“With hearts and brains like hard drives, we all move through this life constantly shuffling through thousands of songs triggered by memories and names, a certain season, or even just the way the light or landscape feels in a certain place.”
I’d Like to Think that we’re all made up of these vibrations, that our souls are filled with music that just speaks to us and, as years go by, we continue to amass this immense catalog of songs that will permanently score some of the biggest moments and profound memories of our lives.
We all have this in common, no matter who we are.
These are the twelve albums that have been on constant repeat over the past couple years, months, weeks and days. Albums that are just that, albums, rather than merely a collection of a few good songs surrounding radio-worthy hits; albums that will one day trigger memories of my youthful, mischievous twenties.
Here’s a set of records your iTunes will thank you for getting. All have solidified their place into my already-much-too-rockin’ media library.
Click the album titles to listen!
12.) Queens of the Stone Age – Lullabies to Paralyze (2005)
Why: The entire album plays like a creepy walk through the woods, driven by eerily pleasing guitar tracks layered upon one another and complimented by haunting melodies.
11.) Band of Skulls - Baby Darling Doll Face Honey (2009)
Why: From the bluesy opening notes and wailing of, “I want to see you in the mornin’,” the soulful Baby Darling Doll Face Honey pulled me in right away and has yet to let go.
10.) Klaxons - Surfing the Void (2010)
Why: The album comes off as resembling a lot of Depeche Mode’s early stuff. Nimble, occasionally brilliant, always human.
9.) Common - One Day It’ll All Make Sense (1997)
Why: One of the few hip-hop albums out there that’s actually bullshit-free. While Common rarely disappoints, he absolutely shines on here.
8.) Caribou -Swim (2010)
Why: A superlative record. A synthesis of house beats and often soft-spoken, never-enough wailed vocals.
7.) Interpol - Turn on the Bright Lights (2002)
Why: A fragile, melancholic wonder of a debut. Critically acclaimed and for good reason.
6.) Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010)
Why: Alright, I’mma let myself finish this list, but KANYE HAD ONE OF THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2010. Again, one of the few bullshit-free hip-hop albums out there.
5.) Glasser -Ring (2010)
Why: Complex and abstract throughout, Ring is one cinematic landscape of melody. It’s like a technicolor riot.
4.) The Strokes -Angles (2011)
Why: Refusing to run alongside the ball of contemporary pop music, The Strokes kick that shit right out of the park with an album that sounds like the return of 80′s glam rock.
3.) The Roots -Phrenology (2002)
Why: A confrontational effort from The Roots in their prime. The flow of this album, the lyrics, the bars and 16′s, all essential for any fan of hip-hop.
2.) The Black Keys -Brothers (2010)
Why: The record revels in mischief. Simple, unadulterated blues. Get this album, ’nuff said.
1.) Little Joy - Little Joy (2008)
Why: This album, along with the accompanying video, are some of the greatest gifts I’ve ever received as a fan of music. My dreams are to publish a book and retire to South America and I know that one day I will be listening to this album down there while spell-checking my book.
