1 post tagged “life changing”

This was my first full Beatles record; in other words, the first time I heard stuff that wasn't on the radio. It was mind-blowing. There is no way to overstate the importance of the Beatles on modern music, or the shear genius of their songwriting. I can't even stand to think about it. All of their records were important to me at different times, but this one obviously stands out.

Elliott Smith is a songwriter's songwriter, in a class completely by himself. Before I knew anything about how incredibly constructed these songs are, though, his music just meant a lot to me. I fell back on this record a lot, and I still do.

My first hip-hop album is still my favorite. This is the form done to perfection. Both lyrics and music, Mos Def is at the top of his game here. This record taught me the power of this genre. I love a whole lot of hip-hop now, but this is the apex.


This is another perfect record. To describe Jeff Buckley's genius is a fool's errand. I will never forget the first time I heard "Hallelujah;" Wendy and I were sitting in my car in the parking lot at SUNY. It was one of the most important moments of my musical education. I never looked at music the same way.



When I decided to start the Rev, I was listening to a lot of Bright Eyes. This record sort of inspired me. It is arrestingly beautiful, complicated, dense, beguiling. You never get a chance to think about how great one song is because the next song is just as great. I love every other Bright Eyes album, but none this much.