“15 Albums That Changed My Life”

One of the latest memes going around on Facebook goes like this…

Write down the first 15 albums you can think of that had such a profound effect on you they changed your life or the way you looked at it. They sucked you in and took you over for days, weeks, months, years. These are the albums that you can use to identify time, places, people, emotions. These are the albums that no matter what they were thought of musically shaped your world. When you finish, tag 15 others, including me. Make sure you copy and paste this part so they know the drill. Get the idea now? Good. Tag, you’re it!

When I was tagged in this note by my friend Joe, I resisted looking at his list, to avoid being unduly influenced. Good thing I did, because his list was interesting.

U2 – Unforgettable Fire
Cars – The Greatest Hits
Pink Floyd – The Wall
Led Zeppelin – Houses of the Holy
CSN – CSN
Boogie Down Productions – By All Means Necessary
Cure – Disintegration
Cult – Electric
Doors – Morrison Hotel
Rush – Hemispheres
Grateful Dead – One From The Vault
Bob Mould – Workbook
Rolling Stones – Let It Bleed
Radiohead – Kid A
Kruder & Dorfmeister – K&D Sessions

While none of those albums “changed my life,” several of these artists did. I included other albums by Rush and Radiohead in my 15 and would have included albums by U2, The Cars, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, The Cure and The Rolling Stones if the list were 30.

Here is what I came up with, without giving it too much thought:

Seal – Seal [1991]
Julian Cope – Peggy Suicide
The Beatles – Revolver
Poi Dog Pondering – Volo Volo
Radiohead – OK Computer
Verve – A Storm in Heaven
The Flaming Lips – The Soft Bulletin
Spiritualized – Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space
R.E.M. – Life’s Rich Pageant
Morrissey – Viva Hate
Rush – Signals
E.L.O. – A New World Record
The Smiths – Meat is Murder
World Party – Goodbye Jumbo
P.M. Dawn – Jesus Wept

Two days after making it, I think it’s a pretty good list. It reflects my musical preferences and personal attachments to particular albums. My list, and others which friends have posted, make me realize that music is especially powerful when you’re a teenager and young adult, a time in life when music still has the power to transform and inspire you. I’d like to think that it still can.

I’ve created a Pandora station seeded with my 15 artists above (“15 Albums That Changed My Life”). I hope you enjoy it.

So what’s on your list?