6 albums that changed my life

I recently saw many people posting on Instagram “six albums that changed my life” and I thought it was interesting idea. I often do posts that are Top __ albums or top albums within a specific genre but this prompt had me thinking about things differently. Rather than thinking about any sort of ranking I just jotted down quickly the first six albums that came to mind when I thought of albums that have left a far-reaching impression. These are in order of the oldest to the most recent discovery.

Six

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life changing

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Six ~ life changing ~ albums ~

David Bowie – Hunky Dory

Not to disparage The Beatles as they are a fantastic band that I enjoy but their sound was a quite clean cut and mainstream. It was through Bowie that I was introduced to this very unique sound that was being cultivated across the pond while most Americans where obsessing over The Beatles and bands like them. Of course this album had been out for about 3 decades by the time I discovered it which I am sure it partially why I enjoyed it so much. Compared to all the mainstream releases of the early 2000’s this album felt so fresh and presented a sound that at least to me was completely new. This was an artist that wasn’t afraid of doing anything and Bowie created music that became popular because of how brilliant it was in contrast with much of what I was hearing at the time which felt like it was created to be popular on the radio and wasn’t really trying to say anything. Bowie inspired thirteen-year-old to really expand the music that I listened to which before this album consisted mostly of 90’s emo/punk rock.

Kate Bush – Hounds of Love

I remember going to Tower Records and buying this CD back in 2002 and after several listens the idea that this album was actually two albums hit me. The first were tracks were essentially an EP on their own with a similar feel and style to them. Then the rest of the tracks came together to form this experimental progressive rock opera which takes you through this journey of life and death. While I had only been diving into the 70’s and 80’s progressive rock scene for about a year and a half this album was the first I heard tracks being presented from a female perspective. Fourteen-year-old me didn’t realize the significance of this but a number of years later it hit me and I grew to enjoy the album even more. It is so unapologetically 80’s in all the best ways.

Carole King – Tapestry

This album has this magnificently soulful, soft rock, chill pop sound to it that was unlike anything I had heard before. It also contains a profound sense of hope. It caused me to focus on the future rather than worrying about the now which was a very pertinent message for someone who had just started High School. It feels like it is everything when you are in it and can cause you to worry far too much about what people think of you and everything else that goes with being a teenager. Ninth grade me got exactly what he needed from this absolutely outstanding album.

Death Cab for Cutie – Transatlanticism

I was listening to this album just after father had died and it really hit hard. As I listen to this album all these years later it still feels just as profound as it did during my first listen. In my humble opinion it remains the greatest album the band has created. At the time I appreciated the deep emotion contained within it words; I really felt like Benjamin Gibbard understood what loss was and how painful it can be. You could hear in his voice and the lyrics he composed. I was unfairly angry and jealous of those around me in school whose biggest problems seemed to be who was going to what dance with whom or if they had passed the most recent quiz. I realized later it wasn’t right of me to be angry because they had seemingly superficial problems, I didn’t know their lives or what they may have been struggling with under the surface and if I had been more mature, I may have discovered that there were other people who felt the same as me.

Lights – Little Machines

This album released in 2014 and I remember vividly being at the live show, hearing the album performed live and just being completely dumbfounded by what I heard. I had been listening to Lights for about five years by this point and had been enjoying her albums quite a bit but this felt like something else entirely. It was on a level above what she had done before or since and I flat out sprinted to the merch table after the show was over to purchase the record. I haven’t stopped listening to it since it is hard to believe that it has been almost ten years since that show. This is an album that I recommend to everyone whether they are fans of electropop or not I feel that you will find something to enjoy.

Alanna Matty – Ante Meridiem

Funny enough this album also released in 2014 though it didn’t grace my ears until 2019. It was during a time when I was working through some things from my past and this album facilitated that process. I was moved by how powerfully the songs hit me emotionally. I didn’t have any specific insight into the tracks at the time I started listening yet I felt that I could really relate to the emotions that were being conveyed and in some cases I felt like I had experienced something similar. I was feeling very up and then down at the time and this album took me a journey that almost seemed to mirror my own. This is another album on this list that hasn’t left my music rotation since I discovered it. There is just something about the way it hit me during those first couple listens that I just cannot shake. I think it has much to do with the artist behind the tracks.