Dinosaur Jr-Bug:
Firstly, the guitar work on this album will make you shit in your pants. I'm almost certain that both Lou Barlow and J. Mascis are Gods amongst men. I would pretty much put every single one of Dinosaur Jr.'s albums up here, but I have decided to restrict myself to listing one from each artist. The reason I choose Bug over the others is for one moment at exactly 2:00 in Track 3 entitled "They Always Come" where some ungodly guitar tone pierces through the mix and completely floors me everytime I hear it. It comes directly after a few seconds of slightly distorted chords, acting as a buffer between the beginning half of the song and what it is about to become (just listen to it and you'll hear what I mean). If I had to pick one sound that sums up everything that is beautiful about being alive, I would pick the sound of this single piercing note rising above the rest of the loud-ass mix of driving bass, heartbeat-like drum and layer upon layer of fuzzy guitar. I don't really expect anyone else to quite understand this feeling, but all I know is that this is the type of song that makes me glad to be a musician.
Beck-One Foot in the Grave:
A minimalistic effort for Beck Hansen that created some of the most beautiful and heartfelt songs I have ever heard. "Girl Dreams" has quite possibly the corniest lyrics of all time, but Goddamnit if I don't know exactly how he feels when he's singing and I'd be lying if I said I never felt the same. Amazing album, warm tones, detuned acoustic guitars. Pure beauty.
This album changed my life, plain and simple. I bought it on a whim after hearing "No One Knows" on the radio. This album represents everything that is great about Rock and Roll. Its got amazing production, awesome fucking riffs, perfect guitar tones, stellar drumming, churning guitar chords and vocals that sound like they were laid down in roughly 35 minutes with all care thrown to the wind. The backing "ooohs and aaahs" sound like theyre being sung by a choir of angel-voiced demons and Josh Homme has the Midas Touch with anything guitar. This is another one of those bands where I would like to list every album theyve ever done up here. Listen to this album if you haven't before. That is a command.
The Black Keys-Thickfreakness:
Firstly, The Black Keys are a two person band who sound like a four piece. Secondly, Dan Auerbach sings like he's an old Bluesman from Mississippi when in fact hes a dorky white dude from Ohio. Thirdly, the opening sounds of this album set the tone for what is easily the sweetest set of blues riffs compiled in the past 25 years.
The Bronx-Bronx I
Pure fucking rock and roll. If "Heart Attack American" doesn't make you want to get up and punch someone square in the face, then I am completely certain that you have no testicles. Listen to this album and go ragin'.
GZA-Liquid Swords:
I had a tough time deciding on whether I wanted to put Wu-Tang"s Enter the 36 Chambers or Liquid Swords up here, considering they are essentially the same artist, but I decided on Liquid Swords simply for the track "Four Chambers". This track is Wu-Tang at it's best, the production is brilliant and the verses sound like they lit the microphone on fire. Fuckin' hellified.
Sebadoh-Bubble and Scrape:
Another Lou Barlow effort here. Everything he wrote on this album is perfect. Anyone who has ever felt broken-hearted will be floored by "Soul and Fire". Each band member wrote a series of songs and recorded them with the other bandmates for the album, so in a way it's three albums in one. Each artist brought a very distinctive style to the table. Stay away from Eric Gaffney's songs if you don't like weird-ass sometimes dissonant psychedelic music, but both Jason Lowenstein and Lou Barlow's music is very easily accessible. If you get the chance, read Barlow's lyrics too. As I said, if you've ever experienced a real broken heart, you'll get it.
Kings of Leon-Aha Shake Heartbreak:
I've listened to this album so many times that I actually wore the CD out. I know every single lyric, note, lick, drum fill, bass run, whatever and I still love to listen to it. I will whole-heartedly say that this band will never ever come close to matching the awesomeness of this album again. Incredible album, "Milk" still sends chills down my spine every time I hear it.
Weezer-Blue Album/Pinkerton:
I simply couldn't choose between this two albums, also I can sort of justify having the both of them up here in the sense that I rarely listen to one without listening to the other right after it. In my opinion"Tired of Sex" is the best thing Weezer has ever written, and by far their most underrated song. To me, it is a perfect track in every sense of the word, guitar, drums, production value, lyrics, and pure fucking sweetness. Both of these albums are essential to anyone who appreciates Rock Music. If you haven't listened to them, you are doing a disservice to yourself and all of humanity.
Minutemen-Double Nickels on the Dime:
Awesome album, over 40 tracks, all short songs (hence the band name). I love D. Boone's style of guitar playing (possibly my biggest influence outside of J. Mascis) and pretty much every song on here is dope as hell. None of them can really sing, but it just doesnt matter, it's real jazzy punky weird rock but its sweet. MTV's Jackass made their song "Corona" famous, I in fact named my first full length after the last line of it.
So, that's ten albums that I find to be incredibly influential. I could listen to each and every one of these all day long and not get sick of them. I feel as if I'm committing a musical sin though by leaving out some of the other albums which I love, but I suppose that can be for another day. I hope you enjoyed my two cents and I really hope each and every one of you can get out there and give a listen to these albums, I doubt you'll regret it. Maybe someday in the future I'll do a follow-up with some more music but I suppose that is TBD.
Be Easy.
-Nick
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