and I have absolutely no excuse to squander this life that millions of people would kill to have an opportunity to live. The music of Bad Religion is crafted so beautifully. It gets a wonderful message across, and does so with an amazing sound that continues to wow me.

During those tough times for me I also turned to the music of the band Live. I’m definitely not a religious person, but I feel some strange comfort when listening to their music. It definitely speaks to me for reasons that are still unknown to me.

Since then I’ve listened to and been affected by music created by many bands. It’d take forever to talk about all of them, but other albums and bands that haven’t already been listed that part of me owes its existence to include (but aren’t limited to)…
Alice in Chains
Better Than Ezra
Bob Seger
Bush – 16 Stone
Candlebox (in particular “Far Behind”)
Cheap Trick
Counting Crows, The
Cult, The
Cure, The
Cranberries, The
Face To Face
Faith No More
Fiona Apple
Garbage
Journey
Korn
Lenny Kravitz
Letters to Cleo
Local H
Meat Loaf
Mike Ness - Cheating at Solitaire
Nada Surf
Natalie Imbruglia
Nine Inch Nails
Oleander
Sheryl Crow
Silverchair
Sister Hazel
Smashing Pumpkins, The
Sponge
Stabbing Westward
Stone Temple Pilots
Toad the Wet Sprocket
Tonic
Tool
U2
Who, The (“Tommy” in particular)

Yeah… I’ve probably written more than my allotted $0.02 worth…

[Andy A.]

Would have to say Everclear's So Much For the Afterglow.

When you mix just the right amount of pop production in with rock, it's a wonderful thing.

Dispatch's various live shows and recordings are fantastic. Gut the Van tops that list.

[Scooter]

There are several moving albums that I've heard...

Days of Future Passed by Moody Blues
Surlamer by Moody Blues
Audio by Blue Man Group
Almost anything by Peter Paul and Mary
Songs You Know By Heart by Jimmy Buffett

Each of these has had an influence on my life in it's own way, but each has helped make me who I am.

-Bill

[Alex Pelan]

The Beatles 1 really taught me how good the music was in the 60s and 70s, and it really has got me into a lot of the more classic stuff.

[Mike Ciance]

AFI: All Hollows EP
AFI: Art of Drowning
AFI: Sing The Sorrow
Audioslave: Audioslave
Bamboo Shoots (http://www.bambooshoots.com): Research and Development EP
Disturbed: Believe
Linkin Park: Hybrid Theory
Linkin Park: Meteora (it's ok, but it rocks because i got it for free when i won this game at Ramp Riot :D )
Rage Against the Machine: Rage Against the Machine
Rage Against the Machine: The Battle of Los Angeles
Slipknot: Slipknot
Slipknot: Vol. 3 The Subliminal Verses
System of a Down: Steal This Album!
System of a Down: System of a Down
System of a Down: Toxicity
Taproot: Gift
Taproot: Welcome

[evulish]

Oh man.. So Much for the Afterglow ROCKED SO HARD. Years after buying the cd, I can still listen to it. I love that CD. Post-grunge rock rules. It sounds so awesome when turned up loud.

Ben Folds Five - Whatever and Ever, Amen. One of my favorite albums ever. I can't get sick of it.

Ben Folds - Sunny 16 (EP). I think this his latest EP. Great music. Going to see him, Rufus Wainright, and Guster on July 3rd in Buffalo, NY.

The Postal Service - Give Up. Emo meets Electronica.. so awesome.

Dispatch - Bang Bang. Great album.

[Joshua May]

3 Doors Down - The Better Life
Billy Joel - Piano Man - One of my favorite songs of all time
Blue Oyster Cult - Don't Fear the Reaper - I like the message of the song
Foo Fighters - One by One
Hoobastank - The Reason
EDIT: Staind - 14 Shades of Grey
Train - Drops of Jupiter
Tsunami Bomb - The Great Escape

[Dorienne]

Albums I've really enjoyed are:
Linkin Park - Hybrid Theory ~~I can still listen to this after so long, and I never get tired of it.
Richard Marx - Rush Street ~~This guy has such an amazing voice, and his songs are really unique and different. 80s rock is awesome!
Grease Soundtrack ~~C'mon, who doesn't love Grease!
Richard Marx - Repeat Offender ~~This album is my favorite. The lyrics are just so mind-blowing, it's hard to believe this guy wrote this stuff. He sings the songs with such passion and emotion, it's hard to not picture what the lyrics say. Amazing.

