Top 20 Most Influential Albums.
No one challenged me to do this but it sounded like fun.
1. Pretty Hate Machine - NIN
A lot of things made sense all of a sudden after listening to this record. I borrowed it off my housemate for about six months, and something in that music made me realise I was not as alone as I once thought. Not my favourite NIN record, but its primacy makes it the most important, NIN lead to Nirvana, to Pearl Jam, to Soundgarden and so on and so forth.
2. Jagged Little Pill - Alanis Morissette
Okay so not a sexy or cool choice! However! This record is massively influential to me because at the time, it was about the edgiest record I had ever heard (its more of a reflection on how un-edgy my previous tastes had been). For 1996 dropping the F bomb in a song that got played on radio was pretty out there, in fact I’d say it still is. This was like my gateway into exploring a lot of music I’d previously found kinda scary. I haven’t listened to it for years and years now, but at the time it was so vital and energetic….
3.The Downward Spiral - NIN
Trent Reznor’s semi autobiographical account of his descent in utter self loathing. Its one of the most amazing expressions of hatred ever created in my opinion. As it was what I felt at the time, it made this record virtually mandatory listening on a daily basis.
4. Anti Christ Superstar - Marilyn Manson
Again not a popular not sexy choice these days, Marilyn’s more recent work does reflect poorly on his earlier genius. And that’s what this record is, it’s genius. Genius story telling, that’s why its inferior to Trent’s, it’s not real. This was the record that really made you feel good about being different.
5. In Utero - Nirvana
I always preferred In Utero to Nevermind, to this day I think it’s a superior work even though it alienated a lot of people who loved the earlier more popular record. I always felt like that’s what this record was, Kurt and co flipping off the people who jumped on the bandwagon once Teen Spirit was played on TV. I was a late arrival to Nirvana, but the anger, pain and alienation that this music embodied never ceases being a comfort.
6.The Fragile - NIN
I remember rushing home from work the day this was released to get my hands on the first new NIN record in 5 years. I wasn’t disappointed, it was almost worth the wait. Five years worth of ideas ejaculated out onto two discs, my housemates got sick of the sight of this one.
7.Adore - The Smashing Pumpkins
So I was a late arrival to all the decent music the 90’s had to offer, including the Pumpkins. I already owned Mellon Collie and Siamese Dream, i loved those records intensely. Adore initially at least was a disappointment to me, it sounded so different. But over about 6 months there was something that wouldn’t let me write it off, which lead me to find the true and amazing beauty in this record. This is a gentle conversation compared to the screaming match Billy had delivered earlier.
8. Ten - Pearl Jam
Black just entranced me and does to this day. Anger, pain, love, frustration, these guys knew what they were about and this record spoke volumes for it. We weren’t alone in our mid 90’s malaise.
9. Radiohead - OK Computer
Not many records you own get better every time you listen to it. A forgotten and underestimated classic.
10.Dark Side of the Moon - Pink Floyd
I bought this and OK Computer on the same day, and both are still regular additions to playlist. This one, well what can you say that hasn’t been said its magical, hypnotic and beautiful. Does it get better than Great Gig in the Sky?
11. Neon Ballroom - silverchair
Now I know I am losing my cred here, but I think if anyone were to be fair they would have to admit that this was the record that made you realise the Chair were to be taken seriously. Interesting stage in my life, and this album felt a lot like a friend who had been growing up along with me and the sudden maturity and seriousness of this record reflected my own early 20’s crisis.
12. Tool - Lateralus
I think I just missed Aenima, of course I own and love it. But the anticipation and deliverance this record made me feel will always stay with me.
13. Portishead - Portishead
I realised I was never going to be a metalhead when I found Portishead, the subtlety and beauty in their music was entrancing. Best thing I ever did was ensure I was at their gig at Festival Hall in 1998.
14.Sehnsucht - Rammstein
Damn this record kicked ass, I had no idea what they were saying but it felt freakin good! Best mosh ever = Rammstein at the Palace 2001
15. Unit - Regurgitator
This was the one record that was the soundtrack of my life for about 2 years, or at least it felt like that. Too interesting to ignore, too fun not to bounce up and down to. Such a shame they never came close to this again.
16. Transmission - The Tea Party
Powerful, philosophical and great mosh pit stuff too. It was all down hill after this record for the Tea Party.
17. Human Traffic Soundtrack
A reminder of my brief and ill advised dalliance with electronic music.
18. Live Through This - Hole
Kurt had to have written most of these songs, Courtney never sounded this good before or ever again.
19. Down on the Upside - Soundgarden
Infinitely inferior to their earlier stuff, but this was the record that introduced me to Soundgarden, a love affair that continues on. Blow up the outside world is still an awesome song. Also notable as their last record sadly.
20. Rage Against the Machine - Rage Against the Machine
Okay so half a dozen different records could be here, but I just remember how much this one influenced me, I was getting into it at the same time as my discovery of marxism and left wing politics. I may not be the 20 yo idealist I was but this is still a massively inspiring record, and goddamn it rocked live!
