My 10 most influential records

Thought it would be fun to do a post on the 10 records that have shaped me over the last 25 years. Not my favourite records. But the ones that have had a direct impact upon my musical taste.

It’s in chronological order. Enjoy!

1995 | Faith no more – King for a Day, Fool for a Lifetime

May 1995 – My 11th birthday. I got this record along with R.E.M – Monster and a ghetto blaster. I’d heard ‘Digging the Grave’ on Top of the Pops a couple of months before, and I guess since I was 10 years old I was already getting a birthday list ready and this went straight on it. I still love this record!

1996 + | Nirvana – In Utero

My Nirvana phase. Everyone had one didn’t they? I collected so much crap. Singles boxsets, posters, books – and that terrible outcesticide collection. Of all their records, In Utero was and is my favourite. (The only record in this list where the release date was prior to it getting my attention…I was about 8 when it came out.)

1997 | Foo Fighters – The Colour and the Shape

This is one of my all time favourite records. I learnt to play guitar thanks to this album. I was hunting for a while for a video to post for this album. So much good stuff. I think I found the perfect one :].

1999 | Incubus – Make Yourself

Incubus are my favourite band. I love them. ACLOTM is their best record in my opinion. This is the album I got into them on. I saw drive on MTV and was really into it. I got a friend of mine from Canada to send me some more of their stuff (2 songs in about an hour!) and I was so into it. I bought S.C.I.E.N.C.E and Make Yourself that weekend.

2000 | Elliot Smith – Figure 8

I was introduced to Elliot while I was in Canada. I snubbed him at first to be honest cause I was an idiotic wee teenager who only liked Rocks and Rolls. This song isn’t off this record. It’s on ‘From a Basement on the hill’ which was released after he passed on. It’s amazing.

2000 | Deftones – White Pony

I was introduced to Deftones with Bored. I kinda liked it but it wasn’t really my thing at the time. Bit heavy for me :]. Back to School was the song that got me into Deftones and I’m not ashamed to say it. It was all over MTV. I’m cheating again here cause this song isn’t off White Pony, but if you haven’t seen this you’ll love it.

2000 | Glassjaw – Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Silence

This band scared me the first time I listened to them. Never heard anything so mental! It changed my own perception of what music I thought I liked.

2002 | Hundred Reasons – Ideas Above our Station

The first time I heard the term ‘emo’ was in reference to this band. I didn’t get it. To me it was a British band writing an awesome rock record amongst so many other bands doing contrived crap.

2003 | Lamb of God – As the Palaces Burn

Somebody leant me New American Gospel and it was too much for me. By the time this record came around I’d been getting into heavier stuff. I decided to stick this on in HMV. First song is Ruin. My God. Loved it. This record is a lot more melodic than NAG was which is probably why I coped with it a little better.

2007 & 2008 | Thrice – Alchemy Index

Big gap between ‘03 and ‘07. There are tons of records that came out in that time which I love but none of them really changed my outlook on music the way these did. Incedible collection of records. There are moments in these songs which are breath taking. Listen to Water or Air in the dark with a great set of headphones. Fire / Earth very loud in the car.