--d0ri

[Greg Ross]

I don't know about "rock my world", but here's a quick list of a few of my early favorites (not necessarily in any particular order, chronological or otherwise.):

The Beatles: Sergeant Pepper, Abbey Road, Yellow Submarine
Artur Rubenstein plays Beethoven Piano Sonatas (especially the Moonlight and Apassionatta sonatas.)
Leonard Pennario playing Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini (and others.)
Switched on Bach by Walter (Wendy) Carlos
Peter and the Wolf by Sergei Prokofiev
Carnival of the Animals by Camille Saint-Saëns, narrated by Hugh Downs
Peter, Please, It’s Pancakes
In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida by Iron Butterfly
On Wenlock Edge by Ralph Vaughan Williams, performed by Ian Partridge
Debussy’s Introduction and Allegro performed by the Melos Ensemble

Quite an eclectic list, don’t you think?

[D.J. Fluck]

The four albums with the most influence on my music tastes

Pearl Jam - Ten (one of the best of all time)
Nirvana - Nevermind (Arguably the best of all time)
Green Day - Dookie (95% of their music after dookie was crap..no pun intended :p)
Alice In Chains- Greatest Hits...all their albums were good, but the greatest hits album is truely great

[Matt_Kaplan1902]

Some of mine:

New Found Glory (they grew up in my hometown)- NewFoundGlory, Sticks & Stones, Catalyst
Linkin Park- Hydrid Theory
Pink Floyd- Dark Side of the Moon
Led Zeplin and Queen- Greatest Hits
Nirvana - Nevermind
Green Day - Dookie
Offspring- Smash & Conspiracy of One
Midtown- Living Well is the Best Revenge
Yellow Card- Oceanavenue
Basically All Oldies
-I work in an Ice Cream Shop and ALL day they play Majik 102.7 which is the local oldies station.

[Karthik]

Radiohead - The Bends
This album is more than a collection of songs, it's an emotional journey.

U2 - All That You Can't Leave Behind

How many bands can say that they're still producing their best music after being in the business for 20 years. I thought it was impossible to top The Joshua Tree or Achtung Baby, but they did it.

Notorious B.I.G. - Ready To Die

This album changed hip hop music forever. It really helped bring the hardcore street rap into the mainstream. It's just too bad that everything had to end in such a tragic way for Biggie.

Ben Harper - Welcome To The Cruel World

If you ever just want to chill out and relax, this is the album to toss on. Ben Harper's music is as comfortable as a soothing embrace...

[Jeff Rodriguez]

I second the Postal Service, and I credit Brandon for mentioning them and introducing me.

The Presidents of the United States of America. All their albums are great. Watch for the new one August, I think.

Red Hot Chili Peppers - By the Way, and One Hot Minute. Great stuff. Flea is amazing.

Rx Bandits - Progess.

Zox - Take Me Home. Local Band from Brown University in RI. GREAT live shows. Great Bassist.

Alien Ant Farm. Both their albums.

Yellowcard - Ocean Avenue. I find myself listening to it more and more.

Matt Nathanson - Beneath thses Fireworks. The reason I'm gonna get an acoustic guitar.

The Apex Theory - Topsy Turvy

Tonic - Lemon Parade

Boxcar Racer - Self Titled

Celldweller - Self Titled. Holy Moly.

I could sit here all day and list more. But I'll limit it to that.

[Joe Matt]

Jay-Z & DJ Dangermouse -The Grey Alblum

Three Day's Grace- Three Day's Grace

And hands down the most influential album and one that rocked my world,

Blue Man Group- The Complex

The themes in the album stand out compared to other music, plus the music just kicks $@#$@#$@#! :ahh:

[Amanda Morrison]

This post took some careful consideration. Just by putting these, I feel like I'm leaving thousands of great albums out.

AC/DC - Back in Black (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000089RV6/qid=1087766970/sr=ka-1/ref=pd_ka_1/102-0202643-7810528)
This album, owned originally on vinyl by my parents, has always been something I can go back to. I have been known, on occasion, to use a vacuum as a guitar during 'Rock 'n Roll Ain't Noise Pollution'. It is, by far, the best album to play while cleaning house. Just put on your Van Halen bandanna (if you also own one, you rock) and get out the Windex.