1. Pretty Hate Machine - NIN
A lot of things made sense all of a sudden after listening to this record. I borrowed it off my housemate for about six months, and something in that music made me realise I was not as alone as I once thought. Not my favourite NIN record, but its primacy makes it the most important, NIN lead to Nirvana, to Pearl Jam, to Soundgarden and so on and so forth.
2. Jagged Little Pill - Alanis Morissette
Okay so not a sexy or cool choice! However! This record is massively influential to me because at the time, it was about the edgiest record I had ever heard (its more of a reflection on how un-edgy my previous tastes had been). For 1996 dropping the F bomb in a song that got played on radio was pretty out there, in fact I’d say it still is. This was like my gateway into exploring a lot of music I’d previously found kinda scary. I haven’t listened to it for years and years now, but at the time it was so vital and energetic….
3.The Downward Spiral - NIN
Trent Reznor’s semi autobiographical account of his descent in utter self loathing. Its one of the most amazing expressions of hatred ever created in my opinion. As it was what I felt at the time, it made this record virtually mandatory listening on a daily basis.
4. Anti Christ Superstar - Marilyn Manson
Again not a popular not sexy choice these days, Marilyn’s more recent work does reflect poorly on his earlier genius. And that’s what this record is, it’s genius. Genius story telling, that’s why its inferior to Trent’s, it’s not real. This was the record that really made you feel good about being different.
5. In Utero - Nirvana
I always preferred In Utero to Nevermind, to this day I think it’s a superior work even though it alienated a lot of people who loved the earlier more popular record. I always felt like that’s what this record was, Kurt and co flipping off the people who jumped on the bandwagon once Teen Spirit was played on TV. I was a late arrival to Nirvana, but the anger, pain and alienation that this music embodied never ceases being a comfort.
6.The Fragile - NIN
I remember rushing home from work the day this was released to get my hands on the first new NIN record in 5 years. I wasn’t disappointed, it was almost worth the wait. Five years worth of ideas ejaculated out onto two discs, my housemates got sick of the sight of this one.
7.Adore - The Smashing Pumpkins
So I was a late arrival to all the decent music the 90’s had to offer, including the Pumpkins. I already owned Mellon Collie and Siamese Dream, i loved those records intensely. Adore initially at least was a disappointment to me, it sounded so different. But over about 6 months there was something that wouldn’t let me write it off, which lead me to find the true and amazing beauty in this record. This is a gentle conversation compared to the screaming match Billy had delivered earlier.
8. Ten - Pearl Jam
Black just entranced me and does to this day. Anger, pain, love, frustration, these guys knew what they were about and this record spoke volumes for it. We weren’t alone in our mid 90’s malaise.
9. Radiohead - OK Computer
Not many records you own get better every time you listen to it. A forgotten and underestimated classic.
10.Dark Side of the Moon - Pink Floyd
I bought this and OK Computer on the same day, and both are still regular additions to playlist. This one, well what can you say that hasn’t been said its magical, hypnotic and beautiful. Does it get better than Great Gig in the Sky?
11. Neon Ballroom - silverchair
Now I know I am losing my cred here, but I think if anyone were to be fair they would have to admit that this was the record that made you realise the Chair were to be taken seriously. Interesting stage in my life, and this album felt a lot like a friend who had been growing up along with me and the sudden maturity and seriousness of this record reflected my own early 20’s crisis.
12. Tool - Lateralus
I think I just missed Aenima, of course I own and love it. But the anticipation and deliverance this record made me feel will always stay with me.
13. Portishead - Portishead
I realised I was never going to be a metalhead when I found Portishead, the subtlety and beauty in their music was entrancing. Best thing I ever did was ensure I was at their gig at Festival Hall in 1998.
14.Sehnsucht - Rammstein
Damn this record kicked ass, I had no idea what they were saying but it felt freakin good! Best mosh ever = Rammstein at the Palace 2001
15. Unit - Regurgitator
This was the one record that was the soundtrack of my life for about 2 years, or at least it felt like that. Too interesting to ignore, too fun not to bounce up and down to. Such a shame they never came close to this again.
16. Transmission - The Tea Party
Powerful, philosophical and great mosh pit stuff too. It was all down hill after this record for the Tea Party.
17. Human Traffic Soundtrack
A reminder of my brief and ill advised dalliance with electronic music.
18. Live Through This - Hole
Kurt had to have written most of these songs, Courtney never sounded this good before or ever again.
19. Down on the Upside - Soundgarden
Infinitely inferior to their earlier stuff, but this was the record that introduced me to Soundgarden, a love affair that continues on. Blow up the outside world is still an awesome song. Also notable as their last record sadly.
20. Rage Against the Machine - Rage Against the Machine
Okay so half a dozen different records could be here, but I just remember how much this one influenced me, I was getting into it at the same time as my discovery of marxism and left wing politics. I may not be the 20 yo idealist I was but this is still a massively inspiring record, and goddamn it rocked live!