Death Cab for Cutie - The Photo Album (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00005ORA5/qid=1087767781/sr=1-3/ref=sr_1_3/102-0202643-7810528?v=glance&s=music)
Death Cab for Cutie - We Have the Facts and We're Voting Yes (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00004RI7B/qid=1087767781/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2/102-0202643-7810528?v=glance&s=music)
I saw DCFC in Chicago when The Photo Album was just coming out. My socks were rocked. These are still favorites. There are just some albums you listen to and think, 'This was what high school was for me.' This is exactly that.

Deftones - White Pony (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00004Z400/ref=pd_sim_music_6/102-0202643-7810528?v=glance&s=music)
There is no better driving music than this album. Passenger features Maynard James Keenan from Tool (below on this list) and is so great. Change (in the house of flies) is also a favorite. Eh, the whole album is a favorite. It's on repeat as we speak.

Garth Brooks - The Limited Series (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000006OH8/qid=1087768645/sr=1-8/ref=sr_1_8/102-0202643-7810528?v=glance&s=music)
I could, quite possibly, be the largest Garth Brooks fan this side of the Mississippi. I have listened to him ever since I first saw him appear on an episode of 'Empty Nest' and have been a doting fan ever since. My first Garth concert was when I was 7, and there were three more to follow. I even got pointed at. Yes, folks, Garth Brooks pointed at me. I'll be signing autographs.

John Mayer - Heavier Things (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000ALSDR/qid=1087767163/sr=ka-1/ref=pd_ka_1/102-0202643-7810528)
John Mayer - Room For Squares (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00005OAIE/qid=1087767163/sr=ka-2/ref=pd_ka_2/102-0202643-7810528)
Both of these albums have such a wide range of emotion and are so well-written, I can't help but love them. I associate a bit more with Heavier Things, being that the issues in them are a little bit more well-defined and the music a tad more complex and fitting. I could listen to these for days. They are feel-good music, they are relaxing music, they are 'I just want to be alone' music, they are everything.

Peter Gabriel - Hit (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000DZ3EA/qid=1087768148/sr=8-1/ref=__1/102-0202643-7810528?v=glance&s=music)
Phil Collins - ...Hits (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00000D9TQ/ref=pd_sbs_m_1/102-0202643-7810528?v=glance&s=music)
I once had a teacher who told me the greatest wisdom of my life - 'You never go a single day without hearing Phil Collins.' It's so true. Although it's somewhat injustice to lump these two Genesis greats together, these albums are mandatory. Peter Gabriel is incredible - Sledgehammer? In Your Eyes? Big Time? Shock the Monkey? Solsbury Hill? All of them are so good it hurts. Phil Collins is the man. No qualms. He's the man.

Pink Floyd - The Wall (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000006TRV/qid=1087767401/sr=ka-2/ref=pd_ka_2/102-0202643-7810528)
I have this on vinyl (again, a hand-me-down from the parental units) and I will argue that it's just not the same on CD. The movie, in turn, is excellent (and the acting on his part turned me into a lifelong Bob Geldof fan, sans Band-Aid). The whole album is a masterpiece. There's not a whole lot I can say to do it justice. I also recommend Dark Side of the Moon and Wish You Were Here (great albums and great songs).

Tool - Aenima (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000099Y/qid%3D1087769008/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/102-0202643-7810528)
I am a closet Tool fan. I have listen to them since the way-back-when. This is my favorite album they've produced, and it's a frequent play in my car (especially on bad days). I recommend this to anyone who anyone who has been to an Ozzfest.

[Melissa Nute]

Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here

SouthFM - Drama Kids

Everclear - Learning How to Smile Vol. 2

Phantom of The Opera
Into the Woods

[Ryan F.]

(starts looking at music folder)

Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here ( listening too right now)


Led Zeppelin...any of them are awesome...but my favorite has to be Led Zep 4...

Kansas...Point of Know Return

Pearl Jam- Ten

Boston- Boston

George Thorogood- Haircut

Tesla- Into the Now

Black Sabbath- Paranoid

Hootie and the Blowfish...Cracked Rear View

and a little more modern...
Three Days Grace- Three days grace

...what I could think of for now.

[Brandon Martus]

Eh, I like music.

Favorite new albums:

Brandtson - Send Us A Signal (great drums. hand clapping in 2 songs. cant beat that)

My Chemical Romance - Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge (just as good as their first album)

The Rocket Summer - Calendar Days (one guy plays all the instruments. great song writing. good music. melikes.)


Favorite Overall Albums:
(this is so difficult. no particular order)

Weezer - Blue Album (duh.)

Copeland - Beneath Medicine Tree (so good. can't describe why.)

NOFX - Punk in Drublic (eh.. first favorite punk band, first cd i owned by them)

The Rocket Summer - Calendar Days (such good songwriting ..)

Less Than Jake - Losing Streak (the best LTJ album ..)

VA - Hello, We Are the Militia Group (found so many new quality bands from this sampler)

Cursive - The Ugly Organ (great music. great cd artwork. great band)

Moneen - Are We Really Happy With Who We Are Right Now? (crazy song titles. energetic music. craziness.)

[Aaron Knight]

Hrmm...

Every album/ep by Ben Folds, with and without the Five :)
Bad Religion - The Empire Strikes First
The Get Up Kids (self-titled)
System of a Down - Steal This Album!

There are others but these are all I can think of at the moment - I'm horrible with artist/album/song names, and especially getting the trio all right at the same time :)

[Elgin Clock]

I'll have to agree that Pink Floyd's "The Wall" is on my list too.
But it doesn't begin to make sense unless you watch the movie of the same name (and then it makes even less sense:ahh: ).. lol

Also, another album that rocks my world is "Hellbilly Deluxe", and the remix of all those songs "American Made Music To Strip By" by Rob Zombie
Gotta love those songs - Dragula, Living Dead Girl, Demonoid Phenomonon among others. Great stuff.:D

[Elgin Clock]

Oops.. Double post. Guess you can't edit, after a few days.

Anyways, I just remembered another album that rocked my world - sort of.

I suck at math. But, when I was taking my Pre-Algebra, and Algebra classes in College, I would hog two computers and use one for the software (they were computer based math classes) and one computer for the listening of a CD. It seemed that the days I had my CD to listen to was the days I understood more of the software and (even more importantly) the algebraic procedures.

Anyways, the CD I listened to during those times was:
Wyclef Jean and the Refugee Allstars - The Carnival.

I doubt if it was the music or words that made learning easier for me on those days, maybe it was just that I was in a more relaxed environment, listening to some tunes and going at my own pace with the studies...

[MOEmaniac]

Green Day: Dookie
Limp Bizkit: Results May Vary
311: From Chaos
311: 311
311: Evolver
311: Soundsystem
Sublime: Sublime
Aerosmith: Nine Lives
Linkin Park: Meteora

[Ben Lauer]

Barenaked Ladies - Rock Spectacle
Counting Crows - August and Everything After
Staind - 14 Shades of Grey
Live - Throwing Copper
Pearl Jam - Ten
Dave Matthews Band - Live at Red Rocks
Weezer - Blue
Matchbox 20 - Yourself or Someone Like You

eerrrwwwaaaappp!
(you know it brandon!)

[KathieK]

Alright, so there's the "Books that inspired you" thread in the general forum. I'm gonna ask the same question about albums, except that I don't know if I'll hold it to the inspiring standard--let's aim for albums that struck a chord with you deep inside you.

I think it's funny that you chose the word "album" instead of CD but since you asked about albums, I would have to say Cream - Disraeli Gears since it introduced me to Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce - if you haven't heard it, ask a mentor to dig it out of their LP collection. Harry Chapin - all of his albums were wonderful - so much so that I named my children after a song of his... Woodstock 1 - I had to sneak into my sister's bedroom to listen to this when she wasn't home because it wasn't appropriate for me to listen to! Jesus Christ Superstar - Broadway show version - my first real explanation of the Easter story. Carole King's Tapestry and Jim Croce's Time in a Bottle - both were worn out because I moved during high school and listened to these for hours on end until I made some friends.

[Jeff Waegelin]

One I just got recently: The America EP, by Will Hoge. Buy it at www.willhoge.com or download it from iTunes (only $5!). It's very powerful.. you won't regret it. And if you like it, check out the rest of Will's stuff... it's all awesome.

[RudimentaryPeni]

The ones that rocked my world are also the ones that give me the most inspiration.(theres no order)

Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention Freak Out! (infact lyrics from that album are in my sig)

Frank Zappa "himself"- Joes Garage Act 1,2,&3

Every Radiohead album

Omega Tribe Make Tea Not War

Rudimentary Peni "deathchurch" and "Cacophony"(a 40 minute 30 track lp about writer H.P. Lovecraft)

Thats all i can put becuase if i get started you'll be doing a lot of reading! :D